What is Witchcraft? What is Wicca?

I am starting over on my Wiccan research. Just to continue gaining the knowledge that is so important to me. Enjoy!
The following statements are my personal opinion, based on educated research. Lash out if you want, but an opinion is just that. No one else is responsible for these words except me.

Section 1, Part 1: What is a Witch?

The word witch has a lot of connotations connected to it. Some negative, some positive. This is how I would classify the word witch in my opinion is someone that can command the powers within themselves, in the physical world and the outside worlds to create change.

We create change without knowing it, every breath, every step, you name it. But when you can command the physical, mental, and astral powers at your will, that is when you are practicing witchcraft, because those powers are then at your will. Witches work with every phase path and breath of life.

Most of the time, Witches are described as followers of the Wiccan religion, but just to make sure there arent any misconceptions, all Wiccans are Witches, not every Witch is Wiccan.

Sometimes Witches do not wish to use that term because of the misconceptions drawn to it. I was that way myself, seeing it more as a derogatory term, but in my opinion, when you do that, you are giving the people who tried to disarm the word witch the power over you to call yourself what you really are. I may not use it to describe my religion to a possible nay-sayer at times, but I do not allow that word to have more power than it should.

What is Wicca?

Wicca is a pagan religion that practices Witchcraft. This religion is shamanistic, and worships the Earth, the Mother Goddess and (sometimes, not all the time) Father God. This religion celebrates the phases of the Earth (seasons) with sabbats, and the moon with Esbats. There is no central book or belief system other than that due to th belief that every person is unique in their path, and that there is no one true path for any person. Because of this, also, expirience of the Divine can be done without a church, but in self or group established places of power. There are solitary practitioners as well as group or “coven” worship. Prayers are often called spells due to the fact that magick is most times used, in the practice of herbal, candle and other types of witchcraft.

There are many traditions of this religion, just like in Christianity, but even within those traditions, no one Wiccan is alike.

Part one of my lessons completed!