Voodoo vs. Wicca

[PrincessKLS]

Okay so some people say Voodoo is black magick (meaning evil) and Wicca is white magick (meaning good). And a lot of times you hear Wiccans and other pagans say whatever you do comes back to you x amount of times and they always press the black magick. However each path has their view of what's white or black magick issue. So when it comes to magick practices how do these two paths differ?

[MonSno_LeeDra]

I don't think one can give a valid comparrison between the two. Your trying to compare and contrast the difference between two systems that the only true similiarity they have is that they are both spiritual.

Before you could even do a compare and contrast you'd have to find a defination for each and a common persception of what each entails.

For the VooDoo facet I think one could as that is not as corrupted and "ecclectic" as Wicca is.

Yet I think it would be like comparing Apples and tomatoes, thier both red on the outside and their both fruits.

[aranarose]

Vodou is a synchretic religion based on African traditional beliefs, masked with Christianity to please the slave-owners. It's a tradition that evolved over time, and so is very practical. The ethics and magic are based in that practicality.

Wicca was made up. The ethics are idealized.

[PrincessKLS]

I don't really agree with the 3-fold law thing. In fact, I'm questioning how karma truly works, many Wiccans and white magick new agers believe whatever you do comes back to you and they basically believe the "turn the other cheek addage" as opposed to the eye for an eye. Trust turning the other cheek all the time doesn't guarantee success.

And putting up with oppression doesn't always solve the problems.

If we all turned the other cheek, and just acted like doormats than were would most of the blacks be in our world be? (they have a lot more freedom since the civil rights movements)

If we had a bunch of passive gay people, would California even have legal same sex marriages right now?

And the lists can go on and on.

I've heard that in Voodoo they do practice revenge, is this true? What's the consequences according to their beleifs?

[aranarose]

I'm more familiar with Hoodoo, which has a shared background with Vodou. Yes, revenge is practiced. A good practitioner will do a reading to determine if the revenge is justified. The belief is that there is no backlash, because you are the agent for the universe to dole out justice on the offending party. Meaning you're karma biting them in the ass.

[PrincessKLS]

And lots of white witches and some even gray witches will warn you against that :lol:

I also find it funny that Wiccans believe in not harming people and they take it to the extreme. Flat out, no matter what you decide to do in life rather you intentionally do it or not, it's going to offend/hurt people.

You can't please everyone. And speaking of offending people, perhaps we should all give up our pagan paths since so many Christians are screaming and crying about it, j/k 8O

[Lunacie]

Vodou is a synchretic religion based on African traditional beliefs, masked with Christianity to please the slave-owners. It's a tradition that evolved over time, and so is very practical. The ethics and magic are based in that practicality.

Wicca was made up. The ethics are idealized.

I know next to nothing about Voodoo, and it doesn't seem you know much more about Wicca. It is not "made up". The roots of Wicca - the Craft of the Wise - go back even further than Christianity. Sure it has changed over the years - perhaps most notably in the last 20 or 30 years which you could also call evolving - but the core beliefs and practices that we see today can definately be traced back to old Greek and Italian and other forms of witchcraft.

Those who have studied with a traditional teacher of Wicca understand the Wiccan ethics rather than idealizing them the way some neo-Wiccans are doing in studying on their own.

Raven Grimassi has done a very credible job of tracing the history of Witchcraft and the religion of Wicca, I'm in the process of reading his book "The Wiccan Mysteries: Ancient Origins and Teachings."

[Toby Stimpson]

Well,

Of what I have found... "voodoo" and "wicca" cannot be compared.

I mean, the ritual is different. The 'Gods' are different. The history is different. I would even go as far as to say the essence is different.

I would also say that the reason you cannot compare is that voodoo is a term which could mean anything. There are a bunch of traditions loosely connected or not connected at all to each other all over the Caribean and Africa.

If we're talking about Santeria, and I have to stress that I am only a beginner to even udnerstanding the differences between different groups... there are positive and negetive spirits, but that positive and negetive is not eqauted with good and evil.

There's also no concept of Karma in

I'd also stress that karma in the wiccan sense... is realistically totally different and a watered down distorted version of Karma in it's true east asian sense. There is no three fold law in Karma as far as I'm concerned.

One facet I would say common to both wicca and "voodoo" is the ability to syncretize. There are many different groups within the Orisha/Lwa sphere that have been synctretized with different traditions and as a result created or evolved into totally new ways of worship/traditions. In Wicca we also find this.

BUT theres a difference. The difference being in that a lot of times that synctretism in the Orisha traditions... took centuries to form. And in the case of say, Trinidad... I read that the majority of the synctretization between Hinduism and Orisha tradition was done by worshippers of both traditions. In wicca, you have white people, willy nilly running around adding things that really don't go well together or have no history together and thinking it will fit.

In Santeria in Cuba... we have something different. We have only 2 or 3 traditions being syncretized. Catholicism and Yoruban religion with atleast 300 years of history together... and a careful underlaying and overlaying of themes and symbols until what we have have now. Papa Legba (symbolized by, I believe it was Jacques Pierre?) is not simply symbolized by the image of the saint but also shares common features.

We don't find that in Wicca where it seems any negetive female figuire in any mythology around the world suddenly becomes a 'repressed Goddess archetype" now worthy of worship... by white people.

Ofcopurse Im generalizing about wicca and a lot of Wiccans don't do that... but it is something I see occuring quite frequently.

[aranarose]

We don't find that in Wicca where it seems any negetive female figuire in any mythology around the world suddenly becomes a 'repressed Goddess archetype" now worthy of worship... by white people.




Like Lilith.

[PrincessKLS]

Lilith comes from old Jewish folklore.

[Toby Stimpson]

Lilith comes from old Jewish folklore.

yes, yes she did :thumbsup:

[Lunacie]

I don't really agree with the 3-fold law thing. In fact, I'm questioning how karma truly works, many Wiccans and white magick new agers believe whatever you do comes back to you and they basically believe the "turn the other cheek addage" as opposed to the eye for an eye. Trust turning the other cheek all the time doesn't guarantee success.

And putting up with oppression doesn't always solve the problems.

If we all turned the other cheek, and just acted like doormats than were would most of the blacks be in our world be? (they have a lot more freedom since the civil rights movements)

If we had a bunch of passive gay people, would California even have legal same sex marriages right now?

And the lists can go on and on.

I've heard that in Voodoo they do practice revenge, is this true? What's the consequences according to their beleifs?

I will agree that there are some who say they follow Wicca, as well as some who follow New Age beliefs, who have a very skewed view that says "If you're nice, the cosmos will be nice to you." But Wiccans who follow the Olde Religion know that sometimes you have to be mean to be nice - you may have to bitch slap someone to wake them up to the consequences of their actions - or simply stop them from continuing those harmful actions.

