Wicca is a sect or denomination of the religion of Witchcraft. It was established by  in 1951 and is based on a combination of traditions experienced and learned by Gardner. Wicca is a very structured practice of Witchcraft, incorporating initiations into it's advancement or hierarchy of leadership.

It is a modern and ever growing path of Witchcraft, which honors all things in and around the natural universe as divine components. Seeing all things as interconnected, and balanced.

Some Wiccans do worship or honor gods or aspects of the god which are indeed warlike or patriarchal. Each practitioner can chose or create their own set of beliefs about the nature of deity and their relationship to that God/Goddess. Wicca does not have a written set of rules for its members to follow. However three main beliefs guide practitioners through their actions and beliefs.

The first law is known as the  which state wiccan rede: "An ye harm none, do what ye will." The basic meaning is that practitioners are allowed to follow whatever path they choose so long as no harm befalls others, including themselves. The Wiccan Rede also serves as an ethical guideline for magikal practices in everyday life and ritual.

 The second law of Wiccans follows the threefold law, which simply states that a person's deeds return to him/her three times over. The Threefold Law has large implications in governing one's behavior through being accountable for all actions, thoughts and deeds.

This law is also mostly confined to the Gardnerian-based Wiccans. Some magikal practitioners do not subscribe to it at all, invoking demons and casting curses. However, there has been a great deal of writing on the Wiccan and neopagan movement that attempts to divide and totally remove the early ties with ceremonial magik and its later incarnations such as The Church of Satan and the Temple of Set. The Satanists do not want to be lumped with the Wiccans any more than the Wiccans want to be lumped with them. To a Satanist, the Wiccans are weak and ineffectual.

The third is less of a 'law' than it is a practice. It incorporates the use of the science of energy manipulation, more commonly referred to as magik. These practices are gleaned from 3 resources, Along with the Book of Shadows of the coven itself, are two additional resources - Grimoire: The Greater Key of Solomon the King which dates from medieval times and The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abra-Melin the Mage which was published in the late 1900s.

In most formal organizations, especially in Gardner and Alexandria traditions, an initiation is based on levels of knowledge and experience. Advancement through the levels (or degrees) is a progression of study, performance of knowledge and acknowledgement of wisdom and experience. There are varying practices for the levels of initiation. Within Wicca, a person cannot claim they are Wiccan until a formal initiation has been conducted. This is not a dedication.

In Gardnerian and Alexandrian traditions, there are some differences to the varying levels or degrees of initiation. However the basics are very similar.

A First degree initiate is blindfolded and bound with cords outside the magic circle. They are challenged as to their courage to enter. The respondent typically replies "with perfect love and perfect trust" to suffer to be purified and to learn. The initiate is then guided into the circle. Once there, they take an oath, are anointed, presented with their first magikal tools and the initiate adopts a craft name.

A second degree initiation begins the same way, only this time inside the circle. The initiate renews their oath to suffer, to learn and to be purified. A ritual scourging is conducted and the initiate assumes a new craft name and is willed the magikal "power" of the initiator.

The third degree initiation is performed through the Great Rite ceremony. This is a consummation of the magikal knowledge of the coven. An initiate may take on a new craft name to signify their status as a Priest or Priestess.

All initiations conclude with a celebration of food and drink.