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First things
first - What Witchcraft is not:
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Witchcraft or
Wicca is not a cult. We do not proclaim ourselves to be spokespersons for
the divine or try to get others to follow us as their leaders. Nor do we
tell others how to behave and what to believe in, (we believe in freedom
of choice as thinking autonomous individuals able to make up our own
minds!). We do not take money from people to support the work of a chosen
deity (We give of ourselves to help and heal others).
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We do not
worship Satan or consort with Demons. (Satan is a Christian creation and
they can keep him!). We do not need a paranoid creation of supreme evil
and eternal damnation to scare us into doing the right thing and helping
others. We choose to do the right thing and love our brothers and sisters
because it IS the right thing and it feels good to do it.
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We do not
sacrifice animals or humans because that would violate our basic tenant of
"Harm None." Anyone who does and claims to be a Wiccan or a Witch is not,
no matter what they call themselves. Nor do we use the forces of nature or
the universe to hex or cast spells on others. Again, "Harm None" is the
whole of the law.
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We have no
need to steal or control the life force of another to achieve mystical or
supernatural powers. We draw our energy from within, our personal
relationship with the divine and nature. |
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Witchcraft is not anti
Christian, or anti any other religion. We simply exercise our right
choose our path to enlightenment. |
The principles of the Wiccan belief
Seventy three Witches founded the Council of American Witches in 1974. In
April of that year, at the Spring Witch meet in Minneapolis, MN,
(1974-APR-11 to 14), they adopted the following document. At the time, Wicca
and other Neo-pagan religions were greatly misunderstood in North America.
This document helped to set the record straight.
The
thirteen statements are necessarily vague. They do not precisely and
completely match any one Witchcraft tradition. But they do provide an
introduction to the full range of belief systems called "Wicca." The Council
disbanded in 1974. (Source - American Witches council
http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_stat1.htm
)
I
have added my own principles to match my own specific beliefs after N°13.
1.
We practice rites to attune ourselves with the natural rhythm of life forces
marked by the phases of the Moon and the seasonal Quarters and Cross
Quarters.
2.
We
recognize that our intelligence gives us a unique responsibility towards our
environment. We seek to live in harmony with Nature, in ecological balance
offering fulfilment to life and consciousness within an evolutionary
concept.
3.
We
acknowledge a depth of power far greater than that apparent to the average
person. Because it is far greater than ordinary it is sometimes called
"supernatural", but we see it as lying within that which is naturally
potential to all.
4.
We
conceive of the Creative Power in the universe as manifesting through
polarity-as masculine and feminine-and that this same Creative Power lies in
all people, and functions through the interaction of the masculine and
feminine. We value neither above the other, knowing each to be supportive of
the other. We value sex as pleasure, as the symbol and embodiment of life,
and as one of the sources of energies used in magickal practice and
religious worship.
5.
We
recognize both outer and inner, or psychological, worlds -- sometimes known
as the Spiritual World, the Collective Unconscious, Inner Planes, etc. --
and we see in the interaction of these two dimensions the basis for
paranormal phenomena and magickal exercises. We neglect neither dimension
for the other, seeing both as necessary for our fulfillment.
6.
We
do not recognize any authoritarian hierarchy, but do honor those who teach,
respect those who share their greater knowledge and wisdom, and acknowledge
those who have courageously given of themselves in leadership.
7.
We
see religion, magick and wisdom-in-living as being united in the way one
views the world and lives within it -- a world view and philosophy of life
which we identify as Witchcraft, the Wiccan Way.
8.
Calling oneself "Witch" does not make a Witch -- but neither does heredity
itself, nor the collecting of titles, degrees and initiations. A Witch seeks
to control the forces within her/himself that make life possible in order to
live wisely and well without harm to others and in harmony with Nature.
9.
We
believe in the affirmation and fulfilment of life in a continuation of
evolution and development of consciousness, that gives meaning to the
Universe we know, and our personal role within it.
10.
Our
only animosity towards Christianity, or toward any other religion or
philosophy of life, is to the extent that its institutions have claimed to
be "the only way," and have sought to deny freedom to others and to suppress
other ways of religious practice and belief.
11.
As
American Witches, we are not threatened by debates on the history of the
Craft, the origins of various terms, the origins of various aspects of
different traditions. We are concerned with our present and our future.
12.
We
do not accept the concept of absolute evil, nor do we worship any entity
known as "Satan" or "the Devil", as defined by Christian tradition. We do
not seek power through the suffering of others, nor do we accept that
personal benefit can be derived only by denial to another.
13.
We
believe that we should seek within Nature that which is contributory to our
health and well-being.
And my own add-on's:
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When acknowledging a "god" or "goddess" in spells or rituals, I am giving a
name to a feeling, event, or part of myself, and not necessarily an actual
deity for the purpose of focusing energies for that particular intent.
*
While I acknowledge there are "forces", "energies" and other entities
outside what we human beings know as provable facts, my magick is based on
earth science and practical beliefs.
* I
am always open to new information and alternate points of view, however, I
only accept beliefs of my own choosing, and do not always agree with all
generally accepted Wiccan beliefs.
* Although Wicca itself is a
religion, I do not consider myself belonging to the Wiccan religion, but as
a person who practices Witchcraft, and has some Wiccan beliefs for spiritual fulfilment.
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