There has been a focus within the pagan community about cultural misappropriation and I am not certain where I stand on the issue, but this blog post isn't going to be about that specifically. What I am going to be discussing is if Wicca has misappropraited witchcraft. I recently watched a video that suggested that Wicca has misappropriated and continues to misappropriate witchcraft.
"WHAT?!" I raised my eyebrow when I heard this suggestion. "Seriously?!"
Let’s begin by clarifying the definition of misappropriation: taking something in a way that is wrong, illegal, or unfair; stealing.
"WHAT?!" I raised my eyebrow when I heard this suggestion. "Seriously?!"
Let’s begin by clarifying the definition of misappropriation: taking something in a way that is wrong, illegal, or unfair; stealing.
So Wicca has stolen and continues to steal witchcraft? Huh? Seriously? How can Wicca steal something that was part of its original foundation? At the time Wicca was created by Gerald Gardner they were one and the same. Gardner was a witch. He practiced witchcraft so is it assumed then that Gardner himself misappropriated witchcraft?
I'm so damn confused! Can someone help me out with this idea?
Apparently the logic behind the statement that Wiccan has misappropriated witchcraft goes something like this: because Wicca isn’t as “hard core” as traditional witchcraft, meaning that Wiccans don’t “cure and curse”, which is a grose false belief about Wiccans. Many Wiccans cure or heal as it is a large part of the Wiccan practice and many also curse or use malediction (in fact this Wiccan writing this blog will and has when she deems it necessary). Some individuals hold the belief that Wiccans are focused on “spiritual bullshit” and “harm none, do what ye will” that they have diluted real witchcraft and persecute the real witches.
Wicca is not the same as Traditional Witchcraft though Wicca and Traditional Witchcraft do have many similarities. Wicca brings in ceremonial magick and a desire to commune with deity that Traditional Witchcraft isn't "known" for. Wicca combines ceremonial / high magick with folk magick / low magick where to the best of my understanding Traditional Witchcraft focuses mostly on folk magick / low magick. Wicca is altruistic but also focuses on self-realization; it seeks a balance in all things including "as above, so below; as within, so without". It is a practice that seeks guidance from deity while creating change within oneself and the environment. This isn’t appropriation – it is what Gardner p[racticed, what he created.
Now let's address the idea that Wiccans persecute the real witches. First off, this statement implies that Wiccans aren't real witches and I find that to be more than a little antagonistic. Secondly, using the comparison of Wicca to those who originally persecuted witches is highly offensive. The word choice is a but melodramatic, wouldn't you agree? There was a time when the wrods Wicca and witchcraft were used interchangablely; Wicca was one and the same with witchcraft. Remember Gerald Gardner was an initiated witch. So those witches that were persecuted in the past would have included those who are known identified as Wiccan. Comparing modern day Wiccans to the persecutors of our common ancestors is clearly intended to segreate the two groups further and to instigate a modern day witch war, but for what purpose? To get more views on your video? More subscribers for your channel?
"Pathetic," said with an Ursula like tone.
Now, I have in my time online and offline within the witch / pagan communities, come across situations where I’ve witnessed Wiccans and Traditional Witches not getting along, where there was a poignant focus on the differences between the two groups instead of the similarities, but these exchanges were not examples of persecution, stating that they were is an exaggeration. The times when I’ve seen a Wiccan argue with another Witch about their practices and how it does not follow The Rede, either doesn’t realize that all Witches are NOT Wiccan or they do not have a mature understanding of The Rede. But again, I would say to call the differences of opinions persecution is going overboard.
I'm so damn confused! Can someone help me out with this idea?
Apparently the logic behind the statement that Wiccan has misappropriated witchcraft goes something like this: because Wicca isn’t as “hard core” as traditional witchcraft, meaning that Wiccans don’t “cure and curse”, which is a grose false belief about Wiccans. Many Wiccans cure or heal as it is a large part of the Wiccan practice and many also curse or use malediction (in fact this Wiccan writing this blog will and has when she deems it necessary). Some individuals hold the belief that Wiccans are focused on “spiritual bullshit” and “harm none, do what ye will” that they have diluted real witchcraft and persecute the real witches.
Wicca is not the same as Traditional Witchcraft though Wicca and Traditional Witchcraft do have many similarities. Wicca brings in ceremonial magick and a desire to commune with deity that Traditional Witchcraft isn't "known" for. Wicca combines ceremonial / high magick with folk magick / low magick where to the best of my understanding Traditional Witchcraft focuses mostly on folk magick / low magick. Wicca is altruistic but also focuses on self-realization; it seeks a balance in all things including "as above, so below; as within, so without". It is a practice that seeks guidance from deity while creating change within oneself and the environment. This isn’t appropriation – it is what Gardner p[racticed, what he created.
Now let's address the idea that Wiccans persecute the real witches. First off, this statement implies that Wiccans aren't real witches and I find that to be more than a little antagonistic. Secondly, using the comparison of Wicca to those who originally persecuted witches is highly offensive. The word choice is a but melodramatic, wouldn't you agree? There was a time when the wrods Wicca and witchcraft were used interchangablely; Wicca was one and the same with witchcraft. Remember Gerald Gardner was an initiated witch. So those witches that were persecuted in the past would have included those who are known identified as Wiccan. Comparing modern day Wiccans to the persecutors of our common ancestors is clearly intended to segreate the two groups further and to instigate a modern day witch war, but for what purpose? To get more views on your video? More subscribers for your channel?
"Pathetic," said with an Ursula like tone.
Now, I have in my time online and offline within the witch / pagan communities, come across situations where I’ve witnessed Wiccans and Traditional Witches not getting along, where there was a poignant focus on the differences between the two groups instead of the similarities, but these exchanges were not examples of persecution, stating that they were is an exaggeration. The times when I’ve seen a Wiccan argue with another Witch about their practices and how it does not follow The Rede, either doesn’t realize that all Witches are NOT Wiccan or they do not have a mature understanding of The Rede. But again, I would say to call the differences of opinions persecution is going overboard.
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