Here’s some witchy food for thought. This post may raise an eyebrow or two or result in swishing of your familiar’s tail and for that I apologize in advance. I’m actually circling back to something important that was said by an Elder witch before me. Today, most Practitioners of witchcraft who believe in earth based magickal craft, may refer to themselves Wiccans. Some will also explain they practice the Wiccan religion. When in fact, the words themselves are all wrongly and loosely applied and technically no actual “wiccan religion” in terms of the words used to describe it is real. This can be the fact in many words that have morphed over time, but let’s delve into this deeper, shall we?
I can’t take credit for the idea, as it was once told by Laurie Cabot, to the world. If you don’t know her, you should. She has indeed earned the title of “The official witch of Salem” and said in an interview long ago something that raised a bit of chaos about Wicca and Wiccans. She pointed out, quite unequivocally, the words Wicca and Wiccan refer to simple terms as “male and female witch.” In other words, she pointed out we were making a religious movement out of the wrong word.
I fact checked this information. In Anglo-Saxon and Old English glossaries, (reference: Online Etymology Dictionary+1) the Latin word augur is translated to wicca and wicce, respectively feminine and masculine versions. The same article explains that the actual word wicca is also used to apply or indicate other Latin terms (such as hariolus, conjector, and pythonyssa,) In translation, all mean ‘diviner, soothsayer’. So, are you a soothsayer? This is where the word comes from and it’s old as the days are long.
So if you state “I practice Wicca”, this theoretically means you have just said that “I practive (female) Witch.” and is not truly expressing an actual “organized religion” so to speak. If you say “I am Wiccan”, you are pretty much disclaiming “you are a witch” and maybe even a male one at that. Though today, male witches have adopted the hip word “warlocks.”. So confusing at once.
So Laurie was correct, and we are all incorrect in the use of the word, but not in the use of our practice at heart.
The breakdown of possibly misunderstanding of these words occurred when Gerald Gardner – Wikipedia launched some of the first religious texts claiming to have found the practice of Gardnerian Wicca. Translation: His grimoires, thoughts and rules of the Craft organized and published to help witches. These were some great guidelines for witches all over the world and so the Wiccan revolution was born.
Soon after, the word Wicca and Wiccans was generically applied to most witches who practiced the Craft. Shows like Bewitched, or decades later shows like Charmed or movies like Hocus Pocus or Harry Potter would entice the younger generation to dabble in these realms. In a nutshell, The term Wiccans and Wicca were applied to those who practice in these nature-based religions and POOF here we are today.
So is there a truly Wiccan religion? If you asked a Latin teacher or history teacher your grade would not be passing. The use of the word is all wrong. It would be better to call it the Witchcraft Religion or the Pagan religion, other than the Wiccan religion, at least the words would be used properly.
Hundreds of thousands of practitioners of “witchcraft” believe otherwise and so and may just curse you if you tell them there’s not such a thing called Wiccan religion (hypothetically speaking as I slowly turn into a frog.)
If practicing Wicca or calling yourself Wiccan is your way of life, so mote it be. Don’t let some simple mis conjecture of words or sentences stop you. Labels are so uncool anyways.
We are allowed to use words in any way we see fit, and the English language has plenty of examples of this slang gone bad. In New England, the word “friggin’” is just as bad as the F-bomb in the lower Eastern states, yet people in Maryland will say that “Frig It” isn’t even a bad word because theirs starts with an FU–. Over the years it’s all about what has been adopted as good, bad, or ugly and what cultures are using it. I guess that’s the difference between the North and the South, in the States, the simple way they drop their F bombs. Jeez, just when we thought the war was over the language dilemma still exists.
So to be clear, technically speaking our pagan based natural religious movement, and worship isn’t really (called Wicca) yet it indeed is an ACTUAL organized movement shared among many people who practice the craft. To us and to the outsiders, wiccan religion is real, so who cares if you’re referring to it incorrectly or not?
In a nutshell it’s all about your way of life and what you believe. I consider myself an earth-based pagan witch, but I don’t call myself a wiccan religion practitioner because of the root of the words that I learned thanks to Laurie. I choose to use my words as they were originally intended. When someone asks my religion, I grew up Catholic but later switched to Paganism. Another reason I like that is they have to stop and think for a minute what I’m talking about. They really have no clue what Paganism is all about.
That gives me time to escape from the conversation and avoid the hanging on the noose. Been there, done that, 1692. This is my story and I’m sticking to it. Blessed be to all the Wiccans out there. Don’t let a little word saga get in the way. Carry on! So mote it be.
I hope to visit Laurie Cabot’s shop Enchanted on my next visit to Salem. I’ll keep you posted on that journey.
What are your thoughts on this topic? Let me know. I’m happy to hear from you.
Click HERE to Go back to the Main Directory, and read something else!
Leave a Reply