Wicca and Occult: One in the Same?

[ShinningStar_13]

I wasn't sure where to put this, so hopefully this is where it should be...I don't know much about the occult, I admit, and I want to know more about it. So when you answer the poll, if it's not too much trouble or too time consuming, I would love it if you told me why you voted the way you did. I just want to be able to understand these things more, so I thought this would be the best way.

Thank you everyone! :yourock:

TJ

[DarkDancer]

I voted in thos poll and thought wow, it's unanimous, then I realized I was the only one who had voted so far. :bouncingb

Well anyweay, I said it depends how you look at it, because many (though I'm sure few of us, 'cause we know better) think of something evil when they hear occult...but of course, that's not what it's about, it just means hidden, and well, a lot of Wiccan trads have secret rites, sooo....

[ObsidianShenKa]

Wicca = a religion.
Occult = hidden.

[AuroraSilvermist]

Wicca = a religion.
Occult = hidden.

Yeah. What Obsidian ShenKa said.

[ObsidianShenKa]

Wow. I am so cool.

[Faerin]

well occult just means you're dealing with the supernatural...if you believe in astral projection, ghosties, spirits, faeries, etc as a Wiccan, then yeah, one in the same. Occult, not to be confused with cult. :bat:

[ObsidianShenKa]

well occult just means you're dealing with the supernatural...if you believe in astral projection, ghosties, spirits, faeries, etc as a Wiccan, then yeah, one in the same. Occult, not to be confused with cult. :bat:
Being Wiccan does not mean you believe in fey, ghosts, AP, etc.

Occult, supernatural and Wiccan are not synonymous adjectives. Sure, they're all akin to each other, but they are not one and the same.

[DebLipp]

First of all, fyi, it's "one and the same" not "one in the same." :)

"Occult" refers to things like magic, astrology, tarot, any of the spooky stuff. Inasmuch as Wicca acknowledges and embraces those things, Wicca can accurately be called an occult religion.

But they cannot be the same because occult is an adjective and Wicca is a noun. Occult is a word that is descriptive of paths and practices, including but not limited to Wicca. Just so, the contents of Wicca are not limited to the occult.

[ObsidianShenKa]

All that and a bag of chips, no less.

[Faerin]

Thanks for the correction Deblipp :) One and the same...

Originally Posted by Faerin
well occult just means you're dealing with the supernatural...if you believe in astral projection, ghosties, spirits, faeries, etc as a Wiccan, then yeah, one in the same. Occult, not to be confused with cult.


Being Wiccan does not mean you believe in fey, ghosts, AP, etc.

Occult, supernatural and Wiccan are not synonymous adjectives. Sure, they're all akin to each other, but they are not one and the same.

Hope I used quotes correctly! Anyways I agree, being Wiccan does not mean you believe...I said "if" you believe, and you are Wiccan (just to clear that up). I also agree that they are not synonymous with eachother but that does not mean they can't be linked. I shouldn't speak for all Wiccans of course, but for me they go hand in hand (there's a more appropriate phrase) and sometimes I forget how many different kinds of Wiccans there are, so sorry for the gereralizations :fpraiseyo

[quidgyboo]

I'd say that Wiccan Practices are essentially occultish.

[Demeter]

"Intertwined", yes. "Overlapped" in many places, yes. "Equivalent", no. There are many things which are "occult" which are not part of Wicca, and vice versa, and the definitions of both vary so widely by individual that there are no solid boundaries, but sort of a fuzzy interface.

[Crystal_Raye]

In my opinion occult and Wicca are related but not the same thing. Studying the occult is studying some of the hidden secrets of the universe. These secrets could be from any religion or practice like Wicca, Voodoo, Druidism, Hinduism, Buddhism, astrology, witchcraft, even Christianity.

[raven grimassi]

I wasn't sure where to put this, so hopefully this is where it should be...I don't know much about the occult, I admit, and I want to know more about it.

As already has been mentioned the word "occult" means hidden or secret. Many people today who are Wiccan have to hide or keep secret their religion/beliefs from family, co-workers, and other relationships. So even in this mundane sense Wicca can be said to be an occult religion.

But occult, in a religious sense, speaks more to a system that explores and reveals the inner mechanism behind things (and in the case of Wicca we can apply this to Nature herself). Even in the more popular watered-down versions of Wicca that have been adapted for the masses, the foundational essence of self-exploration still exists. This too is an occult experience, the seeking of that which is yet to be revealed from within. So yes, I would say that Wicca is an occult system. Anyway, that's my two cents worth.

Best regards - Raven

[FairyMoon]

Okay. I'm a real; simple person... so I voted yes. I think occult practices and Wicca are intertwined because of Wicca being a private and ( as I view it ) and sort of hidden religion , being that it's not so widely accepted by society, as is ( or isn't ) Wicca. The religion also embraces many occult practices so.... Yeah. That's why I'd say they are connected

[dr_zeus440]

i went with N-O, no. it has less letters, and generally looks more pretty.

[ObsidianShenKa]

And happens to be right.

[The High Queen of Faerie]

occult means 'hidden', to my knowledge. occult is like a huge umbrella that lots of little subjects are under. wicca is not mainstream, and overlaps with some of the other practices and subjects in the 'occult' section. i really think that occult: wicca is as paganism: wicca, in a way. that's not the best analogy, v flawed, but i tried.