Wicca is
a modern witchcraft religion founded in 1954 by Gerald Gardner.
Gardner called his new religion "Wicca," for "wise," and
likened it to a resurgence of European witchcraft, which he believed
was a collection of ancient Pagan religions maligned by Christian missionizing.
Many believe the development of Wicca was influenced by Gardner's association
with Aleister Crowley and other period occultists, as it contains many
elements of Masonry Ritual Magick. (In fact, many of Gardner's
original 'Wiccan' rituals were in fact plagiarized directly from Crowley's
Thelemic rituals.)
The word Wicca
is an archaic term related to'witch' and 'warlock,'
but Gardner believed it meant 'wise' when christening his witchcraft revival.
The word was pronounced "Witch-ay" but today is pronounced "whick-ah."
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