the Council of American Witches on April 11-14th , 1974 held at Minneapolis, Minnesota
Principles of Wiccan Belief
ïü
ïüThe council of American Witches finds it necessary to define modern Witchcraft in terms of the American experience and needs.
ïüWe 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 being.
ïüAs 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.
ïüIt is in this spirit of welcome and co-operation 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, or philosophies. In seeking to exclude those whose ways are contradictory to our, we do not want to deny participation with us to any who are sincerely interested in our knowledge and beliefs, regardless of race, colour, sex, age, national or cultural origins or sexual preference.
ïéArticle I
ïüWe practice Rites to attune ourselves with the natural rhythm of all life forces marked by the Phases of the Moon and Seasonal Quarters and Cross quarters.
ïéArticle II
ïüWe 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.
ïéArticle III
ïüWe acknowledge a depth of power in the universe than that apparent to the average person. Because it is far greater than ordinary it is some times called "supernatural" but we see it as lying within all that is naturally potential to all.
ïéArticle IV
ïüWe conceive of the Creative Power in the universe as manifesting through polairty-as masculine and feminine- and that this same Creative Power lives in all people, and functions through intervention of the masculine and feminine. We value neither above the other, knowing each to be supporting 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.
ïéArticle V
ïüWe recognize both outer and inner worlds, or psychological worlds, sometimes known as spiritual worlds, the collective unconscious, the inner planes, etc. and we see in 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.
ïéArticle VI
ïüWe do not recognize any authoritarian hierarchy, but do honour those who teach, respect those who share their greater knowledge and wisdom, and acknowledge those ,who have courageously given of themselves in leadership.
ïéArticle VII
ïüWe 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.
ïéArticle VIII
ïüCalling oneself Witch does not make a witch but neither does heredity itself, or the collecting of titles, degrees and initiations. A Witch seeks to control the forces within him/her self that make life possible in order to live wisely and well, without harm to others, and in harmony with Nature.
ïéArticle IX
ïüWe acknowledge that it is the affirmation and fulfillment of life, in a continuation of evolution and development of consciousness, that gives meaning to the Universe we know, and to our personal role within it.
ïéArticle X
ïüOur only animosity toward Christianity, or toward any other religion or philosophy of life, is to the extent that its intuition claims to be "the only way" and sought to deny freedom to others and to suppress other ways of religious practice and belief.
ïéArticle XI
ïüAs American Witches, we are not threatened by debates on the history of the craft, the origins of various aspects of different traditions. we are concerned with our present and our future.
ïéArticle XII
ïüWe 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 do we accept the concept that personal benefit can only be derived by denial to another.
ïéArticle XIII
ïüWe acknowledge that we seek within Nature for that which is contributing to our health and wel-being.
