Here's some of the principles of beliefs for pagans. They're generally called 'wiccan _____" but, that's okay, it's pretty much the same all around, just with different names and such. Many times, an easy way for a person to understand what these are, is they're the pagan/wiccan form of the Christian's Ten Commandments. More for us though, these are guidlines, not exact rules to be followed to the "t". I shall be adding a couple more of these "sets of guidlines" in a few days. Blessed Be!
THE WICCAN REDE
The Principles of Belief, as set forth by the American Council of Witches, are:
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Bide the Wiccan laws we must
In perfect Love and perfect Trust.
Live and let live,
Fairly take and fairly give.
Cast the circle thrice about
To keep the evil spirits out.
To bind the spell every time,
Let the spell be spoke in rhyme.
Soft of Eye and Light of Touch,
Speak but little, listen much.
Deosil go by the waxing moon,
Chanting out the Witche's Rune.
Widdershins go by the waning moon,
Chanting out the baneful rune.
When the Lady's moon is new,
Kiss the hand to her, times two.
When the moon rides at their peak,
Then they heart's desire speak.
Heed the North Winds mighty gale,
Lock the door and drop the sail.
When the wind comes from the South,
Love will kiss thee on the mouth.
When the wind blows from the West,
Departed souls will have no rest.
When the wind blows from the East,
Nine woods in the cauldron go,
Burn them fast and burn them slow.
Elder be the Lady's tree,
Burn it not, or cursed you'll be.
When the wheel begins to turn,
Let the Beltane fires burn.
When the wheel has turned to Yule,
Light the log and Horned One rules.
Heed thee Flower, Bush and Tree,
By the Lady, Blessed Be.
Where the rippling waters go,
Cast a stone and truth you'll know.
When thou hast a true need,
Hearken not to other's greed.
With a fool no season spend,
Lest thou be counted as his friend.
Merry Meet and Merry Part,
Bright the cheeks and warm the heart.
Mind the Three fold Law you should,
Three times Bad and Three times Good.
When misfortune is now,
Wear the Blue Star on thy brow.
True in Love, ever be,
Lest the Lover's false to thee.
Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill:
"AN THEE HARM NONE, DO WHAT YE WILL".
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 within an evolutionary concept.
3. We acknowledge a depth of power far greater than 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 feminine. We value neither above the other, knowing each to be supportive of the other. We value sexuality 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, the Inner Planes, etc. -- and we see in the interaction 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.
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 or 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 one true right and only way" and have sought to deny freedom to others and to suppress other ways of religious practices 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 Christian Tradition. We do not seek power through the suffering of others, nor do we accept the concept that personal benefits can only be derived by denial to another.
13. We work within nature for that which is contributory to our health and well-being.
