Hi Firebird. In reading your post I definitely know I have said this. Firstly, I would very much like to apologize if I have come off as rude about the terminology or somehow insensitive or even antagonistic. That has never been my intent. I come to my understanding of the term historically, but I would like to acknowledge that is not the only way to understand the term "Wicca". Language is indeed fluid. It is regional, and it is changing over time.
Gerald Gardner first used the term 'Wicca' in print in the early 50's. He sought to reclaim and revive old English practices of witchcraft. At that time in England witchcraft was still illegal. Gardner wanted a term other than "witch". "Witch" was considered to be quite loaded at that time. Gardner was looking for a term that would have a more positive association and appeal. Many sources say he used the word-which I think he understood to mean "wise people". It was said to come from old Anglo-Saxon roots. Wicca was masculine; while Wicce was feminine. Wiccan being the plural form.....It appears that the etymology of the word is not entirely agreed upon. Melissa Seims writes a great article about how Gardner understood the term versus how his contemporaries like Doreen Valiente wanted to use the term.
I think here is where we need to acknowledge the diversity of how words are used and how their meanings change over time. I personally interpret the use of word 'Wiccan' to refer to those that follow the practices as laid out by Gardner et al. I consider the term Wicca synonymous with the school of Gardnerian witchcraft, and those that adhere to it. Raymond Buckland was a student of Gardner, and so his practice would be Wiccan-that is as I understand it.
I do believe that now the term "Wicca" can mean something different for people. A good 60 years later I think the term has probably grown and others don't just look on it to mean "those that follow the Garnerian Tradition". I think there are probably a lot of people who are following a natural folk-type tradition that would identify themselves as Wiccan. In my case I would not.
How does that old saying go? My belief is thus: All Wiccans are witches, but not all witches are Wiccans. That is to say the Wiccan tradition has its roots in witchcraft, but not all people who practice-do so in the way that Gerald Gardner et al. wrote about.
I believe that Sabbats and Esbats apply to natural people the world over. Sabbats are solar in nature and would have been important days recognized by all peoples...the longest day....the shortest night.....the moons were given names by people since I'm sure we could speak....where I was born, the moon now is called S'kaagi Kun (the K should be underlined). It means "the moon of the dog salmon" commonly known as the pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha).
Each moon is so called for an association about what is abundant or growing, or how darn cold it is, or even how dangerous the ocean is.....
For those of us in the northern hemisphere our solar and lunar cycles would be circling around similar themes of abundance, of light and of darkness...Lammas "loaf mass" is a harvest celebration. Where I live people are also harvesting, though it is not grain. At the heart of our practice is more similarity than dischord. At least as I see it.
I did not mean to imply judgement about practices when I say I am not Wiccan. I am not actively following a Gardnerian tradition. Therefore, what I do doesn't look like what a Wiccan (by my definition) would do. For example, I don't "cast a circle in the same way".
I appreciate this forum and the people in it. I respect the rules here, and the different ways people practice. I respect the knowledge of people who have been walking their path for longer than I have been walking mine. I like the way people keep a tone of respect and mindfulness here. If for one second I gave people another impression other than that-then I do genuinely apologize. I do hope that helps clear up my intent and what I have meant. Please let me know if you have any further concerns or questions. I would be delighted to try to clarify anything further if needed.
Be well,
Becks
I try to include references and here are a few online articles that mention most of the facts I have put fourth....
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=wicca
http://www.themystica.com/mystica/artic ... ald_b.html
http://www.thewica.co.uk/wica_or_wicca.htm by Melissa Seims
I enjoy your posts Becks, no need to apologize! Though I do understand the word ...maybe more than some.
That's one of the things that's so great about this path. That is also what makes having a conversation about these topics like herding cats. 