confused

[lavender11]

Hi
I'm really confused.I am new to being a pagan,wicca and other spritual aspect's.From what i have read i am a pagan.Since coming to this forum and reading more (other sites) i want to follow the wiccan belief.After reading on this forum a pagan is a witch that doesnt do spells? so is a wiccan a pagan that does spells?.I am a long way off trying spells if ever i do them.I think in time to come i may try one.Its beyond me the min. Sorry if i sound stupid .I am reading loads at the min and my head is in over load.


Thank you in advance

[AutumnMaidens]

A pagan is a follower of any of the non-abrahamic religions, so anyone that doesn't follow christianity, islam, judism and is not an athiest (obviously)
Witches cast magick but are not religious. You can however be religious and be a witch so you could be a wiccan who casts spells and so be a witch also. You would be a wiccan witch. Wiccans don't practice magick necessarily.

Hope this helps
Blessings

[lavender11]

Many thanks Autumn Maidens.It makes more sense now.

[SpiritTalker]

If you were in a Wiccan coven in the 1950-60's it would be expected that you practice magic. Solitaries weren't widely recognized until 1989 with Cunningham's solitary guide. He included spells & that would suggest the author expected that wiccans did magic, but we are capable & free to make our own choices.

[Lord_of_Nightmares]

Doreen Valiente had rituals for solitaries in some of her books. I think one is the natural magic book. Janet and Stewart Farrar also published some sort of solitary work and Raymond Buckland in Big Blue. But solitary wasn't emphasized or popularized until Cunningham in 1989 and the 1990s.