84 lines
4.0 KiB
Plaintext
84 lines
4.0 KiB
Plaintext
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Principles of Wiccan Belief
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(as adopted by the Council of American Witches, April, 1974)
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1. We practice rites to attune ourselves with the natural rhythm of
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life forces marked by the phases of the moon and the Seasonal Quarters
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and Cross-Quarters.
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2. We recognize that our intelligence gives us a unique responsibility
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towards our environment. We seek to live in harmony with nature, in
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ecological balance offering fulfillment to life and consciousness
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within an evolutionary concept.
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3. We acknowledge a depth of power far greater than that apparent to the
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average person. Because it is far greater than ordinary it is sometimes
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called "supernatural", but we see it as lying within that which is
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naturally potential to all.
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4. We conceive of the Creative Power in the universe as manifesting through
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polarity - as masculine and feminine - and that same Creative power
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lies in all people, and functions through the interaction of masculine
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and feminine. We value neither above the other, knowing each to be
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supportive to the other. We value sex as pleasure, as the symbol and
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embodiment of life, and as one of the sources of energies used in
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magickal practice and religious worship.
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5. We recognize both outer worlds and inner, or psychological, worlds known
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sometimes as the Spiritual World, the Collective Unconscious, Inner
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Planes, etc. - and we see in the inter-action of these two dimensions
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the basis for paranormal phenomena and magickal exercises. We neglect
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neither dimension for the other, seeing both as necessary for our
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fulfillment.
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6. We do not recognize any authoritarian hierarchy, but do honor those
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who teach, respect those who share their graeter knowledge and wisdom,
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and acknowledge those who have courageously give of themselves in
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leadership.
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7. We see religion magick and wisdom in living as being united in the way
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one views the world and live within it - a world view and philosophy
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of life which we identify as 'Witchcraft - the Wiccan Way'.
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8. Calling oneself "Witch" does not make a Witch - but neither does
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heredity itself, nor the collecting of titles, degrees and initiations.
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A Witch seeks to control the forces within her/himself that make life
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possible in order to live wisely and well without harm to others and
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in harmony with Nature.
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9. We believe in the affirmation and fulfillment of life in a continuation
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of evolution and development of consciousness giving meaning to the
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Universe we know and our personal role within it.
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10. Our only animosity towards Christianity, or towards any other religion
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or philosophy of life, is to the extent that it's institutions have
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claimed to be 'the only way' and have sought to deny freedom to others
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and to suppress other ways of religious practice and belief.
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11. As American Witches, we are not threatened by debates on the history
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of the Craft, the origins of various terms, the legitimacy of various
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aspects of different traditions. We are concerned with our present and
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our future.
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12. We do not accept the concept of absolute evil, nor do we worship any
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entity known as "Satan" or "the Devil", as defined by the Christian
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tradition. We do not seek power through the suffering of others, nor
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accept that personal benefit can be derived only by denial to another.
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13. We beleive that we should seek within Nature that which is contibutory
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to our health and well-being.
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*********
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This is not in any way an all-encompassing credo applicable to all
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groups who consider themselves Wiccans or Witches, but rather is the
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set of principles adopted by one such group. As there are differences
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between various Christian sects, so are there difference between those
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of Wicca. However, while the specifics may differ, the general attitude
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and reasoning behind these declarations remains relatively consistent.
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Alan Sante
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*Blessed Be*
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