Wicca isn't about being "passive", it's just that we have these four precepts that go: "To know, to will, to dare, to be silent." We understand the ethic of reaping the conseqences for our actions, we are very deliberate therefore in what we do (especially when it comes to magical workings), we don't go into anything serious in a half-hearted manner, and we don't brag about our "super dooper spells".

Many Wiccans believe there is a time and place for revenge, and understand that revenge is a dish best served cold - not when you're fired up and too angry and upset to think clearly about those four precepts.


Sorry... I know this thread was placed in the Voodoo section, but if you're going to compare Voodoo to Wicca, shouldn't you compare the real thing, not the fluffy version?

[aranarose]

I know next to nothing about Voodoo, and it doesn't seem you know much more about Wicca. It is not "made up". The roots of Wicca - the Craft of the Wise - go back even further than Christianity. Sure it has changed over the years - perhaps most notably in the last 20 or 30 years which you could also call evolving - but the core beliefs and practices that we see today can definately be traced back to old Greek and Italian and other forms of witchcraft.

Those who have studied with a traditional teacher of Wicca understand the Wiccan ethics rather than idealizing them the way some neo-Wiccans are doing in studying on their own.

Raven Grimassi has done a very credible job of tracing the history of Witchcraft and the religion of Wicca, I'm in the process of reading his book "The Wiccan Mysteries: Ancient Origins and Teachings."

While Wicca may have ancient roots, there's no denying the fact that the rituals, beliefs, and practices of Wicca as it is today were made up by one particular person. Those beliefs and practices have been expanded on, yes, but they were still purposefully made up. That doesn't mean they are any less valid, but to deny truth is to deny reality, and that does no one any good at all.

What I meant is that Vodou evolved over a much greater period of time, and in reaction to much harsher circumstances, than Wicca did. It's all well and good to say, "An it harm none..." but when you've been harmed, brutally, that leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. Vodou, and other related traditions, developed amongst peoples who were brutally oppressed. Vengeance brought them comfort. The idea that the Lwa were there to crush their enemies helped them to move forward. It has defined the culture of Haiti.

The ethics of the systems are incomparable, because the circumstances in which the systems developed are incomparable. One grew up amongst a group of priviliged, elites who had time to philosophize and discuss ideal ethical principles. The other grew up amongst downcast slaves who only had time to survive.

[aranarose]

Any good Vodou or Hoodoo practitioner will do in depths readings before any kind of revenge work. It gives time to cool off. It gives time to reasses. And it let's the worker know if the person who came to them was really unjustly harmed, and so deserves to take revenge, or if they were simply suffering the consequences of their own actions, and needs to learn to live with it.

[Lunacie]

And lots of white witches and some even gray witches will warn you against that :lol:

I also find it funny that Wiccans believe in not harming people and they take it to the extreme. Flat out, no matter what you decide to do in life rather you intentionally do it or not, it's going to offend/hurt people.

You can't please everyone. And speaking of offending people, perhaps we should all give up our pagan paths since so many Christians are screaming and crying about it, j/k 8O

I believe that line should read "I also find it funny that some Wiccans believe in not harming people and they take it to the extreme." We are not all fluffies who believe in doing only "white magic." A great many Wiccans understand that magic is neither black nor white, but all the colors of the spectrum.

[aranarose]

yes, yes she did :thumbsup:

And actually, Jewish folklore got Lilith, amongst many other things, from Babylonian folklore.

[Lunacie]

While Wicca may have ancient roots, there's no denying the fact that the rituals, beliefs, and practices of Wicca as it is today were made up by one particular person. Those beliefs and practices have been expanded on, yes, but they were still purposefully made up. That doesn't mean they are any less valid, but to deny truth is to deny reality, and that does no one any good at all.

Actually there is quite a bit of historical information that does deny just that. Gerald Gardner took some basic beliefs and practices that have been around for a very long time, and added some stuff to them. Isn't that how religions and philosophies "evolve"?


What I meant is that Vodou evolved over a much greater period of time, and in reaction to much harsher circumstances, than Wicca did. It's all well and good to say, "An it harm none..." but when you've been harmed, brutally, that leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. Vodou, and other related traditions, developed amongst peoples who were brutally oppressed. Vengeance brought them comfort. The idea that the Lwa were there to crush their enemies helped them to move forward. It has defined the culture of Haiti.

Wicca / Witchcraft was a reaction to slavery as well. Are there gradiations of the harshness of slavery that I'm missing here?

"Harm None" is probably a more recent addition to Witchcraft/Wicca and comes from the time of Gardner when the religion was still hidden because it was illegal to practice anything other than Christianity in most of Europe. It comes from Wiccans doing magic to halt the spread of the Nazi evil without bringing the authorities down on their heads.

Grimassi has traced Witchcraft as Goddess worship back as far as Voodoo and it's very possible they share some of the same roots. But do you really believe one religion is more valid than another simply because it is older?


The ethics of the systems are incomparable, because the circumstances in which the systems developed are incomparable. One grew up amongst a group of priviliged, elites who had time to philosophize and discuss ideal ethical principles. The other grew up amongst downcast slaves who only had time to survive.

That is the question that prompted this thread, is it not? A comparison of the ethics or values of Wicca and Voodoo. Since I know next to nothing about Voodoo, I am going to go along with those who say they may be too different at this point to really compare them.

Wicca was given to people who were downtrodden by slavery, and has always been open to anyone - rich or poor, educated or not. I don't see that as a negative in comparing it to Voodoo.

[Toby Stimpson]

I think, instead of debating the validity or nonvalidity of Raven Grimassi's work when it comes to the History of Wicca... a topic which really is complex and a much broader debate to be had. Personally I have not seen any evidence to say whether "Wicca" is older than Gerald Gardner... but then again Im not wiccan. At the same time however it is important to put out there that age of a religion does not mean validity. The only validity that it gives is that there is more concrete proof of it's existence.

we should perhaps go back to the origins of this thread, as Lunacie said :)

I think what would make it so difficult to really say what the difference or similarities in moral teachings between the two is that we have two traditions that are not single traditions but broad umbrellas with many DIFFERENT and smaller traditions underneath.

I mean a Wiccan... will have a bit different ideas than a Stregharian witch... and this is what I see being thrown around very often in this thread... almost as if witchcraft and wicca are synonymous. Witchcraft is an artform and has existed a very long time... Wicca is more debateble. Two different things, one being under the other. Witchcraft is NOT a single religion... and has never been. Its a term used broadly. And as this thread is addressing Voodoo and Wicca, not witchcraft... then we must keep it to Wicca.

