- The Laws were created to
give our lives form and order, that all might be balanced
throughout all of the planes. In truth there are two sets of
laws which govern us -- one setting forth the ways of the Wiccan,
and the other the ways of the Universe. Both are important; each
should be observed with respect and treated with honor. The Laws
were shaped and molded to govern us, to teach us, to advise us,
and to counsel us during our time of mortal life on earth.
- Honor the Gods, for They are
the channels and the manifestations of the Source. Honor
yourself, for this divine Force also lies within you. Love the
Gods as They love you; for as you love yourself and your
brothers and sisters, so the Gods shall honor you. As the love
of a man and a woman flowers and grows when nurtured with
respect and cultivated with understanding and honor, so should
you love the Gods.
- The Goddess is the Great
Mother, the God is the Great Father, and we are Their children;
and we worship Them, because They are the Rulers of the Universe
and all that is therein. Therefore, O Children of the Gods, try
Them not, nor attempt to test Them, lest They show you that the
Ways of the Craft are not to be belittled or mocked.
- Let the Power of the Craft
flow from you only in love -- or not at all. For it has always
been known that the energy webs which we weave and maintain
shall eventually return to encircle their creator. Thus our
works become either the net which entangles and binds us, or the
web of light by which we are linked to the Gods.
- Let the Rites of the Wicca
be a way for the children of the Gods to be as One -- for the
Power flows only when the circle is unified. Always should you
revere the Earth, and heal and tend Her, for She is our life,
our Mother Ship, on which we navigate the dark currents of
space.
- When you reap the harvests
of your lands, then you shall not reap one corner of the field,
nor glean the herb gardens, nor the fallen fruits of the
orchards. These you shall offer to the Earth Mother, in direct
return, or through offerings made to your circle, or to sustain
its Priests and Priestesses.
- Always be proud to be of the
Wicca, but never allow your pride to become vanity -- for those
who are self-important become as stumbling blocks, and like
stumbling blocks, they are cast aside for their vanity.
- Observe and listen,
reserving your judgment, for until all the silver is weighed,
who can know the worth thereof?
- As like breeds like, even
more does good beget love and joy. Your life will be full of
love and joy if you are honorable and happy.
- Your teachers are the
servants of the Gods. Their duty is to plant the seeds of
knowledge within the minds of their students, and they shall use
their power for the good of the Wicca. Yet it is each student's
duty to tend the seeds which are planted, and to make the final
harvest. Those who misuse the power and trust of the teacher's
position shall have to answer to the Lords of Karma, and adjust
the balance accordingly.
- The Temples of the Gods,
which are Their abode on Earth, shall belong to all Their
children, and each circle shall be as a special family. Do
naught against any of the Wicca, lest you do that thing against
the Gods, and against yourself.
- You must not be a teller of
tales amongst the children of the Goddess, and you must hold no
malice or evil thoughts towards others of the Wicca.
- You must not lie, nor give
false testimony before your Elders, or those who are of the
Wicca -- for liars are fools, and a menace unto themselves, and
to the Wicca. Be truthful in all your works and deeds,
especially within the circle, for what you say within the
presence of the Gods becomes manifest.
- You must not put stumbling
blocks in the way of those who do not follow the way of the
Wicca. You must make no unrighteous judgments of their ways, and
you should aid them with an attitude of love when it is asked
for. Yet ever should you keep the Counsel of the Elders, and
reveal naught to others where our circles may be. Nor may you
reveal our ways without the consent of the Priestess.
- When you make a vow to the
Lord or the Lady, or you swear an oath to another of the Wicca,
then you must do all that has come forth from your mouth, for a
covenant with the Gods, or with the Wicca, is your honor. Woe
and trouble shall befall those who care not for the fetters they
attach to their souls by not keeping their word.
- The Great Mother and Great
Father would not have Their children suffer the indignities of
oppressors for Their sake, for what is within the hearts of
Their children is dear and true to Them. The Ancient and Mighty
Ones shall cause the balance to be made for those who desecrate
the worship of the Lord and Lady, Their Temples, or Their
creations.
