Difference Between Wicca and Witchcraft

[Jenny Crow]

Originally Posted by Jwow6

Hello,how do I know what kind of witch I am or what practice to follow ??? Thank u

Read, research all the different traditions and read some more

I found an amazing entry in the wiki about holy water and witch wars.

If you ask me, both these sects held magic herbs and sacred oils as secret medicines.

From the wiki...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_water

In the Middle Ages the power of holy water was considered so great fonts had locked covers to prevent the theft of holy water for unauthorized magic practices: the Constitutions of Archbishop Edmund Rich (1236) prescribe that "Fonts are to be kept under lock and key, because of witchcraft (sortilegia). Similarly the chrism and sacred oil are kept locked up.".[8]

I believe there is little difference between wicca and witchcraft historically. They were a religious order as any other with advanced knowledge on how to heal the sick. In the case of wars that broke out, witches probably resorted to guerrilla warfare and espionage due to the massive armies the churches had.

I have found no examples where wiccas were involved in warfare however, so they may be a more pacifist sect by comparison.

As others may have mentioned, I believe nothing from ancient times may have survived the extermination of the witches, so if there were a religion, there most certainly will be little to no record of their order.

According to the wiki the wiccans revived around the mid 1900s. Perhaps this was an alternative expression from the modern medical establishment?

[norseman]

"the extermination of the witches" ? Never happened ! You need to go further back in history to the Cunning Folk - originally tribal shaman in Europe, later tribal leaders in matters concerning healing and spirituality. They were a rural group and STILL ARE ! During the attempted "witchcraft" pogroms, they were the original target of the church but were protected by the rural communities. Many Cunning Folk infiltrated the churches as priests and used the bible as a source of incantations. They gained an undeserved reputation as the best witch-finders and turned this around to target witch-hunters. So, that's the Cunning Folk still doing what we always did ! A rural Craft at it's best.

@MrKappa. Wicca originated with Gerald Gardner in the 1950's in Britain. It was an attempt to widen the appeal of Witchcraft without using the "W" word. It has a core of Craft, surrounded by all the rituals and trappings of a religion. It did not catch on in Britain to the extent that it did in the US, mainly because British Traditional Witchcraft and the Cunning Folk have remained strong throughout.

I find that many wiccan stores carry frankincense and myrrh, along with a myriad of other healing herbals and magics.

That's the paradigm, right? Wiccans perform magics, and Christians perform miracles.

I only wonder what was in Holy water in ancient times, and where this information has been lost in history.

[norseman]

Holy Water is, and always has been, ordinary H2O representing the water of the river Jordan where John the Baptist conducted baptisms.

Wiccan shops sell a whole range of merchandise for pagans which, of course, includes wiccans. This one in the UK is fairly typical
http://www.pagandreams.co.uk/.

Wicca has a core of Craft which many wiccans prefer to ignore as it suggests Witchcraft which many, in their ignorance, associate with Black Magics.

Many newcomers to spirituality begin in wicca but then soon move on to deeper ancient levels. I certainly did, finding little in wicca to hold my interest.
Wicca and it's ancient parent are both heavily involved with Nature in the broadest sense and many study herbalism and Alternative medicine.

How many christians have you met who can perform miracles ?

[Jenny Crow]

[quote=norseman
Wicca has a core of Craft which many wiccans prefer to ignore as it suggests Witchcraft which many, in their ignorance, associate with Black Magics.

Many newcomers to spirituality begin in wicca but then soon move on to deeper ancient levels. I certainly did, finding little in wicca to hold my interest.
Wicca and it's ancient parent are both heavily involved with Nature in the broadest sense and many study herbalism and Alternative medicine.

How many christians have you met who can perform miracles ?[/QUOTE]

Yes, I agree that Wicca has a core of Craft which besides ignoring - many Wiccans don't even recognize.

I started in Wicca, too, many years ago but what turned me against it was the material that was included from the Golden Dawn and other magical societies, some of which was quite Christian.

Originally Posted by norseman

Holy Water is, and always has been, ordinary H2O representing the water of the river Jordan where John the Baptist conducted baptisms.

That's possible, and the order to keep the holy water locked away, may have been to protect it from poisonings by witches. However, it is also possible it was powerful medicine of the day, and stolen for personal righteous magic/miracle/medical practice.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22288378

2012 Apr

The additive and synergistic antimicrobial effects of select frankincense and myrrh oils--a combination from the pharaonic pharmacopoeia.

Frankincense and myrrh essential oils have been used in combination since 1500 bc; however, no antimicrobial investigations have been undertaken to confirm their effect in combination. This study validates the enhanced efficacy when used in combination against a selection of pathogens.

If only we knew what baptisms did with cleansing original sin, or illness from the poor at some point in time. I mean, in way ancient history.

Originally Posted by norseman

How many christians have you met who can perform miracles ?

Back in the day, probably all of them.

Nowadays they don't even prescribe anti-biotics in the same way, as pathogens are adaptive.

It is however undeniable that herbalism survives in Wicca, while in Christianity it is long forgotten, and rather mystical practice.

Many modern medicines are in fact derivatives of ancient herbs. Aspirin, and willow bark is a prime example.

Here is one for the Wiccas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNd5cZ9lbM0

"Pennyroyal Tea"

I'm on my time with everyone
I have very bad posture

Sit and drink Pennyroyal Tea
Distill the life that's inside of me
Sit and drink Pennyroyal Tea
I'm anemic royalty

Give me a Leonard Cohen afterworld
So I can sigh eternally

I'm so tired I can't sleep
I'm a liar and a thief
Sit and drink Pennyroyal Tea
I'm anemic royalty

I'm on warm milk and laxatives
Cherry-flavored antacids

Sit and drink Pennyroyal Tea
Distill the life that's inside of me
Sit and drink Pennyroyal Tea
I'm anemic royalty

Originally Posted by Jwow6

Hello,how do I know what kind of witch I am or what practice to follow ??? Thank u

the practice chooses you.

[Treehugger]

Originally Posted by norseman

Wicca has a core of Craft which many wiccans prefer to ignore as it suggests Witchcraft which many, in their ignorance, associate with Black Magics.

Wicca and it's ancient parent are both heavily involved with Nature in the broadest sense and many study herbalism and Alternative medicine.

So wouldn't Wicca's ancient parent be Witchcraft? I can't understand why any Wiccan would want to ignore Witchcraft? Isn't that kind of like ignoring who your ancestors were?


Very interesting discussion!!

[Jenny Crow]

Well, ONE of Wicca's ancient parents is Witchcraft, most definitely - yes, it's like ignoring who your ancestors are.

Many Wiccans feel 'safe' I think when they follow Wicca (at least this new, modern fluffy-bunny stuff) and Witchcraft is the scary old ancestor they want to lock up in the closet, lol