[Toby Stimpson]

Wicca was given to people who were downtrodden by slavery, and has always been open to anyone - rich or poor, educated or not. I don't see that as a negative in comparing it to Voodoo.

Lunacie... can you show us where OTHER than in Raven Gramassi's book where slaves were even connected to wicca. What sources does he ciute for that piece of information... becasue I am highly skepticle.

[Lunacie]

I think, instead of debating the validity or nonvalidity of Raven Grimassi's work when it comes to the History of Wicca... a topic which really is complex and a much broader debate to be had. Personally I have not seen any evidence to say whether "Wicca" is older than Gerald Gardner... but then again Im not wiccan. At the same time however it is important to put out there that age of a religion does not mean validity. The only validity that it gives is that there is more concrete proof of it's existence.

we should perhaps go back to the origins of this thread, as Lunacie said :)

I think what would make it so difficult to really say what the difference or similarities in moral teachings between the two is that we have two traditions that are not single traditions but broad umbrellas with many DIFFERENT and smaller traditions underneath.

I mean a Wiccan... will have a bit different ideas than a Stregharian witch... and this is what I see being thrown around very often in this thread... almost as if witchcraft and wicca are synonymous. Witchcraft is an artform and has existed a very long time... Wicca is more debateble. Two different things, one being under the other. Witchcraft is NOT a single religion... and has never been. Its a term used broadly. And as this thread is addressing Voodoo and Wicca, not witchcraft... then we must keep it to Wicca.

Well, just as "Wicca" is an umbrella term for quite a few traditions (with some similarities and some differences) it also falls under the even larger umbrella term of Witchcraft, and for centuries perhaps was known simply as Witchcraft, while the term Wicca (or Wica) is somewhat newer. So my use of Wicca/Witchcraft here is in referring to those earlier times, eh?

Saying that Wicca is actually Witchcraft does nothing to deny that there are other variations of Witchcraft.

[Toby Stimpson]

Well, just as "Wicca" is an umbrella term for quite a few traditions (with some similarities and some differences) it also falls under the even larger umbrella term of Witchcraft, and for centuries perhaps was known simply as Witchcraft, while the term Wicca (or Wica) is somewhat newer. So my use of Wicca/Witchcraft here is in referring to those earlier times, eh?

Saying that Wicca is actually Witchcraft does nothing to deny that there are other variations of Witchcraft.

oh ofcourse. But Wicca is slightly different from the main umbrella of witchcraft... and if I follow you correctly... woudl it be better to say that:

witchcraft has been around a lot longer than wicca... and that Wicca as we know it today started in the 1950s?

In which case... Wicca is not far older than christianity. Witchcraft maybe... but Witchcraft as we know in unto it's self has no religious connotations... but in different traditions is different. The only similarity and baseline piece of witchcraft is that it is symbolic ritual or energy work using outside stimuli to create an effect?

It would be wrong to say that Wicca was made up... but I think it might be fairer to say that Wicca is an amalgamation of previous elements... that were around before. But that in itsel;f self does not make Wicca predate christianity.

Coming back to the whole question about the difference between Wicca and Voodoo... I honestly think that it would be a case by case basis.

Difference between:

Gardnerian vs. Candomble
Alexandrian vs. Santeria

etc,.

[Teresa]

Not everyone who practices voodoo uses magic. Most of the practitioners who do delve into the magical aspects will tell you up front that they use all aspects of magic as needed. They have no issues with working with both hands. IMO, a lot of Wiccans get hung up on the only do good stuff and they do not look at things as objectively as others perhaps. I can see something positive coming from a spell that others may see as negative. Personally It is how things are perceived that is the hang up for most of them.

[aranarose]

oh ofcourse. But Wicca is slightly different from the main umbrella of witchcraft... and if I follow you correctly... woudl it be better to say that:

witchcraft has been around a lot longer than wicca... and that Wicca as we know it today started in the 1950s?

In which case... Wicca is not far older than christianity. Witchcraft maybe... but Witchcraft as we know in unto it's self has no religious connotations... but in different traditions is different. The only similarity and baseline piece of witchcraft is that it is symbolic ritual or energy work using outside stimuli to create an effect?

It would be wrong to say that Wicca was made up... but I think it might be fairer to say that Wicca is an amalgamation of previous elements... that were around before. But that in itsel;f self does not make Wicca predate christianity.

Coming back to the whole question about the difference between Wicca and Voodoo... I honestly think that it would be a case by case basis.

Difference between:

Gardnerian vs. Candomble
Alexandrian vs. Santeria

etc,.

If we're going to look at Witchcraft vs. Vodou, again, you really can't compare the two. Witchcraft, in and of itself, is not religious. Vodou is.

[Toby Stimpson]

If we're going to look at Witchcraft vs. Vodou, again, you really can't compare the two. Witchcraft, in and of itself, is not religious. Vodou is.

well not really. Because Vodou is only one form of Orisha worship. In some ways it's religious... but I've also heard that to other people it's not a religion. Its just like some people might say that Wicca is not a religion... but more a lifestyle.

PrincessKLS, what exactly do you mean when you mean Vodou in your original post?

[aranarose]

well not really. Because Vodou is only one form of Orisha worship. In some ways it's religious... but I've also heard that to other people it's not a religion. Its just like some people might say that Wicca is not a religion... but more a lifestyle.

PrincessKLS, what exactly do you mean when you mean Vodou in your original post?


Vodou is a religion. The magical practices associated with Vodou are a practice. :) I've never heard anyone say Wicca isn't a religion; it is. You can make a religon into your lifestyle, but it's still a religion.

But while the Orishas and Lwa are similar, Vodouns serve the Lwa not the Orishas. There are some differences. :)

[Lunacie]

oh ofcourse. But Wicca is slightly different from the main umbrella of witchcraft... and if I follow you correctly... woudl it be better to say that:

witchcraft has been around a lot longer than wicca... and that Wicca as we know it today started in the 1950s?

In which case... Wicca is not far older than christianity. Witchcraft maybe... but Witchcraft as we know in unto it's self has no religious connotations... but in different traditions is different. The only similarity and baseline piece of witchcraft is that it is symbolic ritual or energy work using outside stimuli to create an effect?

It would be wrong to say that Wicca was made up... but I think it might be fairer to say that Wicca is an amalgamation of previous elements... that were around before. But that in itsel;f self does not make Wicca predate christianity.

Coming back to the whole question about the difference between Wicca and Voodoo... I honestly think that it would be a case by case basis.

Difference between:

Gardnerian vs. Candomble
Alexandrian vs. Santeria

etc,.

