465 lines
18 KiB
Plaintext
465 lines
18 KiB
Plaintext
MY CRAFT ETHICS BY JAMES CROWLEY III 12/19/86
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MY CRAFT ETHICS
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Copyright by James T. Crowley III 1986
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This artical may be reproduced for personal
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use as long as it is complete and un edited
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There are doubtlessly readers of this article that believe I have
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no ethics. Those readers are intitled to there opinion however
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shallow I may feel that opinion is.
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I am the High Priest of Covenant Of The Doves, the comments I make
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here are necessarily my personal ethics and viewpoint and not that
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of my High Priestess or members of the Coven. Even as a leader
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of a coven, I have no right or power to speak for another
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person. They do however necessarily govern my actions as a High
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Priest.
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The only way I know to state my ethical viewpoint is by a
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annotated resitation of the Laws of the Craft of the Wise as they
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pertain to ethics and have been revealed to me by my teachers,
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the writings of others and that which the Lord and Lady have made
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clear to me through their visions and actions.
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I bear the mundane name Crowley that has a certain significance
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in the craft community beyond my personal contributions. Yes, I
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am prowed of the legacy of that name as members of my family have
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played important parts in history. Aleister Crowley was by no
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means the most important of them nor the least.
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Aleister Crowley, the Current Lord Crowley and myself all bear
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common accestors to Sir Ambrose Crowley, Lord Mayor of London (at
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the time of Cromwell) and author of the 'Law Book of the Crowley
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Iron Works' which is considered to be the bases of British
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statutory law. This, I hope will clear up confusion about my
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relationship to Aleister Crowley.
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The name Hearth Witch is far more dear to me than Crowley, as it
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represents a true understanding of what the WICCA is. When an
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astronaut looks out of the window of his space capsule and sees
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the body of our Lady looking back at him. The astronaut knows,
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in that moment that technology, and the centuries of mans' labor
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that put him there, are pale when compared to the wonders of our
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Lady.
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1
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MY CRAFT ETHICS BY JAMES CROWLEY III 12/19/86
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I feal that it is necessary to explain some of the structure of
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the Covenant of the Doves. We say that we have one degree but
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that is not strictly true. There are 4 things that happen to a
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person on the pathway. We cannot call them degrees as they do
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not happen in the same order to each person.
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1. Dedication to the coven.
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2. Initiation by the God and Goddess
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3. Worldly recognition of their Initiation by the Gods
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and their ability to act as a Priest or Priestess
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4. Birth or Adoption into the family which is as permanent
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and unrevokable as the Initiation of the Lord and Lady.
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THE WITCH 'LAW'
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Do not what you desire -
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do what is necessary.
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Take all you are given -
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give all of yourself.
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"What I have - - - I hold."
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When all else is lost, and not until then,
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prepare to die with dignity.
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There are two kinds of law, Law of Tribe and the Law of Goddess
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(ie: natural law). The Law of Tribe requires the services of a
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Priesthood. The Law of the Goddess require no Priesthood as they
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are self-inforcing. If you see an apparent violation of the law
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of the Goddess, there are only two possible explanations. The
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law is not of the Goddess but of man, or you do not understand
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that law of the Goddess. If you see a ball fall up, either
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someone is deceiving you, or you are in a spacecraft or similar
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artificial environment that is manifesting some of the "fine
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print" in the law of the Goddess. This partial telling of the
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laws contain both the law of the tribe and that of the Goddess.
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It is left to the wisdom of the student to learn which is which.
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THE LEADERSHIP OF THE COVEN
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The High Priestess must be an ordained Nymph or a Crone.
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The High Priest must be an ordained Magician.
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The High Priestess is the final word on the quality of Worship as
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the High Priest is the final word on the quality of Magick within
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the WICCA Circles.
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The High Priest's relationship is: Father, Brother, and Lover.
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The Priestess's relationship is: Mother, Sister, and Lover.
