Wiccan or Witch? (And does it really matter.)
	I wish to remind you all that this is an opinion. As far as I'm concerned, it matters if it matters to you.  It is important to note that not all witches are Wiccan.  There are Christian witches, Jewish witches, all sorts of tribal witches, atheist witches, and probably many kinds I've never thought of before.  Operative witchcraft is a way of making things happen.  To some it might be a hobby, to others it may be a profession. It does not necessarily have to have anything to do with Wicca, in my opinion.  Wicca is the name we use for the relatively new Pagan religion that history tells us was founded in the early part of the last century by Gerald Gardner. Please realize that there are Wiccans who do not practice operative witchcraft.  Wicca could be called celebratory witchcraft, and there is a difference.  It invloves celebration of nature and the turning seasons and a recognition of the divity inherent in all things.  Above all, it's a belief system, a way of relating to the Divine. Many Wiccans (in my experience) tend to have an interest in operative witchcraft as well.  Both Wiccans and non-Wiccan witches call themselves witches (or Witches, more often used by Wiccans).  Some Wiccans prefer not to be called Witches for various reasons, all of them valid.  I personally don't care, but I find that calling myself Wiccan in a public setting helps avoid confusion.  My advice is to decide what feels right to you, and call a Wiccan a Wiccan if you're worried about causing offense.
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