Wicca and Witchcraft - What's the Difference, Anyway?

The origins of the term Witch are obscure and highly debatable, but in it's current incarnation the word came to us via the Saxons, meaning a seer or practitioner of magic. This is exactly what modern-day Witches consider themselves to be- practitioners of various magical arts. Witches often consider themselves practitioners of Pagan religions, but there is no rule that associates Witchcraft and any religion in particular- there are people of all faiths that consider themselves Witches. Witchcraft can be deeply intertwined with one's spirituality- but it does not have to be. Some Witches consider themselves Atheists, or Agnostic, or simply spiritually inclined without adherence to a specific religion.

Wicca is also a word with uncertain origins, but is mainly used today to describe a specific religion founded (or at least popularized) in the mid 20^th century by British writer Gerald B. Gardner. In 1939, Gardner claimed he was initiated into a surviving coven of Witches. Later forming his own coven, he found his information of the ancient art fragmentary. With the help of a coven mate, Doreen Valiente, Gardner built upon those fragments. Wicca became a reinvention/reconstruction of ancient Northern European Pagan religions, influenced heavily by Alister Crowley, ceremonial magic and Freemasonry.

To a modern Wiccan, Wicca is first and foremost a religion in and of itself. Wiccans may call themselves Celtic Wiccans, Dianic Wiccans, Egyptian Wiccans, drawing inspiration of mythology of various Pagan cultures into their spirituality, however the core tenets of Wicca remain the same, such as it's earth-centered spiritual approach, belief in a male and female deity and celebrations of the cycles of the seasons, better known as the Wiccan Wheel of the Year. The main tenet, the Wiccan rede, "'An it harm none, do what you will," acts as a staple that fastens all autonomous Wiccan covens (no matter how removed from Gardner's original tradition) and solitary practitioners together.

While Gardner probably never intended a difference between Wicca and Witchcraft, as the movement grew, distinctions did arise. Some practitioners of magic simply did not feel the pull to the spiritual or theological path upon which Gardner set Wicca. They disassociate themselves mainly by rejecting the term Wicca itself, preferring the more generic term, "Witch." While they may respect the Wiccan Rede as a good philosophy or celebrate similar holy days, they do not feel that their own practice of magic or religious leanings fit within Gardners confines. Further, some Witches would go so far as to completely reject the religion of Wicca and all of it's tenets, mainly the Wiccan Rede itself, and feel no obligation to follow it. They practice various magical arts, without adhering to the structure of Wiccan practices and beliefs set forth by Gardner.

People who consider themselves Wiccans are people who embrace much, if not all, of Gardner's theology. A Wiccan first and foremost has bound themselves to live by the Wiccan Rede (or at least try to). For a long time, Wiccans also considered themselves to be Witches- that is, both practitioners of the Wiccan religion and practitioners of magic. It was long held by many authors throughout the 1980s and 1990s that Wicca was one form (but not the only form) of Witchcraft. But in recent years, this too has changed, as more and more people are drawn to Wicca for it's spiritual aspects, but have no real desire or intention to study or practice the art of magic (Witchcraft). The religion itself is what they find fulfilling, and they practice it completely void of any magical arts. Indeed, most Wiccans today would still also consider themselves Witches, however it is no longer a given.

The clearest way to differentiate between Wicca and Witchcraft, then, is as such:

- Witchcraft is a practice, that may be combined with any (or no) religion

- Wicca is a religion, that may be (but is not always) combined with the practice of Witchcraft

Thus while Wicca and Witchcraft can, and frequently do, go hand-in-hand, they have certainly come to a point in which they operate independently of each other.