Wicca has often been referred to as a part of witchcraft. It is a neopagan religion, one that has been practiced since the early 20th century. It became more popular in the 1950s and 1960s when a British man named Gerald Gardner brought it into the mainstream.
There are many different Wicca beliefs, depending upon the Wicca tradition one prescribes to. Most Wiccans believe in both a God and a Goddess, which are complementary to each other, like Yin and Yang. The Goddess is often symbolized as the Earth, while the God is compared to the Sun. The Goddess might also be considered the Moon Goddess, or the Triple Goddess, meaning the Maiden, Mother, and Crone. Regardless, the Goddess sees and conceives all, so there is nothing She does not know. The God, sometimes also known as the horned God, is the inspiration within her.
Wiccans vary in their beliefs on the afterlife and reincarnation. Most of them choose to focus on this life and leave the details of the afterlife to the Goddess. It is believed that within all respects, what you do in this life will affect your lot in the next…so therefore, focusing on this life can only be the best thing a person could do.
But are Wiccans really Witches, as modern pop culture might have us believe? Wiccans do believe in magic, a force they believe can be controlled and applied through witchcraft or sorcery. But many Wiccans believe that the magic is in the earth itself, and is a force of nature that can be called upon, but never controlled. There are many rituals performed by Wiccan followers that might be considered witchcraft; however, they are considered white magic, the equivalent of prayers for healing, infertility, banishing of negativity, protection, and the like.
There are several rites of passage within the Wicca religion, and several festivals celebrated around the yearly calendar that pay homage to the earth and all that surrounds it. One of the most popular Wicca morality creeds is “an it harm none, do what ye will.” This creed makes it clear that Wicca followers can do what they want to do as long as it does not infringe on the rights of others.
Are Wicca actually Witches? The question of whether witchcraft exists is one that has been debated for thousands of years, and there is no clear answer. However, the rituals or “workings” of the Wicca followers are meant for good, not evil — and perhaps the intent is much more important than the question of whether or not the wizardry is real.