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              MY CRAFT ETHICS BY JAMES CROWLEY III 12/19/86



                              MY CRAFT ETHICS

                   Copyright by James T. Crowley III 1986

                 This artical may be reproduced for personal
                 use as long as it is complete and un edited

        There are doubtlessly readers of this article that believe I have
        no ethics.  Those readers are intitled to there opinion however
        shallow I may feel that opinion is.

        I am the High Priest of Covenant Of The Doves, the comments I make
        here are necessarily my personal ethics and viewpoint and not that
        of my High Priestess or members of the Coven.  Even as a leader
        of a coven, I have no right or power to speak for another
        person.  They do however necessarily govern my actions as a High
        Priest.

        The only way I know to state my ethical viewpoint is by a
        annotated resitation of the Laws of the Craft of the Wise as they
        pertain to ethics and have been revealed to me by my teachers,
        the writings of others and that which the Lord and Lady have made
        clear to me through their visions and actions.

        I bear the mundane name Crowley that has a certain significance
        in the craft community beyond my personal contributions.  Yes, I
        am prowed of the legacy of that name as members of my family have
        played important parts in history.  Aleister Crowley was by no
        means the most important of them nor the least.

        Aleister Crowley, the Current Lord Crowley and myself all bear
        common accestors to Sir Ambrose Crowley, Lord Mayor of London (at
        the time of Cromwell) and author of the 'Law Book of the Crowley
        Iron Works' which is considered to be the bases of British
        statutory law.  This, I hope  will clear up confusion about my
        relationship to Aleister Crowley.

        The name Hearth Witch is far more dear to me than Crowley, as it
        represents a true understanding of what the WICCA is.  When an
        astronaut looks out of the window of his space capsule and sees
        the body of our Lady looking back at him.  The astronaut knows,
        in that moment that technology, and the centuries of mans' labor
        that put him there, are pale when compared to the wonders of our
        Lady.














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              MY CRAFT ETHICS BY JAMES CROWLEY III 12/19/86


        I feal that it is necessary to explain some of the structure of
        the Covenant of the Doves.  We say that we have one degree but
        that is not strictly true. There are 4 things that happen to a
        person on the pathway.  We cannot call them degrees as they do
        not happen in the same order to each person.

             1.   Dedication to the coven.

             2.   Initiation by the God and Goddess

             3.   Worldly recognition of their Initiation by the Gods
                  and their ability to act as a Priest or Priestess

             4.   Birth or Adoption into the family which is as permanent
                  and unrevokable as the Initiation of the Lord and Lady.

        THE WITCH 'LAW'

                 Do not what you desire -
                    do what is necessary.
                 Take all you are given -
                    give all of yourself.
                 "What I have - - - I hold."
                 When all else is lost, and not until then,
                    prepare to die with dignity.

        There are two kinds of law, Law of Tribe and the Law of Goddess
        (ie: natural law).  The Law of Tribe requires the services of a
        Priesthood.  The Law of the Goddess require no Priesthood as they
        are self-inforcing.  If you see an apparent violation of the law
        of the Goddess, there are only two possible explanations.   The
        law is not of the Goddess but of man, or you do not understand
        that law of the Goddess.  If you see a ball fall up, either
        someone is deceiving you, or you are in a spacecraft or similar
        artificial  environment that is manifesting some of the "fine
        print" in the law of the Goddess.  This partial telling of the
        laws contain both the law of the tribe and that of the Goddess.
        It is left to the wisdom of the student to learn which is which.

        THE LEADERSHIP OF THE COVEN

        The High Priestess must be an ordained Nymph or a Crone.
        The High Priest must be an ordained Magician.

        The High Priestess is the final word on the quality of Worship as
        the High Priest is the final word on the quality of Magick within
        the WICCA Circles.

        The High Priest's relationship is:  Father, Brother, and Lover.

        The Priestess's relationship is: Mother, Sister, and Lover.

