Wicca? Pagan? Satanic? What is a Witch?

---

Defining These Terms

Many people do not truly comprehend or understand what it is to be a witch. Let's get into a little introduction to some terms so that you can better understand what some of the current "religions" of witchy following.

First off, what is a witch?

Most witches have a different defining view of what makes them a witch and for me, it is just a generalized overarching term that really just sums up someone who practices and dabbles in the metaphysical as a way of personal growth and/or getting one's way through metaphysical practices.

What is Wicca?

In my opinion, Wicca is a more modern day version of Pagan. It is quite the contrary to what most people think being that it is a peaceful and balanced way of living your life where the main practices promote a type of oneness with the divine within life and promotes positivity through all that exists around us. Most people who practice Wicca classify themselves as witches but not all witches classify as Wiccan.

So veering off of Wicca, what is Paganism?

Essentially, Pagan beliefs are just those that are held by people that aren't classified as Christian or other "mainstream" religions. Some people define is as just existing without religion, therefore when it was first practiced, people considered them as evil only because they were not worshiping a god per say but instead did not follow a religion at all.

Now that we have established absence of a god, what about following the opposite of God himself?

What really is Satanism?

If we look at it critically there are actually many types of Satanism. We won't get into all of them and not all of them are necessarily evil either. The worship of Satan that we typically think of usually involves the destruction or misuse of Christian symbols and practices. This is what we often see depicted in horror movies. One type of Satanism is actually very different from what most of us believe which is Theistic Satanism.

Theistic Satanism is a practice that recognizes the existence of one or more supernatural beings not just pinned down to the Christian view of Satan. They are a religion that is focused on self-improvement or as some practitioners call it, "self-creation." It's more focused on what you are getting out of this life instead of focused on what comes after. They aren't really involved in magick as we would picture most Satanists.

---

So What Am I?

Actually, I don't follow a specific religion at all. I was raised in a strictly Lutheran household but was also raised to make my own choices in my spirituality. Therefore, my spirituality and my religious practices are two separate things for me. I still go to church with my family and I do believe in a higher power but that would be my religious practice and not my spiritual beliefs.

Spiritually, I like to think of myself as my own creation. I, like many other self practicing witches, pluck things here and there from other religions to incorporate in their practice. I believe in balancing myself with my surroundings just as a Wicca practitioner would but I don't strictly follow Wicca. In this same aspect, I still believe in a higher power so I wouldn't classify as Pagan either.

Now before you ask, no, I do not follow any type of Satanic practices. But along those lines, as a witch, I believe that there are ways in which a being, whether that be godly or demon-like, may materialize into some of my practices only because I am open to letting in other perspectives. No, I will not conjure a demonic force to hex you. I don't dabble in the art of black magick and therefore do not practice those rituals.

That being said, I do have and use an altar where I have my objects of choice to use in my practices such as candles, incense, crystals, and other knick knacks. I do not conform to any particular practice but to those who do, blessed be to you and I am always open to learning about other fellow witches practices.