- Never shall you use Magick
or the Craft to cause harm, for this is misuse of the Power, and
is not to be condoned. To cause pain and death of another
through the Craft shall require pain and death of the self in
sacrifice.
- 18. Never betray any of the
brethren, nor the lore of our people, for you are all servants
of the Gods, and must live by the virtues of love, honor, and
wisdom. Let truth, loyalty and honor be your creed and your
guides, but let them ever be tempered by love and wisdom.
- The order of the Gods shall
you keep, and within Their Circles shall you walk. You must not
say "I believe" when in truth you doubt, nor shall you claim to
obey the Lord and Lady's word when you never enter into their
presence. You must not profess with your lips that which is not
within your heart.
- Use not the names of the
Gods in negative or evil ways, for They love and cherish Their
children above all others. All others They love, even those who
know Them not. Those who hate and curse in Their name shall have
the Mighty Ones take the measure of their worth.
- In any disputes between the
children of the Goddess, no one may invoke any laws but those of
the Craft, or any tribunal but that of the Priestess, Priest,
and Elders.
- No one of the Wicca may do
anything which shall endanger the Craft, nor bring any of the
Wicca into conflict with the law of the land, or with any of our
persecutors.
- Your magickal tools are
channels to that which is most precious and pure within you.
Cheapen them not by haggling over their price when you acquire
them.
- Never accept money for the
use of the Power. It is sorcerers and charlatans who accept
money for their fraudulent spells and prayers. If you accept no
money, you shall be free from the temptation to use the Craft
for evil or unworthy causes.
- You shall never take unduly
from any human, animal, or elemental that which is not yours to
take: for if you steal from another, in the end you shall have
to sacrifice something dearer to you in order to maintain the
balance.
- Show honor to all people,
that they may look up to you, and respect you; and their eyes
shall become a mirror for your soul.
- Those who are of the Wicca
shall not own slaves. One person may not own the spirit of
another; for only the Great Mother and the Great Father have our
souls in Their keeping. Nor shall you take as a pledge any
person's life, for to do so is to place yourself betwixt two
grindstones.
- If strangers sojourn with
you, you shall do them no wrong; they shall be treated as one of
the Wicca, born amongst you, and you shall deal with them as you
would with yourself.
- Just weights and just
balances shall you use, and just value shall you give, and
thereby receive threefold.
- Your altars must be kept
clean, pure, and holy; and all that is brought into Circle shall
be cleansed and blessed, for the joy of the Gods, and of the
Wicca.
- A clean mind requires a
clean body. Keep clean your body, your clothes, and your house,
doing this in honor of the Mother, Who gives these things to
you.
- Let none die without honor,
without love, or without respect, unless their actions have
decreed otherwise.
- Couple not together if it
will cause pain, jealousy, or deprivation to another by doing
so. Union for malicious or evil reasons such as these upsets the
balance, and the Lords of the Universe shall make adjustments
accordingly.
- Let those who would love one
another, and would be as one and bear child, be handfasted. For
the sharing of love in this manner is beauteous, and love's
union shares in the energy of the Gods, and brings good heritage
to the child. It is important for children to know and to
identify with those who brought them here.
- The Law of the Goddess is
that they of the Wicca never take and wed someone whom they do
not love, whether it is to harm another, or for some form of
material gain.
- Remember that your children
are Goddess-spawned, and are free spirits. You do not own nor
control them. They are your brethren, come to visit for awhile,
that they may share in the vision of your love and wisdom. Let
each parent realize that we must teach and guide with love, yet
the child shall also teach the parents, and aid them in their
growth and development.
