What's the Difference?? HOODOO/VOODOO/WICCAN/PAGAN
 

Student here Learning

I'm trying to find out if there's a big difference in the spiritual practices/rituals, are they all related to witchcraft, or if witchcraft is different that all practices. Is there one more powerful than the other? Which one have better results when practicing? Thank you all for your wisdom.:hug3:

Respectfully,
:hug2:

All magic -- the hoodoo, voodoo, wiccan, or druid-- , works on the same basic principals, There is no one that is "better" than the others in terms of efficacy. That said, there are differences in technique between all of the options. However, your question causes me a little concern.

Following a spiritual path is not truly about which is most powerful, or which is most glamorous. Each of these have particular "Laws", "Rules", philosophy, and cultural context. The choice of path isn't just to gain magical power, or to enforce your will on reality. They are life paths that people choose to follow not out of greed or avarice, but because the path speaks to them. It calls to them. There are higher forces which you must acknowledge, believe in, and follow the wisdom of. If you are truly determined to learn magic for only magics sake, there is one path available that doesn't necessarily hold the restrictions of other paths.

That is the path of the witch, as opposed to the path of the Wiccan. Wiccans fall under the umbrella term of witch, but not all witches are Wiccan. There are really no set definitions for what a witch is. You don't even have to believe in deities or worship anything. You could simply believe in the power of mind, energy, and symbol, and thus work your will. However, be warned. Violating the free will of others or pursuing magic towards egotistical ends always has consequences.

If I were you, I would consider your options carefully and choose the option you can believe in, or that you already do believe in. I believed in deity before I became a witch, and was called to shamanism by a higher purpose, life circumstance, and a unquenchable longing for spiritual satisfaction. Shamanism fit the bill, and so too, did witchcraft -- for the purposes of connecting with the Earth and its rhythms, achieving personal empowerment, and worshiping deity, the divine, in all its forms and incarnations. I hope this helps.

Would that solo practice also be known as a “hedge witch”?

A hedge witch is a subset of witch that are solo practitioners. In the olden times, they got the name for living near the edge of town and keeping to themselves in most cases, except when called upon for help. They were often midwives, healers, and diviners/psychics. There are a couple of distinctions between the hedge witch and other types of witches, including being a solo practitioner, but also providing service to the community in which they live. Like in theistic witchcraft, a hedge witches practice is closely connected to the earth, perhaps more so. Their magic often utilizes herbs and natural objects, making them related to the modern “green witch.” However, hedge witches are not necessarily theistic (believing in or worshipping deities.)

Pagan and Voodoo are both quite broad categories of religion. Wicca and Hoodoo are more specific; Wicca being a variety of Paganism and Hoodoo a variety of Voodoo.

Pagan is from the west and middle east, it was created by the monotheists as an umbrella term to cover all the polytheistic faiths as a contrast to monotheism, including ancient and modern types such as Wicca.

Voodoo is a group of African and African-diaspora faiths of which Hoodoo is one created by African Slaves in America.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voodoo
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paganism