Witchcraft, Magic, Spells: Different Concepts

In my usual surf around the internet, I stumbled across a forum discussion about the aged old saying "All Wiccans are Witches, but not all Witches are Wiccan". It went on to determine that if someone practices magic, then they must be a Witch, because a Witch who doesn't do magic isn't a Witch.

Here is my response to this thread:

I think the problem here is (perhaps unintentional) interchanging of terms that aren't necessarily the same thing.

Magic and Witchcraft are not the same thing. Where Witchcraft is the craft, magic is but one tool used within. Anyone can use magic...even (an over used scenario) someone blowing out birthday candles. Wiccan's who claim they don't use "Magic", generally misinterpret Magic to mean Witchcraft (and by association, spells as well). They certainly use magic in their religious worship of their God and Goddess, but they may not utilize Witchcraft or spells in conjunction with their religious workings. Magic requires at least three things...intent, concentration and focus. All three are used to come in contact with the God and Goddess, therefore they utilize magic in their workings. Witchcraft utilizes numerous tools, including magic, so it's not exclusive to the craft. Therefore the statement can be untrue, to those who choose not to be Witches, while being Wiccan. That's not to say that any Wiccan who chooses to be a Witch is wrong themselves. Perhaps the phrase should be changed to "Many Wiccans are Witches but not all Witches are Wiccan"

As for the Wiccan Rede, it's only eight words, not an entire poem. The "Rede of the Wiccae" is just one person's interpretation of how the Rede should be followed...doesn't necessarily mean that that's what the Rede actually means.

Spell work is not necessarily an integral part of Wicca. That's like saying one MUST be a carpenter in order to be a Christian...because Jesus was a carpenter, when he wasn't preaching "God's word". Not all Christians are carpenters by profession, so why must all Wiccans be Witches?? It'd almost be like saying one MUST be a Wiccan in order to be a Witch. I'm not a Wiccan, but I AM a Witch. I don't agree with much of Wicca, so I don't practice it. Why force someone to be a part of something when they don't agree with it's usage?

But these are just my views, and don't necessarily or have to reflect others.

I'd post a link to the actual thread, however you have to be a member of the site in order to read the post, so unfortunately only I and other members of the forum, can read the thread...and I'm not going to post the whole thread, that'd be like a privacy invasion. Sorry.





Ma’iingan