Which Witch is Which Witch?

When we begin to talk about magickal ethics, we need to clarify the difference between a Wiccan and a Witch, mainly due to the fact that a sole Wiccan has a differing ethical and moral standpoint than a sole Witch. Below is what I’ve written on the Beliefs & Doctrine page.

In many cases, the terms ‘Wiccan’ and ‘Witch’ are used interchangeably. On this site, this is not the case. On this site, the term ‘Wiccan’ is defined as follows:

- A Wiccan is a follower of the religion of Wicca, which was popularised in the late 40’s by Gerald Gardner. Wicca is a religion based around the practise of Witchcraft. A Wiccan may or may not also be a Witch. A Wiccan will follow the beliefs and also practise ethically and responsibly.

Now, the term ‘Witch’ is slightly different:

- A Witch is a practioner of witchcraft, the artform created hundreds to thousands of years ago. Witchcraft is not a religion, but a practise. A Witch can be a Wiccan and embrace the beliefs and ethical views of a Wiccan, but some choose to practise as a Witch. Witches are not bound, unless they choose to be, to any specific ethical or moral doctrine.

I must exaggerate to you, however, that just because Witches are not bound to specific beliefs and ethics, it does not mean that they lack ethics and/or religion; they simply (usually) lack the religious and ethical construct of Wicca.

The methods and tools of Wiccans are often the same as those of the Witch. Witchcraft is the ‘practical’ side of Wicca, in which not all Wiccans partake - similar to individuals who consider themselves to be Christian but do not pray or attend church; it’s the same basic principle for Wiccans and witchcraft. Despite that fact, the variance is that Wicca is considered the religion with specific rituals and moral codes similar to those of other faiths. In addition, Wiccans will often call upon a deity or deities to assist them in either their rituals or their personal spiritual journey.

A third difference between Wiccans and Witches is that Witches may or may not concern themselves with the potential outcome of a spell or a ritual, whilst Wiccans are bound by either a threefold law or a karmic law. Basically, the way Wiccans and Witches view the cause and effect of their magick is different. Again, this does not imply that Witches lack respect for magickal power, nor does it imply that they are unethical.

The final basic difference is that Wicca is a relatively new religion/practise - around 50 years old. Witchcraft has been practised for thousands of years by people of differing backgrounds and cultures.

Similarities Between Wiccans and Witches

Of course there are similarities between Wiccans and Witches.

Number one, we’re all human, just like everyone else. And we all hold our own personal beliefs, values, ethics and morals aside from our religious views.

We also approach our magick in very personal ways, and these ways can be either complex or simple, or anywhere in between. Examples of this ‘personalisation’ of magick is evident in where we seek our guidance from and our ways of practise. For example, kitchen witches rely heavily on uncomplicated magick, much of which originates from superstition and folklore. Hedge witches (traditionally) and solitary practitioners (as a rule) do not belong to a coven. Solitaries depend on self-study, insight, creativity and intuition as ‘guideposts’. Members of a coven rely on each other for this learning and guidance.

Good Witch, Bad Witch

We all want to know by now - do bad Witches and Wiccans exist, and do they use their knowledge and power for personal gain and ill will?

The answer is yes - they exist, just like bad Christians, bad Muslims, bad Hindus, etc., all exist. People are people, and there are going to be bad people no matter what. This is a part of human nature, not a part of the religion. The good news is that these ‘bad’ people are the exception, not the rule.

Like all people, Wiccans and Witches face issues on a daily basis that require ethical and moral choices - Wiccans, I believe, face the ultimate responsibility in following the Wiccan Rede, which states ‘An it harm none, do as ye will’. This means that absolutely nothing can hurt anyone through my actions as a Wiccan. As a Wiccan, I have the absolute responsibility for myself and all the people around me, and the entire planet.

So for example, a choice a Wiccan or a Witch may face could be: Should magick be used as a weapon, even if it’s in self-defence? Both Wiccans and Witches view magick as ethically neutral; magick is gathered from the life energy of all things and is not black, white or grey. The energy is turned and directed by the practitioner towards his/her goal. Thus, it’s the practitioner’s usage of the energy that makes it black, white or grey magick.Additionally, individual views of what white, black and grey are can differ from person to person; a frustration of personalised faiths such as Wicca - defining anything in even near-concrete terms is almost impossible.So basically, to work good, ‘white’ magick, there are some general guidelines we must follow:

- As previously mentioned, Wiccans will often follow a threefold law or a karmic law - meaning anything that is sent out will come back to you; what goes around, comes around. This is a very good, if not the sole, reason to make sure that your motivations are positive.

-In following on from the above point, Wiccans and White Witches believe it to be highly unethical to attempt to manipulate another person’s freewill - it cannot be done, and can only end badly if you are successful.This is especially true and most common in love magick. It often poses more questions than answers, like if the object of affection is truly in love or if it’s just the magick. In any case, this type of spell is selfish and is certainly not cast for the good of all. Many Wiccans and Witches use the universal motto, the last line of the Wiccan Rede (as mentioned above), ‘An it harm none, do what ye will’, in spellcraft, prayer and ritual. This can assist in guiding energy towards the cause that it is for and any misdirected energy can be dispelled.

- Wiccans and Witches realise that although the human mind and spirit hold unlimited potential, the ability to recognise all possible outcomes of magick is not so unlimited. Humans are not, unlike the divine, omniscient, and sometimes our good intentions go astray and wield negative or unwanted results. This part of the Rede acts as a request for the higher (and wiser) powers to direct the magick towards the best possible outcome.

Preaching

It must be said that Wiccans and Witches both believe in religious tolerance and respect every Path as having potential for human enlightenment. Since everyone is different, it is understandable that the Paths that each unique individual chooses will be equally as unique. In keeping with this outlook and understanding, you’ll never find a Wiccan or a Witch standing on the street preaching about magick or faith. Both believe that people must discover and choose their own Path. In actual fact, by coming from other religious background, many Wiccans and Witches have done exactly this.

In Closing

Do not forget that there is always room for spontaneity and ingenuity in the Craft; your Craft is just that - YOUR Craft. It’s all about YOU and what you want to do. Do not, no matter what your religion or spiritual belief(s), allow the thoughts and ideals of others override your own sense of judgment, or your beliefs or values. Your traits are what make you you, and no-one should be able to take that away from you.