| 13 Principles of |
| Wiccan Belief |
| Carl Llewellyn Weschcke believed that a common set of principles and definitions encompassing the many paths and traditions in America, would ultimately help to dispel many of the myths about Witchcraft, and distinguish it from Satanism and other misconceptions in the eyes of the General Public, and such as proliferated through the General press Media. 1) We practice rites to attune ourselves with the natural rhythm of life forces by the phases of the moon and the seasonal quarters and cross quarters. 2) We recognise that our intelligence gives us a unique responsibility toward our environment. We seek to live in harmony with nature in ecological balance, offering filfillment to life and consciousness within an evolutionary concept. 3) We acknowledge a depth of power far greater than ordinary, it is sometimes called `supernatural', but we see it as a 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 is same creative power lies in all people and functions through the interaction of the masculine and the 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 energy used in magical practice and religious worship. 5) We recognise both the outer worlds and inner, or psychological worlds sometimes known as the spiritual world, the collective unconsciousness, the inner planes, et. We see in the interaction of these two dimensions, the basis for paranormal phenomena and magical exercises. We neglect neither dimension for the other, seeing both necessary for our fulfillment. 6) We do not recognise any authoritarian heirarchy, but do honour those who teach, respect those who share their greater knowledge and wisdom, and acknowledge those who have courageously given 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 makes life possible in order to live wisely and without harm to others and in harmony with nature. 9) We believe in the affirmation and fufillment of life in a continuation of evolution and development of consciousness, giving meaning to the universe we know and our personal role within it. 10 ) Our ownly amimosity towards Christianity, or towards any other religion or philosophy of life, is to the extent that its institutions have claimed to be `The Only Way' and have soiught to deny freedom to others and to suppress other ways of religious practice and belief. 11) As American (British) 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 not concerned with our present and future. 12) We do not accept the concept of absolute evil, nor do we worship any entity known as 1Satan' or 1The Devil' as defined by 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. 13) We believe that we should seek, within nature that is contribution to our health and well being. |
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