PRINCIPLES OF
BELIEF PRINCIPLES OF
BELIEF
We ask only that those who seek to associate themselves with us, accept these few principles, difined by "The Council of American Witches".
1. We attune ourselves, within the natural rhythm of life forces, in correspondence to the phases of the Moon and the Seasonal quarters and cross-quarters, by means of practicing rites.
2. We accept that we have a unique responsibility to our environment. We strive to live in harmony with Nature, in ecological balance that offers fulfillment to life and consciousness in the evolutionary concept.
3. We recognize and respect a depth of power greater than that apparent to the average person. We see this power as a natural potential to all.
4. We are in acceptence of the Creative Power in the Universe as manifesting through polarity - as feminine and masculine - and that this creative Power lives in all persons and functions by means of the interaction of this polarity. Accepting each to be supportive of the other, one is neither above the other. We also view sexuality as pleasure, a symbol and embodiment of Life, as one of the sources of energies used in magickal parctice and religious worship.
5. We recognize both outer worlds and inner. We see in the interaction of these two dimensions the basis for paranormal phenomena and magickal exercises. We do not neglect either dimension for the other, knowing both are necessary for our fulfillment.
6. We don't recgnize any authoritarian hierarchy, but honor those that teach, respect those who share their greater knowledge and wisdom, and we acknowledge those who have courageously given of themselves in leadership.
7. A World View and Philosophy of Life, which we identify as Witchcraft or the Wiccan Way, we recognize religion, magick and wisdom-in-living as being united in the way one views the world and live within it.
8. Calling oneself a "Witch", heredity itself or degrees, titles and initiations does not make a Witch. A Witch, strives to control the forces within themself, that make life possible in order to live well and wisely, without harm to others, and in harmony with Nature.
9. We accept that it is the affirmation and fulfillment of life, in a continuation of evolution and development of consciousness, that gives meaning to the Universe known to us, and our individual role within it.
10. Our only animosity toward any other religion of philosophy-of-life, is to the extent that its institutions have claimed to be "the one true right and only way" and have sought out to deny freedom to others and to suppress other ways of religious practices and belief.
11. As American Witches, we are not threatened by debates on the history of the Craft, the origins of various terms, the ligitimacy of various aspects of the different traditions. We are concerned with our present, and our future.
12. We do not accept or recognize the concept of absolute evil. We do not worship any entity known as "Satan" or "the Devil" as defined by other religious traditions. We never seek power through the suffering of others. We do not accept the concept that personal benefits can only be derived by denial to another.
13. We work within Nature for that which is contributory to our health and well-being.
Reincarnation
Human souls enjoy a series of incarnations in human form. Reincarnation is one of the most wide-spread of Wiccan beliefs. Precisely how and why we incarnate several times is open to mystical speculation. Few Wiccan traditions have specific teachings regarding the doctrine. Some simply state that we incarnate and meet others we've known in past lives. Others are more specific, some less specific. Some traditions say that we never switch sexes from one life to another; still others state that we choose whichever gender is appropriate for our evolutionary lessons. There's little agreement.
Scott Cunningham