EadhaI’ve long considered myself a pagan, and have practised wiccan rites as a solo practitioner. The casting of circle and calling the quarters is practically identical to the rite described in the course material. The difference for me was adding the three realms to the quaters. I’ve always started at North, as well, the darkness before birth/dawn rather than East, but recently I’m shifting that. I’ve never called on a familiar or sought to be possessed by a spirit, but each to their own. The Lord and Lady of Wicca personify the male and female divine, many witches have particular deities they identify with within that. And anyone thinking witches are satanic is wrong, and I have never really cared what ‘mainstream’ thinks. It’s really just an Earth based animistic tradition, just as druidry is. That’s how I do it anyway.
Cheers
Eadha