Principles Of Wiccan Belief
Council of Amercain Witches / 1972
The main tenet of Witchcrafte, the Rede is:
Do What Thy Wilt, Save Harm None, Except In Thy Defense It Be
Simply put, Do what you will, just don't hurt anyone, but remember to stand
up for your rights.
In April 1974, the Council of American Witches adopted a set of principles of
Wiccan Belief. They are as follows.
- 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.
- We recognize that our intelligence gives us a unique responsibility
toward our environment. We seek to live in harmony with Nature, inn ecological
balance offering fulfillment to life and consciousness within an
evolutionary concept.
- 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.
- 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 to 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.
- We recognize both outer worlds and inner, or psychological worlds
sometimes known as the Spiritual World, the Collective Unconscious, Inner
Planes, etc--and we see in the inter-action 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Calling oneself "witch" does not make a Witch--but neither does
heredity itself not 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.
- We believe in the affirmation and fulfillment of life in a
continuation of evolution and development of consciousness giving meaning to
the Universe we know and our personal role within it.
- Our only animosity towards Christianity or towards any 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 suppress other
ways of religious practice and belief.
- As American Witches we are not threatened by debates on the history of
the Craft, the origins of various terms the legitimacy of various aspects of
different traditions. We are concerned with our present and our future.
- We do not accept the concept of absolute evil nor do we worship any
entity known as "Satan" or the "devil" as defined by the Christian tradition.
We do not seek power through the suffering of others nor accept that personal
benefit can be derived only by denial to another.
- We believe that we should seek within Nature that which is
contributory to our health and well-being.
