Are the terms "witch" and "wizard" interchangeable.

[Stargazer Dante]

Just a random question. I feel like a fluff XD.

So are the terms "witch" and "wizard" interchangeable.

I have always found that "witch" is a proper form and "wizard" has never quite been mentioned within my studying,But are they interchangable,or should I say:
"Can one call himself a wizard,And can one herself a witch?"  

[The gypsy Queen]

yes. i have herd men call themselves either/or. biggrin say whatever is best for you.  

[mechanical kitsy]

i cant quite say. i've heard a lot of negatives about people calling themselves wizards.  

[WitchyBoy]

well the term wizard is surrounded by a lot of fluff and a lot of the fluffier pagans do go by that term but i prefer witch.  

[Philod]

i've been wondering about that myself. not necessarily about the word 'wizard' but about other words that would be interchangeable with 'witch.' are there any?  

[Tari_Leralonde]

I have heard 'Wiccan' and 'Witch' used interchangeably.  

[WitchyBoy]

Tari_Leralonde

I have heard 'Wiccan' and 'Witch' used interchangeably.

there is a qupote that says, "all wiccans are witches but not all witches are wiccan." so they are somewhat interchangeable but not universally, for example i am a witch who follows the wiccan faith.  

[Rowan MacGregor]

WitchyBoy

Tari_Leralonde

I have heard 'Wiccan' and 'Witch' used interchangeably.

there is a qupote that says, "all wiccans are witches but not all witches are wiccan." so they are somewhat interchangeable but not universally, for example i am a witch who follows the wiccan faith.

Yeah, exactly. Not every Witch is a Wiccan, but every Wiccan is a witch. Like... all Concords are Grapes, but not all Grapes are Concords.

As to Wizard and Witch, I think that's up to the individual. Neither has a set of explicitly prescribed beliefs, unlike Wicca, so its difficult to say whether they mean the same thing. But in the Pagan community, "Wizard" has acquired a fluffy connotation from Harry Potter, where as "Witch" has not. So, if you call yourself a Wizard, some people may assume that you've read Harry Potter one to many times. Still, I think it's up to the individual. If the title calls to you, by all means use it biggrin  

[Playgunny]

This would depend on who you are talking to. One Wiccan may consider the terms interchangeable, another may not. I do NOT see them as interchangeable, but that's just me.  

[Korealia]

Quote:

wizard

c.1440, "philosopher, sage," from M.E. wys "wise" (see wise (adj.)) + -ard. Cf. Lith. zynyste "magic," zynys "sorcerer," zyne "witch," all from zinoti "to know." The ground sense is perhaps "to know the future." The meaning "one with magical power" did not emerge distinctly until c.1550, the distinction between philosophy and magic being blurred in the Middle Ages. As a slang word meaning "excellent" it is recorded from 1922.

I suppose it COULD be used interchangably, but face it, the public has a hard enough time swallowing the word 'witch', why bring up imagery of Harry Potter for them? xp  

[WitchyBoy]

personally i find the term wizard to be quite fluffy but its up to the person involved.  

[too2sweet]

I think you would be very hard pressed to find anyone that would take you seriously if you called yourself a wizard. Even a simple Google search only turns up RP and gaming references (and a few businesses), nothing Witchcraft related. But as has been said, it is your choice.  

[WitchyBoy]

ive yet to hear of anyone calling themselves a sorcerror has anyone on here come accros one of these folks.  

[Quiet Dojo]

This is just personal preference, but I refer to myself as a "witch," not a sorcerer or wizard or mage or stuff like that...I know it's not the best term, but it's the one I feel comfortable using.  

[Sanguina Cruenta]

Wizardry would be something different, probably highly related to things like astrology and alchemy. Very different from witchcraft (despite the claims of one O. Zell who appears to have gone off the deep end). If it was related to anything I'd say it'd be more related to Ceremonial Magick than to witchcraft.

If you are a witch, then you are a witch. Adopting words like "wizard" is silly.