Popular Misconceptions of the Wiccan Faith
I felt this section would be best covered with frequently asked questions and answers. While I will try to encompass the many different representations of Wicca, I'm certainly not going to know the intricacies of them all. If you have any questions or thoughts to share, please send them to me.
Is a coven like a cult?
No, a coven is more like a classroom. Some people learn better through individual efforts, and others learn better in a group environment. A coven is a collective unit working together to better themselves, their lives, and their environment(s). Covens consist of anywhere from 3 to 13 people, but no more than 13. The reason for this is because Diana, the Moon Goddess, has 13 Moons per year. A coven is for those who believe in the "strength in numbers" philosophy in their practice of the arts.
Is Wicca an occult religion?
First, let's define 'occult'. The dictionary paints a picture of 'obscure', which would be correct. While it is becoming more popular these days, witchcraft was definately obscure in the Burning Times, because to be even suspected of witchcraft meant being murdered - often in a not-so-painless way. Some people believe that the word 'occult' is synonymous with 'evil' and 'sacrifice' and therefore must be kept a 'deep, dark secret'. This is not the case with Wicca. We do not hide our faith in this regard.
Do witches ride on broomsticks?
Only if hobby-horses are unavailable. <cackle> No, witches do not straddle a broom and fly off across the full Moon on Halloween night in search of prey. Broomsticks play a significant role in the Wiccan faith; they symbolize cleansing, by sweeping away unwanted things.
Do witches drink blood?
Ick, no! We drink ritual wine, which may sometimes be red wine, but no, we do not drink blood. Some movies will depict witches cutting themselves and sharing their blood within their coven, but this is not a common practice, nor is it an accurate portrayal. Have you ever heard the term 'blood brothers'? Good friends who have sworn an oath of friendship through bloodletting? Sometimes witches within covens will further empower a spell or ritual wine by adding a drop of blood to it, but this is a binding technique, not vampirism. Plus, fluid transfer is not exactly safe in an HIV world, now is it?
Do witches have orgies?
Uh.. Some do, I guess.. An orgy is not a part of the Craft, but sex is very symbolic to witches. This symbolism does not require a large group of people though. Sex for witches, like any other people, is about pleasure. It's also a symbol of life and nature, two of the keystones of the Wiccan faith. Life is an energy practiced in majick, and therefore special to us. But a solitary practitioner doesn't blow a wad to solidify their majick.Do witches run around naked?
Yes and no. Some witches prefer to perform majickal workings "skyclad" (nude), but others prefer ornate robes charged with power and protection, or just everyday clean clothes. I personally prefer to work clothed, but I choose clothing that makes me feel powerful. Ever hear the saying "The clothing makes the man"? Well, I find that to be true. If I dress for success, I feel successful. If I dress in sexy clothes, I feel sexy. And if I dress in clothes that make me feel powerful, I find that my majick has more power. One thing that witches often do prior to a ritual is prepare the area, and prepare themselves. This can involve a ritual bath, meditation, a number of different things. I find that by dressing for the occassion, it mentally prepares me. But every witch prefers their own methods. Those who cast while skyclad may do so in the company of their coven, but they certainly don't treat the entire world like a nudist colony.
Do witches cast spells?
Yes. We do not cast Hollywood's rendition of spells like turning someone into a toad, or placing a curse on someone. The kind of spells we cast are a spiritual equivalent to hoping for something with every fibre of your being. We devote our personal and spiritual energies into a ritual that we feel will substantiate our hopes. Spells are cast for help and healing, with only good and pure intentions. Have you ever been deep in thought about someone you know, wishing they'd call you? Ever have that person call you within a few days? That's casting a spell in a very general sense. So is asking 'God' to help you. Wicca tends to add more structure and symbolism to spells, but the concept is generally the same.Magic, magick, majick.. what's the difference?
Magic is stage magic. Illusions, Hollywood effects, David Copperfield, Sigfried and Roy. The term 'magick' adds that K to separate witchcraft from the performance variety of magic. 'Majick' is a term I personally use, because I believe that the most powerful magick is personal magick, and so I changed the G to a J, to represent my name.Are there animal sacrifices in Wicca?
No. Many people believe there are ritual sacrifices of this nature because Wiccan rituals often utilize a knife, called an athame. This knife is not for stabbing, killing, or even cutting. It's simply a medium for witches to focus their spiritual energies through. Witches believe in two primary things.. Nature, and the cycles of nature (the seasons, the rising and setting of the Sun and Moon). Animals are a part of nature. Killing an animal would be akin to killing another person. Humans are still animals in the natural sense. Perhaps another factor adding to this misconception is because some herbs used by witches have folk names like "Tongue of Dog" and "Crowfoot" and "Dragons' Blood" and these folk names are often used in spells. The Wiccan Rede tells us that spells should rhyme, and 'dog', 'blood' and 'foot', are a lot easier to use in rhyme than 'erythronium americanum' and other botanical names.Do witches worship the devil?
The Devil is a personification invented by the Catholic and Christian churches to 'put a name to evil'. Witches believe that good and bad exist in a balance, but no, we do not worship the Devil. We don't even believe that 'Satan' exists. We believe negativity exists, and we try to eliminate it from our lives, and the lives of those we care about.How does one become a witch?
It's not a title that anyone can give you. Calling yourself a witch doesn't do it. It's not a rite of passage that can be considered complete only by another. It's not a hereditary trait that you will inherit upon birth. Genetics, covens, high priestesses, self initiation rituals - none of these things make a witch. A witch is a person who seeks to control the powers of life within themself to improve the quality of their life, in unity with nature, without harming others. So, to quote the Matrix, being a witch is like being in love. You just know it, through and through. Some people feel a ritual of dedication is required, others believe that a year of study is required prior to that, but I believe that you can't possibly know you're a witch if you don't honestly know what a witch is. I didn't discover I was a witch.. I just discovered what the name was for people who believed in the same things I do.What's the difference between a Wiccan and a witch?
Nothing. They are one in the same. They are often used in different circumstances. For example, you may not say "spud" if you're a waiter in a fancy restaraunt, you might prefer to say "potato". It's a matter of appropriateness. Some Wiccans also prefer to call themselves Wiccans because of the common, and inaccurate, misconceptions of words like 'pagan' and 'witch', seeking to avoid derrogatory references.Do witches hate men?
I added this question for a very specific reason. There are some people out there who are avid man-haters, who call their feminist anti-male beliefs Wicca, and this is a complete fallacy. If you run into someone who says their Wiccan and therefore hate men, they are not truly Wiccan. Wiccans believe in a balance between all things. This includes male and female. Wicca is not a faith open to females only, it includes men. I personally find these kind of "femi-nazi's" to be female chauvanists.Do witches pray?
Yes we do. Sometimes this is considered a form of meditation, sometimes it's considered a ritual or spell, but ultimately, we do pray. Which Christians pray to their God, we pray to the Goddess.What is a warlock?
The dictionary defines that term as "one who breaks faith, or lies", and while further definitions classify warlocks as male witches, some Wiccans feel this definition is outside our faith. While I know some Wiccans who call male witches 'warlocks', I know others who feel being called a 'warlock' is a personal insult. Therefore, the best way I can explain it is, a 'warlock' is not a very PC term to use on a male witch.
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