        THE PRIEST AND PRIESTESS ARE THE LEADERS OF THE COVEN IN THE
        MUNDANE WORLD, NOT IT'S DICTATORS. MEMBERS MUST BE GIVEN A VOICE
        IN THE ACTIONS OF THE COVEN.


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              MY CRAFT ETHICS BY JAMES CROWLEY III 12/19/86


        The Covenant of the Doves is necessarily a theocracy not a
        democracy.  Meetings are opened to all who are dedicated and
        sometimes to concered outsiders.  Whatever the business, it is
        open to discussion by all.  There are no votes taken because when
        it is all said and done, there are only two people in the coven
        that bear the responsibility for the actions of this coven, the
        High Priestess and the High Priest.  So, the final decision is
        theirs ALONE.

        When the Circle is cast by The Priest and Priestess, they are
        necessarily the ABSOLUTE RULERS OF THE COVEN.  No witch shall
        enter the Circle with out PERFECT LOVE AND PERFECT TRUST in all
        members of the Circle.  The only question of the order of the
        Priest or Priestess is: if told to jump, it is permissable to ask
        how high -- on the way up.

        IF ONE DISAGREES WITH THE DESISION OF THE LEADERS OF ANY COVEN OR
        CIRCLE.  IT IS THERE RIGHT AND DUTY TO LEAVE THE COVEN.  THERE IS
        NO OTHER LAWFUL RECOURSE.

        LEADERS MUST BE EVERMINDFUL THAT MEMBERS WILL SOON LEAVE AN
        UNJUST LEADER.

        THE LAW OF THE COVEN

        THE CIRCLE IS A PLACE THAT IS NOT A PLACE, BETWEEN THE WORLDS.

        A COVEN IS A FULLY AUTONOMOUS UNIT ANSWERABLE TO NO POWER BEYOND
        ITS OWN, SAVE THE LORD AND LADY.

        IN ANY DISPUTE WITHIN THE FAMILY (COVEN) OR TRIBE, NO ONE MAY
        INVOKE ANY LAW BUT THOSE OF THE FAMILY AND TRIBE.

        It being known that the Circle is a "place that is not a place,
        between the worlds", and that what is between the Worlds does not
        concern the World.  Dicussion of actions taking place within a
        consecrated circle is appropriate for dicussion only within that
        Circle, or by Elders of the Craft in a Council of Elders Convened
        by the High Priest and High Priestess of the coven involved as
        only Elders can or should have any direct knowledge of actions
        that take place within the Circle of another Coven.

        With the fragmentation of the WICCA since the burning times, the
        identification of Elders of the Craft is at best ambiguous.  The
        only working definition that I can feel comfortable with is:
        Those members of the WICCA community that the High Priest and
        High Priestess of the Coven recognize as their peers regardless
        of what rank they hold in other circles.









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              MY CRAFT ETHICS BY JAMES CROWLEY III 12/19/86


        THE WORD OF A WITCH NEED NO BOND OR CONTRACT.  IT IS NECESSARILY
        TRUE AND FREE OF EQUIVOCATION.

        We make it clear to all around us that we do not tolerate lieing.
        If it is on the part of a friend or an acquaintance, we will
        cease contact with them, if necessary.  If it is a member of the
        craft, we do not willingly stand in the same circle with them.
        If they are a student, this is one of the few areas that we will
        invoke banishment as a punishment (or, if there are extenuating
        circumstances and the person is of extreme value to the coven and
        the Craft, we will consider corporal punishment or an equivalent
        alternative proposed by the student to balance the wrong done to
        the Coven, in lieu of banishment).  If they are an Initiate, it
        is necessarily more harmful to the family, and therefore, more
        serious.