- The etheric web and energy
vortices of the Earth are in constant flux and motion to adjust
to the needs of the planet. The sacred trust of the Wicca is to
create and to maintain centers of light and knowledge, using the
Divine spark within us to focus and channel the forces of the
Universal fire. These webs are the channels established between
the worlds of the stars and the realms of the Earth, bringing in
and regulating the Spirit flames which energize and activate all
life forms. Thus we tend and guard the threads of creation, and
we weave the patterns of life and manifestation in an
ever-evolving tapestry.
- Never use your heritage or
position for self-glorification or gain. Respect both your
magick and our ways. We must always recognize that while others
may look to us to lead them, they too are our guides.
- Keep your body strong, your
mind keen, and your purpose pure, for within your being you
shall channel the Power, and it needs to be strong and pure. And
these are the keys to the path of Oneness, and to communication
with the Gods. Yet first you must learn to speak to Them in such
a manner as They can comprehend. For the children of the Wicca
must aid the Gods, and work with Them, otherwise the Gods cannot
aid and work with us. Ever remember that the Priest and
Priestess are the living representatives of the God and Goddess
Forces, and likewise that all humans carry these forces within
them, though they may lie dormant and unawakened.
- As the Great Mother and
Father come unto one another and create with pure vibration of
Love-Wisdom, so should you strive to make your Circle pure in
vibration, a fitting place wherein you may invite the Gods.
Thus, your Circle should always be duly purified and cast; and
likewise, those who would use the gateways and travel the Circle
between the Earth and other Realms must also be duly prepared
and purified.
- The Goddess hath said, "I
shall not carry thee, yet neither shall I hinder thee, nor keep
thee from having the same opportunities as all of My children.
Thou art free, yet thou shalt not be coddled like babes in the
storm. If thou hast true devotion within thee, then all
obstacles may be overcome."
- The laggard is but half a
person -- and though half is better than none, the whole is
twice as good as the half. Those who work not, or who lack the
will and desire to learn the ways of the Gods, unto them it is
said, "The Ancient and Mighty Ones shall not keep you within
Their house, if ye learn not."
- You shall make a sanctuary
unto the Gods, that They may dwell amongst you. And you shall
fashion it to the best of your ability, according to all that
your Elders shall show you, and pure energy shall you place
therein.
- You shall make an altar unto
the Lady, and you shall make due reverence unto Her, for every
place where She enters is exalted. She will come to you and
bless you. And you shall fashion your altar out of wood or
stone, and burn incense and candles thereon, at the proper
times, in observance of Her ways.
- You shall set aside at least
one day during each Moon unto the Goddess. On that day you shall
do Her work; and on that day She will renew Her children and
bless them.
- Learn to build your own
Temple, and to craft your own sacred Circle, and all tools that
are used therein -- for to be a person of the Craft is to be a
person of consequence.
- Let each of you inscribe
your own record of our ways and teachings. For the course of all
Wiccans should be charted, that the patterns of their lifewebs
may be made known and utilized. Let all Wiccans keep their Book
of Light with the teachings and lore of their Tradition, yet let
every Book of Light contain the rites and ways of each
individual, which are the harvest of each child of the Wicca, to
use the wisdom of their heritage as the seeds of their own
personal wisdom. Thus shall our lore and knowledge continue to
grow and unfold, like a beautiful flower.
- It is right to study and to
understand the sigils, statues and stories of the Gods, for they
shall guide your thoughts to Them, and They shall hear you. Yet
you must ever remember that you worship not the sign nor the
statue, but the Gods which inspired them.
- If your Circle owns any
land, let all guard it, and help to keep it clean. Let all
justly guard all monies of the Circle, as well as the rights and
property of all members of the Circle.
- If any Wiccan truly labors,
just payment becomes a personal right. This is not considered
the taking of money for the Art, but good and honest work. Yet
if any Wiccan works willingly for the good of the Craft, or a
brother or sister without pay, then it becomes the cause of
great honor.
- If any Wiccan should
willingly forswear some pleasure or material indulgence in order
to do service in the Circle, this person shall be blessed and
remembered. For the spirit shall be uplifted in any who gives
for the greatest good of all.
