Are you a "Good or a Bad Witch" and Wiccan Practices

Everyone has heard of the infamous Salem witchcraft trials of 1692, but do you know what a Witch or someone that has chosen to practice Wicca Religion really is?  

What it isn't, is the flash, popularity and drama that television and movies have lent to it. First of all People that practice Wicca are NOT Witches, but all Witches practice Wicca. Some use the terms interchangeably.  But they are not the same thing.  Much like being a Christian, does not necessarily make you a Methodist, simply because you claim to be Christian.  You could be Catholic, Protestant, or one of many other denominations or you could just choose to believe in a higher power and may not participate at all in organized religion.

Next we need to distinguish between magic and Magick.  Magic is illusion done for entertainment.  Famous people that you may have heard of are David Copperfield and Houdini.  They make people “disappear” and saw people in half.  These are tricks and their secrets are coveted.  If you knew the “tricks” behind these, you too could do what they do.

Magick is studied techniques for harnessing internal and external energies that will help us change ourselves and our environment.  Aleister Crowley  is the one credited with using the spelling to mark a  difference between the two words and meaning when he had an experience in Egypt in 1904.  To genuine practitioners, we'd know exactly what we were talking about and the only time we even have to bother to differentiate or explain is when we are talking with someone outside the Wiccan Religion or the Art of Magick.

Now I’d like to dispel some common misconceptions. 

Asking someone if they are a good Witch or a bad Witch is like asking someone if they are a good catholic or a bad catholic.  It has to do with ethical standards.  Wiccans believe in the ethical guideline called the "Threefold Law," which states that whatever a person wishes upon someone else returns to them three times over, according to "Wiccan Spirituality" (Green Magic, 2002).  Wicca opposes the use of negative, harmful magic and discourages people from hurting others physically or emotionally, according to "Wicca for Life" (Citadel Press, 2003).  Witches, Druids and other pagan belief systems and religions have their own ethical standards.  

So, to finally answer that questions, I need to say that just as in everyday life, there are good people and bad people.  Most people are both good and bad simultaneously and the path they choose and the ethics their culture and religions adhere to are what eventually labels them as good or bad in that particular society.  Most people walk what Wicca calls the "middle way".

Next, neither Witches nor Wiccans worship Satan.  Satan is part of Christianity and Muslim Religions and Satanism.  And the Pentagram is NOT Satanic.  That impression is thanks to Hollywood and novels.  The five pointed star represents the elements, Air, Earth, Fire & Water and the top point to “Spirit”.  Negative connotations of witchcraft  led its followers to stop referring to themselves as witches and go by "Wiccans" instead, according to "Wicca A to Z" (Citadel Press, 1998). 

Although it's based on ancient beliefs, including aspects of paganism and nature-based spirituality, Wicca was founded by anthropologist Gerald Gardner in the early 1950s, according to "Magico-Religious Groups and Ritualistic Activities" (CRC Press, 2008).  

"Wicca is a new religion that combines surviving folk traditions and more modern elements. It is loosely based on Western European pagan rites and rituals that have been performed for centuries — before, during and after the time of Jesus — such as reverence of nature, observance of the cycle of the seasons, celebration of the harvest, and doing magic," according to "Wicca for Beginners" (Llewellyn Worldwide, 2006).

There is no bible that Wiccans follow. Wiccans may make a "Book of Shadows" for themselves, or may pass one down from a teacher of the faith to his or her student, but that BoS serves as a reference book, according to "Living Wicca" (Llewellyn Worldwide, 1993).  Also referred to as a grimoire, mirror book or magical diary, a BoS is a customized book in which a Wiccan records information he or she finds useful to practicing the faith. While not every Wiccan has a BoS, those that do fill theirs with myths, ceremonies, spells, religious ritual instructions, prayers, herbal lore or personal records of dreams, according to "Living Wicca."

I think this is enough to digest in one sitting.  I will write more later…….

This was a simplistic overview of facts after I was asked what it meant to be a good Witch.  In dealing with the paranormal in my research and everyday life, I have found that when writing things like this, I often learn as much about myself as I mean to convey.  I am a believer in a higher power/energy, but I don’t believe in the “Hallmark” photo of God, Jesus or of a Heaven and Hell.  I do believe that our energy goes on to something else. I also believe that everyone is on their own journey.  I will allow you to believe what you want and please allow me the same courtesy.  So mode it be….