Today, I got an interesting message, normally when I get interesting messages I begin to formulate ideas on new themes to write about. But this message was interesting just because of how popular a mistake it is to not understand the following terminology, and how old a theme this really was. What is the difference between magic and Wicca? So the message read. At first thought you would think only an ignorant would ask this question, but I have known this little witch for some time now, and it ocurred to me how unfrequent a topic this was. of course you can get confused, with so much talk about Wiccans being witches, who is not to think that they can mean the same thing.
My purpose is to clear up any doubts of how Wicca and Magic do not mean the same thing, as a matter of fact can even not be linked at all. Bare with me....
Wicca and Magic are not the same thing. I must start with poiting this out as a major focus point for any beginners, people interesting in the topic, etc. Magic is the act of using your energies to get a wanted reaction (like Scott Cunningham easily defined it), 'magic is the projection of natural energies to produce needed effects' (Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner). Wicca on the other hand is simply and plainly put a religion.
What is a religion? Many people define it as a way of life, or a way to connect with God. I agree with this analysis, my own definition though, is that religion is a series of conglomerated beliefs that helps a person find divinity. After all, religion does mean re-uniting.
Wicca is a religion, its main focus should be and is deity. The problem of why confussion runs among us, is that now a days the religion has been popularly sold as magical practice. More people dig deeper into the actual ritual and physical practice, than in the development of a spiritual connection with God and Goddess. So Wicca has been promoted normally with the wrong points of importance, making magic a much more essential part of Wiccan belief than the sole essence which is deity.
I have personally been a fair preacher against such propaganda. Wicca is a religion, and can do without magic. I know of many practitioners that abstain themselves from magic, in order to continue through the path of God and Goddess worship, that which is truly promoted by the Wiccan faith.
So where does magic come in?
All religions have their sacred ceremonies, and rituals Wicca is not exception. Like many have prayers to ask for things, Wicca believes in acting, and so has magic as a utensil that promotes interaction with deity. The problem is when you forget about the divine and focus on lone practice.
There is obviously nothing wrong with lone practice, it exists.
The predicament arises when you call yourself a wiccan because you do magic. And no, it is so much more. Wicca can do without magic, but Wicca cannot do without it's deity principles.
Magic can be practiced in any belief form, or without it. Now Wicca being the religion that it is, is seperate. Again magic is a tool, an act of sacredness and understanding of the natural flow of things. Making both of them different and apart from each other, even if they are able to share common grounds at times.