The roots of Wicca are Witchcraft, just as many other religious paths have those roots. From what I've been reading in the last year or so, Wica as a label apparently does predate Gardner.

There are still and always have been some who say they are Witches who incorporate religious aspects into their practices, just as there are some who leave the religious aspects out of their Witchcraft.

All religions change and evolve from their roots, but generally speaking they retain the basic nature through all those changes.

And as far as I know, all religions are amalgamations of various different beliefs that have been incorporated for one reason or another over the years. Christianity, for one, has been well known to absorb the beliefs and practices of the cultures they have annexed.

[VroomBroom]

http://whisperingwood.homestead.com/Voudon.html

http://www.swagga.com/voodoo.htm

http://www.erzulies.com/site/articles/view/5

these links may help you

[Artiste-LiLi]

I think, instead of debating the validity or nonvalidity of Raven Grimassi's work when it comes to the History of Wicca... a topic which really is complex and a much broader debate to be had. Personally I have not seen any evidence to say whether "Wicca" is older than Gerald Gardner... but then again Im not wiccan. At the same time however it is important to put out there that age of a religion does not mean validity. The only validity that it gives is that there is more concrete proof of it's existence.

we should perhaps go back to the origins of this thread, as Lunacie said :)

I think what would make it so difficult to really say what the difference or similarities in moral teachings between the two is that we have two traditions that are not single traditions but broad umbrellas with many DIFFERENT and smaller traditions underneath.

I mean a Wiccan... will have a bit different ideas than a Stregharian witch... and this is what I see being thrown around very often in this thread... almost as if witchcraft and wicca are synonymous. Witchcraft is an artform and has existed a very long time... Wicca is more debateble. Two different things, one being under the other. Witchcraft is NOT a single religion... and has never been. Its a term used broadly. And as this thread is addressing Voodoo and Wicca, not witchcraft... then we must keep it to Wicca.

I know little of Wicca...I have friends who view themselves as Wiccan, they've told me a bit, I read alot so have learned a little through that and that's about all I know about that.

I am an adoptee into a New Orleans style VooDoo family...I was "adopted" almost 12 years ago. While I know much about my family's traditions in VooDoo practice....I am but a "babe in the woods" in regards to the larger picture of Voudu/Voudun/VooDoo. I am learning, but it is truly a lifetime's study.

For me, based on what little I know of Wicca, I do not feel Wicca and VooDoo can truly be compared. We can say that both are religious in nature, both have rituals, both have "forms" which are to be followed................but as someone else said...it is like comparing apples and tomatoes (tomatos?)..both are red outside and are in the fruit family and that is about it. (I might choose to use strawberries and tomatoes for my comparison..but hey..that's just me)

In regards to the appearance that many see Witchcraft and Wicca as the same/interchangeable, or the viewpoint that one is above or under the other...............I was taught this: Wicca is a RELIGION; Witchcraft is a SCIENCE, a CRAFT (just as the name says), an ART. (Now is where it gets kinda "sticky" and people can get ugly....I'm just sayin' what I was taught) A WITCH will always practice "WitchCRAFT"...but a WICCAN may choose to not.

Just my 2...................

[Artiste-LiLi]

Not everyone who practices voodoo uses magic. Most of the practitioners who do delve into the magical aspects will tell you up front that they use all aspects of magic as needed. They have no issues with working with both hands. IMO, a lot of Wiccans get hung up on the only do good stuff and they do not look at things as objectively as others perhaps. I can see something positive coming from a spell that others may see as negative. Personally It is how things are perceived that is the hang up for most of them.

I agree. I was taught in both my family traditions that magic(k) has "no color"..meaning it is neither black nor white, good nor bad.........it just "is". In my traditions it is the intent with which the energy (magic[k]) is used that makes it be "whatever". Though as Shalaye has said.....what I see as positive/good/white someone else might see as negative/bad/black.

In both my traditions there are no "issues" with "paybacks".........sometimes that is just what is called for by the "Gods/Goddesses".

I suppose that could potentially be a point of comparison between some forms of Wicca and some forms of Voudu/VooDoo.

[RainInanna]

Wicca is a RELIGION; Witchcraft is a SCIENCE, a CRAFT (just as the name says), an ART. (Now is where it gets kinda "sticky" and people can get ugly....I'm just sayin' what I was taught) A WITCH will always practice "WitchCRAFT"...but a WICCAN may choose to not.

Yes I think Lunacie's point was that that is what some are taught, but it's an ongoing debate even for Wiccans and Witches, so one can't just disregard the thought with "Witchcraft simply isn't religious". To some, it is, to some, it's not. To some, Wicca's roots have existed for a very long time, which isn't so surprising given it's obvious ties to Eastern religions, ceremonial magic, and "folk witchcraft". So it's very disconcerting to see the things that Wiccans discuss at length themselves, even in a subforum here at MW, dismissed and tossed aside. If folks are interested in learning about Wiccan beliefs, feel free to come join us in our subforum, we are happy to share with you.

I, for one, would like to learn more about what makes Voodoo different from Wicca.

[RainInanna]

On topic, I can summarise:

Okay so some people say Voodoo is black magick (meaning evil) and Wicca is white magick (meaning good).

They're wrong.

I don't even know anything about Voodoo, and I can tell you Wicca isn't "white magick" or "good". Wiccans don't even believe in "white magick" or "good" versus "evil". For many, that duality isn't even relevant.

I also find it funny that Wiccans believe in not harming people and they take it to the extreme. Flat out, no matter what you decide to do in life rather you intentionally do it or not, it's going to offend/hurt people.

I don't know any Wiccans who believe that. If they're out there, I haven't met them yet. In fact, most of them I know have much more complex interpretations of the rede and threefold law. And hey, I think we're discussing that over in the Wicca subforum now aren't we? I'm interested to see what your thoughts are on the responses there.

[Thyrsos]

SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY!
Baron Samedi vs Cernunnos
for total Underworld Badass
DOMINATION!

[Ęthelflęd]

*buys a front-row seat

[VroomBroom]

*brings beer and pretzels*

[Hunger]

*Begins prepping Anki for the championship bout next week*

[Lunacie]

In regards to the appearance that many see Witchcraft and Wicca as the same/interchangeable, or the viewpoint that one is above or under the other...............I was taught this: Wicca is a RELIGION; Witchcraft is a SCIENCE, a CRAFT (just as the name says), an ART. (Now is where it gets kinda "sticky" and people can get ugly....I'm just sayin' what I was taught) A WITCH will always practice "WitchCRAFT"...but a WICCAN may choose to not.

Just my 2...................

