The Principles of Wiccan Belief
Spring of 1974, Minneopolis Minnesota was where the Council of American Witches adopted the document "Principles of Wiccan Belief". This document was to inform and to educate the public of the central belief system of Witchcraft and Wicca. Twenty years later, the relgion of Witchcraft/Wicca found its permanent place among the world religions.
The following is from Teen Witch by Silver RavenWolf, teen wording for the Principles.
1. Witches celebrate God through religions services, commonly called rituals. A rite is a segment within a ritual. We follow the phases of the moon.
2. Since we stand at the top of the food chain we have the responsibility to make sure that the planet doesn't get ruined. The best way to protect the planet and the creatures on it is by in harmony.
3. The power of the mind truly is an incredible thing. We don't use a huge portion of our mind power. Everyone has wondrous abilities, we just don't use them, such as clairvoyance, telekiness, clairaudience, extrasensory perception, remote viewing. Most even fear these powers. Witches, and others strive to strengthen our natural gifts.
4. Witches believe in God. We see God has having two sides - masculine and feminine. [ok....I believe...and I thot others as well, that there is a Goddess and a God] Witches respect both men and women, and the male and female properties of everything.
5. We know that energies exist in the world, seen and unseen. We value the world of the mind as much as we value the world around us. The collective Unconscious means the psychic connections betweeen people, plants, animals and Spirits. We call the powers of the mind the Inner Planes. Witches realize that the techniques known as paranormal phenomena & magickal application begin in the mind and manifest in the universe. We believe that to think a thing is to create a thing.
6. The Wiccan religion does not have a central government. We do have teachers and leaders that do honor for their wisdom and etc to the Wiccan Way.
7. Wiccans believe that religion, the power of the mind, magickal applications, wisdom, and faith in Spirit do not function separately, but together.
8. Calling oneself "Witch" does not make a Witch. Reading, proclaiming to all, wearing the jewellery, joining a coven and taking an initiation & collecting status within that group, all do not make you a Witch. How you live, how you deal with others, how you live by the Wiccan laws into your life - these all determine whether you are a Witch or not.
9. Witches respect all life. All must survive to evolve.
10. Witches are sick and tired of people in other religions psssing judgment and spreading lies about our belief system, either because they are insecure in their own faith or don't realize that many paths to God(ess) exist in our universe.
11. There is no right way to practice the Craft. The religion is what you make of it. We concern ourselves with our present and our future.
12. We do not worship the Devil nor do we believe in the Christian Satan. To give evil a name is to give evil power.
13. Witches work with nature rather than against nature. We believe that God(dess) is the the supreme power and that no human/group is more powerful than God(dess). We respect other religions and respect others rights to practice a postive faith.
