New To The Craft

What is Wicca?

I am a newcomer who has chosen to learn about Wicca as a solitary practitioner. This brings both its advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, I am drawing on many sources and am able to reflect upon and synthesize my own tradition. At the same time I cannot help but feel a bit like a small rowboat adrift at sea – grabbing any scrap of knowledge I can and not knowing where it fits into the whole. To add to my confusion, each new source tends to have slightly different ideas about what exactly Wicca is, sometimes even contradicting my previous readings. Being a solitary, I figure the only solution is to work out my own definition based on what I know so far.

It is a point of contention as to whether Wicca and witchcraft are the same. Several authors of Wiccan publications refer to themselves as witches. Many also refer to Wicca as “the Craft” with obvious connotations. However, the majority of what I have read leads me to see them as separate areas that tend to overlap in the practice of many individuals. Wicca has a distinct history originating in the 1950s with the publications of Gerald Gardner. Some claim that its origins go back even further in an underground tradition handed down from the pagan peoples of ancient Europe, though this remains unproven. Regardless of its age Wicca today is a defined religious tradition that recognizes both a Goddess and a God (though some traditions choose to focus on the Goddess). The main philosophies which characterize Wicca include the directive to harm none, the karma-related law of threefold return, and attunement with the earth and its cycles. The observance of Sabbats and Esbats is one principal method of such attunement. Magic in Wicca takes the form of energy work in which the practitioner focuses on a specific need, builds energy, and finally releases it towards its goal. Tools may or may not be utilized in such work. The other main hallmark of Wicca is that it does not seek converts; Wiccans believe that there is no one true path and that all paths can be equally valid to their followers.

Witchcraft is a folk tradition that uses magic in the form of healing or spellwork. Charms, potions, and herbal remedies would all fall under the umbrella of witchcraft by this definition. There is no ethical framework required for one to be a witch. Hexes and curses are traditionally taboo in Wicca, but there are witches who use them. In essence the difference is that Wicca can be considered a religion with a clear code of ethics while witchcraft is more of a skill set that many within Wicca also happen to practice. The confusion comes when there are those who begin casting spells who then label themselves as Wiccans thinking that it is the same thing. The use of pentacles or candles can be Wiccan but could also be just witchcraft if not in the context of Wiccan beliefs. You can be one or the other, or both; it’s all up to what you choose to pursue. But unfortunately the crossover has contributed to what I call the “fluffy bunny backlash.”

Fluffy bunny is a term I have seen used in several contexts, but all of them are derogatory towards the individual named. It is frequently used to refer to teens or others who develop an interest in spells and claim themselves as part of Wicca without knowing the philosophies behind it. Beginners are not experts, and confusion of this sort is natural and easily remedied once they read more on the subject. Another definition by the website Wicca: For the Rest of Us is: “one who refuses to learn, refuses to think, and refuses to consider the possibility that they could possibly ever be wrong.” That is a fairly general accusation, but one that is leveled at someone whose knowledge comes from one source which they then treat as holy writ without thinking about it for themselves. Other websites target specific authors as “watering down” the essence of Wicca in their books, thereby teaching readers incorrectly. Their work is referred to as “fluff.” To the newcomer this presents an obvious contradiction: am I supposed to think for myself or make sure I find works from a “non-fluff” author to learn what real Wicca is? Who is on the approved list and who is not? Surely anyone thinking for themselves can figure out what they agree with and what they believe based upon their own reflections. But if there are sources that are labeled “fluff” and you happen to agree with them what then?

Ultimately, the whole point of being a solitary Wiccan is to study what is learned and discover for oneself what is true. It would be impossible to both think for oneself and take the teachings of others as the one correct way of doing things, even if looking at multiple sources. The idea of submitting to the teachings of another is seductive because then the knowledge comes prepackaged and ready for use. But then what does it really mean? If Wiccan principles were indeed gleaned from the wisdom nature offers us then aren’t those lessons available to all through meditation and observation? It would be difficult to start entirely from scratch and that is where study comes in, but there should be no fear that one will pick the wrong author and be labeled because of it. In the end the only way to define Wicca is to test what you learn through practice, and to remember that it is what it means to you that is important, otherwise why bother? Read all you can - but no one can tell you what the Goddess or God means to you except you. And when you come to such knowledge through your own insight and use it in your personal practice, no one has the right to say you are wrong.

Journal for the Month of August:

I slowed down on my reading this month I am sad to say, but it was a very active month in other ways. I cleared out a space in my bedroom for meditation and ritual and held my first observance for the full moon. I have to say it felt a little – odd. I am not the world’s best when it comes to meditation. Just when I want my mind to still I have a thousand thoughts crashing in: “Hey, you left the iron on!” “Hey, wonder what’s going on in the Olympics right now?” “Hey, my nose itches!” It’s quite irritating. But I will persist! I lit some candles and sat with my eyes closed while trying to focus on the moon and its symbolism. Not a ritual yet, but it was my way of getting started on at least knowing when the moon’s cycles occur and taking note of them.

I attended that spellcrafting workshop. It was the first time I had met others face to face who were interested in the same things, and it felt really good to speak about magic and energy work in a room full of people without worrying they would think I’m a nutcase. Everyone was extremely nice and I came away with a good lesson in how to structure a basic candle spell.

I have also signed up for a couple of online schools as a way of learning more and meeting other like-minded folk. The Magical Circle School offers a huge variety of classes completely free of charge and Magicka School offers free basic courses in Wicca and Tarot with other courses available if you pay a membership fee. While a lot is obviously information also found in books the best part about these types of programs is that through assignments they really make you define and think about your conceptions of Goddess/God etc. Plus it’s another great way to meet new online friends with shared interests! Currently I’m working on assignments in several basic classes and hope to have more to report next month about my progress. Until next month, blessed be! )O(

author: Christine (Witch1979)