Over the years and after discussing what Wicca is with many different people I've personally come to understand the core of Wicca as the following. Please note that I did not come up with this list myself but am basing it on what other more experienced Wiccans (such as the Gardnerian high priestess Deb Lipp) have told me in conversations.

Wicca is an orthopraxy, not an orthodoxy. What makes us Wiccan is that we have a set of specific practices that we all use. It's what we do, not what we believe, that makes us Wiccan.

Core practices include:

1. Casting a circle with some sort of recognition of the four quarters.
2. A balanced pair of a God and a Goddess (regardless what your philosophy is about Them and Their nature, number, etc.)
3. Seasonal festivals or sabbats (from four to eight) based roughly on Celtic models.
4. Doing magick in some form (if only through casting the circle.)
5. Recognizing sacred fertility in some form (often through the use of the Great Rite either through enactment of a Hieros Gamos or through other symbolism.)

I also see autonomy as inherent to Wicca. There is no central authority for all Wiccans; no Wiccan Pope or Wiccan Holy Bible that all must follow. That means individual groups are free to set up whatever authority structures they want for themselves but their authority does not apply to outsiders. It also means solitaries can definitely be Wiccans.

While it is true that this set of criteria could cover non-Wiccan groups as well it makes sense that only those who actually self-identify as Wiccan are meant to be covered.

Personally, my Wiccan philosophy and practice is also guided by the Principles of Wiccan Belief, the Wiccan Rede ("An it harm none, do what you will"), and the Threefold Return concept (which I interpret as a rewording of the idea that everything is connected and our decisions will always have consequences).

My Wicca is inspired by Doreen Valiente more than Gerald Gardner, as well as the work of Janet and Stewart Farrar and Gavin Bone, Ray Buckland, Sybil Leek, Isaac Bonewits, Starhawk, and Fred Lamond. I'm also fond of Scott Cunningham's work and delve regularly into the works of Robert Cochrane and those who are based on his ideas although I personally always come back to Wicca as my core.

I realize that not all Wiccans believe as I do but we can still share the core practices and all be Wiccans.


Ben Gruagach

Post edited by: bgruagach, at: 2007/09/10 19:13

Well, you know I am not Wiccan, but from being on other forums with you, I very much respect you, and I believe you have it right. When people argue amongst themselves over what Wicca is, I think that sometimes, they forget to stop and look at what the Core Values are. If they would stop and look, they would see that the same Core is really there.

It's far too easy to look at the differences and then get worked up to the point where those differences seem to be irreconcilable. You are very right, ShaamAnsu, that if we can keep the core values/concepts in mind then the differences shrink into their rightful place.