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These are the questions that I have been asked over the years. Even now most people and teenagers seem to ask the same ones again. With thanks to all who wanted to know more about Witchcraft! If after reading this, and your question is not answered here, just drop me a line and…ask! Here we go.
General questions about Wicca:
Q: Is Wicca the same as witchcraft?
A: Witchcraft is the overall name for a Nature based lifestyle. Within that are branches. Wicca is Modern witchcraft religion with Deities.
Q: And Pagan?
A: Pagan means “country dweller, some one who lives of the land”.
Q: Where does the word Wicca come from?
A: Old English word for witchcraft was wiccacraeft, most wiches use wicca for short.
Witch comes from wit= to know. Also from willow or wicker which is bendable.
Q: Is it just for Women?
A: Oh, that’s not true. Witchcraft is for both men and women.
Q: Do you call a man a Wizard?
A: Witch refers to a woman and a man. Wizard is mostly used in fairy tales.
Wizzard comes from wise one, wys or wis.
Q: What does Wicca have to do with Goths?
A: Goths have a unique art, music, literature, clothing and make-up. A interest with Medieval, Victorian and Edwardian times. A style of Mystery Goths have different styles of religions from Christians, New Age to Wicca and Pagan. So some are witches, yes. For more information look at religious tolerance.org.
Q: Why are you so open about it, and other witches keep it secret?
A: I'm so open, because there's nothing scary about us at all. Life's for learning and discovering. If you keep too many secrets this will confirm prejudice.
Q: What sort of people are witches?
A: Witches are women and men, young or old, poor or rich, tall or small! Some of the witches I've worked with have jobs like: Teachers, pop-singer, charity-worker, house-wives, computer-designer, pensioner, owned own business, shopkeeper, tarot-reader, soldier, students, anthropologist, artist, dancer, work for the government, journalist, writer, musician. You see, all kinds of really nice “normal” people.
Q: Can anyone be a witch?
A: Yes! If you want to work in a Coven, a group of witches together, you have to be 18 to get your Initiation.
Q: Can I be a Witch while my partner, or family isn’t?
A: Why not? You have different interest as well, don’t you. It would be boring if we are all the same. It is helpful for them that they know your philosophy, so talk about it. I certainly welcome them into my life-style!
Q: Are there special prayers before or after dinner, do you say “cheers”?
A: We have Blessings during our Rituals, for the food and drinks. And instead of “cheers”, we say Blessed Be!
Q: Do you use drugs?
A: No, we don’t need them to work with energies. In some cultures herbal drugs have are being used by Shamans, only with knowledge and a lot of care! Most Covens tolerate alcohol and tobacco. Its unwise to get involved with drugs.
Q: Why do you wear a pentagram isn’t that a bad thing?
A: A pentagram is one of the symbols we have, and some withes wear it. This is a five pointed star and stand for Air, Fire, Water and Earth. The top point is for Spirit. Pythagoras used it for health.
Q: What does your Mother say about you, being a Witch?
A: She says:” You're great, I love you.” She encourages me to live the way I like to live, supports me completely! And she comes to my talks and meeting, too!
Questions concerning religion:
Q: Is Wicca a Religion?
A: The dictionary it says over religion “..a unseen power to obedience, and worship, personal acceptance of this feeling in a spiritual and practical life…”You can explain this as ”In service of the God and Goddess.” Some witches don’t agree because of the obedience bit, others do see it as a religion. Wicca is a Nature-based religion and life-style recognized in the U.S and Canada, under the Constitution.
Q: How do you feel about Christians?
A: We accept and respect other peoples lifestyles.
Q: Is witchcraft a cult?
A: No, witches do not follow a leader. We are free-thinkers.
Q: How do witches view afterlife?
A: Most witches believe in Reincarnation. Your soul comes back to another live on Earth. You rest in the Summerlands, refresh and come back only if you please.
Q: Do you dance naked in the woods?
A: Ha! We do dance in the woods, or where ever we want too, the climate here in Europe is not that warm to do so!
Q: What about Satan or the Devil?
A: We have nothing to do with the Devil. This is part of a Medieval Christian believe, and not us.
Q: Do you sacrifice blood, animals, or children?
A: Absolutely not! Most witches are vegetarian or vegan, and big animal lovers. As for children? We love them and they us, like many I have a tribe of them myself!
Q: Do you brew poison?
A: No, when you study the herbal lore, you need to know which ones are poisonous and which ones are not. We use the herbs to heal.
Q: Do you do abracadabra or spells?
A: Yes, witches use spells, which one can see as positive willpower, and sending some one good vibes if they ask for it.
Q: Do you fly on a broomstick?
A: Wow, that will be really good! If you figured out how, please tell me! No, only in dreams and meditations. This comes from Medieval times. Everyone had a broomstick to sweep the house clean, They kept them near the fireplace or the door. The story they flew out of the chimney. We still use the broomstick to sweep the floor we work on Magically! Vacuum-cleaners make so much noise!
Q: What have witches in common with cats?
A: Celts believed that cats have been humans once. And the persecution days they believed that witches turned into cats, to help them in their adventures. Cats are night creatures.
Q: Why is the stepmother in fairy-tales always the evil witch?
A: Some fairy-tales like the Wizard of Oz have bad witches and good witches. Like there are “bad people and good ones”. There is such a rich lovely symbolism in fairy-tales and folklore, too much to explain all of them here. A lot has to do with Archetypes, and yet again the Inquisition.
Q: What about the black clothes and pointed hats?
A: Not all witches wear that. I've come across one who did, but in everyday life she does as well. There are different reasons like: the colour of clergy, simple and elegant, goes with everything and is slimming! I wear all kinds of colours myself. The pointed hat is again from Medieval and is for the point of contact with Spirit.
Q: Is witchcraft like Harry Potter and Charmed?
A: No, not really. Although to be fair, J.K Rowling might have looked into it, because she does call boys and girls witches, their parents don’t have to be witches, or one does the other doesn't, and the students learn about herbs, and to be really careful of magic and spells! The rest is great fun and fantasy!
Q: What is a Warlock?
A: A Scottish word for “oath-breaker”
Does this answer bits and bobs? We can go on forever with this!
Questions which involves more explanation like: What do you do in a Circle? And one that keeps on coming back: Orgies, sky clad and sex, see on the little chapters.