*What is Wicca? *
As Always School of Wicca
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Wicca is an Earth or nature-based religion that was legally recognized as a religion and
protected by the U.S. Constitution in 1986. It is founded on ancient practices from Northern
Europe that pre-dated the Christian era. However, it is, itself a young religion, having it's
roots in the work and writings of such founders as Gerald Gardner and Margaret Murray.
Gerald Gardner's written work about Wicca really took off in the late 1940s, early 1950s.
Witchcraft, however, would be the term most used to describe the practices of pagans
(otherwise known as "country dwellers") who lived in harmony with nature and honored
nature deities and the cycles of the Earth in the pre-Christian era and those who have
taken up those "old ways" today. (Keeping in mind that these early practitioners would not
have called themselves witches - this was the title given them by Christian adherents as
part of a crusade to wipe out the old religion and affirm the practice of Christianity. Along
the same lines, the construct of Satan was formed and stories created affiliating witches
with Satanism that to this day have people living in ignorance and unfounded fear of those
who practice Witchcraft or Wicca.)
The difference between Wiccans and Witches is that not all who call themselves Witches
have formally dedicated themselves to the religion of Wicca - although their beliefs and
practices may be much the same as those of Wicca. Wiccans live by a particular moral
code similar to the codes found in many organized religions. In particular the Wiccan
Rede "Do as Thou will, yet harm none" (paraphrased) makes clear that Wiccans believe
strongly that all people should be allowed to live a peaceful, harmonious existence as
they individually see fit as long as their actions do no harm to others.
Wiccans honor the individual spiritual paths of others and do not claim to be the "only way"
or only path to God/Goddess. Unfortunately, Wiccans themselves have often been targets
of those who follow certain religions that perpetuate a "you're either for us or against us"
mentality and continue to be a focus of misguided and cruel persecution and prejudice in
the religious community.
To further illustrate what Wiccans believe, the following principles were adopted by the
Council of American Witches on April 12, 1974:
The Council of American Witches finds it necessary 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 we owe no allegiance to any person or power greater than the
Divinity 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
within our Council. It is in this spirit of welcome and cooperation 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-seeking power trips, or to philosophies
and practices contradictory to ours, we do not want to deny participation with use to any
who are sincerely interested in our knowledge and beliefs.
We therefore ask only that those who seek to identify with us accept these few basic
principles:
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 lives in all people, and
functions through the interaction of masculine and feminine. We value neither above the
other, knowing each to be supportive 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 magical
practice and religious worship.
5. We recognize both outer worlds and inner, or psychological words - sometimes known
as the Spiritual world, the Collective Unconscious. Inner Places, etc. and we see in the
interaction of these two dimensions the basis for paranormal phenomena nd magical
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, magic, 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
him/herself that makes life possible in order to live wisely without harm to others and in
harmony with nature.
9. We believe in the affirmation and fulfillment of life, in a continuation of evolution and
development of consciousness giving meaning to the Universe we know, and our
personal role within it.
10. Our only animosity toward Christianity, or toward any other religion or philosophy of
life, is to the extent that its institutions have claimed to be "the only" 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 the 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 belief can be derived only by denial to
another.
13. We believe that we should seek within Nature that which is contributory to our health
and well-being.
protected by the U.S. Constitution in 1986. It is founded on ancient practices from Northern
Europe that pre-dated the Christian era. However, it is, itself a young religion, having it's
roots in the work and writings of such founders as Gerald Gardner and Margaret Murray.
Gerald Gardner's written work about Wicca really took off in the late 1940s, early 1950s.
Witchcraft, however, would be the term most used to describe the practices of pagans
(otherwise known as "country dwellers") who lived in harmony with nature and honored
nature deities and the cycles of the Earth in the pre-Christian era and those who have
taken up those "old ways" today. (Keeping in mind that these early practitioners would not
have called themselves witches - this was the title given them by Christian adherents as
part of a crusade to wipe out the old religion and affirm the practice of Christianity. Along
the same lines, the construct of Satan was formed and stories created affiliating witches
with Satanism that to this day have people living in ignorance and unfounded fear of those
who practice Witchcraft or Wicca.)
The difference between Wiccans and Witches is that not all who call themselves Witches
have formally dedicated themselves to the religion of Wicca - although their beliefs and
practices may be much the same as those of Wicca. Wiccans live by a particular moral
code similar to the codes found in many organized religions. In particular the Wiccan
Rede "Do as Thou will, yet harm none" (paraphrased) makes clear that Wiccans believe
strongly that all people should be allowed to live a peaceful, harmonious existence as
they individually see fit as long as their actions do no harm to others.
Wiccans honor the individual spiritual paths of others and do not claim to be the "only way"
or only path to God/Goddess. Unfortunately, Wiccans themselves have often been targets
of those who follow certain religions that perpetuate a "you're either for us or against us"
mentality and continue to be a focus of misguided and cruel persecution and prejudice in
the religious community.
To further illustrate what Wiccans believe, the following principles were adopted by the
Council of American Witches on April 12, 1974:
The Council of American Witches finds it necessary 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 we owe no allegiance to any person or power greater than the
Divinity 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
within our Council. It is in this spirit of welcome and cooperation 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-seeking power trips, or to philosophies
and practices contradictory to ours, we do not want to deny participation with use to any
who are sincerely interested in our knowledge and beliefs.
We therefore ask only that those who seek to identify with us accept these few basic
principles:
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 lives in all people, and
functions through the interaction of masculine and feminine. We value neither above the
other, knowing each to be supportive 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 magical
practice and religious worship.
5. We recognize both outer worlds and inner, or psychological words - sometimes known
as the Spiritual world, the Collective Unconscious. Inner Places, etc. and we see in the
interaction of these two dimensions the basis for paranormal phenomena nd magical
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, magic, 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
him/herself that makes life possible in order to live wisely without harm to others and in
harmony with nature.
9. We believe in the affirmation and fulfillment of life, in a continuation of evolution and
development of consciousness giving meaning to the Universe we know, and our
personal role within it.
10. Our only animosity toward Christianity, or toward any other religion or philosophy of
life, is to the extent that its institutions have claimed to be "the only" 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 the 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 belief can be derived only by denial to
another.
13. We believe that we should seek within Nature that which is contributory to our health
and well-being.