        PERFECT LOVE AND PERFECT TRUST (my fingers wanted to type love is
        the law)

        Perfect love and perfect trust are not words spoken in blind
        faith. They do not mean a blanket trust.  Perfect love and
        perfect trust are what was in the hearts of the few, and most
        dear, that when they heard rumors, first came to us and said
        "what are these rumors about...".  These people knew that as
        falible as we are, these rumors were not a reflection of our
        will.  These people sought to know what happened, not to satisfy
        any of their own devices or to judge us, but to share our pain
        and the load.  These people are of different traditions and
        levels of worldly Craft learning, but these people will always
        hold a place in my heart second only to my brothers and sisters
        that are literally of the My Family.

        THERE ARE THREE KINDS OF SECRETS IN THE WICCA CIRCLE AND ALL ARE
        INVIOLATE EXCEPT IN AN ELDER CIRCLE, AND THEN ONLY TO THE EXTENT
        THAT THEY ARE RELATIVE TO CRAFT BUSINESS AND HELD IN THAT ELDER
        CIRCLE.

        1.   Secrets that are within the Circles that are private
             to the members of that coven.

             (ie: when Charlie has a few drinks he.....

        2.   The secret held by the High Priestess and High Priest of
             the inside and outside Circle affairs of the coven members,
             due to their office.

        3.   The social and magick practices of the Craft that cannot be
             talked of outside of the Wicca without being taken out of
             context and sensationalized.








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              MY CRAFT ETHICS BY JAMES CROWLEY III 12/19/86


        THERE ARE AS MANY WAYS TO LOVE THE GODDESS AS SHE HAS NAMES.

        All ways of loving the Goddess are correct.  None are Wrong as
        long as they are based in love.

        Say not "they are wrong" say "they are a different path from
        mine".

        Until you know in your heart that you have found your path, do
        not deny any wicca path that you have not walked.

        When you find your path, still walk other paths with your
        brothers and sisters in joy and love.

        "THE WICCA SHALL BE NAKED IN THERE RITE"

        All mankind is naked before God and Goddess.

        NO STRANGER NOT BORN IN THE FAMILY SHALL LEAD THE FAMILY OR A
        TOTEM OF THE FAMILY.

        NO ONE WHO RALLIES AGAINST HIS FAMILY OR TRIBE SHALL BE KEPT IN
        BANISHMENT PAST 14 YEARS AFTER THE EVENT, IF THAT UNDO THE HARM
        CAUSED.

        NO ONE WHO EXTENDED THEMSELVES IN THE SUPPORT OF THEIR FAMILY OR
        TRIBE SHALL BE BANISHED FOR OLD AGE OR THE ACTIONS OF INFIRMITY.

        IT IS NECESSARY THAT SKRYING, VISIONS, ASPECTING AND ALL OTHER
        APPARENT VISIONS OF OUR LORD AND LADY BE QUESTIONED.  IT IS
        ESSENTIAL TO OUR REBIRTH THAT WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT OUR OWN
        WISHFUL THINKING OR PRIDE, IF THERE BE THE LEAST DOUBT, THE
        VISION MUST BE DENIED.

        If a true vision is denied by the initiated, the Lady will
        underline the truth in the vision in an unquestionable form.  If
        this underlining comes as a punishment, it is still a small price
        to pay when compared to the consequences of a false vision.

        IF EVER ANY OF THE TRIBE NEED A HOUSE OR LAND AND NONE WILL SELL,
        THEN CRAFT MAY BE USED TO INCLINE THE OWNERS TO SELL, PROVIDED IT
        HARMETH HIM NOT, AND THE FULL PRICE IS PAID WITHOUT HAGGLING.

        NEVER BARGAIN OR CHEAPEN ANYTHING YOU BUY BY THE ART.

        NO MAN, WOMAN, HIGH PRIESTESS, OR HIGH PRIEST CAN SAY WHAT "HARMS
        NONE".

        The answer to this is for the Gods, not man.  A just action may
        well harm someone in some way in the mundane world (every action
        has an equal and opposite reaction).  It is always best to give
        the action and the power to the Goddess, and abide by her will.
        If it cannot be given to her after due consideration, then one
        must act in the most just form that is possible, freely taking on
        to our selves all adverse reaction of an error in judgment.


