Customs and Beliefs of Witchcraft

Not every Witch will subscribe to all these points, but generally they are representative.

1. The divine spirit is present in all creatures and things;people, animals, plants, stones...

2. The ultimate creative force manifests in both feminine and masculine modes;therefore it is often symbolised as the Goddess and the God.

3. In some covens, both are celebrated equally. In others, the Goddess is given precedence or even celebrated without referance to the God. And vice versa as well.

4. All Goddesses and Gods are aspects of the Lady and the Lord. The aspects most popular in Wicca are the Triple Goddess of the Moon (Maiden, Mother, Crone)and the Horned God of Death and Rebirth.

5. Reincarnation and karma are valid concepts. Upon death, one goes to a state of rest and reflection, and eventually chooses where and when s/he will be reborn.

6. Magic is practised for positive (helping) purposes: spiritual development, healing, guidence, safety, etc.

7. Rituals are generally performed outdoors when possible, at the New and Full Moons, and at the eight Sabbath Feastivals which mark the progression of the seasons.

8. Magic and celebration are perfomed in small groups, usually three to thirteen, called covens. These are basically autonomous---there is no central church authority or heirarchy.

9. There is no holy book, or phophet, no equivalent of the Bible or Jesus or Mohammed. Individuals have access to the divine and do not require an intermediary. Every initiate is regarded as a priest/ess.

10. The central ethic is "An'ye harm none, do as ye will." Whatever energy you send out returns three-fold, so it is wise to be kind to others.

11. We should live in harmony with the Earth and Nature, and not exploit them.

12. Though Wicca is a valid spiritual path, it is not the only one. There is no recruiting, and people should be free to chose the path that best fits their needs.

13. The concepts of original sin, sacrifice, redemption, confession, the divinity of Jesus, sinfulness of sex, Judgement, Heaven and Hell, denigration of women, bodily resurrection, and the Bible as divine revelation are not a part of Witchcraft/Wicca. Neither is Satanism, the Black Mass, desecration of cemeteries, the sacrifice of animals, etc.

13 Goals of a Witch

1. Know yourself.
2. Know your Craft.
3. Learn.
4. Apply knowledge with wisdom.
5. Achieve balance.
6. Keep your words in good order.
7. Keep your thoughts in good order.
8. Celebrate life!
9. Attune with the cycles of the Earth.
10. Breathe and eat correctly.
11. Exercise the body.
12. Meditate.
13. Honour the Goddess and God.

Not Every Body Believes in the Three-fold lore But here it is...:
Three Fold Law*
Bide the threefold law ye' should;
Three times bad an' three times good.
As the Wheel doth turn;
Thou doth get what thou doth earn.
To Dare, To know, and To Be Silent.

Types of Witches, Paths and Traditions

What follows is a short list of a few paths that are available to a seeker. Of course there are many other wonderful traditions out there. Just do your reaserch to find one you like or you get drawn to. These definitions are based on my opinions, so please DON'T take them as textbook and then blame me...

Celtic Wicca:
Worships and uses the Celtic/Druidic pantheon. This path heavily involves the elements, nature and the Ancient Ones. The Celts has a great knowledge of the land, trees, element spirits, gnomes and faeries.

Dianic Tradition:
Their prime worship is of the Goddess. This path has also been known as the "feminist" movement of the Craft.

Electic Witch:
One does not follow one particular tradition or path. The practitioner learns and studies many magic systems and uses what they feel best works for them and what they are interested in.

Gardnerian Tradition:
Founded by Gerald Gardner in England. He was set on not letting the old ways die and was the first to publicise witchcraft.

Kitchen Witch:
The practition deals with the practical side of witchcraft, the earth and the elements, hearth andhome. Often they use the more commonly available items for charms, tools, and spells etc.

Pagans:
Paganism is the word used to describe any Earth and nature religion/path.

Solitary Witch:
One who practices alone and can be from any tradition. They practice alone because they want to or because it is not possible to have contact with other witches (living in the countryside etc). They can also be called 'Hedge Witch'

Wiccan Witch:
Wicca ia a Pagan religion of the Goddess and God. This tradition's definition varies with witches. Not all Pagans are Wiccans. You can be Wiccan without being a Witch and you can be a Witch without being Wiccan. Very nature and religion orientated tradtition. The word 'Wicca' is derived from the Anglo Saxon word for witch'Wicce'