Principles of Wiccan Beliefs

     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 Quarter.   

     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  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  to 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.



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     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, not the  collecting of titles, degrees and  initiations. A
     Witch  seeks  to  control the  forces  within  her/himself  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 roll 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 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
     traditions.  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.

     The afore mentioned  principles are  from the Council  of American  Witches
     circa 1974 .



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