The 13 Wiccan Principles 
The following set of thirteen principles was
adopted by the Council of American Witches, in April, 1974.




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 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 each 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 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~ 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 role 
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 surpress other ways of 
religious practice and belief.

11: As American {Or World-Wide!} 
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 
tradition. We do not seek power 
through the sufferings 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.


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