Foundations

Lesson 2 of 9 ยท 4 min

Wicca and witchcraft: what's the difference?

Wicca is a religion

It has theology, ethics, festivals and (in many traditions) initiation. You can be Wiccan without casting a single spell.

Witchcraft is a practice

Witchcraft describes a set of practices rather than a belief system. Witches may be atheist, Christian, Pagan or anything else. Many witches are not Wiccan and would not want to be described as such.

Where they overlap

Many Wiccans practise witchcraft, and Wiccan-derived material dominates beginner books and social media, which is exactly why the two words get muddled. Getting the distinction right is a basic courtesy to both groups.

And other things again

Ceremonial magic, historical folk practice, and closed traditions from other cultures are all separate again. Borrowing from closed traditions (practices restricted to particular communities) is not appropriate for beginners.

Worth remembering

Wicca is a religion; witchcraft is a practice. They overlap but aren't synonyms.

Next: Ethics, consent & responsibility

Where historians disagree, this app says so. Where traditions differ, no single one is presented as the correct Wicca. Our approach

Back to all lessons