The timing of your question is interesting as the ANUH community just had a speaker from a local coven to come explain the differences between Wicca, witch and pagan.

The way I have always understood the term pagan is as an umbrella of sorts for many different paths that are basically connected to earth. (I know, that is a very simply way to look at it.) However, by that definition, as a Huna Shaman, I am a pagan. As would Native American beliefs, as would a Wiccan, etc.

Webster’s defines a Shaman as:: “a priest or priestess who uses magic for the purpose of curing the sick, divining the hidden, and controlling events.” (BLECH!!)

I have always understood a Shaman to be someone who trains in healing modalities, then dedicated his or her life to helping people.

Ever single culture has the equivalent to a Shaman and each has different beliefs on how someone becomes one. In some cultures, you have to born in the right family. In others, you have to have a ritual death and re-birth. Shaman’s go by many names as a Native American Medicine man, for ewxample, would be, by definition, a shaman.

All do a form of energy work, called by many different names. Generally all are teachers and healers. It is also very common for shamans to do journey work, meaning going into the “other side” (or whatever term the culture uses) on behalf of their “client.” But to say a Shaman is “this” and nothing else would be erroneous.

Anyway, in listening to this speaker, I came to realize that the main difference between Wicca and Huna shamanism, for instance, is the worship of deities. In Huna we don’t worship any deity and instead focus on working with our higher self. “Aumakua.” As for our God, the human race has an Aumakua, and “all that is”, has an Aumakua. (very simply explained.)

According to the speaker, after listing to the kind of work I do as a Huna Shaman, she said I would fall under her definition of a witch. In Huna, there are no witches… so it depends on the words you want to use. (actually she said I was more like a hedgwitch (I think that was what she said… But I saw you use the word “hedgeriders” which sounds sorta like what she said but I can’t find a definition) than a regular witch. implying I just get things done, don’t mess with casting and such.. (maybe you could clarify this point for me..)…

So the difference is the words we use and the rituals we practice and truly in little else.. Someone said.. “The devil is in the details..” LOL, works for me!! In love and light,

ALl good things,
Sky