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              MY CRAFT ETHICS BY JAMES CROWLEY III 12/19/86



        NO ONE MAY DO ANYTHING WHICH WILL ENDANGER ANY OF THE TRIBE OR
        BRING THEM INTO CONTACT WITH THE LAW OF THE LAND.

        THE ART MAY ONLY BE USED IN ERNEST AND NEVER FOR SHOW OR VAIN
        GLORY.

        NO PERSON MAY BE WARNED OF HIS FATE MORE THAN THREE TIMES.

        MAIDEN: (Youngsters still new to the Craft, or older ones who do
        ritual work and do not mind publicity.) Young people oriented to
        cope with, and the ability to handle publicity.  Some knowledge
        of occult and the Craft both in its practical and religious
        aspects is necessary.  Childless women, virgins;  Warm friendly
        people with good powers of projection.

        NYMPHS - (Do the bulk of ritual work, young adults.) Creative
        people, artists, dancers, singers, etc.  Very mature, rational
        and responsible.  Intuitive and uninhibited.  Knowledge of Craft
        and occultism, etc. necessary.  Dislikes publicity.

        CRONES: (executive branch - teachers of neophytes, makes judg-
        ments, etc.) Must be sober and serious, but with a sense of
        humor, very mature in most all ways, intuitive of the true nature
        and inner working of things. Older folks, intellectual, Masters
        of there Craft, and dislike publicity.

        No woman shall be a Maiden who has not been in her courses.

        No woman shall be ordained unless she has passed her 17th year,
        nor shall she have her ordination recognized until that time.

        No woman shall have her ordination recognized unless she is in
        her courses, has ten fingers, ten toes, two eyes, two ears, a
        nose.  Her generative organs and breasts must be complete.  The
        honorable loss of limbs or the effects of torture following
        ordination shall not invalidate the ordination.

        No woman shall be a Nymph who has not coupled.

        No woman shall be a Crone who has not given birth.

        No man shall be a Magician who has not healed.

        No man shall be ordained unless he has passed his 33rd year, nor
        shall he have his ordination recognized until that time.

        No man shall have his ordination recognized unless he is the
        father of a living child, has ten fingers and ten toes, two eyes,
        two ears and a nose and generative organs complete.  The
        honorable loss of limbs or the effects of torture following
        ordination shall not invalidate the ordination.





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              MY CRAFT ETHICS BY JAMES CROWLEY III 12/19/86


        In their youth, let those who cannot swing the axe till the
        field.  Those who cannot till the field carry water.  Those who
        cannot carry water, nor till the field, nor chase, nor battle,
        nor be of service to their family or tribe, let them leave it.

        None shall be kept as a child forever.  Better that they be
        banished if they cannot grow in mind.

        INITIATION

        NO PERSON MAY BE CALLED TO INITIATION MORE THAN THREE TIMES.

        NO PERSON MAY BE INITIATED WHO HAS LESS THAN 20 YEARS OF LIFE
        LEFT TO THEM AT THE TIME OF INITIATION.

        No High Priestess or High Priest of the WICCA can cause an
        initiation to take place.  Initiation is in the hands of the Lord
        and Lady.  The teacher can only provide the environment that will
        aide in the initiation if the God and Goddess so will it.

        If one questions the validity of their own initiation, there can
        be but one answer, the initiation did not take place.  An
        initiation by the Gods will be remembered.

        Let your judgment on matters which you make be fit to the size of
        the case, not to your feelings.  Let your heart not rule your
        mind, nor mind your heart, but bear a balance as has been taught
        you.

        Not all are chosen for the tribe, nor are all in the tribe of one
        family, nor are all in the family to be initiated, nor are all
        the initiated to be ordained.  Your yoke is to be as strong as
        you can bear, but no stronger.


                       James Crowley
                       P. O. Box 16025
                       North Hollywood, CA
                       91615-6025


















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