I wouldn't give you 2 cents for that. Wicca is indeed a religion that is based on using the magic that is present in our world, history says that the goddess gave us magic in order to free ourselves from slavery, but some believe that magic is a natural force that has always been here. Witchcraft also uses the magic that is present inour world, because (duh) there are many kinds of Witches, and Wiccans are just one kind.


Yes, the whole point of being a Witch is practicing witchcraft or the use of the magical arts. Someone who says they are Wiccan but chooses not to do magic either doesn't understand that most Wiccan rituals actually involve magic -or- isn't actually practicing Wicca. Not that whatever they are doing isn't valid, but it isn't really Wicca, eh?

[Hunger]

I wouldn't give you 2 cents for that. Wicca is indeed a religion that is based on using the magic that is present in our world, history says that the goddess gave us magic in order to free ourselves from slavery, but some believe that magic is a natural force that has always been here. Witchcraft also uses the magic that is present inour world, because (duh) there are many kinds of Witches, and Wiccans are just one kind.


Yes, the whole point of being a Witch is practicing witchcraft or the use of the magical arts. Someone who says they are Wiccan but chooses not to do magic either doesn't understand that most Wiccan rituals actually involve magic -or- isn't actually practicing Wicca. Not that whatever they are doing isn't valid, but it isn't really Wicca, eh?

Never really bought into the whole revisionist wiccan history thing, especially concerning 'escaping slavery'.

[Artiste-LiLi]

Originally Posted by Artiste-LiLi http://mysticwicks.com/enlighten/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?p=3552882#post3552882)

In regards to the appearance that many see Witchcraft and Wicca as the same/interchangeable, or the viewpoint that one is above or under the other...............I was taught this: Wicca is a RELIGION; Witchcraft is a SCIENCE, a CRAFT (just as the name says), an ART. (Now is where it gets kinda "sticky" and people can get ugly....I'm just sayin' what I was taught) A WITCH will always practice "WitchCRAFT"...but a WICCAN may choose to not.

Just my 2...................




I wouldn't give you 2 cents for that. Wicca is indeed a religion that is based on using the magic that is present in our world, history says that the goddess gave us magic in order to free ourselves from slavery, but some believe that magic is a natural force that has always been here. Witchcraft also uses the magic that is present inour world, because (duh) there are many kinds of Witches, and Wiccans are just one kind.


Yes, the whole point of being a Witch is practicing witchcraft or the use of the magical arts. Someone who says they are Wiccan but chooses not to do magic either doesn't understand that most Wiccan rituals actually involve magic -or- isn't actually practicing Wicca. Not that whatever they are doing isn't valid, but it isn't really Wicca, eh?


Ok....I had this whole good answer typed out....and the frickin' thing got trashed so......piss on it.....I got better things to do with me time on my 12th anniversary.

I'll just put the short version here for now: I'm not Wiccan, don't wanna be but don't mind learning and I clearly stated that I know virtually nothing regarding Wicca. Everyone has their own way of seeing things and there is NO "one and only truth"...you have yours I have mine...we've each been taught how we've been taught and that is that. I was not attacking...I was making a comment regarding what I have been taught in my 48 years as a Family Tradition (Appalachian Mountain Magic..which can be religious if you want...but can be only "scientific" if you want) Witch, an (going on 12 years) adoptee of a New Orleans style VooDoo family and what the people that I personally know (3 who practice Magic/Witchcraft..the other 2 who don't) who call themselves Wiccan have told me. The 2 who don't practice Witchcraft but say they are Wiccan explained it to me this way....they are interested in the religious aspects of Wicca, the worship of the Lord and Lady, the "spirituality" of Wicca...but they are not interested in the "magic/witchcraft" "sciencey" aspects. I'm not promoting it...I'm not condoning it......I'm just repeating what they said to me.

As for the history aspect you shared...........I don't know......my birth path says nothing of that...my VooDoo path I'm not allowed to share that much. Each religion has its own "history", its own teachings, its own structure, belief systems, rituals, ways of worship, etc (the list goes on and on). You have your teachings, I have mine and everyone else has theirs.

My guess is that you are Wiccan? (I truly don't know..I really am guessing here) If so, then you might want to be cautious in your words...tone does not carry well in the written word and I would hate to have anyone labeled a "cauldron thumper".

And I still stand by my statement that you can't really do a true "side by side/point for point" comparison of Wicca and VooDoo for the very reason that there ARE so many different "varieties".

Blessings to thee and thine...may your Goddess smile upon thee.

[RoseKitten]

Lilith comes from old Jewish folklore.

Not originally.

yes, yes she did :thumbsup:

No, no she didn't. ;)

And actually, Jewish folklore got Lilith, amongst many other things, from Babylonian folklore.

Actually, it's further back than that. Lillith is from Sumerian myth. She was a demon, which is where the lithu demons come from. She took up a home in Inanna's huluppu-tree. She seduced men, and prayed on pregnant women.

/end thread-jack.

I know little about Wicca, and next to nothing about voodoo, but I thought I should pop in and clear atleast that much up. :lol:

[Artiste-LiLi]

Yes I think Lunacie's point was that that is what some are taught, but it's an ongoing debate even for Wiccans and Witches, so one can't just disregard the thought with "Witchcraft simply isn't religious". To some, it is, to some, it's not. To some, Wicca's roots have existed for a very long time, which isn't so surprising given it's obvious ties to Eastern religions, ceremonial magic, and "folk witchcraft". So it's very disconcerting to see the things that Wiccans discuss at length themselves, even in a subforum here at MW, dismissed and tossed aside. If folks are interested in learning about Wiccan beliefs, feel free to come join us in our subforum, we are happy to share with you.

I, for one, would like to learn more about what makes Voodoo different from Wicca.

I agree, to some it is, to some it is not. In my tradition it can be both...or it can be more of a "science" with no religious aspect involved. I can only go by what I've read on my own and on what my friends (who are Wiccan by their own admission) have told me about their "brand"/"style" of Wicca.

I thank you for the invite to the subforum....I'll check it out when I have more time, because I love to learn....but not today.....today is my 12th anniversary and now I'm off to spend the rest of it with my sweet hubby who had me a vase full of had picked daisies and a handmade anniversary card with a poem written by him for me on the inside and a lovely rose photo on the outside, waiting for me when I got up.

Ta!

[RainInanna]

today is my 12th anniversary and now I'm off to spend the rest of it with my sweet hubby who had me a vase full of had picked daisies and a handmade anniversary card with a poem written by him for me on the inside and a lovely rose photo on the outside, waiting for me when I got up.

Good man, lucky you! Hope it continues to be wonderful for you.