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THE PRIEST AND PRIESTESS ARE THE LEADERS OF THE COVEN IN THE
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MUNDANE WORLD, NOT IT'S DICTATORS. MEMBERS MUST BE GIVEN A VOICE
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IN THE ACTIONS OF THE COVEN.
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2
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MY CRAFT ETHICS BY JAMES CROWLEY III 12/19/86
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The Covenant of the Doves is necessarily a theocracy not a
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democracy. Meetings are opened to all who are dedicated and
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sometimes to concered outsiders. Whatever the business, it is
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open to discussion by all. There are no votes taken because when
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it is all said and done, there are only two people in the coven
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that bear the responsibility for the actions of this coven, the
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High Priestess and the High Priest. So, the final decision is
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theirs ALONE.
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When the Circle is cast by The Priest and Priestess, they are
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necessarily the ABSOLUTE RULERS OF THE COVEN. No witch shall
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enter the Circle with out PERFECT LOVE AND PERFECT TRUST in all
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members of the Circle. The only question of the order of the
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Priest or Priestess is: if told to jump, it is permissable to ask
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how high -- on the way up.
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IF ONE DISAGREES WITH THE DESISION OF THE LEADERS OF ANY COVEN OR
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CIRCLE. IT IS THERE RIGHT AND DUTY TO LEAVE THE COVEN. THERE IS
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NO OTHER LAWFUL RECOURSE.
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LEADERS MUST BE EVERMINDFUL THAT MEMBERS WILL SOON LEAVE AN
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UNJUST LEADER.
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THE LAW OF THE COVEN
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THE CIRCLE IS A PLACE THAT IS NOT A PLACE, BETWEEN THE WORLDS.
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A COVEN IS A FULLY AUTONOMOUS UNIT ANSWERABLE TO NO POWER BEYOND
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ITS OWN, SAVE THE LORD AND LADY.
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IN ANY DISPUTE WITHIN THE FAMILY (COVEN) OR TRIBE, NO ONE MAY
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INVOKE ANY LAW BUT THOSE OF THE FAMILY AND TRIBE.
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It being known that the Circle is a "place that is not a place,
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between the worlds", and that what is between the Worlds does not
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concern the World. Dicussion of actions taking place within a
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consecrated circle is appropriate for dicussion only within that
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Circle, or by Elders of the Craft in a Council of Elders Convened
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by the High Priest and High Priestess of the coven involved as
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only Elders can or should have any direct knowledge of actions
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that take place within the Circle of another Coven.
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With the fragmentation of the WICCA since the burning times, the
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identification of Elders of the Craft is at best ambiguous. The
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only working definition that I can feel comfortable with is:
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Those members of the WICCA community that the High Priest and
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High Priestess of the Coven recognize as their peers regardless
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of what rank they hold in other circles.
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3
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MY CRAFT ETHICS BY JAMES CROWLEY III 12/19/86
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THE WORD OF A WITCH NEED NO BOND OR CONTRACT. IT IS NECESSARILY
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TRUE AND FREE OF EQUIVOCATION.
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We make it clear to all around us that we do not tolerate lieing.
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If it is on the part of a friend or an acquaintance, we will
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cease contact with them, if necessary. If it is a member of the
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craft, we do not willingly stand in the same circle with them.
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If they are a student, this is one of the few areas that we will
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invoke banishment as a punishment (or, if there are extenuating
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circumstances and the person is of extreme value to the coven and
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the Craft, we will consider corporal punishment or an equivalent
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alternative proposed by the student to balance the wrong done to
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the Coven, in lieu of banishment). If they are an Initiate, it
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is necessarily more harmful to the family, and therefore, more
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serious.