- Know also that if you gift
the Lady's Priests and Priestesses, or Her Circles, this is an
offering made unto the Mother Herself, for a true Priest or
Priestess strives always to do Her work, and to be of service to
Her children, so to honor and respect them is to honor and
respect the Queen of All.
- And the offerings which are
considered the most pleasing to the Gods are these: the fruits
of the orchards the scents of the trees and herbs the metals of
the Earth the waters of the Earth the flowers of the meadows and
the milk of all mothers. Yet offerings of labor or money are
honest too, and these will also be accepted -- more so if you
work with love in your heart, for always there is work to be
done for the Gods, and service to be given to the children of
the Wicca.
- If your offerings are made
to restore the balance, they must be of a nature that is not
offensive to the Gods. They must be of value, yet given with a
free heart. Thus shall the harmony be restored. If your
offerings are given with a heart filled with love and devotion,
or are of service to the Gods, or to the Craft, then shall you
receive blessings manifold.
- And when you make an
offering unto the Gods, you should offer it through the most
proper medium, at the proper times, and in such a manner as to
make it acceptable. Any and all remains of the rituals shall be
consumed in the fire, or buried within the Earth, as a way of
returning to the Source all that we use in the observance of our
ways, thus ensuring the continuity of the cycle.
- All may use the Craft to
help and aid them, or for the advantage of their Circle, or the
Craft -- yet only if you are sure that you harm none. Let each
Wiccan and Circle always debate these matters at length. Only if
all be satisfied that none be harmed in any way, may the Art
then be used. If it is not possible to achieve your ends one
way, then perhaps the goal may be achieved by acting in a
different way, so as to harm none.
- Throughout the world it has
been many a year since Wiccans have been burned. Yet misuse of
the Power might raise the persecutions once again. So never
break the Laws, however much you might be tempted, and never
consent to their being broken. And if you know they are being
broken, then you must work strongly against it.
- In days of old it was
decided by the Mighty Ones who came before us that the Art might
be used to restrain others from harming the Craft or its
children, yet only after great consultation with all members of
the Circle, and only then to deflect or to constrain them.
- And such were the ways of
the Lady that She brought us forth in joy, and such were the
ways of the Lord that His reign gave all life pleasure. Offer
love in your worship and all shall be joyous in beauty.
- In the dimly remembered dawn
of ages past, the Wicca were truly free. Then, in Atlantis came
the Age of Misuse of Power, followed by the Ages of Persecution
and Suffering. So the people of the Wicca hid themselves and
cloaked their knowledge, and wove veils of secrecy and silence.
And this is how the Ways of the Wicca have been preserved
through the time of darkness. Yet much of the knowledge of our
people was lost in that darkness.
- Yet the cycle ever revolves
- and the Age of the Earth Mother once again draws nigh. We must
be strong - one with our birthright, and one with our Gods, if
we are to bring forth the balance. Those who would harm us, or
attempt to enslave us, we must overcome - yet only through light
and love, and never through violence or the evil of chaos. And
through our efforts the time of our people will come into being
once more. In the times which lie ahead, there is much work to
be done, so that once more the cycles of life are drawn to the
path of light, and the balance achieved through the power of
love.
- In order to bring the ways
of the Light and Love and Light to the peoples of the Earth, our
secrets are slowly becoming secrets no more, and it is good that
this is so - for the age of shadow and secrecy is passing. Yet
the sharing of our ways needs always to be guided by wisdom and
by love. Let our rites and our mysteries always be sacred. Let
no one defile our worship or our heritage, for the defilement of
our ways is loss of honor, both for self and for the Craft.
- Let each High Priestess
govern her Circle with justice and love, and with the help and
advice of the Elders and the High Priest, always heeding the
messages of the Gods when they come.
- Ever remember that although
the Priest is the force with which the Circle is built, the
Priestess is the ruler therein - for it is through her that the
Goddess created the world, and all things therein.
