Pagan vs Solitary Kitchen Witch vs Wiccan
@kitchenwitchoftupper (2290)
United States
February 24, 2007 10:28am CST
There are many people who assume that because I proclaim that I am a Pagan I must be Wiccan.
There are many people who assume that because I proclaim that
I am a Kitchen Witch I must be Wiccan.
This is not true. If it were true, it would be alright with me, as I have nothing against Wicca; but I am not a Wiccan.
A pagan is someone who gives honor to the Earth, Air, Water, Fire, and Spirit (as do Wiccans). A pagan may also give honor to various gods and goddesses. I do believe in the god and goddess aspect of faith.
As a Solitary Kitchen Witch, I do not necessarily "cast spells". What I do, I do in my kitchen and I do mostly with my food as I cook and add various herbs and spices. I cook with the intent of love and nourishment and sometimes with the intent of increase of money. I do not cast evil spells. I do not worship the devil. I do not read the Bible backwards. I don't do any of the negative things that some people have heard of in regards to witchcraft. I don't have too many strange herbs in my kitchen; but I do have some unusual ones as I collect them and some of them I display.
Some of the things that I marvel at are in the spring when I first see the ground begin to crack, and then open up a tiny bit more...then a bit of dark seedling pokes out...then it pushes just a bit more until its head is all the way out...then a little bit of green stem peeks out and the dark seed cover falls off - this thrills me! just to imagine that something that tiny and fragile could push its way up through the hard wintered earth! I feel the same way about birds coming forth from eggs, worms weaving through the ground and making natural mulch. These are the things that make me know that there is Divine.
Wicca, on the other hand is a religion. As I have stated many times, I have the utmost respect for anyone that is deeply committed to their religious beliefs. That is a beautiful thing and is to be admired. At this stage in my life, I simply choose not to be involved in any group activity. I choose to worship in private and alone. ~Donna
8 people like this
12 responses
@silverlou (372)
•
24 Feb 07
Any title which is given deflects from the true purpose which most seek.
To place a name onto your faith promotes the name not the act itself which is and should be entirely different for each person based on their own beliefs.
2 people like this
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
25 Feb 07
SilverLou you speak so much truth in those 2 sentences. Very well said. I also struggle with certain religious labels put to my own faith.
1 person likes this
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
25 Feb 07
Hi Donna! Wow you posted lots of interesting things while I was away! =p
You make some very good points here. I also have been told that I am Wiccan, and it frustrates me. Not because I have anything against Wicca, but simply because I am not Wiccan. I would also probably be annoyed at being called heterosexual, blond-haired, or any other thing that I am not.
It is very hard sometimes for pagans to find a label for themselves that is both accurate and understandable. I tend to simply say that I am "pagan" because people are likely now to have some idea what that means. If I were being more specific I would say that I am primarily a Celtic Reconstructionist, though I do sometimes do things that honor my Native American heritage. If I wanted to break it down further, I suppose I could name some of my primary deities, but that's getting way too personal. Bleh.
I suppose all the labels can be annoying and detract from true spirituality, but at the same time they are almost necessary to live in society. "What religion are you?" is seen to be a pretty simple, normal question, and answering it with a two-hour speech tends to be frowned upon.
Sorry if I rambled a little.
2 people like this
@feralwoman (2199)
• Australia
26 Feb 07
Time for me to "come out"! I am a solitary Wiccan. I do not worship the devil, I do none of the negative things, although I have done in the past and have paid for it dearly. I was given the gift many years ago and chose to abuse it. Now i've come to my senses and only use it for the greater good. I do not belong to a coven, I prefer to practise alone and undisturbed, not by the use of magic wands and rhyming spells as others may do - but by deep meditation and shape shifting. Sometimes I use a crystal ball just as an aid to concentration and focus - but I would like to dispel the notion that witches are bad people who hex and curse to their heart's content. We are normal people who just believe in different things. Hope I haven't offended anyone here! lol
1 person likes this
@feralwoman (2199)
• Australia
27 Feb 07
Thank you both for understanding and not banishing me to the realms of darkness! lol
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@kitchenwitchoftupper (2290)
• United States
26 Feb 07
Congratulations FeralWoman, The word Wiccan brings out such fear in people that it is difficult for me to say around most people; while Pagan is so much easier to explain and so much more acceptable. My next door neighbor and a dear friend is a Catholic. We had known each other for about a year and shared tea mostly in my apartment (because I can smoke here, but not in her house), and had discussed many different things. It was very easy for her to accept the fact that my partner is another woman; and she knew that if she needed to talk about anything at all without fear of judgment she could always come to me. My collection of kitchen witches intrigued her.
One day she asked me, out of the blue, "Are you Anything?" I knew what she meant right away but had to laugh at the way she stated it. After just a second I just told her, "Yes, Nancy, of course I am Something, I am Everything". She took another sip of her tea and said, "Oh, well, that's really interesting!" We've been friends for over 4 years now and she has never asked another question (not even the day when she walked in on me with candles lit to the elements and herbs burning in the cauldron) LOL!
@Ravenladyj (22902)
• United States
26 Feb 07
As much as I'm all for ppl being devoted, passionate etc etc when it comes to anything in life..I get seriously tweeked over the misinformed assumptions and reluctance to PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THE HELL I'M TELLIN YA! Like i posted earlier in this thread..
