WITCH
*1: a woman who practices sorcery; sorceress 2: an ugly, vicious old woman,
hag 3: a bewitching young woman*
The American Heritige Dictionary
*A person believed to have magical powers; a mean, ugly old woman*
Websters Dictionary
*synonyms:
hag, violent, beserk, demon, fiend, hellhound, hellcat, beast, wild beast,
holy terror, ugly customer, she-wolf, shrew, scold, sorceress, hex*
Roget's International Thesaurus
As you can tell, society has cast a pretty negitive stereotype on witches.
It's kind of sad, very sad actually, because most of us (and i cant speak
for all) are just like everyone else, and youd never know we were even
one if we didnt tell you.
Ever since the witch hunts (long before the ones in Salem, Massachusets)
witches have been the evil ones. However, before then, they were the
wise women and healers. That is what witch meant, back then. Nowadays,
New Generation Witch can mean a couple of things; it can mean the child
of a coven, and as it is more commenly used, a witch of the twentyith
century. Also, the word witch is someone who practices witchcraft, also
known as magick, and who is a believer and practicianer of any earth
based religion. So, although WE may know what the word witch means, most
people dont, or they think they do. (And to find out what they think,
please see "definitions" at the top of the page) And because of this,
we may want to be careful in calling ourselves such in the presence of
those uneducated in this matter.
Our main problem, although I hate to say it, is the Christians. You see,
I hold nothing against them other then their beleif that they are the one
and only right. But, you see,
it puts forth many obsticles for us.
The Principles Of Belief
1.
We practice rites to attune ourselves with the
natural rythum 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 enviroment. 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 sexuallity
as pleasure, as the sumbol and embodiment of Life, and as one of the
sorces 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, ect. - and we see in the
interaction of these two dimensions the basis for paranormal phenomena
and magickal esercises. 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 oossible in order to live wisely and well, without harm
to otherse, and in harmony with nature.
9.
We acknowledge that it is the affirmation and fulfillment
of life, in a conintuation of evolution and development of consciousness,
that gives meaning to the Universe as we know it, and to our personal
role within it.
10.
Our only animosity towards Christianity, or toward any other
religion or philosophy-of-life, is to the extent that its institiutionss
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 beliefs.
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 benifits can only be derived
by denial to another.
13.
We work witnin Nature for that which is contributory to our
health and well-being.