[BlackLili]

Voodoo - used in this spelling, most often refers to the New Orleans-style faith-based communities in the U.S. developed by slaves and their descendants brought to the south from various coastal regions in Africa such as the Dahomey and Fon among others as well as their descendants from Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Due to heavy Christian propagandizing throughout the 19th and 20th centuries in America and Haiti and the "anti-spiritualism" and "anti-superstition" campaigns of those times, Voodoo (and Voudon) were vilified as at best ignorant, and at worst willfully evil. They were identified as taking advantage of a populace in need of being "saved."

It was at this time that Hollywood got ahold of the idea of Voodoo and started making zombie movies. Dolls with pins and walking corpses all became associated with Voodoo and labeled as "black magic" in the popular mind.

Since much of what a populace knows about things is informed by their media images, this is why a Wiccan with no knowledge of Voodoo might call it "black magic." If that Wiccan happened to also be informed about their own path by the media, I could see also where they would label their own path as "white magic."

Similarities between Wicca and Voodoo:
-faith-based spiritualities
-claim to have knowledge of the divine
-have rituals with choreographed movements that vary depending on region and practitioner
-are currently popular spiritual trends

That's the shorter list. The differences would take more time to list than I care to put the effort into doing.

[Hunger]

Never got the whole 'Voodoo doll' thing, hell, making wax dolls and setting them by the fire to slowly melt and kill someone with a wasting disease, heralds back to the highlands and before. It's not unique to voodoo by any means, but hollywood does love sensationalism.

[aranarose]

Dolls aren't used just for cursing or other so-called 'negative' magic. They are sympathetic, and may be used as a tool in bending the will of another, harming another, or healing and helping another or even yourself.

[Artiste-LiLi]

Never got the whole 'Voodoo doll' thing, hell, making wax dolls and setting them by the fire to slowly melt and kill someone with a wasting disease, heralds back to the highlands and before. It's not unique to voodoo by any means, but hollywood does love sensationalism.

Yes, Hollywood does, doesn't it?

And, no, the "doll thing" isn't new or unique to any one path. These have been around for ages in numerous cultures. In one of my paths they are called "poppets" and can be used for many things.

[Lunacie]

Ok....I had this whole good answer typed out....and the frickin' thing got trashed so......piss on it.....I got better things to do with me time on my 12th anniversary.

I'll just put the short version here for now: I'm not Wiccan, don't wanna be but don't mind learning and I clearly stated that I know virtually nothing regarding Wicca. Everyone has their own way of seeing things and there is NO "one and only truth"...you have yours I have mine...we've each been taught how we've been taught and that is that. I was not attacking...I was making a comment regarding what I have been taught in my 48 years as a Family Tradition (Appalachian Mountain Magic..which can be religious if you want...but can be only "scientific" if you want) Witch, an (going on 12 years) adoptee of a New Orleans style VooDoo family and what the people that I personally know (3 who practice Magic/Witchcraft..the other 2 who don't) who call themselves Wiccan have told me. The 2 who don't practice Witchcraft but say they are Wiccan explained it to me this way....they are interested in the religious aspects of Wicca, the worship of the Lord and Lady, the "spirituality" of Wicca...but they are not interested in the "magic/witchcraft" "sciencey" aspects. I'm not promoting it...I'm not condoning it......I'm just repeating what they said to me.

As for the history aspect you shared...........I don't know......my birth path says nothing of that...my VooDoo path I'm not allowed to share that much. Each religion has its own "history", its own teachings, its own structure, belief systems, rituals, ways of worship, etc (the list goes on and on). You have your teachings, I have mine and everyone else has theirs.

My guess is that you are Wiccan? (I truly don't know..I really am guessing here) If so, then you might want to be cautious in your words...tone does not carry well in the written word and I would hate to have anyone labeled a "cauldron thumper".

And I still stand by my statement that you can't really do a true "side by side/point for point" comparison of Wicca and VooDoo for the very reason that there ARE so many different "varieties".

Blessings to thee and thine...may your Goddess smile upon thee.

I'm sorry you felt I was 'thumping' you. I am actually thumping the whole "I know Wicca is a load of crap" opinion I too often see that is based on superficial knowledge from websites that mainly copy bits and pieces (many inaccurate and more used inappropriately) from authors who have never gotten beyond a basic Wicca 101 class.

And I'm frankly really tired of being told that Wiccans are not Witches. There are many kinds of Witches and Wiccans are one of those.

I believe it's also crap to say one can be a Wiccan without practicing Witchcraft. That is my opinion based on long years of study, research, conversations with other Wiccans, and discriminating reading. There are certainly other opinions but I give them very little credence. Wiccans who do not do any magic are either unaware that many of the rituals are actually magical in nature (casting the circle for instance), or choose not to infuse any magic into their rituals, and are therefore perhaps best called "Neo-Wiccans" because they aren't following the core beliefs and practices of Wicca.

Those who don't even bother to do rituals might best be called "non-practicing Wiccans."

Just as you say you are not allowed to share the history of your own path, until recently Wiccan history and many of the inner workings were not to be spoken of outside of one's coven. Recently scholars have taken on the task of researching the history of Wicca in order to disprove the inaccuracies and the comments from people who are dissing Wicca based on those inaccurate claims. Some of those claims have been around a very long time and were taken as factual in their day, and it's long past time to let the truth come out.


Yes. I am Wiccan. I have been Wiccan for 18 years, and I would rather have someone be upset with me when I complain about misinformation than to have someone think I'm a really sweet person because I go along with the "Wicca is whatever you want to make of it" and continue the confusion about what Wicca really is.

[Philosophia]

And lots of white witches and some even gray witches will warn you against that :lol:

Like who?

I also find it funny that Wiccans believe in not harming people and they take it to the extreme. Flat out, no matter what you decide to do in life rather you intentionally do it or not, it's going to offend/hurt people.

You know all Wiccans?

[VroomBroom]

I believe it's also crap to say one can be a Wiccan without practicing Witchcraft. That is my opinion based on long years of study, research, conversations with other Wiccans, and discriminating reading. There are certainly other opinions but I give them very little credence. Wiccans who do not do any magic are either unaware that many of the rituals are actually magical in nature (casting the circle for instance), or choose not to infuse any magic into their rituals, and are therefore perhaps best called "Neo-Wiccans" because they aren't following the core beliefs and practices of Wicca.

I have a friend that doesn't practice magic, she calls herself a goddess worshiper and will tell you straight up that she is not Wiccan.

[Sequoia]

Um... Lunacie... I respect you and all... really, I do...

But, um...

