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Wiccan
Rede
In
April 1974, the Council of American Witches
adopted
a set of Principles which we
personally
believe in:
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 that that
apparent to the average person. Because it
it 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 functions through the interaction of the
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 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 him/herself that make life possible in
order to live wisely and well 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 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 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 believe that we should seek within Nature that
which is contributory to our health and well-being.
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