What is pagan/polytheistic/witch/witchcraft?

1. Pagan
   1. Any person not of the “main” 7 (Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh ) faiths
   2. Any person not of the Abrahamic* (Christianity, Islam, Judaism,) faiths
      1. *These are named Abrahamic because the origins of these faiths all begin with the sons of Abraham.

This word originally meant people from the farm lands, the “natives” of the land as an insult and synonym with uneducated by the church. However, this definition was used in the dark ages and has long since evolved.

Some believe this term encompasses all faiths not listed above around the world, while many argue that the term pagan began in Europe, so faiths outside of Europe can not be Pagan. Some believe it is only limited to nature deity based faiths.

1. Polytheistic
   1. Any person who worships or believes in more than one separate god or deity. This does not usually include religions that have a single deity with multiple personas (for example Christianity, which defines their deity as a single god with three personas – God, Jesus Christ, and Holy Ghost).
2. Wiccan
   1. A person who follows the specific faith of Wicca. This faith includes specific deities (2), rules, celebrations, and tools. Please note that many sources claim to be Wiccan when they are not. Always check the author’s credentials on information.
3. Witch
   1. A person who uses witchcraft.

This word is probably one of the most argued about words within paganism…right behind paganism. Some believe that only females can be called witch. Others believe that only people who work with the natural world should be called witch, and people who work with other planes and spirit energy should be called magicians. Some people believe that even if you don’t do any casting or any witchcraft, you should still be able to be called a witch.The best advice we can give you is, if someone calls themself a witch and they practice witchcraft, they’re a witch. Don’t argue about someone’s identity.

1. Witchcraft
   1. The act of manipulating energy around you to manifest a desired outcome, also called casting. This can be with natural objects or tools, or without either.
      1. There are many who like to split up the “types” of witchcraft based on the sources of energy. Here are some sources for energy, which is by no means exhaustive, and can be used in enough ways there are books on each: Plants/Herbs/Oils,Stones,Colors,Astrology,Spirit,Life,Sex

This means that a witch does not have to be a Wiccan, a pagan does not have to be polytheistic or a witch, and that just because you are a pagan does not mean you are polytheistic or Wiccan or a witch. None of these titles or descriptors mean an automatic connection to any other.