... Wicca is NOT an "ancient religion". It is based on pseudo-pagan Christian mysticism rituals and rituals concocted by The Golden Dawn. It has some classical influences, especially when used eclectically and mixed with reconstructionism of various religions, but it is not in and of itself ancient.

Please tell me you aren't playing the "Ancient Religion" card on us all.

It was created within the past hundred years, which makes it no less valid a religion, as they were ALL created at some point. But it is not "older than Christianity." Really, it isn't.

I understand that as a Wiccan you might be a bit defensive of your own religion, but you aren't doing it any credit by saying that it's ancient, as though that somehow validates it.

Your religion is valid. You don't have to claim that it's "ancient" as though that makes it more special. It's special on it's own.

[Artiste-LiLi]

I'm sorry you felt I was 'thumping' you. I am actually thumping the whole "I know Wicca is a load of crap" opinion I too often see that is based on superficial knowledge from websites that mainly copy bits and pieces (many inaccurate and more used inappropriately) from authors who have never gotten beyond a basic Wicca 101 class.

And I'm frankly really tired of being told that Wiccans are not Witches. There are many kinds of Witches and Wiccans are one of those.

I believe it's also crap to say one can be a Wiccan without practicing Witchcraft. That is my opinion based on long years of study, research, conversations with other Wiccans, and discriminating reading. There are certainly other opinions but I give them very little credence. Wiccans who do not do any magic are either unaware that many of the rituals are actually magical in nature (casting the circle for instance), or choose not to infuse any magic into their rituals, and are therefore perhaps best called "Neo-Wiccans" because they aren't following the core beliefs and practices of Wicca.

Those who don't even bother to do rituals might best be called "non-practicing Wiccans."

Just as you say you are not allowed to share the history of your own path, until recently Wiccan history and many of the inner workings were not to be spoken of outside of one's coven. Recently scholars have taken on the task of researching the history of Wicca in order to disprove the inaccuracies and the comments from people who are dissing Wicca based on those inaccurate claims. Some of those claims have been around a very long time and were taken as factual in their day, and it's long past time to let the truth come out.


Yes. I am Wiccan. I have been Wiccan for 18 years, and I would rather have someone be upset with me when I complain about misinformation than to have someone think I'm a really sweet person because I go along with the "Wicca is whatever you want to make of it" and continue the confusion about what Wicca really is.

No sweat. I'm not dissing Wicca and I'm not upset with you...truly, I'm not. As I've said before....tone does not (always) translate well in the written word.

I actually don't think Wicca is a "load of crap". I don't know enough about it to form an opinion one way or the other about it. I don't disapprove of it, I don't think it is an "invalid" religion/path. I have no issues at all with it. I also don't think that Wiccans aren't Witches.

My belief is that anyone can be a Witch if they study much and work hard enough. (Oh dear, I can already hear the "you MUST be BORN a witch (hereditary) or initiated before you can claim the title WITCH" crowd having a cow. Sorry folks..but I do believe that and I'll explain why)
You see, in my familial tradition......Witchcraft is just that...a CRAFT and most anyone can learn a craft. You have to work hard, you have to be dedicated, you have to study......but you can learn it.....the CRAFT of it. Some of my family tradition is secret and some is not......that is just how it is. Same with my VooDoo family: some secret, some not. I understand it is the same with your faith, Wicca. In my birth tradition, the religious aspects only come into play if you WANT them too. Now, most who follow my birth path, do indeed have some religious aspect (and it varies greatly as to which religion/religious aspect) to their Crafting...but not all and not all the time.............and some have no religious aspects at all. I suppose this is why I can be accepting of someone who says they can follow and practice a magical tradition without performing magic itself....or I can accept someone who says they are a Witch and they practice Witchcraft, but they don't have a religious aspect with their practice. In my world....that is entirely possible.

[Lunacie]

I have a friend that doesn't practice magic, she calls herself a goddess worshiper and will tell you straight up that she is not Wiccan.

That's lovely for her. What does that have to do with my explaining about Wicca though?



Um... Lunacie... I respect you and all... really, I do...

But, um...

... Wicca is NOT an "ancient religion". It is based on pseudo-pagan Christian mysticism rituals and rituals concocted by The Golden Dawn. It has some classical influences, especially when used eclectically and mixed with reconstructionism of various religions, but it is not in and of itself ancient.

Please tell me you aren't playing the "Ancient Religion" card on us all.

It was created within the past hundred years, which makes it no less valid a religion, as they were ALL created at some point. But it is not "older than Christianity." Really, it isn't.

I understand that as a Wiccan you might be a bit defensive of your own religion, but you aren't doing it any credit by saying that it's ancient, as though that somehow validates it.

Your religion is valid. You don't have to claim that it's "ancient" as though that makes it more special. It's special on it's own.


Nope, gonna disagree with you. Wicca has roots that reach very far back into history. Scholars who have studied the basic structure of Wicca (the beliefs and the practices) can trace those same elements back much farther than I realized myself just a few years ago.

When the same set of elements comes together time after time, in different cultures and different locations, to me that shows cohesiveness. Gardner took what he had learned from a group that was practicing "the old religion" and added a few things that he enjoyed and he thought added to the experience. His "version" is new, but the core concepts he built it on are very old. Some were calling it Wica before he ever learned about it.

However, I stated earlier that how old a religion is doesn't really have any bearing on the validity of it, or on it's measure of worth to the followers. I'm just trying to correct some of the misunderstanding that so many are showing about Wicca. If that makes me look "defensive" or "a cauldron thumper", then that's the perception of the reader.

[Lunacie]

:cheers:No sweat. I'm not dissing Wicca and I'm not upset with you...truly, I'm not. As I've said before....tone does not (always) translate well in the written word.

I actually don't think Wicca is a "load of crap". I don't know enough about it to form an opinion one way or the other about it. I don't disapprove of it, I don't think it is an "invalid" religion/path. I have no issues at all with it. I also don't think that Wiccans aren't Witches.

My belief is that anyone can be a Witch if they study much and work hard enough. (Oh dear, I can already hear the "you MUST be BORN a witch (hereditary) or initiated before you can claim the title WITCH" crowd having a cow. Sorry folks..but I do believe that and I'll explain why)
You see, in my familial tradition......Witchcraft is just that...a CRAFT and most anyone can learn a craft. You have to work hard, you have to be dedicated, you have to study......but you can learn it.....the CRAFT of it. Some of my family tradition is secret and some is not......that is just how it is. Same with my VooDoo family: some secret, some not. I understand it is the same with your faith, Wicca. In my birth tradition, the religious aspects only come into play if you WANT them too. Now, most who follow my birth path, do indeed have some religious aspect (and it varies greatly as to which religion/religious aspect) to their Crafting...but not all and not all the time.............and some have no religious aspects at all. I suppose this is why I can be accepting of someone who says they can follow and practice a magical tradition without performing magic itself....or I can accept someone who says they are a Witch and they practice Witchcraft, but they don't have a religious aspect with their practice. In my world....that is entirely possible.