- Let each Circle of Light
decide how it shall be known -- whether by earthly name or
magickal one. For each child of the Wicca knows best the safety
or dangers of the chosen homeland.
- Let each Circle of Light
maintain and dedicate unto the Goddess and the God all things
that are required for Their rituals, for what is blessed in the
name of the Gods rightly belongs to Them, and the Priest or
Priestess shall be the caretakers thereof.
- Any of the Circle, who are
of sufficient rank, and wish to form a new Circle, shall tell
the High Priestess and the Elders of their intentions. Members
of the old Circle may join the new Circle when it is formed, but
if they do so they must leave the other Circle, unless otherwise
instructed. For it is an old law that while each Wiccan may join
the Circle of choice, no Wiccan's energy should be divided
between two or more Temples.
- The Elders of the old and
new Circles shall meet in peace and with respect, to decide the
level of interaction and connection between the Circles. Yet it
is known that the splitting of a Circle often means strife. So
only if it is truly in a spirit of peace and harmony should the
Circles meet for the celebration of the Great Festivals.
- None shall enter the Circle
with a sickness or an ailment which may be passed on to the
Lady's other children - for to do so causes harm to yourself, as
well as to others of the Circle. Rather should the Elders go
unto the sick one, that through the love of the Gods they shall
be made well and whole once more.
- It has been judged that if
any of the Craft need a house or land, and none will sell, it
shall be lawful to incline someone's mind so as to be willing to
sell, providing it harms none and the full price is paid without
haggling.
- The High Priest or High
Priestess shall heed all complaints of all Pagans and Wiccans,
and strive to settle any differences between them, with reason
and with justice.
- In the matter of quarrels or
disputes between the members of the Circle, the High Priestess
shall convene the Council, and inquire into the matter. The
Council shall hear each person privately, and then both
together. And they shall decide justly, not favoring one side
nor the other.
- If an agreeable resolution
cannot be reached, then the dissenting Wiccan must void the
Circle, for a Circle of Light cannot be properly formed where
there is disagreement and discord. And when a Circle is not
properly formed, the energy within is either dissipated, or
turns ugly, festering like a hidden sore. So let dissenters
leave, but only with love in their hearts and yours, for even
though your paths may diverge, you are still all children of the
Wicca, and there must be no violence between us. Bear no
grudges, hold no thoughts of vengeance, for this will rot away
the foundation of your power.
- It has ever been recognized
that there are some people who can never agree to work under any
others. At the same time there are also people who cannot rule
justly. To those who must ever be chief there is but one answer:
"Void this Circle, and seek another one, or if ye be of
sufficient rank, then form a Circle of your own." To those who
cannot rule justly, the answer shall be: "Those who cannot bear
your rule will leave you". For none may circle with whom they
are at variance, because to do so angers the Gods, and hinders
the Craft.
- Those that do wrong without
knowledge shall be held innocent; those that do wrong through
carelessness shall be judged lacking in wisdom, and dealt with
according to the nature of the transgression. Those who do wrong
with deliberation and forethought shall be thrice punished, and
the Lords of Karma shall lay low their pride.
- Each person must make a
balance between words and actions, and the judgment of the
Elders should incline toward making good come from the injustice
or wrongdoing. Many are the ways to restore the balance, so let
the judgments of the Elders and the Priestess be in keeping with
this.
- Do not turn aside those who
seek the ways of the Wicca for want of an offering or lack of a
robe. You are the servant of the Gods, and the servants of Their
people, and those that seek for the Gods you must aid in their
quest.
- When you meet with those who
would inquire as to the ways of the Goddess, or who wish to
become of the Wicca, you shall search their hearts, and even
into their spirits shall you look, as you are able. For the
Wicca do not look to acquire mere numbers. Let none be turned
away whose heart is true, and whose desire is earnest.
