Wicca is a polytheistic nature-based religion that follows the wheel of the year, starting on October 31 and ending on October 30th. The wheel of the year celebrates solstices and the equinoxes. There are also four other days to be marked important, which create the 8 sabbats. Wiccans believe in a God and Goddess. One of their main religious texts is the Wiccan Rede (pronounced like read).

The Rede gives a basic outline of how to act, and what to do (or not do) in your religious practices. It’s kind of like a bible, but much shorter. Think of it as a code of conduct and morals.

Wiccans follow a basic two rules: an it harm none, do what ye will and the threefold law. The threefold law states that anything you do, good or bad will come back to you times three. And since they believe in harming none, some witches prefer to have plant-based diets so they really do harm none. With that being said, many believe that cursing and hexing others is wrong.

Wiccans typically like to work and connect with nature, and invoking the elements (earth, air, fire, water) in their practices.

Lastly, there are different forms of Wicca, commonly referred to as different traditions. The most common ones are Gardnerian, Alexandrian, Dianic, Celtic, Eclectic, Blue Star, and Reclaiming.

Many Wiccans are witches, but you don’t have to be a witch to be Wiccan and you don’t have to be Wiccan to be a witch.

Here is another note: being Wiccan and being Pagan is not the same thing. Even though they are both connected with nature, they do have some distinct differences which will be mentioned in another post.