Okay, good. Looks like we're basically on the same page after all.

I think the roots of Wicca were also a "Family Trad" kind of thing. But since families aren't as tightly-knit these days and tend to move far away from each other they've had to look for others to worship with.

I agree that anyone with the dedication and effort can learn to do Witch Crafting, and that not all Witches incorporate worship or even belief of the Gods into their practices. Just as not all religions incorporate Witch Crafting into their practices and beliefs.

However, Wicca is one of the ones that did incorporate both elements, and to leave either one out changes it enough that it doesn't really qualify as being Wiccan anymore.

[Hunger]

Gotta agree at least in part with AL.

Tricks in general aren't something that are hereditary, though I have to add a disclaimer that some tricks are hereditary, some special ability passed on through family, but general tricks are not.

[Lunacie]

Gotta agree at least in part with AL.

Tricks in general aren't something that are hereditary, though I have to add a disclaimer that some tricks are hereditary, some special ability passed on through family, but general tricks are not.

I was thinking along the same lines myself, and was trying to come up with some examples or analogies, but things are too chaotic around here this morning - and I'm out of my ADHD supplements - so I can't focus that well.

Hunger, can you give an example or an analogy of what you're talking about?

[Hunger]

General tricks like divining whether or not a journey has a likelihood of success or danger by tossing a forked stick the length of your arm end over end into the air, and if it lands pointing in the direction you're heading the journey will be successful, but if it points homeward, it indicates danger, is a general trick.

Whereas things like the evil eye or 'accursed prayer' are hereditary gifts or curses.

[Lunacie]

General tricks like divining whether or not a journey has a likelihood of success or danger by tossing a forked stick the length of your arm end over end into the air, and if it lands pointing in the direction you're heading the journey will be successful, but if it points homeward, it indicates danger, is a general trick.

Whereas things like the evil eye or 'accursed prayer' are hereditary gifts or curses.

Specific curses and prayers may be passed down though a family tradition, but anyone can learn to do those, just as anyone can learn to do healing work or prayers for that. So I'm not sure that's quite what was going through my head as I was reading this thread earlier.

[Hunger]

Specific curses and prayers may be passed down though a family tradition, but anyone can learn to do those, just as anyone can learn to do healing work or prayers for that. So I'm not sure that's quite what was going through my head as I was reading this thread earlier.

By accursed prayer I mean that all prayers are answered. Every time a prayer is answered it occurs as it was precisely requested, with many other additions and side effects. What makes it accursed is that the prayer always brings pain and suffering ultimately upon whoever the prayer is made concerning, even if you're trying to help them.

I'm not talking about 'family prayers' but rather a curse that affects all prayer within a familial line.

For instance, your neighbor tells you that their field isn't growing well, and you pray on their behalf for it to flourish, and it does, however the grain is tainted and cannot be sold. With curses like this, the more you try to fight the ill effects by being specific, the more horrific the effects are.

And the 'evil eye' is entirely hereditary.

[Lunacie]

I'm going to disagree that the evil eye is any more heriditary than any other psychic ability. Some people certainly might have a natural talent that seems to run in their family, but I think most of those things can be learned if one has the patience and the desire.

[Teresa]

I believe that we have gotten off topic here. There really is not much that can be compared between the two.

1.)They both are Umbrella Labels for different variations of each Religion.

2.) It could be argued that neither is considered a religion or also that both are.

3.) Some people would consider this to relate to their spirituality

4.) With Voodoo it is known that not everyone practices the magical aspects, I can not speak for Wicca.

5.) I think that the both do have variations which have evolved by being a primarily oral tradition for some many years.

6.) Both have come into contact with many different cultures and peoples who have added their "spin" to things as time has gone by. Which has caused the division of different branches under these 2 headings.

7.) I think that both also have a false Hollywood representation about them. IMO, Voodoo has an uglier picture painted about it than does Wicca in Hollywood.

[Artiste-LiLi]

I believe that we have gotten off topic here. There really is not much that can be compared between the two.

1.)They both are Umbrella Labels for different variations of each Religion.

2.) It could be argued that neither is considered a religion or also that both are.

3.) Some people would consider this to relate to their spirituality

4.) With Voodoo it is known that not everyone practices the magical aspects, I can not speak for Wicca.

5.) I think that the both do have variations which have evolved by being a primarily oral tradition for some many years.

6.) Both have come into contact with many different cultures and peoples who have added their "spin" to things as time has gone by. Which has caused the division of different branches under these 2 headings.

7.) I think that both also have a false Hollywood representation about them. IMO, Voodoo has the an uglier picture painted about it than does Wicca in Hollywood.

Agreed.

[Lunacie]

I believe that we have gotten off topic here. There really is not much that can be compared between the two.

1.)They both are Umbrella Labels for different variations of each Religion.

2.) It could be argued that neither is considered a religion or also that both are.

3.) Some people would consider this to relate to their spirituality

4.) With Voodoo it is known that not everyone practices the magical aspects, I can not speak for Wicca.

5.) I think that the both do have variations which have evolved by being a primarily oral tradition for some many years.

6.) Both have come into contact with many different cultures and peoples who have added their "spin" to things as time has gone by. Which has caused the division of different branches under these 2 headings.

7.) I think that both also have a false Hollywood representation about them. IMO, Voodoo has an uglier picture painted about it than does Wicca in Hollywood.

I thought the discussion about heriditary powers versus learned abilities does play into the similarities or differences between Voodoo and Wicca.

Hollywood had certainly made Voodoo seem more sinister than Wicca, but I wonder if that isn't preferable to the fluffy image Hollywood has given to Wicca?

[Artiste-LiLi]

I thought the discussion about heriditary powers versus learned abilities does play into the similarities or differences between Voodoo and Wicca.

Hollywood had certainly made Voodoo seem more sinister than Wicca, but I wonder if that isn't preferable to the fluffy image Hollywood has given to Wicca?


Neither image is a good one, that's for sure.

[BlackLili]

I thought the discussion about heriditary powers versus learned abilities does play into the similarities or differences between Voodoo and Wicca.

Hollywood had certainly made Voodoo seem more sinister than Wicca, but I wonder if that isn't preferable to the fluffy image Hollywood has given to Wicca?
Since neither image is accurate, I generally try not to base my opinions on what Hollywood tells me about things.

Wish more parents would teach their kids that.