Principals of Wiccan Belief

The following is a list of principals created in 1974 by a congregation of American witches. It does NOT neccisarily reflect the way ALL witches believe. Although most witches would accept this as a true statement.

The Council of American Witches finds it neccesary 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 allegeance to any person or power greater than the Divinity manifest through our own being. As American Witches we welcome and respect all teachings and traditions and seek to learn from all and contribute our learning to all who may seek it. It is in this spirit of welcome and cooperation that we adopt these principals of Wiccan belief. We therefore ask only that those who seek to indentify with us accept those few basic principals.

1. We practice rites to attune ourselves with the natural rhythm of life forces marked by the full moon and seasonal quarters and cross-quarters.

2. We recognise that our intelligence gives us a unique responsibility towards our environment. We seek to live in harmony with Nature, in ecological balance offering fullfilment to life and conciousness within an evolutionary concept.

3. We believe in 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 naturaly potential to all.

4. We concieve of the Creative Power in the Universe as manifesting through polarity - a masculine and feminine - and that this same Creative Power lives in all people, and functions through the masculine and feminine. We value neither above the other.

5. We value sex as pleasure, as the symbol and embodiment of life, and as the interaction source of energies used in magickal practice and religious worship.

6. We recognise an outer world and an inner world(aka Spiritual World, Inner Plains, etc) and we see in the interaction of these dimensions the basis of magickal excersises. We neglect neither dimension for the other, seeing both as neccesary for our fullfilment.

7. We do not recognise any athoritorian hierarchy, but, do honor those teach, respect those who share their greater knowledge and wisdom, and ackgnowlege those who courageously give of themselves in leadership.

8. We see religion, magick, and wisdom in living as being united in the way one views the world and lives within it. This philosophy of life we call Witchcraft, the Wiccan Way.

9. Calling oneself a "Witch" does not make a Witch, but neither does herdity or collecting of titles, initiations, etc. A Witch seeks to control the forces within themselves in order to live wisely and well and without harm to others and in harmony with nature.

10. We believe of the affirmation and fullfilment of life in a continuation of evolution and development of conciousness giving meaning to the known Universe and our role in it.

11. Our only animosity towards 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 suppress other ways of practice and religious belief.

12. As American witches we are not threatened by debates on the origins of the Craft. We are concerned with our present and our future.

13. We do not accept the concept of absolute evil, nor do we worship any "ultimate evil" entity. We do not seek power through the suffering of others nor accept that personal benifit can only be derived by denial to others.

14. We believe that we should seek within nature that which is contributory to our health and well-being.