The Council of
American Witches has defined the Wiccan belief system as such:
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 with an evolutionary concept.
3. We acknowledge a depth of power far greater than
that is 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 the masculine and the feminine. We value neither above the
other, knowing each to be supporting 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, worlds, sometimes known as the Spiritual World, the
Collective Unconscious, the Inner Planes, etc., and we see in the
interaction of these two dimensions the basis for paranormal and 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 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
worldview 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, or 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 acknowledge that it is the affirmation and
fulfillment of life, in a continuation of evolution and development of
consciousness, that gives meaning to the Universe we know, and to 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 way" and have sought to deny
freedom to others and to suppress other ways of religious practice and
belief.
11. As Witches, we are not threatened by debates on
the history of the Craft, the origins 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 do we accept the concept that personal benefit can only be
derived by denial to another.
13. We acknowledge that we seek within Nature for
that which is contributory to our health and well-being.
