Welcome to my Wicca FAQ! I actually don't get many questions about Wicca, but for some guests of this site, this may be the first time that they've had a first-hand encounter with a Witch, Wiccan, or Pagan. So, whether you're completely unfamiliar with Wicca, still unclear on some of the details, a non-Wiccan who understands and respects our ways, or a long-time Witchie who's just curious for new perspectives, I hope that you enjoy this FAQ! Let me know what you think.
This is a very big question! The short answer is that Wicca is an initiatory spiritual path that falls under the broad umbrella of Paganism and is centered around the spiritual practice of WitchCraft. However, unless you're already familiar with these terms, that may just raise more questions! Therefore, I'm going to do a bit more explaining. I'll start by discussing the basics of Paganism. Then, I'll talk about WitchCraft. Finally, I'll discuss Wicca.
Paganism is a broad umbrella term for all earth-centered religions or spiritual traditions. Given the diversity among the many Pagan paths, it can be difficult at times to find a common definition that applies to all of them. However, the following list, adapted from the book Paganism: An Introduction to Earth-Centered Religions by Joyce and River Higginbotham, will do nicely:
So there you have it - a brief introduction to Paganism.
WitchCraft is also known as the Craft of the Wise or simply the Craft. The definition of WitchCraft varies depending on who is doing the defining. However, all of these different explanations revolve around related definitions of the word "magic" -- a reality that is at the heart of the Craft. I would like to focus on several definitions of magic offered by self-proclaimed practitioners of the Craft:
Definition #1 (D1) is one of the most common definitions. Most Witches take this definition quite literally. This means that we believe that by focusing our will, we can directly affect change in the world around us. We visualize what we desire, we charge this image with spiritual energy, and we project or release that energy into the world, willing for our vision to become reality. Then, we usually take "mundane" action in support of this vision -- but we believe that our willpower itself, independent of the physical actions we take in the service of it, is affecting outward circumstances in favor of our envisioned oucome.
In some ways, this is similar to prayer. However, some prayers call on an external entity, such as a deity, an angel, an ancestor, or a spirit guide, to use their will to create the desired outcome. With the Craft, we Witches are generally taking "direct action" in pursuit of our vision.
D1 has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that it clearly explains and emphasizes one of the central tenets of WitchCraft -- namely, that we are responsible for the creation of our own realities, and that each of us has the power to choose what reality we create. However, one disadvantage is that this definition lacks an explicit spiritual focus. Some Witches with this understanding of magic may pursue very noble ideals and maintain an impeccible standard of personal ethics. Others, however, may use magic as an excuse to pursue personal gain without any consideration of ethics and personal development. They may spend their days casting endless money spells, love spells, even hexes, without delving any deeper into the spiritual meaning of the magical principles that they are toying with.
D1, then, is generally a more or less value-neutral and non-spiritual definition of magic. Anyone who uses magic is considered "Craft" or a Witch according to this understanding, regardless of whether they see their Craft as a deeply spiritual pursuit or a no-holds-barred quest for personal gain. Of course, a deeper reading of the meaning of the word "Will" alters this view of D1 dramatically -- but that reading lies beyond the scop of a Wicca FAQ!
Definition #2 (D2) is also a very common definition, popularized most recently by Starhawk and others. In it, the focus shifts from transforming outward circumstances to transforming the structures and qualities of consciousness underpinning those circumstances.
Since its focus is on consciousness rather than outward results, D2 usually fosters a more spiritual understanding of the Craft. Many such Witches see the Craft as an inherently spiritual and healing endeavor. Starhawk is herself an excellent example of this, with most if not all of her explanations of magic and the Craft being deeply rooted in a spiritual understanding of the work at hand.
Definition #3 (D3) is one of my favorite definitions to date. D1 and D2 focus on the use of our willpower and our consciousness to go out into the world and change it. D3 focuses on our encounter with the Divine as an inherently transformative and positive experience. To me, it implies that D1 and D2 will flow quite naturally from the choice to embrace the Divine. Therefore, it offers us a very spiritual definition of magic -- and thus the Craft -- while preserving our understanding of the power of transformation that each of us holds in our heart.
So, these are three of the major definitions magic that in turn shape our understanding of WitchCraft. They have some degree of overlap, and some people may offer other definitions that introduce new understandings. D3 is closest to my own understanding, as long as you keep in mind that at least for me, it acknowledges the truth of D1 and D2. Therefore, from this point forward, please assume that I am using D3 unless otherwise noted.
Wicca is a spiritual path that falls under the broad umbrella of Paganism.
Some people have difficulty understanding the difference between a Pagan and a Witch or Wiccan. Therefore, allow me to make an analogy.
