witchcraft vs wicca

I intend on studying and I will continue to study everything. I was just asking to set myself straight and keep from getting confused.

I understand you do not need to do spells, curses, and rituals for witchcraft. Although you can. I said it is a practice. I'm sorry for my mistake, and for the misunderstanding. Although, I said etcetera. It's not just spells, rituals, and curses. It is the belief in magical abilities, spiritualism. I'm sorry.

It's ok. I understood what you meant.

Witchcraft is magical abilities yes! Spiritualism no! There is nothing supernatural about witchcraft. It is as natural as breathing! It is "what it says on the tin": it's a craft!

I'm sorry, again, Brysing. As I said I am still a beginner but I know some things. Maybe it's not spiritualism, but it is the belief of magical abilities.

Oh, I understand! You are very young yet. Let me see if I can make it clearer. Spells, and such of The Occult, are "beliefs" in magic.
Witchcraft is knowledge of magic.
A spell is a ritual wish. An attempt to get a magical result.

I understand that you don?t have to cast a circle before casting spells, so why would you if you chose to do so?

Casting a circle creates a sacred space to work within. Some people feel that it is necessary to create specific boundaries of that sacred space in the geometric shape of a circle due to symbolism, etc. Drawing a physical circle on the ground as a means of protection (different than casting a circle) is as old as history itself. In fact, we know that flour circles were used in the Mesopotamian area in the beginning of history as we know it!

Even though I have no active powers I have had many life regressions when I was a little girl and have astral projected once by accident while meditating. Would I be considered a witch or sorcerer?

No. First of all, there is no such thing as powers. We build experience, reputation, and authority as we work with magick and spirits. That is where the "power" lies. It's a lot like body building. The more you exercise, the stronger you get, not because you have powers but because you practiced the same thing over and over again, strengthening that skill. And no, you are not a witch unless you have knowledge of and practice the craft. Everyone experiences OBEs, many people experience past life memories and even apparitions of spirits--none of that makes them a witch.


I do not believe that I was born with abilities, but I have no idea how to explain these incidents when I was a child.

Because it's a natural part of existence? If you had to learn about something to experience it, wouldn't that mean it was merely the power of suggestion that created it that way in your mind? Isn't it better to know that you were a naive child that couldn't have known such things? Then you investigate it, research it, and IF you find the answers in books, awesome. If not, then you need to dig deeper into your own mind and self instead. That is actually what a lot of magick is about--looking within and working on and with ones Self.

I have been studying rituals and spells but haven?t cast anything except blessing objects, like the crystal I always wear. So I?m not sure what to consider myself.

A human. ;)

I still have not chosen a path for myself because I?m not sure about what I consider myself to be.

That takes time and A LOT of consideration. We have an entire forum section dedicated to various paths with tons of information. I suggest combing through it to get some ideas as to where to start your research.

I was looking into Wicca. I understand that is a religion, but I do not see myself studying it and participating in the religious aspect of it. I happen to like what they belief in though and what it stands for.

I like what Buddhism and Hinduism stands for too, but that doesn't make me one. If you do not want to study or participate in a religion, then don't identify yourself with that religion. Wicca is a religion. It doesn't make you a witch to be a Wiccan. There are many people that just believe in Wicca and are not a practicing witch. Nor is every witch Wiccan. Witch is a label applied to someone that focuses on primarily folk magic and nature, nothing more. What is build around that depends on the culture and beliefs of the individual. There are also magicians that practice ceremonial magick.

I am mostly into healing and protection with a little soul searching thrown in. What path would you all suggest?

Nothing. You should continue to learn all you can until a path you learn about feels completely right and you have at least one person to look up to and speak to that actually walks that path.

I have read that spells are more powerful and likely to work if you say them in Latin. Is this true?

No. Although Latin is an awesome language I'm pretty decent at :p

And if so, is google translator a good enough translator?

No way! I haven't found a single translator online that can translate English to Latin properly. If you really like the language, I highly suggest the Wheeling books. That is what I learned from in high school and it's what I still have on my bookshelf.

I would hate to get anything wrong. if I write my own spells, will the phrasing still be the same after I translate it?

Write them in English. The wording really matters in spell work. If something has a double meaning, it can alter the path of the results, creating what many mistake for a "backfire".

Now that I have chosen to practice magick, do I have to worship any gods or goddesses or is this purely a choice?

Magic existed well before humans. It does not go by any particular faith or practice.

Thank you. This was extremely helpful.

Wicca is a specific religion with specific beliefs and practice. You cannot practice Wicca without engaging in the religion.

Witchcraft is but one form of magical practice and has nothing to do with any specific religion. You can belong to any religion and still be a Witch if you wish.

You can adopt the non-religious aspects of Wicca into your personal life it you wish. Most of those don't have any specific connection to any particular religion.

No, spells are not more powerful in Latin unless you think they are. And if you aren't fluent in speaking Latin then I would not use Latin for your spells. Mis-pronouncing a word or words means that the spell won't work as you planned.

Practicing magic does not mean that you have to worship anything. That's is purely up to you. But if you don't want to follow a religion such as Wicca there is no need to have Gods and Goddesses involved in what you do.

Note that there are many other non-religious forms of magical practice other than Wicca and/or Witchcraft.

Thank you, Brysing. I understand.