There is a longstanding debate that rages among the practitioners of Witchcraft as to what separates the magic worker from the Wiccan. While nothing in either the Craft or Wicca is so firmly set in dogma as to give a rigid definition, there are a few basic principles that set them apart.

To begin with, Wicca is a religion. Even among the vastly different paths the followers of Wicca travel it is designed to create a lifestyle that seeks harmony and balance between themselves and the universe around them. Wicca as a religion is still fairly young in the world. It arose in the mid-twentieth century as a modern expression of ancient pre-Christian religions and ways primarily based on the European Celtic models. Wicca has also borrowed a bit from the ceremonial aspects of such magical societies as the Order of the Golden Dawn. In Wicca's symbology there is a great deal of the old-world concepts of the duel nature of divinity and the individual's Gnostic connection with that divine power.

Witchcraft is not a religion but is practiced more as a lifestyle and way of belief in the ability to manipulate the influences of the world towards the obtaining of specific desires. The witch does not have to subscribe to a god-figure as a higher authority in order to perform their work. Often those who have been born with a stronger than average inherent psychic ability are drawn to the ways and trappings of witchcraft as a means of conceptualizing what they experience.

Both Witches and Wiccans study and practice the performance of spell work, herbal healing, divination and cooperation with spiritual powers and energies. While the Wiccan is bound by his or her code of ethics to harm no one, the witch is not so bound to selfless activity. The Witch may also curse, entrap or seek personal advantage over their fellow beings with the abilities they can muster. The Witch can live as a member of no religion or they may accept any of a number of widely divergent religious beliefs as an influence on the work that they perform.

There is a universal law of attraction that affects both the Witch and the Wiccan. As you put forth so do you have returning to you. This affects both groups. In a loving harmony the Wiccan will find much of the goodness that is of this life returned to them. The secular witch who uses their skills for the betterment of their fellow creatures can still obtain this spiritual harmony. Also the reverse holds true for each group.

Negative and destructive actions bring its like back to the practitioner whether their work was done in a religious framework or not. That the Wiccan holds this concept in high regard tends to bring the like returns in ways more easily recognized. The Witch that does their work for harmful purpose may not see the immediate effects of their returned seeds and it may be up to the law of Karma to eventually reestablish a balance within that individual's spirit.

It is because of these similarities in action rather than a difference of motivation that creates such confusion between the two in the general population. When both are practicing spell work it is often hard for the uninitiated to tell much difference. Even secular Witchcraft is usually viewed as some type of religion or, most often, anti-religion by the followers of yet other, more mainstream religions.

Drawing rigid lines between the different aspects of magical practitioners is both frustrating and fruitless. Wiccans are Witches just as all ladies are women. Witches on the other hand can be far removed from the precepts of Wicca without diminishing their own, often diametrically opposed, views of magical ability.

As well as writing and researching on the paranormal and occult phenomena that intersect our reality, Douglas Mefford can also be found helping spread literature to the world at Bell, Book & Candle Publications or hanging out at his bungalow in Greenwoods Village.

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written by April (heroheidR), December 31, 2008

Douglas, I have to disagree here. I have run into some Wiccans who never practice magic. They practice the religion, with all of it's trappings but they do not do any spellwork outside of what may occure in ritual.

From what my investigations have show of late... Magic is the more esoteric and occult practices of any religion, So that litteraly you could and sometimes do have Christians who are witches.

Then ther are some of us who do magic and don't really work spells at all. There is just a deep desire and a will that what we want will be accomplished. Some things take longer than others but... Also most when they think of spell work don't think of things like cooking or cleaning. But some of the most potent spell crafting can be done while sweeping the floor or doing the dishes, or even cooking the evening meal. Since Green witchcraft has been covered in a different article do we even need to talk about gardening? Just a couple of things to think about. It seems that the more we investigate things the less hard and fast deffinitions or labels hold true.

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:-)
written by Douglas Mefford, December 31, 2008

Love it when you comment April!

Even the drawing of the protective circle around their worship area is a work of magic. And yes, however much they deny it, all religions are magical systems. Some of the strongest (and most stubborn) witches I have met have been little old Catholic Ladies with their Prayer Book of spells!

I agree that few practitioners realize how powerful is the spell work that goes on in the subconscious as they work their way through life. It is a highly advanced form of magic that is usually obtained only after they have passed through the more traditional and better known aspects of ritual spell work.

Gardening? That is living right in the very midst of the Earth\'s magic and power. And yes, labels and definitions are only loose garments to help us get to the inner truth of total connectivity.

Till next time, Peace and Blessed Be...

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written by April (heroheidR), January 01, 2009

That's part of my point here. Even casting circle( one of my favorite pieces of magic) becomes nothing more than part of ritual. I have attended circles with non magical Wiccans and it always feels dead. There is no spark or connection, no sense of being outside the normal reality in sacred space. No sense of timelessness. All the pomp and circumstance and none of the substance.

I have learned alot from the little old Catholic ladies, and little old Jewish grandmothers ). So much so that early on I developed a hard and fast rule... Never mess with a Nun. The closest thing we get to Vestial Virgins in this day and age.

I like talking to you too, Douglas. Thanks for the interesting articles. It gives me more things to think about.

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written by KnightMarian/Marian, January 05, 2009

Getting up and going to work is a ritual.No magick there.No religion in it either.
I am strictly Craft. I say it, thus it is so. I know I am protected. I believe( and it is just my own lil belief)anything of a lower frequency cannot hinder what I do, and anything of a higher one is not going to want to! I draw no protective circle around me when I am working in the garden or the kitchen or art or even if I am working on my 'Magickal spells and potions'. I believe (and again..my own belief)Craft is an art all by itself..of living it, saying it and knowing it...Wicca is a religion, with all its trappings of hierarchy and inituations and rubbish. NOT saying that the religion is rubbish. Cause if you choose to follow that path, more power to you! I choose not!Blessings!

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written by ROMANA, January 05, 2009

MARIAN, I LIKE THE WAY YOU THINK. YOU DO WHAT YOU DO KNOWING THAT IS GOING TO WORK. AND THAT IS THE KEY. IF YOU BELIEVE IT IS SO THEN IT WILL BE SO. SOMETIMES ALL THE RITUALS CAN OVERTAKE THE MAGICK.

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