"Traditional Witchcraft" is not Wicca. Witchcraft And Wicca are two separate and distinct paths.
Traditional Witchcraft has existed for many hundreds of years before Wicca. Traditional Witchcraft is a family of traditions that come from a common historic past. The Traditional Crafter (or witch) follows a household tradition that is reflective of that past, while as in every age, individual practices can be changed and modified to personal taste. Nevertheless, these changes and modifications are done within basic principles, traditions, and customs.
However, Wicca goes far beyond the traditions of the “Old Religion”. Wicca is a modern religion. Wicca was formed in the 1950's by Gerald Gardner. He took from quite a number of external concepts and practices to form his new, unique brand of witchcraft. Many of these additions had never previously been part of any tradition of Witchcraft.
Wicca, as founded by Gerald Gardner in the 1950's, is comprised of western European folk traditions, Eastern philosophy, and Qabbalistic mysticism. Although initially Wicca was based more in magickal pursuits, it has since developed into more of a New Age spiritual movement. As a movement, Wicca can be seen as an eclectic system of beliefs with an underlying static ritual and a shifting ethics base.
Wicca is primarily an organized religion. It is an approach to spirituality that emphasizes a doctrinal set of principles and practices promulgated by an established hegemony with a structured form of ritual initiation or rite of passage within the laws of the “coven” or congregation.
Witchcraft is not a religion, it is a spiritual practice. Witchcraft is a way of being, based in the customs of "The Old Ways" and it maintains an adherence to the ancient ideas of of self-initiation and solitary practice.
The witch is a practitioner of a paganistic lifestyle, but the paths (traditions) that individual witches follow often vary widely. A witch will follow the principles and beliefs of the pagan philosophy, but not according to any set of parochial dogmas. A witch's individual path comes from the epiphany of their own individual experience and the exercise of their own given talents. Witchcraft is a considered a religion, however that classification is more a legal label rather than a definition of witchcraft as a congregational approach to spirituality.
Many wiccans often incorrectly refer to themselves as witches, however, someone who practices witchcraft will either refer to themselves as being a witch, or will use another manner of description altogether. What they will never say, is that they are Wiccan.
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Tom Peete Cross - Witchcraft In North CarolinaFriedrich Adler - The Witchcraft Trial In Moscow
Hesketh Bell - Obeah Witchcraft In The West Indies
Gordon Chavunduka - Witchcraft And The Law In Zimbabwe
Anonymous - Witchcraft And Wicca Faq
