Thanks for the replies and encouragement. I do feel Wiccan, but Witch feels right too, so I will be both :-). Thanks again.
Kim
Jan 24, 2010 Rating
which Witch by: Harry McAlister
You are what you are. Let no one tell you different. The name is not protected copyrighted,or patented. How you worship, perform magick, commune is your affair. You go girl.
Jan 24, 2010 Rating
eletist by: Amethyst
Having taught Inclusive Wicca for some time which is an eclectic tradition and not BTW, Gardnerian or Alexandrian I have been confronted with these types of discussions many times over the years.
I fully appreciate the beauty and mystery of BTW, Gardnerian and Alexandrain (Heck I was originally taught in the Alexandrain tradition) but I still find this eletist approach insulting and was exactly why I developed the tradition of Inclusive Wicca via oak and Mistletoe.
I very much respect the BTW philosophy that protects thier trad but some of these traditionalists still insiste on "the only way" comment and this riles me intensely.
There are as many ways to commit to a Wiccan path as there are Wiccans and as long as I don't label myself a BTW, an Alexandrian or Gardnerian, and profess my eclectism, my path is as valid as any other. As eclectis we should be proud to call ourselves Wiccan!
Smiles,
Amethyst
www.oakandmistletoe.com.au
Jan 24, 2010 Rating
Are you Wiccan or Witch? by: Ken
Hi Kim,
What you have described is not new. 20 years ago, they said that anyone who learned from only a book, and self Initiated, wasn't really Wiccan. Only a properly elevated Priest or Priestess could Initiate a real Wiccan.
I had the chance to talk to Kala Trobe, who has written several books, and her definition is that a Wiccan is anyone who follows the teachings of Gerald Gardner.
Personally, I don't call myself Wiccan, though if others refer to me as Wiccan I usually don't worry about correcting them. I am a Witch, I practice Witch Craft (The Craft of Witches).
There are several reasons why I don't think of myself as Wiccan, but the main reason is that I realized long ago that Priests and Priestesses don't Initiate people, the Gods do.
If the British Traditionals want to keep their term pure, that's fine. I can hang out with them, and enjoy their company, and earn their respect just as I do with the Norse Kin I know.
Wiccan is just a word. I means nothing more than what people attribute to it. It has been watered down. Every Fluff Bunny and their Sister call themselves Wiccan, but really, does it matter what others think?
Call yourself what you will. Live up to your full potential. Take responsibility for what you do. Live your Craft, whatever you choose to call it.
If you do these things, what you call yourself doesn't matter. People will look up to, and respect you for what you do, not what you call yourself.
