Wicca and Satanism are two distinct belief systems that are often misunderstood and confused with each other. While both fall under the umbrella of modern Paganism, they have different origins, beliefs, and practices. Wicca, also known as Witchcraft, is a modern religious movement that emerged in the mid-20th century. It is based on a reverence for nature and the worship of a goddess and god, known as the Triple Goddess and the Horned God. Wiccans believe in a balance of light and dark, and they follow the ethical principle "An it harm none, do what ye will." Wiccans engage in rituals and spells to connect with nature and the divine, and they celebrate the phases of the moon and the seasonal Sabbats.
The head of a Tibetan antelope. The animals live between 4 to 5 kilometers (2.5 and 3.1 miles) above sea level in Tibet. (Image credit: USFWS)
It is loosely based on Western European pagan rites and rituals that have been performed for centuries before, during and after the time of Jesus such as reverence of nature, observance of the cycle of the seasons, celebration of the harvest, and doing magic, according to Wicca for Beginners Llewellyn Worldwide, 2006. By 2050, it said, the number of Americans practicing other religions faiths outside Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism would triple due largely to switching into other religions such as Wicca and pagan religions.
" Wiccans engage in rituals and spells to connect with nature and the divine, and they celebrate the phases of the moon and the seasonal Sabbats. On the other hand, Satanism, particularly LaVeyan Satanism, is a religious philosophy founded by Anton LaVey in the 1960s. It is rooted in a humanistic approach and focuses on individualism, self-indulgence, and self-preservation.
Why paganism and witchcraft are making a comeback
On a recent trip to Salem, Massachusetts, I overheard the same question: Is magic really real? For me, the answer is yes.
Witches take part in the Witches' Magic Circle in Salem, Mass., on Oct. 31, 2018. Joseph Prezioso / AFP via Getty Images file
Oct. 30, 2022, 11:00 AM UTC By Antonio PagliaruloTwo weeks ago in the run-up to Halloween, I visited Salem, Massachusetts, for the first time since the pandemic began. In renewing my annual Halloween pilgrimage, I was bowled over by what I found in the Witch City: bigger crowds, longer lines and a wider and welcome array of merchandise geared toward many different religious traditions and ethnic identities.
Amid the curious crowds in black capes and conical hats, bags overflowing with DIY spell kits and candles to enhance prosperity, I overheard the same question: Is magic really real?
Witchcraft, which includes Wicca, paganism, folk magic and other New Age traditions, is one of the fastest-growing spiritual paths in America.
For me, the answer is yes.
I am one of a million-plus Americans who — whether proudly, secretly or dabbling through the power of consumerism — practice some form of witchcraft. Witchcraft, which includes Wicca, paganism, folk magic and other New Age traditions, is one of the fastest-growing spiritual paths in America.
In 1990, Trinity College in Connecticut estimated there were 8,000 adherents of Wicca. In 2008, the U.S. Census Bureau figure was 342,000. A 2014 Pew Research Center study increased that projection several times over in assessing that 0.4% of Americans identified as pagan, Wiccan or New Age. (Most modern pagan worship, of which Wicca is one type, draws on pre-Christian traditions in revering nature.) By 2050, it said, the number of Americans practicing “other religions” — faiths outside Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism — would triple “due largely to switching into other religions (such as Wicca and pagan religions).”
The precise number of witches in America is difficult to determine because many practitioners are solitary and, either by choice or circumstance, do not openly identify as such. But the growth is evident, especially to those who’ve made it their life’s work to study the community.
“It’s clearly increasing,” said Helen A. Berger, who spoke to me on the phone last week. Berger is one of the foremost academic experts on contemporary witchcraft and paganism in America and draws knowledge about its appeal from surveys she’s co-conducted on the pagan community.
Wicca began to be practiced in America in the 1960s by feminists, environmentalists and those seeking a nonstructured spirituality, according to Berger. It was a largely underground movement, but commercial books about witchcraft published in the 1980s and 1990s productions like “Charmed” and “The Craft” created a surge of interest in youth. With the ability to find communities online and the decline in affiliation with traditional religions, witchcraft began its entry into the mainstream.
“The religion is individualistic in many ways,” Berger told me. “You can do your own thing. It’s not signing on to an institutional religion. It’s not signing on to a set of actions or beliefs that you must adhere to.”
I myself grew up with Italian folk magic passed down from generations of practitioners who melded pagan customs with Roman Catholicism. This kind of syncretism is not uncommon in witchcraft today.
In petitioning the archangel Michael for protection, for example, I will recite a prayer but also make offerings of wine, bay leaves and cloves. In addition to venerating Catholic saints, I light candles to the goddess Diana at every full moon and place small bundles of rosmarino, or rosemary, on my altar to honor the dead. This blending of faiths has been a seamless process for me and other folk magic practitioners despite what traditional religious authorities might say.
Sometimes my magic is as simple as reciting an old Neapolitan incantation over a glass of wine to strengthen the love between two people. Sometimes it requires more serious action, like piercing a clove of garlic with a sewing needle and spitting three times to break a spate of bad luck brought on by malocchio — the “evil eye.” Whether learned from a local healer or my grandmother as she blessed me by shoving salt in my pockets on my way out the door, I carry forward these old world rituals.