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PERFECT LOVE AND PERFECT TRUST (my fingers wanted to type love is
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the law)
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Perfect love and perfect trust are not words spoken in blind
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faith. They do not mean a blanket trust. Perfect love and
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perfect trust are what was in the hearts of the few, and most
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dear, that when they heard rumors, first came to us and said
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"what are these rumors about...". These people knew that as
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falible as we are, these rumors were not a reflection of our
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will. These people sought to know what happened, not to satisfy
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any of their own devices or to judge us, but to share our pain
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and the load. These people are of different traditions and
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levels of worldly Craft learning, but these people will always
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hold a place in my heart second only to my brothers and sisters
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that are literally of the My Family.
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THERE ARE THREE KINDS OF SECRETS IN THE WICCA CIRCLE AND ALL ARE
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INVIOLATE EXCEPT IN AN ELDER CIRCLE, AND THEN ONLY TO THE EXTENT
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THAT THEY ARE RELATIVE TO CRAFT BUSINESS AND HELD IN THAT ELDER
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CIRCLE.
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1. Secrets that are within the Circles that are private
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to the members of that coven.
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(ie: when Charlie has a few drinks he.....
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2. The secret held by the High Priestess and High Priest of
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the inside and outside Circle affairs of the coven members,
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due to their office.
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3. The social and magick practices of the Craft that cannot be
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talked of outside of the Wicca without being taken out of
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context and sensationalized.
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4
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MY CRAFT ETHICS BY JAMES CROWLEY III 12/19/86
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THERE ARE AS MANY WAYS TO LOVE THE GODDESS AS SHE HAS NAMES.
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All ways of loving the Goddess are correct. None are Wrong as
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long as they are based in love.
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Say not "they are wrong" say "they are a different path from
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mine".
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Until you know in your heart that you have found your path, do
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not deny any wicca path that you have not walked.
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When you find your path, still walk other paths with your
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brothers and sisters in joy and love.
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"THE WICCA SHALL BE NAKED IN THERE RITE"
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All mankind is naked before God and Goddess.
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NO STRANGER NOT BORN IN THE FAMILY SHALL LEAD THE FAMILY OR A
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TOTEM OF THE FAMILY.
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NO ONE WHO RALLIES AGAINST HIS FAMILY OR TRIBE SHALL BE KEPT IN
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BANISHMENT PAST 14 YEARS AFTER THE EVENT, IF THAT UNDO THE HARM
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CAUSED.
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NO ONE WHO EXTENDED THEMSELVES IN THE SUPPORT OF THEIR FAMILY OR
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TRIBE SHALL BE BANISHED FOR OLD AGE OR THE ACTIONS OF INFIRMITY.
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IT IS NECESSARY THAT SKRYING, VISIONS, ASPECTING AND ALL OTHER
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APPARENT VISIONS OF OUR LORD AND LADY BE QUESTIONED. IT IS
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ESSENTIAL TO OUR REBIRTH THAT WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT OUR OWN
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WISHFUL THINKING OR PRIDE, IF THERE BE THE LEAST DOUBT, THE
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VISION MUST BE DENIED.
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If a true vision is denied by the initiated, the Lady will
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underline the truth in the vision in an unquestionable form. If
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this underlining comes as a punishment, it is still a small price
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to pay when compared to the consequences of a false vision.
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IF EVER ANY OF THE TRIBE NEED A HOUSE OR LAND AND NONE WILL SELL,
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THEN CRAFT MAY BE USED TO INCLINE THE OWNERS TO SELL, PROVIDED IT
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HARMETH HIM NOT, AND THE FULL PRICE IS PAID WITHOUT HAGGLING.
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NEVER BARGAIN OR CHEAPEN ANYTHING YOU BUY BY THE ART.
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NO MAN, WOMAN, HIGH PRIESTESS, OR HIGH PRIEST CAN SAY WHAT "HARMS
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NONE".
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The answer to this is for the Gods, not man. A just action may
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well harm someone in some way in the mundane world (every action
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has an equal and opposite reaction). It is always best to give
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the action and the power to the Goddess, and abide by her will.
