I define Wicca as a religion. Just like Christianity, there are many versions of Wicca as far as practices and terms or descriptions. Wicca is generally seen as an experiential spiritual practice without an accepted revealed text that focuses on personal responsibility, whose practitioners connect directly with deity and honor the natural cycles of Nature. Most Wiccans are polytheistic. Wiccans generally believe in the validity of magick, and often practice magick (divination, healing, spell-work, circle-castings, etc.). Witchcraft generally can be defined as a belief in magick and the practice of performing magick, divination, folk medicine, etc. Besides the definitions including terms like "malignant" and "ugly" (which you will find if you do an internet search and to me are not applicable) a good definition of a witch is "a practitioner of witchcraft especially in adherence with a neo-pagan tradition or religion (such as Wicca)." That definition is from Wikipedia. We each need to do our own explorations of what exactly our own practice will contain, but that is a start. Covens are not always easy to find, depending on where you live. I'm sure others will offer you their definitions too. You certainly can practice Wicca here at Sacred Mists.

I also view Wicca as a religion. One that focuses on the natural rhythms of our world. Most Wiccans in my area practice by themselves, calling it a solitary practice. I do know there are covens where I live, but I also know that most of them don't accept new people unless they are brought in by the existing members... which was one reason I chose to join Sacred Mists. I have been Wiccan for 13 and a half years, and most of that time has been spent here as a member of Sacred Mists Academy. Not all Wiccans choose to practice witchcraft or call themselves a witch.

Witchcraft is a way of practicing magick. That is learning how to influence energy in the casting of spells, and creating charms, talismans, witch bottles etc... Technically, one could be any religion and still practice Witchcraft. Many of the miracles that are spoken of in the bible are little more than acts of magick. They might go about doing it differently than a wiccan would, but essentially it is still the manipulation of energy that makes magick happen.

A witch is someone who practices the art of witchcraft. someone who uses the energy around and within them to create a desired change. Like witchcraft, a witch could be in any religion, not just Wiccan.

Wicca is a religion; it has structure and beliefs and practices. To me, Wicca is how I relate and communicate with the God and the Goddess. It's my way of seeking union with the Divine. Witchcraft is something that I do- it's a practice in Wicca, but it's not the whole sum of what it's about. I've practiced as a solitary since the beginning- I would venture to say that most Wiccans worldwide do. Covens are hard to find and harder to get into. They don't advertise. You don't need to practice in a coven to be Wiccan- it's not a "second-class" way of being Wiccan. I love Sacred Mists Academy; I've really enjoyed my time here, and I've enjoyed interacting with other Wiccans. But there's a lot I love about having my own practice in addition.