"I avoid at all costs calling myself Wiccan BECAUSE its so widely known yet so misunderstood...not to mention of course I'm flatout NOT Wiccan in any way, shape or form....I get seriously twisted when ppl continue to say (even AFTER I've corrected them) that i am Wiccan when I tell them I am Pagan or a Witch..that seriously burns my butt in a big fat way!!"
I think that another thing that really ticks me off come to think of it at this moment, is when a Wiccan does it...particularly a young/new to it all one...You know what I mean the teens/young adults who picked up a book one day absorbed it all and claimed right then and there they are Wiccan and proceed to let the rest of the world know and when they meet ppl like me who've been on their path for yrs now, they have the audacity to try and tell me I'm wrong (first big no no) and I'm not a real Witch because *insert some silly comment like "you dont believe in/follow the Rede" here* thats the second big no no LOL...
All three paths have great qualities about them BUT I really think its important for ppl for once to realize that they are NOT the same by any means...I also, again now that I'm thinkin of it, think its very important to realize that being solitary is JUST AS valid as working within a coven or group....thats another thing that ticks me off..I MUCH prefer to work alone (other than rare tiems i work with my kids) and have never had a desire to join a coven or work with others not even my best friends...
1 person likes this
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
24 Feb 07
Donna, This was a very informative article. I had no idea what you were, religion or otherwise. I never judge people by anything like that. I try to not push my beliefs on anyone at anytime. If I have, then I do apoligize. To each his own is the motto that I live my or at least try to live by. I try really hard to accept people for the wonderful spirit that they possess inside not anything else. I can find good in everyone if I look hard enough.
I did not know anything about wicca or pegan and now I do know something about it. Thanks for sharing your beliefs with me. I just thought the kitchen witch had somehting to do with cooking or tupperware. I really didnt give it much thought either way.
@destinycole (827)
•
25 Feb 07
Thank you Donna, have you read Cunnigham, A guide for the Solitary Practitioner?
I agree with most of what you say. I try to follow Wicca but I am Catholic, perhaps I am more Pagan Catholic than Wiccan Catholic. Still searching for my path.
I love the first buds of spring, crocus, snowdrops, Daffodils. New buds on trees, new life! Birds gathering twigs and hair to tie their nests together! what wonderfully beautiful architecture a nest is! Made with two claws and a beak and a skill that is so unique that we human would still be nest building a year after the fledglings have flown.
Isn't nature just beautiful it makes it good to be human so that we can think and admire all the wonder and beauty around us.
@Raevyn1972 (275)
• Canada
25 Feb 07
You know, Destinycole, 'pagan Catholic' is probably the most honest mesh of the two faiths I've ever read... I actually considered myself not a Christian, but a Marian (a follower of Mary, rather than Jesus Christ) when I was still a Catholic because I believe Mary had a bigger role in Divinity than She was given credit for in the Bible.
1 person likes this
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
25 Feb 07
Again the both of you are so right in what you are speaking of. I have always believed the "church" as we know organized religion is rooted in paganism. Its such a breath of fresh air to read thoughts here that are fascinatingly based in truth for a change. Although I consider myself Christian I go about my worship and faith so much differently than do my fellow believers.
1 person likes this
@lafavorito (2959)
• Philippines
14 Mar 07
I'm on the process of researching about paganism and wicca, so I appreciate your input here. In our country Wiccans & Pagans often keep their spirituality to themselves because of the assumptions that people make.
@kathy77 (7486)
• Australia
24 Feb 07
Thank you for explaining the difference between a pagan and a solitary kitchen witch vs wiccan. I also cook with herbs and spices to make my food more tasty. Yes it amazing how life is formed, and begins it new life. I also worship in private nd alone I feel a lot better about my own life in doing this.
1 person likes this
@Raevyn1972 (275)
• Canada
25 Feb 07
*hugs* Donna. I certainly can empathize with you. My particular problem is that no, I'm not Wiccan, but what I want most in the world is to have a group with which to share my Faith. I'm as close to Druid as you can get without actually identifying myself as such (or at least, I didn't until just recently), and there are several Groves in my immediate area, but none that are open enough for me to join. May the Gods and Goddesses lead you on your right path, Donna. May They do the same for all of us!
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
25 Feb 07
Good Afternoon Donna,
I find this topic quite fascinating. Thank you for taking some of the blinders off, I just wish more people could read and get a glimpse of what you are saying. It's a powerful message. Keep speaking your mind. Isn't it the rebirth and the birth of life what the whole mystery is about? We can not appreciate what we do not understand.
1 person likes this
@APMorison (424)
• United States
26 Feb 07
Labels are for religion, religion is not Faith, in fact religion can exist without Faith and Faith without religion.
People can exists without religion, but they can not exist without Faith, even if it is faith in themselves to face whatever comes.
There is a difference between ritual tradition and eclectic practice. That difference is most often the very personal experiences of the person practicing their faith.
If you run into someone who is determined to slap a label on you just remember, there are witches and there are Blessed-Wanna-bes. Only debate with them over it if it looks like it would be fun for a diversion.
1 person likes this
@jennybeans (912)
• United States
25 Feb 07
I have long since stopped talking to people about my spiritual choices for precisely the reasons you stated here. People make assumptions, and usually their assumptions are laced with a lack of knowledge. It's nice to see someone take a stand to try and educate a close minded society to their views!
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