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Wicca, Witchcraft and Pagan...

What are they and what’s the difference?

By Cassie AderoPublished 3 years ago 6 min read
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I love these cultures for its beauty; and how it uses all of the elements that Mother Earth gives us - Earth, Fire, Water, Air, Mind, Body, Spirit and Soul....

I consider myself a eclectic witch, who practices outside of multiple different theories, such as with spirits, taglocks, the planets, herb work and certain types of divination.... I do follow certain rituals. I believe in many cultures. I have been practicing the craft for about 15 years.

These are my personal beliefs of Witchcraft, Wicca and Pagan.

Witchcraft is a old but new trend starting again, but what exactly is this culture? Before you even think about practicing magick, you need to study. Its very complex, but important. Wouldn't you want to know what you're dealing with? Read everything you can. Obtain a couple of notebooks where you can put everything youve learned about this culture. Don't Worry. To be a witch, you do not have to be Wiccan, you also do not have to be pagan.. You do not have to use the Wheel of the Year or use the Wiccan Rede. Not every witch needs a coven. You don't even have to be a woman to practice this culture. You dont even have to practice magick in order to be a witch either. Why not start today? Right now, in the midst of a global pandemic, many of us are in times of transition and even crisis. Many of us are stuck at home as the outdoors continue to be environments that we can no longer necessarily assume as safe. We’re all being encouraged to stay home, minimize social contact, and spend time with ourselves - often at home, and online. Many of us have more time at home than we ever will have again – and why not put this time to good use, and devote yourself to finally learning magic? Magic is a massive asset in times of crisis, and this current moment is truly a “perfect storm” of opportunity for learning online. NOW is the perfect time to start: you’ll have skills to help you handle these tense, shifting times with grace and intention.

With that being said, lets begin.

What is Witchcraft?

Alot of people think witchcraft is : Worshipping the devil; evil; conjuring demons; .. Etc. Im here to say, its probably true and its also probably not true. It depends on what you believe and what you do, really. These cultures of Wicca, Witchcraft and Pagan are not the same. It gets mixed up alot. Some people claim one or all of it, There are many cultures of witches such as some may consider themselves a witch and some don't... You might see a lot of witches who classify themselves as one thing or another, such as: Wiccan, Pagan, or simply a Witch... common witch labels are: solitairy witches, eclectic witches, kitchen witches, elemental witches, spirit/divination witches; green witches, so forth. These witches are all alike in many ways and all use similar practices but all vary and differ in beliefs. Magic is all about taking action, seizing opportunity: connecting with ourselves and the world around us to manifest our dreams and wishes.

Lets start off from the earliest tradition

:: PAGAN ::

pa·gan

noun

a person holding religious beliefs other than those of the main world religions.

I am not Pagan. These are based upon my speculations.

Pagans are kind of the same thing as a Wiccan, but with very older traditions and most believe in the Green Man or Woman, Pan the Great, and in many other gods/goddesses and of course they only work with ONLY Earth and Nature.... Pagans believe that nature is very sacred and that the natural cycles of birth, growth and death seen in the world around us carry deep spiritual meanings. Human beings are seen as part of nature, along with other creatures, trees, stones, plants and everything else that is of this earth without the planets basically... Most Pagans are eco-friendly and try to live in a way that minimises harm to the natural environment. They have certain holidays they celebrate, just like any culture would. They aren't Christian, nor Satanic.

:: WICCA ::

Wic·ca

noun

a form of modern paganism, especially a tradition founded in England in the mid 20th century and claiming its origins in pre-Christian religions.

"a guild for those interested in paganism, Wicca, and folklore"

Wicca is like, pagan witchcraft.... its a religion based up on nature such as :: Earth, Fire, Water, Air, and Spirit ; Various Gods & Deities ; Various Herbs ; The Cosmos and Astrology

Wiccans believe that a god/goddess has given birth to the Universe. Also that the god/goddess is in litterally everything - therefore making us the same material as star dust... All of Nature and the Universe is connected.... They mostly believe in the Horned God/Goddess and a lot of Wiccans believe highly in reincarnation. Most wiccans claim that magick comes within from the universe. Most wiccans will sit at their altar and wish by writing or visualization. This what wiccans call magic and connect using this source of all this universal energy force..

:: THEURGY - WITCHCRAFT ::

Theurgy: The·ur·gy

noun

the operation or effect of a supernatural or divine agency in human affairs.

a system of white magic practiced by the early Neoplatonists. Neoplatonists believed human perfection and happiness were attainable in this world, without awaiting an afterlife. Perfection and happiness could be achieved through philosophical contemplation.

witch·craft

/ˈwiCHˌkraft/

noun

the practice of magic, especially black magic; the use of spells.

in a modern world - it's considered a religious practice involving magic and affinity with nature, bewitching or fascinating attraction or charm.

I personally like to think of witchcraft similar to Wicca combined with some sort of dangerous rituals kind of similar to Satanic ceremonies.. They have very similar practices but very different beliefs.. I believe that this culture is an extremely difficult topic. It combines each of these various cultures and creates one.

I highly believe the term Witchcraft ; is a practice mostly used for evil intent & evil purposes. It does follow most Wiccan tools, beliefs and rituals.. However, there are a lot of unknown satanic holidays that a lot of witches practice and are unaware of. I'm sure most do not sacrifice humans or animals (I would hope not) .... Regardless, Witchcraft is not safe. Witchcraft is not promising or sweet as sugar. Witchcraft is the domain of the conjurer, the outcast, the traveler. It belongs to those who know every light casts a shadow; who have looked into the depths of darkness in their soul and accepted what they’ve seen along with all that is good. Witchcraft requires cunning , manipulation, self-awareness, adaptable morals, and dash of insanity. Always ward and cleanse yourself and around you. Take breaks when needed. Its not all conjuring but is all what you believe in. The Universe is You. If you think your magick is working fine, it's obvious that it's working just great. But if it's not working - its very important to know and remember when to and when not to; such as on lunar phases, solar phases, planetary days, time structures.... It all matters. Please Remember: It's also important to practice self care daily (: it's important to take care of yourself.. Not to mention without devotion, it can take days or months for the spell work OR not work at all. Some witches believe in the ”Three Fold Law” which is what you put out comes back to you three times.. aka Karma ... I dont.. I like to call it ”cause and effect.” I believe ANYTHING you do always comes with a price. If you want something, I believe that you have to leave an offering and always say thank you.... My tip: You ask. It answers. It gives. You take. You give. It takes. Repeat. Remember to enjoy your time and have fun in this new journey.

Disclaimer: I do not claim to be an expert, a historian, or a licensed professional, nor do I have the final say on these cultures. This is just my understanding and speculations.*

Cassie Adero | ©️ All Rights Reserved, 2020

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About the Creator

Cassie Adero

You've found me!

Welcome! This is my personal grimoire and my only original content that will ever exist from my beliefs of various cultures.

Thanks for Reading.

Stay Tuned.

XOXO - CAS💕

Cassie Adero | © All Rights Reserved, 2020

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