Wicca vs. Witchcraft

[kitty]

I have recently read through several articles on wicca and witchcraft and the differences between the two. Needless, to say there are many ideas and opinions on the matter. I am not sure what category I fall into and that deeply bothers me. I would really like others thoughts on the matter.

What i believe is that there is a spirit that we are all a part of, we all stemmed from and it is a part of us, it is not the Goddess, or God, we are equal, it is not superior to us. We can call on this power at any time with practice to perform magick, the power is within us, and surrounds us. It is spiritual, when i meditate or perform a ritual, i am in tune with this life force, it is in the trees and animals of all kinds, in every essence of what we are and do. I feel part of something much larger than my sum parts.

What kind of trad does this sound like? In all my research and reading, i have been unable to find a definition for this. Perhaps i am too close to the situation to see clearly, any help would be appreciated.

Kitty

[loopy]

Sounds like a whole lot of traditions. :D There are a bunch of different threads on Witch Vs. Wicca around here somewhere... *runs off to look for them*

And welcome to the boards! :D

[loopy]

I couldn't find the whole big debate.. :( Might want to do a search to find anything else. :)

[Myst]

Please. Use the search feature of MW.

[Myst]

here let me help

click this

http://www.mysticwicks.com/search.php?s=&action=showresults&searchid=7459&sortby=lastpost&sortorder=descending

[kitty]

ok, i've done some reading, but i am still not finding anything that is spiritual, pagan, and not deity oriented.

[Myst]

Well it's simple really. You just take from holidays, tools, prinples, and techniques, and you don't worry about working with a specific pantheon.

[Lilu]

It is called the Order of the Jedi ;) hehehe Just kidding.

Hmmmm, well I think I know what you are getting at, my grandmother-in-law seems to have a belief system like that, and mine is more or less like that, but I see the one force manifest in deity so *shrug*

What about Green Witchcraft anyone? I haven't read those books by Ann Moura yet, but I've heard they're meant to be more nature/energy based, than deity? I'm not sure though.

Sounds like you are more into witchcraft, but without the deity emphasis. Like Willow said, just take what you find fits in with your belief system, and leave what doesn't. That's what I do, and there's nothing to say that you HAVE to follow a particular tradition. I call myself eclectic because of my very varying beliefs.

Good luck!

BB
Lilu

[Illuminatus]

Originally posted by kitty
I have recently read through several articles on wicca and witchcraft and the differences between the two.

Kitty,

meow meow meow hiss reow purr meow meow.. Wait better use english, other ppl might want to read this!

Well, "Pagan" can have a variety of definitions. To Christians today, it's a non-christian. In the old times of the Roman Empire, it meant the same thing, but more selective to the Druidic cults of western europe. Most people today accept "Pagan" as anyone of a polytheistic, god or goddess worshipping faith... it really depends on who you ask.