When people think of Wiccans, many of them immediately think of the traditional perceptions of witches that have developed over the years, when the truth is far different. There is a lot more to being a Wiccan than casting spells all the time.
That is not to say that the practice of witchcraft does not exist within the Wiccan community. It most certainly does, but the perception of how it is performed is far different from the reality. The popular perception of Wiccan witchcraft, primarily within predominantly Christian communities, is that of dark magic that summons demons, harms others, and involves unholy deals with the devil.
There are several misconceptions involved here. The first is that witchcraft is used to harm other people. There are two aspects of Wicca that show that this is not the case, and are the first things that beginners to Wicca learn. The first is one of the few true rules of Wicca, and it is known as the Wiccan Rede. It states, “An it harm none, do as ye will.” This means that you are free to celebrate your faith in whatever manner you find appropriate, so long as you harm no one in doing so. The second aspect is known as the Three Fold Law, which states that any action performed by a Wiccan is visited back on them three times as powerfully. You could think of it as being similar to karma, with everything you do coming back to you.
Though there are many Wiccans who do practice Magick, the reality of it is more akin to living in harmony with nature as opposed to trying to control it. It is performed with respect for nature, rather than simply trying to enslave it. Outside the community, it may seem like a subtle difference, but the intent behind it makes all the difference in the world. Much of the Wiccan faith is intensely private, from choosing your Wiccan name onward. Warts and pointed hats exist only in movies.
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