Christianity is a very broad and basic term that describes many different churches and faith traditions. Catholicism is a subset of Christianity -- it's a specific type of Christianity with its own history, beliefs, etc., that most people would still identify as being a part of the overall Christian religion. But there are also other forms of Christianity that are clearly not Catholic -- for example, the many Protestant denominations.
In other words, all Catholics are Christian, but not all Christians are Catholic.
Paganism and Wicca have a very similar relationship. Paganism is a very broad and basic term that describes many different earth-centered spiritual paths. Wicca is a subset of Paganism -- a specific type of Paganism with its own history, beliefs, etc., that most people still identify as being Pagan. But there are also other forms of Paganism that are clearly not Wiccan -- for example, Asatru, Druidry, the many Native American traditions, etc.
In other words, all Wiccans are Pagan, but not all Pagans are Wiccan.
Now that we have that out of the way, I'd like to share a few more of the specifics of Wicca.
Wicca is an initiatory spiritual path. The good definition of "initiatory" is far beyond the scope of this FAQ. To make a long story short, it's a mystical understanding of the nature of any truly spiritual journey. We are called from within to follow a Divine path, and as we choose to accept this calling, every aspect of ourselves and our life is transformed. This journey usually involves initiation into a mystery tradition and extensive spiritual teaching, but ultimately it is the Divine who conducts the initiation, not any individual or group.
In addition to its initiatory nature, Wicca includes many other aspects that are more readily explained to the casual observer.
As an earth-centered religion, Wicca includes the foundations of Paganism described above. It also usually includes the following distinctive traits of its own:
All of the above, however, is an abstract and impersonal definition of Paganism and Wicca. To me, Wicca is much more than an ideology or belief structure. It's a way of experiencing myself, my life, and our blessed world as interwoven embodiments of the Divine. Wicca is in the feeling the change of the seasons; the sound of the wind and the rain through the trees; the touch of warm sunshine on a cool January afternoon; the harmony I'm discovering with the waxing and waning of terrestrial, lunar, solar, and celestial energies; the direct and personal experience of the joy of the Goddess and the God in ritual settings and my daily life. For me, Wicca is a celebration of life, a loving embrace of the Earth and all who live here. And that direct experience of Divinity in myself and my life is more powerful and meaningful to me than anything that I could ever explain in words.
Yes, I'm a Witch. Don't worry though -- I'm a good Witch!
Asking me if I'm a good Witch implies that Witches are generally bad. It would be like asking a Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, or other religious person if they are "good."
And no, I'm not a Warlock. Male Witches are still called Witches. I'm male, and I'm a Witch. The word "Warlock" essentially means "breaker of oaths" -- and that does NOT describe me or any Witch who I would associate with. A handful of Witches are trying to reclaim the word Warlock, but personally, I'm happy to leave it in the dusts of history.
In a word, yes.
I've experienced magic firsthand. It's not usually very Hollywood, and I may not be the most adept psychic or powerful spellcaster in the world. But I've felt the energy of magic flow through me like a mighty river through an ancient forest. I've heard magic whispering in the murmur of leaves rustling in the wind, and roaring in the crash of ocean waves pounding the sandy shore. I've even seen it, both in the landscape of my dreams and in the countless moments of synchronicity that have transformed my very life. In other words, I've experienced magic in the same way that you're feeling, and hearing, and seeing your surroundings at this very moment.
I've felt the flow of magical energy, felt it rise and fall within me and around me, felt the energies of people's auras before I even knew what an aura was, and even communicated with non-physical beings who have offered powerful insights into my life and our world. I've raised and directed magical energy, and I've watched my external circumstances shift in response to such casting. To me, asking if magic is real is even more silly than asking if gravity is real. I experience it on a daily basis, and I've made this experience a central part of my spiritual life.
In other words, magic is real -- and it's here to stay.
This may be hard to swallow for someone who doesn't work with magical energy in a conscious way. We're told at an early age that magic is imaginary, and that imaginary means non-existent. We're presented with a very mechanistic, Newtonian understanding of the world as a lifeless machine, wholly separate from the abstract or even non-existent realm of thought, consciousness and spirit.
However, consider this: even the scientists of our age no longer live in a Newtonian world. The world of quantum physics is quite a departure from the mechanistic worldview, and the holographic model of the world is a step further into a far more fascinating and accurate understanding of reality. We are beginning to understand that consciousness plays a far greater role in this world than previously realized -- not as a limited phenomenon generated by specific interactions of matter, but rather as a quantity unto itself that is just as substantial and powerful as matter, if not more so.
