Principles of Wiccan Belief

Principles of Wiccan Belief

April, 1974, the Counsel of American Witches adopted a set of "Principles of Wiccan Belief"
They are as follows:

1. We practice rites to attune ourselves with the natural rhythm of life forces marked by
the phases of the Moon and the seasonal Quarters and Cross Quarters.

2. We 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.

3. We acknowledge 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 naturally potential to all.

4. We conceive of the Creative Power in the universe as manifesting through polarity,
as masculine and feminine, and that this same Creative Power lies in all people,
and function's through the interaction of the masculine and feminine. We value neither above
the other, knowing each to be supportive of the other. We value sexuality as pleasure,
as the symbol and embodiment of life, and as one of the sources of energies
used in magickal practice and religious worship.

5. We recognize both outer worlds and inner, or psychological, worlds sometimes known as
the Spiritual World, the Collective Unconscious, Inner Planes, etc. and we see in the
inter-action 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.

6. We do not recognize any authoritarian hierarchy, but do honor those who teach,
respect those who share their greater knowledge and wisdom, and acknowledge those
who have courageously given of 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 make life possible in order to live wisely and well without harm to
others and in harmony with Nature.

9. We acknowledge that it is in the affirmation and fulfillment of life, in a continuation
of evolution and development of consciousness, that gives meaning to the Universe
we know and our personal role within it.

10. Our only animosity 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 sought
to deny freedom to others and to suppress other ways of religious practice and belief.

11. As American 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 concerned with our present and our future.

12. We 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 accept that personal benefit can be derived
only by denial to another.

13. We work within nature for that which is contributory to our health and well-being.
We 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.
As American Witches, we welcome and respect all life-affirming teachings and traditions,
and seek to learn from all and to share our learning. We do not wish to open ourselves
to the destruction of Wicca by those on self-serving power trips, or to philosophies
and practices contradictory to these principles. In seeking to exclude those whose ways
are contradictory to ours, we do not want to deny participation with us to any who
are sincerely interested in our knowledge and beliefs, regardless of race, color, sex, age,
national or cultural origins, or sexual preference.