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Let me
share with you the nature of our way as it is explained to us by my favorite
Author, Silver RavenWolf:
The Council of American Witches finds it necessary to define modern
Witchcraft in terms of the American experience and needs.
We are not bound by traditions from other times and other cultures, and
owe no allegiance to any person or power greater than the Divinity manifest
through our own being.
As American Witches, we welcome and respect all life-affirming teachings
and traditions, and seek to learn from all and to share out learning within our
Council.
It is in this spirit of welcome and cooperation that we adopt these few
principles of Wiccan belief. In seeking to be inclusive, we do not wish to
open ourselves to the destruction of our group by those on self-serving power
trips, or to philosophies and practices contradictory to these principles.
In seeking to exclude those whose ways are contradictory to ours, we do not want
to deny participation with us to any who are sincerely interested in our
knowledge and beliefs, regardless of race, color, sex, age, national or cultural
origins, or sexual preference.
We therefore ask only that those who seek to identify with us accept
these few basic principles:
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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, and the
symbol and embodiment of Life, and as one of the sources of energies used in
magical practice and religious worship.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Calling
oneself "Witch" does not make a Witch -- but neither does heredity
itself, or the collecting of titles, degrees, and initiations. A Witch
sees 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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
We
do not accept the concept of "absolute evil," nor do we worship
any entity know 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.
-
We
work within Nature for that which is contributory to our health and
well-being.
If you
would like to know more about Silver
RavenWolf or check out her wonderful books visit her website. I know
it's one of my favorite places to visit.
Blessings
to you all!
We
will be creating a monthly news letter with updates to our site. Would you
like to join our mailing list so we can keep you informed as to the changes and
upcoming events?
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