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If it cannot be given to her after due consideration, then one
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must act in the most just form that is possible, freely taking on
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to our selves all adverse reaction of an error in judgment.
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5
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MY CRAFT ETHICS BY JAMES CROWLEY III 12/19/86
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NO ONE MAY DO ANYTHING WHICH WILL ENDANGER ANY OF THE TRIBE OR
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BRING THEM INTO CONTACT WITH THE LAW OF THE LAND.
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THE ART MAY ONLY BE USED IN ERNEST AND NEVER FOR SHOW OR VAIN
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GLORY.
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NO PERSON MAY BE WARNED OF HIS FATE MORE THAN THREE TIMES.
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MAIDEN: (Youngsters still new to the Craft, or older ones who do
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ritual work and do not mind publicity.) Young people oriented to
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cope with, and the ability to handle publicity. Some knowledge
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of occult and the Craft both in its practical and religious
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aspects is necessary. Childless women, virgins; Warm friendly
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people with good powers of projection.
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NYMPHS - (Do the bulk of ritual work, young adults.) Creative
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people, artists, dancers, singers, etc. Very mature, rational
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and responsible. Intuitive and uninhibited. Knowledge of Craft
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and occultism, etc. necessary. Dislikes publicity.
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CRONES: (executive branch - teachers of neophytes, makes judg-
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ments, etc.) Must be sober and serious, but with a sense of
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humor, very mature in most all ways, intuitive of the true nature
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and inner working of things. Older folks, intellectual, Masters
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of there Craft, and dislike publicity.
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No woman shall be a Maiden who has not been in her courses.
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No woman shall be ordained unless she has passed her 17th year,
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nor shall she have her ordination recognized until that time.
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No woman shall have her ordination recognized unless she is in
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her courses, has ten fingers, ten toes, two eyes, two ears, a
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nose. Her generative organs and breasts must be complete. The
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honorable loss of limbs or the effects of torture following
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ordination shall not invalidate the ordination.
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No woman shall be a Nymph who has not coupled.
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No woman shall be a Crone who has not given birth.
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No man shall be a Magician who has not healed.
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No man shall be ordained unless he has passed his 33rd year, nor
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shall he have his ordination recognized until that time.
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No man shall have his ordination recognized unless he is the
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father of a living child, has ten fingers and ten toes, two eyes,
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two ears and a nose and generative organs complete. The
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honorable loss of limbs or the effects of torture following
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ordination shall not invalidate the ordination.
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6
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MY CRAFT ETHICS BY JAMES CROWLEY III 12/19/86
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In their youth, let those who cannot swing the axe till the
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field. Those who cannot till the field carry water. Those who
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cannot carry water, nor till the field, nor chase, nor battle,
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nor be of service to their family or tribe, let them leave it.
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None shall be kept as a child forever. Better that they be
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banished if they cannot grow in mind.
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INITIATION
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NO PERSON MAY BE CALLED TO INITIATION MORE THAN THREE TIMES.
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NO PERSON MAY BE INITIATED WHO HAS LESS THAN 20 YEARS OF LIFE
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LEFT TO THEM AT THE TIME OF INITIATION.
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No High Priestess or High Priest of the WICCA can cause an
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initiation to take place. Initiation is in the hands of the Lord
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and Lady. The teacher can only provide the environment that will
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aide in the initiation if the God and Goddess so will it.
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If one questions the validity of their own initiation, there can
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be but one answer, the initiation did not take place. An
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initiation by the Gods will be remembered.
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Let your judgment on matters which you make be fit to the size of
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the case, not to your feelings. Let your heart not rule your
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mind, nor mind your heart, but bear a balance as has been taught
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you.
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Not all are chosen for the tribe, nor are all in the tribe of one
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family, nor are all in the family to be initiated, nor are all
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the initiated to be ordained. Your yoke is to be as strong as
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you can bear, but no stronger.
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James Crowley
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P. O. Box 16025
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North Hollywood, CA
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91615-6025
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7
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