Book of Shadows (mystical book of the unicorn)

Differences Between Wicca and Witchcraft:

Wicca and witchcraft are two very different things. Wicca prohibits cursing, hexing and other dark forms of magick. And witchcraft is not a religion although may be acquired or one.

The difference between Wicca and Witchcraft can be summarized simply: Wicca is a religion whereas Witchcraft is a practise. That begs the questions of what is a religion and what is a practise.

A religion is a spiritual belief system, such as Christianity, Islam, or Wicca. It is a series of beliefs, based around observance to or worship of deities and/or spirits. A practise is something that is done, such as prayer, meditation, or magic. Simply put, magic is a practise and Paganism is a religion. Wicca is a subset of Paganism, and magic/spell casting is the main goal of Witchcraft.

It is, of course, possible to practise magic without being a Witch. There are other forms, such as Ceremonial Magic. And magic can also be part of a religion–some argue that prayer is a version of magic, and that the Wiccan Circle is enacted prayer.

The main difference between Wicca and Witchcraft come with the differences in intent. The purpose of Wicca is to honour the Lord and Lady, observe the turns of the Wheel of the Year, and to pay attention to one's spirituality. Wicca is intimately tied to one's relationship with the divine, by whatever faces They choose to show to us. Witchcraft, on the other hand, does not have to involve deities. Instead, it is concerned with the use of spells and herbs to achieve a desired end–healing, love, protection, etc.

Because Witchcraft is a practise and not a religion, it is possible to be a member of just about any religion and also be a Witch. (Of course, different religions have different opinions about the morals of being a Witch, but that is neither here nor there.) The openness of Wiccans and other Pagans toward magic and the unexplained makes it all the more likely that these people will be drawn to Witchcraft. But be aware that not all Wiccans are Witches. Many do not cast spells of any type. Instead, they focus solely on their relationship with the divine and on their quest for spirituality.