Witch's Beliefs
These are general traditional Witch beliefs that may or may not apply to everyone, but in general applies to most Witch's.
1) Witch's worship a Goddess and/or God. Usually, Witch's worship a God and a Goddess. The God typically embodies fertility, energy, and is sometimes represented as the Sun. The Goddess is typically seen as the Mother of all, the shaper of life, and is sometimes represented as the Moon. Sometimes the God is horned, to denote his connection with Fertility. Not to be confused with the Horned One of Satanism, which personally I feel they perverted to their own negative purpose. The Goddess can be associated with the "Mother Nature". This is central to most a Witch's thought
2)That humans reincarinate. That when we pass on from this life we are reborn into another life. Most witch's believe that in each life we have lessons and trials to pass to evolve into a higher spiritual plane. And that each life takes us closer and closer to the Goddess. Now I personally believe you can do things to hinder your spiritual growth or even de-evolve ( murder and rape tend to fall into this category for me). Recarination is one topic few people can agree on in a whole. For some believe humans can reincarinate but only as the same sex and never into an animal, others believe that we can change sexes and recarinate into animals. Others tend to say that we can reincarnate only in the same family. My personal belief is that yes we can change sexes, for we need to learn both sides of the coin to truly understand the Goddess and God, that no we don't tend to reincarinate into animals but yes animals do have a soul but do not reincarinate.(Although my partner beliefs we can be reborn in animals, other sexes, and unborn family member and even fauna) And that we do not usually reincarinate into the same family, for the same reasons as we can change sexes. We need to see all of life for richer and poorer. As evil doer and saint. This is a topic that is great for discussion but everyone has their own personal beliefs and this varies with person to person.
3)The practice of magic is to help and heal. Witch's believe that power/energy can be used and sent in a non physical form. Wiccan's only believe in using the energies for the positive. Now yes there are black witches out there that use the negative energies of the world/life, but wiccans oe white witch's for lack of a more "proper" sounding title, tend to avoid this due to our rede/laws and rules. My personal concept of this is that we do need a balance of negative and positive, for good cannot live without evil. Does this mean I personally use negative? No, there unfortunately is enough negative in the world and not enough positive without me adding to it. Thus I practice Witchcraft.
4)The Wiccan/Witch's Rede states that what you put out will come back to you threefold. Thus three times good or three times bad. Now whether the Goddess and God perform this function or it's the universe itself is up for discussion. I believe it's the Goddess and God, but that is my personal concept.
5)We believe that is Earth is our home and not a tool we use to our advantage. We want to heal the wounds of the Earth. Which is why pagan's of all traditions tend to be die hard environmentalist. There is too much negative energy in this world and we need to heal our mother. She gives us life and without her we wouldn't be here. The Earth can feel the energies of this world, all things that are done can either help or harm the Earth and all her resources. Ever think that all these natural disastors are is an unbalance in her energy and her way of screaming in pain? I do. Think of it this way, would you bathe in toxic chemicals everyday? No? You sure? Then why think that the Earth and her creatures want to? We as humans have the power to help, pagan and non pagan alike.
6)Witch's do not feel the need to convert others. Witchcraft is a personal journey. When people hear the Goddess's call it's usually after years of research or searching for that feeling of love and comfort. It just feels right. Do we feel the need to knock on peoples door and ask: " Have you hear the word of Goddess?" No. Now I am not demeaning religions that have this practice for it is understandable, but in the pagan path very out of place.
7)Now on that note Witchcraft believes that every religion out there is true to it's own doctrine. We in every religion need to not just tolerate but understand each other. More communication between religions is needed so that we can understand where other comes from. Now I may tick off a few Christians with this but alot of the Chirstian rituals such as the taking of communion ( the bread and wine) is the same as our ritual of cakes and ale. Every religion believes in a higher power than themselves, no matter if it's the Goddess, Ali, or God that we pray to.
8)Witchcraft accepts everyone. No matter you sexual orientation, race, creed, and your sex. Prejudice and Racism have no place in Witchcraft and in ANY FORM is very anti pagan. No one should be demeaned, or ridiculed for there beliefs, race, sex or sexual preference.(besides who ever said that the Goddess was white? What if she's gay and black?)
9)Witchcraft is a spiritual path and not a policital organization. We witchs can practice in groups which are usually called covens, but Witch's in a whole isn't a path which preaches issues or supports certain policital candidates. It's all up to personal choice.
10) Witchcraft doesn't have a tithe or collection plate. We don't collect funds. Since most witch's are solitary we feel no need to charge for lessons, initiations or guidance. We do however have shops that offer classes and tools of the craft.
The Law
We are of the Old Ways, among those who walk with the Goddess and God and receive Their love.
Keep the Sabbats and Esbats to the best of your abilities, for to do otherwise is to lessen your connection with the Goddess and God.
Harm none. This, the oldest law, is not open to interpretation or change.
Shed not blood in ritual; the Goddess and God need not blood to be duly worshipped.
Those of our ways are kind to all creatures, for hurtful thoughts are quiet draining and aren't worth the loss of energy.
Misery is self-created; so, too, is joy, so create joy and disdain misery and unhappiness. And this is within your power. So harm not.
Teach only what you know, to the best of your ability, to those students who you choose, butteach not to those who would use your instructions for destruction or control. Also, teach notto boost pride, forever remember: She who teaches out of love shall be enfolded in the arms of the Goddess and God.
Ever remember that if you would be of our way, keep the law close to your heart, for it is the nature of the Wicca to keep the Law.
If ever the need arises, any law may be changed or discarded, and new laws written to
replace them, so long as the new laws don't break the oldest law of all: Harm None.
Blessings of the Goddess and God on us all.
by Scott Cunningham
The Law of the Power
The Power shall not be used to bring harm, to injure or control others. But if the need rises,the Power shall be used to protect your life or the lives of others.
The Power is used only as need dictates.
The Power can be used for your own gain, as long as by doing so you harm none.
It is unwise to accept money for use of the Power, for it quickly controls its taker. Be not as those of other religions.
Use not the Power for prideful gain, for such cheapens the mysteries of Wicca and magick.
Ever remember that the Power is the sacred gift of the Goddess and God, and should never be misused or abused.
And this is the law of the Power.
By Scott Cunningham
The Philosophy of Wicca
Wicca is a religion of love and joy. The energy of Wicca is joyful and lively. Why is this? Why are Wiccans more content; more warm and happy? Much of it has to do with their empathy with nature. Early man (Ok girls don't your knickers in a knot, when I state Man I mean humanity) lived hand-in-hand with nature through necessity. We are a part of nature, not seperate from it. An animal was a brother or a sister, as was a tree. Man tended the fields and in return received food for the table. Sure, we killed animals for food. But then many animals kill other animals in order to eat. In other words, Woman and Man were a part of the natural order of things, not seperated from it. Not "above" it. Modern man has lost much, if not all, of that closeness. Civilization has cut them off. But not so the Wiccan! Even today, in this technological, overly-sophisticated world that this branch of nature has created, the Wicca retain their ties with Mother Earth.
Show your respect and love for nature and live with nature. In the same way, live with other people. There are many whom you meet, in the course of life, who could benefit from their encounter with you. Always be ready to help another in any way you can. Donīt ignore anyone, or look the other way when you know they need help. If you can give assistance, give it gladly. At the same time do not seek to take charge of anotherīs life. We all have to live our own lives. But if you are able to give help, to advise, to point the way, then do so. It will then be up to the other to decide how to proceed from there.
This view point is from a friend of mine.(Thank's Greypaw)
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