Misconceptions of Wicca and Witchcraft
things? Sure. We're human. There's always temptation to tap into that power for things that may not be in our best interests, and "bad" is really in the eye of the beholder. Someone else may have no problem with what you feel is a bad choice.
Logically following from my above paragraph, there are ethics involved in the use of magic. Many Wiccans follow an ethical guideline to do the least amount of harm possible and to always take responsibility for their actions. Others have a more individualized code of ethics. Oh, and magic really isn't like Harry Potter or Bewitched. Wiccans can't just wrinkle their noses and make things happen, or fly around on brooms, or wave a wand and turn a mouse into a teacup. Though I often do wish I could wiggle my nose and all my housework would be done!
You'll notice I keep using qualifiers like "many" or "most" throughout my discussion. Many Pagans do this, or most Wiccans do that, etc. This is because not all Wiccans and Witches practice the exact same way. There are lots of variations in theology, liturgy, and ethics. There are a lot of similarities in what Wiccans do (see my "What is Witchcraft? What is Wicca?" essay to get an idea of those similarities), but the differences between various types of Wiccan can be likened to the differences between various sects of Christians. Lutherans and Methodists and Baptists and Catholics all have some similarities that make them Christians, but there are differences.
Continuing on with this analogy... all Lutherans are Christian, but not all Christians are Lutheran. In the same vein, all Wiccans are Pagan, but not all Pagans are Wiccan. Wicca is probably the best known of the Pagan paths, but there are a plethora of other options. Asatru, for example, is a path focusing on Norse Gods and reconstructing the faith of that culture. Greek Reconstructionists do the same for the Greek Gods and culture. Voodoo and other similar paths are considered Pagan, as is Satanism and non-Wiccan religious Witchcraft, to name just a few. Many people put together their own individualize Paganism, borrowing bits from various cultures and practices to make something that works for them. More information on Paganism can be found in these two FAQs: http://www.faqs.org/faqs/paganism-faq/ and http://www.ecauldron.com/newpagan.php/
If you've browsed through the "new age" or "magical studies" section of your local bookstore, you may have gotten the impression
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