Principles
In
1974, the Council of American Witches came up with a statement
entitled "Principles of Wiccan Belief". This statement
was drafted in an effort to inform and educate both the general
public and those interested in pursuing the study of Witchcraft.
The Council of American Witches disbanded later that same year,
but the points they put down on paper still go a long way in
defining what Witches believe today.
The Council of American Witches finds it necessary to define
modern Witchcraft in terms of the American experience and needs.
We are not bound by traditions from other times and other
cultures, and owe no allegiance to any person or power greater
than the Divinity manifest through our own beings.
As American Witches, we welcome and respect all life-affirming
teachings and traditions, and seek to learn from all and to share
our learning within our Council.
It is in this spirit of welcome and cooperation that we adopt
these few principles of Wiccan belief. In seeking to be
inclusive, we do not wish to open ourselves to the destruction of
our group by those on self-serving power trips, or to
philosophies and practices contradictory to these principles. In
seeking to exclude those whose ways are contradictory to ours, we
do not want to deny participation with us to any who are
sincerely interested in our knowledge and beliefs, regardless of
race, color, sex, age, national or cultural origin, or sexual
preference.
We therefore ask only that those who seek to identify with us
accept these few basic principles.
- 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, in 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 within us 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 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.
- 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
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.
- 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 or the Wiccan Way".
- 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 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 other
religion or philosophy-of-life, is to the extent that its
institutions have claimed to be "the one true right
and only way" and have sought to deny freedom to
others and to suppress other ways 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.