The Difference Between Wiccans and General Pagans - Spiritual Living 101

Wicca is a subset of the Pagan religion, and has rules and beliefs that set it apart from other forms of Paganism.

Wiccan is a form of Pagan, much like Baptist is a type of Christian. One can be Pagan and not Wiccan, but they cannot be Wiccan and not Pagan. This subgroup of the Pagan religion is one of the most recognized, and through lack of education and miscommunication in the media, Wiccan and Pagan are often thought to be interchangeable terms. The truth is, Wicca is a very specific form of Paganism with practices and beliefs that set it apart from other Pagan subsets.

[Please note that the following is written based on my own personal experience in the Pagan community, and is not intended as a definitive description of Wiccans or any other type of Pagan.]

Wicca tends to be a highly Goddess-oriented faith system. While male deities are recognized, they are often given less importance in ritual and practice. Other Pagan groups may vary from all male-oriented to all female-oriented or anywhere in between. Mother, Maiden and Crone are given high regard as the three aspects of the Goddess, similar to the Catholic Father, Son and Holy Ghost as aspects of God.

Wicca also seems to be more popular among female followers than men. Most Pagan men I have encountered lean toward Asatru, Native American Spirituality or other more God oriented forms of Paganism. I have encountered very few heterosexual Wiccan men in the 15 years that I have been a practicing Pagan. It is worth noting however that Wicca is often embraced by gay men. Many women form Wiccan covens and find them to be a way to bond with other women through the practice of a very feminine-friendly faith system.

Wicca is often considered to be one of the "fluffy" forms of Paganism, and as such has caused people to think of Pagans in an unfortunate light. Wicca focuses greatly on ritual and ceremony, often involving the use of herbs, crystals, candles, and the wearing of robes or other ritual garb. This, combined with the heavy feminine aspect, causes many people to consider Wiccans to be "fluffy bunnies" or "crystal waving hippies" among other derogatory terms. While the "peace and light" mentality is prevalent in Wicca, not all of the degrading commentary is deserved. Other forms of Paganism have a more balanced outlook, where light and dark are both needed and respected.

Wicca, as mentioned earlier, tend to focus greatly on ritual. Wiccans have levels they must progress through, and most followers believe that ceremonies must be carried out in a specific way in order to be effective. Rituals are taught to students of Wicca to ensure that they are done correctly. While other forms of Wicca also have this rigid right-or-wrong style, there are also many that allow more freedom of form, believing that each individual should worship as they see fit.

When I was first questioning faith and looking for a religion that felt right for me, I found Paganism and more specifically, Wicca. I found a teacher, and actually went through training for a year-and-a-day, as was required for all Wiccan initiates. I practiced Wicca for about a year after that, and decided that it just wasn't for me. Over the years I have come to consider myself to be an Eclectic Pagan.

I drifted away from Wicca due to the rigid rules of conduct. I found the requirements for performing rituals and celebrating holy days to be overdone, bothersome, and they distracted me from my actual faith. For me, I needed something simpler, so I could spend more time communing with deity and less time performing ritual. For others, the strict ritual is a welcomed part of their faith and practice.

I also found the near denial of negativity, darkness and general balance unacceptable. Wiccans focus so much on the light, they often forget that darkness, death and pain are all parts of the natural balance of life. I embrace my dark side, and this does not set well with most followers of Wicca. (Contrary to another popular misconception, Pagans who are not all about sunshine and light are not Satanists. As a matter of fact, Satanism is not even considered to be a Pagan religion.)

If you are considering following a Pagan faith, Wicca is one of your many options. I suggest you meet some real Wiccans for yourself before forming a set opinion of them. Wiccans are neither all good or all bad, they are simply different from other Pagan subsets. It is also worth noting that there are real Wiccans, and those who simply play at magick and call themselves Wiccan. It is the latter which often give real practitioners a bad reputation. Find some Pagan groups in your area and meet the various types. Most real Pagans, Wiccan or otherwise, will be glad to educate someone truly interested in their faith and practices.