- The hidden children are like
the strings of a harp; each one may give a clear note, and when
gathered together in sympathy and accord, they give rise to a
beautiful symphony. Yet when struck without reason or thought,
these notes may cause discord or disharmony. Therefore the Gods
decree to Their Teachers and Priests that all must be taught to
master their instruments, that there may be no discord or
imbalance.
- 80. Choose the Priests and
Teachers of the Wicca with diligence and with care. The
qualities that you should search for within them are Wisdom,
Faith, Belief, Knowledge, Ability, Patience, Leadership,
Humility, and a loving nature - for they must lead and teach the
children of the Goddess, and will thereby have the power to do
great good, or to cause great imbalance.
- Let the greatest of the
Priests and Priestesses guide the rituals within each of the
Temples of the Old Gods, and let all worshippers strive to be
content with the advice and guidance given by them. Yet each
rite and ritual must be given so that it is clear and
understandable, for within the Temple of the Wicca there walk
only free men and free women who must be able to recognize and
to understand our ways and their implications. Therefore those
Priests and Priestesses who will not or cannot explain the inner
workings, or give just cause and reason for their decisions, may
be questioned, and the wisdom of the advice weighed.
- Let the Priestess and Priest
lead as long as they are able, and let their leadership be wise
and strong, and to the benefit of the Wicca. Yet if their health
is ill-favored, or if the next generation needs to try its hand,
then let them have the vision and the wisdom to step away from
their position, and pass the duties of the Circle to another.
Let them not become overly attached to the office, nor too fond
of the power.
- If a Priestess or a Priest
should tire of the Temple's duties and charges, then she or he
may step down, but only after having trained and acknowledged a
successor. But a Priest or Priestess who deserts the Circle
loses the right to lead again within this life, so great is the
trust that has been broken. If such a person returns to the
Circle within one turn of the Wheel, and shall be judged to have
true atonement, and gained new insight and growth, then she or
he may be forgiven, and allowed to return to the Circle. Yet
that person shall worship only, and hold no office or title.
Leadership is a sacred commitment and an honor, and it will not
be committed twice to those who have shown that they cannot be
trusted with such responsibility.
- Any Priestess, Priest, or
Elder who consents to a breach of the Laws regarding the use of
the Craft to cause harm to others must immediately be relieved
of office, for it is the lives of the children of the Goddess
which they endanger, as well as the honor of the Craft.
- The High Priestess may take
a Sabbatical from her Circle, if her personal life and duties
require it, for up to a year and a day. During that time, the
Maiden shall act as High Priestess. If the High Priestess does
not return at the end of a year and a day, then the Initiates of
the Circle shall name a new Priestess. Unless there is good
reason to the contrary, the person who has done the work of the
Priestess should reap the reward. If someone else is named, then
the Maiden should continue in that office.
- Each Priestess and Priest
shall choose their own consorts, yet let them select from those
who are wise in the learning of our people, and thus others
shall abide by the wisdom of their choice. Yet if the Circle
feels the decision is ill-advised, or that they cannot abide and
work in honor and trust with that consort, then they may request
a gathering of all concerned to meet and to talk, and to resolve
the balance with love and honor. For only those who are pure and
strong, keen and wise, patient and loving, can effectively and
properly carry out the duties of a Keeper of the Circle.
- Those of the Priesthood
shall not neglect their mates, or their children, or their
house, nor anything which is in their possession; nor shall the
sick and the needy be neglected for the sake of the Circle.
Therefore let them adjust the one thing against the other, that
neither should suffer, and that which is given by the Gods is
treated with love and respect.
- Long ago, at the time of
Creation, it was deemed that the female should hold the power of
life-giving. So mightily was the male force drawn to the love
and beauty of the Creation of life, that he surrendered unto her
keeping the force of his powers in the furtherance of life. Yet
the Priestess must always remember that the flames which light
the fires within her come from the Priest. Therefore she must
use the force wisely, and only with love, and she must honor and
respect him, who is the activator of the Life Force.
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