Wicca word "Wicca" has been used as a synonym for witchcraft more generally, including in non-religious and non-Pagan forms. Alongside "Wicca", two other names often used for the religion by its practitioners are "Witchcraft" and "the Craft". However, the use of the word "Witchcraft" in this context is problematic because it causes confusion both with other, non-religious forms of witchcraft as well as other religions—such as Satanism and Luciferianism—whose practitioners sometimes describe themselves as "Witches". Another term that is at times used as a synonym for "Wicca" is "Pagan Witchcraft", although there are also other forms of modern Paganism—such as types
Central Valley Wicca offshoot or even a precursor of Gardnerian Wicca, while others suggest that the CVW share a common ancestor with what later became Gardnerian Wicca. According to their original custom, an initiate of Central Valley Wicca was not told who their initiator's initiator was; therefore, the identity of the person who first brought Wicca to the Central Valley remains a mystery. What is known is that she had ties to England and had most likely lived there; she was either British or had close connection to a British subject prior to settling in California. At that time, individual names for "traditions"