Many Witches such as myself assert that consciousness creates matter, not vice versa -- or at the very least, the two co-create each other. This is why I appreciate the creation of terms such as "energy consciousness" to describe the basic building blocks of reality.
I understand that the idea of magic may be difficult for some people to swallow. Witches and other practitioners of magic claim to be able to accomplish extraordinary feats. We claim to heal the sick using the conscious direction of energy. We claim to perceive that which is generally considered to be beyond our perception or even non-existent. We claim to communicate with distant people, dead people, and even entities who have never incarnated as human beings. We claim to change the circumstances of physical reality through focusing and changing our own consciousness. These are extraordinary claims in this day and age, and extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence.
A detailed exploration of "evidence" is beyond the scope of this FAQ. However, consider this: how far is the Sun from the Earth? Far, far, away! Yet the Sun is such an inconceiveable concentration of energy that it can reach through the dark of space and bathe our entire world in its radiant light. The very fabric of spacetime is curved and molded by the mere existence of such an intense localization of matter and energy.
Is it so absurd, then, to consider the possibility that human beings -- complex bundles of energy, children of Earth and Sun -- can consciously direct the flow of energy to produce changes in the course of events? The only difference between the power of magic and the power of the sun's physical energy is that contemporary science has devoted more time to the study of physical solar energy than it has to the study of magical energy. Both energies are powerful; both can be understood through observation and experience; indeed, both are two aspects of the same natural power.
I predict that within my lifetime, we will make such strides in scientific research and evolution of human consciousness that a disbelief in magic will be considered a form of superstition. If people fail to perceive examples of "energy consciousness" such as the human aura, they may be carefully examined to determine what is blocking their healthy psychic senses. In my opinion, we're already halfway there -- do an Internet search on terms such as "human energy field," "energy consciousness," "spiritual healing," "science magic," and "debunking the debunkers" to read the latest on the debate.
Not yet. If I develop my magical abilities to that extent, then I'll do more with them than play around with broomsticks and fireballs!
Do I believe that such magic is possible? That's a complex question, but in a word, yes. Do I believe that such magic is possible on 21st Century Earth? Frankly, that remains to be seen. The more people who believe in it, the greater the possibility that it will become manifest. As it is, though, 99% of magic is far less flashy than anything you see coming out of Hollywood. It lies in the behind-the-scenes shifts in energy that create moments of synchronicity in your favor.
In a word, no.
First of all, I have yet to meet a single Witch who worships "The Devil." The Devil is a creation of the Christian pantheon. Most Witches don't worship him any more than they worship Jesus or Mary.
Many Witches do honor a Horned God. However, the Horned God is not the Christian Devil. He is a God of the Woods, a God of the Hunt, a God of the Wild. He is the most general face of a variety of Gods such as Pan, Herne, and Cernunnos, all of whom share similar traits as Nature Gods and Consorts to the Goddess. Some reactionary Christians argue that these references to the Horned God are thinly veiled forms of Devil worship. But in fact, it is the Christian Devil who was first described as having horns in an effort to defame the Horned God and thus attack lingering Pagan traditions.
There is such a thing as Satanism, and some people practice it as a serious religion. But few Satanists call themselves Pagan. In fact, believe it or not, there are more Pagans who embrace Christianity than Satanism! [See Christian Wicca on WitchVox.]
Second... no.
On a fundamental level, magic is the work of physics and metaphysics. Scientific research is coming closer and closer to linking up with a spiritual understanding of human energy-consciousness that has existed in various forms for thousands of years. Principles familiar to "mundane physics" such as harmonic resonance are also prominent in "spiritual physics." Witches and other energy workers are the spiritual equivalent of engineers -- consciously directing the flow of energy to achieve a desired result. In other words, there are only two clear answers to the question of who is responsible for the power of magic -- the universe in which magical energies flow, and the energy worker who is making conscious use of those energies. If we want to blame magic on the Devil, then we may as well blame gravity on the Devil too.
Third... no, no, no.
I'm not going to deny the fact that there is harmful magic out there. If physical engineering can create weapons of mass destruction, then magical engineering can do the same. The outcome of magic lies in the intent of the magician. But virtually all magic use that I've ever encountered has sought to help and heal others, or at least sought to harm none in the pursuit of one's own needs and desires. In fact, prayer is a passive form of magic -- sending a petition to your God(dess) or your world with the faith that it will be answered. Harmful magic is possible, but considering the fact that you reap what you sow, why bother?
Don't believe everything you hear on TV or read in a book. Magic isn't the work of the Devil. It's the work of us all, even those of us who disbelieve in its existence. In the right hands, it can change the world for the better.