At the heart of these practices is the fact that witchcraft enables me to see the world through a more balanced lens. I’ve felt the reassuring presence of the otherworldly in the midst of difficult circumstances, and I know that magic happens when I summon the strength to draw boundaries or stir away the guilt that bubbles up if I choose self-care over self-sacrifice.
I am not alone in this experience. Online platforms like TikTok and Instagram offer tutorials on every aspect of magical practice. The witchcraft hashtag has over 7 million posts on Instagram and more than 11 billion views on TikTok or, as it’s known in the community, WitchTok. Podcasts about witchcraft enchant the airwaves. Along with crosses and Stars of David, major retailers like Walmart and Amazon sell the witchcraft symbol of the pentacle, pendulum divining tools and dried herbs for spells and rituals. The use of Tarot cards proliferates in lux magazines.
It’s understandable that some adherents have criticized the commercialization, arguing that Halloween witch costumes perpetuate negative stereotypes and the selling of DIY spell kits trivialize sacred practices.
But this trend has created space for recognition and representation. The proliferation of witchcraft reflects two timeless and universal urges: the need to draw meaning from chaos, and the desire to control the circumstances around us. With the dire catastrophes brought on by climate change, wars and the loss of rights, it’s not surprising that witchcraft appeals to those seeking to mend what’s broken in ourselves and the wider world.
Blending of faiths has been a seamless process for me and other folk magic practitioners despite what traditional religious authorities might say.
There are also critics outside the community — those who look down on witchcraft in any form. A former colleague often broadcast her contempt for my “mumbo jumbo.” But after several weeks of terrible luck, she came to my office one day, quietly shut the door and asked for my help. Did I know any spells, any solutions that would upend the curse she believed she was suffering from?
Witches have long extolled the connection between energy and objects and people, so I understood her fear and desire to set things right. I’m not sure she’d ever admit it, but the help I gave her and the theory behind it has echoes in scientific and health practices today.
Look at quantum entanglement, at the heart of this year’s Nobel Prize for physics, which says that objects can influence each other in unseen ways even at great distances. Or consider the very popular mindfulness movement. Deep breathing exercises, positive affirmations and guided meditations to reduce stress and the effects of trauma — like spells — use the mind-body connection to foster self-care and improve circumstances.
Monday, as millions of people celebrate Halloween (known to witches as Samhain, the pagan festival honoring the dead), countless jack-o'-lanterns will decorate doorsteps throughout America. I will take particular comfort in knowing that these glowing pumpkins, a lasting pagan custom, are embraced by so many of us. It’s a reminder that magic can be both a beacon in the night and a source for hope and healing when we need it most.
Wiccans are a misunderstood group, they say. Those who consider themselves witches often adhere to Wicca, which was recognized by a 1986 Court of Appeals as a legitimate religion. Even so, several commonly held beliefs about the Wiccan religion are outdated or plain false, say national Wiccan and pagan groups. Here are six misconceptions of witches and Wiccans.
LaVeyan Satanists do not believe in a literal Satan or a deity but instead view Satan as a symbol of rebellion and individual freedom. They advocate for the pursuit of personal desires and reject societal norms and authority. While both Wicca and Satanism are often portrayed negatively in popular culture and misconstrued by mainstream religions, they have different beliefs and practices. Wiccans seek to live in harmony with nature and use their magic for positive purposes, such as healing or protection. Satanists, on the other hand, prioritize self-interest and promote their own personal growth and empowerment. It is important to recognize and respect these differences to avoid perpetuating stereotypes and misinformation about these belief systems. Both Wicca and Satanism offer individuals a spiritual path that allows for personal expression, but they have distinct ideologies and practices that should not be conflated..
Reviews for "Wicca and Satanism: How Society Perceives these Alternative Religions"
- John - 1/5
"I was really excited to read 'Wicca vs Satinism' as I am someone who enjoys exploring different belief systems. However, I was extremely disappointed with this book. The author barely scratched the surface of both Wicca and Satanism, providing very little depth or insight into these religions. The comparisons made between the two were shallow and lacked any real substance. Additionally, the book had a very biased tone, clearly favoring one religion over the other. Overall, I would not recommend 'Wicca vs Satanism' to anyone looking for a well-informed and unbiased exploration of these fascinating belief systems."
- Sarah - 2/5
"I had high hopes for 'Wicca vs Satanism', but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The book lacked cohesion and clarity, jumping back and forth between different topics without any clear structure. It felt like a jumbled collection of random thoughts rather than a well-researched and organized comparison. The writing style was also dry and uninspiring, making it a struggle to stay engaged with the content. While there were a few interesting points here and there, overall, I found this book to be a letdown."
- Michael - 2/5
"As someone who is interested in exploring different religious and spiritual paths, I was intrigued by the premise of 'Wicca vs Satanism'. However, I found the author's approach to be overly simplistic and lacking nuance. It seemed like they were more focused on presenting a biased and sensationalized view of these religions rather than providing a balanced and insightful comparison. Additionally, the book suffered from numerous spelling and grammatical errors, making it difficult to take the author's arguments seriously. Overall, I was disappointed with 'Wicca vs Satanism' and would not recommend it to those seeking an accurate and thoughtful exploration of these belief systems."