Wiccan v. Pagan v. Witch 🕵️‍♂️

Witchy Wisdom
1

All Wiccans are pagan, but not all Pagans are Wiccan. All Wiccans are witches, but not all witches are Wiccan.

witch-1456313_640
witch-1456313_640640Ă—437 104 KB

Image by GraphicMama-team from Pixabay

Though some would disagree with me, I think it is important to have this delineation of these three words: Wiccan, witch, and Pagan. Let’s look at some definitions because I find in a lot of communities that the assumed religious values of a witch are often lumped in with Wicca - and that is not always the case.

Wiccan: one who practices the faith of Wicca
Pagan: one who practices a non-Abrahamic faith
Witch: one who practices witchcraft

Looking at these words, there is overlap within them.

  • A Wiccan is a Pagan and a witch.
  • A Pagan is not a Wiccan and can be a witch.
  • A Pagan is not a Wiccan and might not be a witch.
  • A Witch might be a Pagan or a Wiccan, or not!

image
image713Ă—720 171 KB

Image by GraphicMama-team from Pixabay

See how it can get confusing?

It is important to know the difference between these terms so you do not accidentally offend anyone during a conversation. If someone is asking for advice and you - as a Wiccan - feel like the first things you need to mention are the Threefold Law and the Wiccan Rede, you might want to reevaluate the situation. Not everyone takes kindly to being preached to, and for a lot of witches, that is one reason why they left an Abrahamic faith, to begin with.

As someone coming from a Wiccan background who is now a Celtic Pagan Witch, I would be frustrated if someone told me that I should not do something because of the Wiccan Rede. That is not a value I hold myself to in my faith and should not be assumed by anyone else.

Pagans%2C-Witches-and-Wiccans-graphic
Pagans%2C-Witches-and-Wiccans-graphic360Ă—296 20.1 KB

The same goes for Pagans who have a different moral code or set of values. If someone is asking for advice and says they are Wiccan, it is insensitive of that Pagan to recommend a curse or hex. Most Pagans should know that curses and baneful magick are considered to be against the Wiccan Rede.

What are you? Pagan? Witch? Wiccan? All three? Only one? Let me know!
24 Likes
Witchy Wiki Resources
Is this page for Wiccans only?
:triple_moon_goddess: Weekly Witchy CHALLENGE - Wicca Traditions & Magick
Thoughts on this article? (controversial)
2

Yup, they all cross over a little, but each path is entirely different.

10 Likes
3

I feel that I am all three

11 Likes
4

Merry meet @joann4 and welcome! :consecrate_spell:

7 Likes
5

I am a pagan witch~!

9 Likes
6

This is probably the best explanation on this subject that I have ever seen and makes it so much easier to understand for those that fail to grasp it. I like the inclusion of the Venn diagram as well!

I am without a doubt all three.

9 Likes
7

Many people are, @joann4 :blush: and that’s okay!

Also, welcome to the forum! :sparkles:

Oh wow, well thank you :blush: I’m glad it was easy for you to understand – the diagram is my favorite :laughing:

9 Likes
8

Don’t know what I am, I’m happy that’s all I know so :person_shrugging: :partying_face:

9 Likes
9

I’m definitely all 3 :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

7 Likes
10

At the moment just a Witch :witch_cauldron:

9 Likes
11

I consider myself a Wiccan because of the rede. I do love witchy decor but more on the gothic side. I also love reading about what others do in their daily rituals even if I don’t agree. I feel everyone should do whatever makes them happy :black_heart:

10 Likes
12

Pagan voodoo witch. I feel voodoo is an entirely different class than the other 3 but can also overlap into pagan or witch. I don’t see voodoo as being able to Wicca but I guess anything is possible.

7 Likes
13

Merry Meet all,

I am a witch.

Merry Part, Lady Gene

7 Likes
14

I have had difficulty categorizing myself, I thought I had to be one or the other. But looking at the Venn diagram, I see that I am a Wiccan pagan witch!

7 Likes
15

For over 30 years I’ve always thought as myself as Pagan. But in the last 15 or so years I have considered myself a Pagan Witch. I’m eclectic. I use what feels right for me and have shaman, Wicca, Fae, Norse and Celtic beliefs. I don’t know how to explain it! LOL

8 Likes
16

Another great post, @MeganB!

I’m a witchy Pagan and always have been, though it’s only recently that I’ve recognized the witchy part. :heart:

8 Likes
17

Thank you! :pink_heart: I’m glad the post has been helpful!

6 Likes
18

I would say I’m an eclectic Pagan Hedge Witch who very much has Celtic and Norse beliefs, loves fae, and worships Gaia. At the end of day, I’m not much into labels. I love the Wiccan Rede, but I don’t follow everything it says. I like to be a patchwork quilt!

7 Likes
19

Forgive me, but I decided to to consult the great and powerful…ChatGPT. I had it throw some thought provoking questions and its finny, but even ChatGPT had a hard time giving me a straight answer. After organizing my thoughts a bit more and based on what I’m currently doing and would like to do, I’m a Pagan Wiccan Witch. No lie, it says that my answwrs aligned with each one. Then after reading some other articles from other fellow witches, it did make sense to me.

7 Likes
20

I love all of these. :thinking: What am I. Not Wiccan nor Pagan, Heathen fits with the Norse but I’m being led or returning to an old path that is not classed as any of these. :person_shrugging: Mystic is the nearest I can get, is it pagan when working with Angels and Demons? You know I actually don’t know the answer to that because it’s not Christian in the orthodox sense, :thinking: off to do some digging

:zany_face:

6 Likes