Witchcraft Today

Witchcraft is a modern, Western religion (with ancient origins) that has been recognized in the United States, in both state and federal courts and guaranteed full and equal protection under the Constitution.* A Witch is an individual, either male or female, who practices the religion of Witchcraft.

*Please click here to view the "Extract from the Department of the Army Pamphlet No. 165-13, Religious Requirements and Practices of Certain Selected Groups; A Handbook for Chaplains".

Witchcraft, is a dedication made to Nature, the Divine and oneself. It is a celebratory way of life which is mindful of the balance between oneself and all things within the Universe at all times. Witchcraft is a spiritual path that is both personal and individual. Witchcraft is often referred to as a 'Mystery' religion, in other words, its hidden wisdom is revealed through life experience rather than by study alone.

As a religion, Witchcraft encourages the individual to develop a relationship with personal concepts of Deity. Witchcraft commonly (but not necessarily in all traditions) acknowledges a single Universal Consciousness or Power: the One, the All, the Supreme Creator, the Divine Source. Witchcraft is just one way individuals have sought to define their relationship with this Universal Consciousness.

This Power is comprised of everything It has ever created. This energy force does not rule over the Universe, it is the Universe and beyond. Since most find it difficult to converse with or call upon a faceless source of Divine energy, this Supreme Power is personified as male and female aspects which we identify as the God and Goddess.

This simply makes the concept easier for the human mind to comprehend and relate. Some take this concept a step further and use actual names when identifying Deity. In the end, it is a personal preference and depends on what "feels" right for the individual.

In general, Witchcraft follows a balanced path acknowledging both the God and the Goddess. Some Witches do primarily emphasize the Goddess, but this is a personal and individual choice. Neither way is right or wrong, nor better or worse. Witches maintain an openness and willingness to leave room for personal choices on an individual's path of life. This is an intrinsic part of our beliefs.

Witches abide by an ethical and moral code called "the Rede" which states, "An it harm none, do what ye will." Does this mean that we can behave as we choose as long as we can justify the action to ourselves? The answer is a resounding "NO!" The whole premise of our belief system is based on living in harmony with all things that exist. This includes, but is not limited to, Nature and all of Earth's creatures, as well as other people without regard to race, color, religion, or sexual orientation.

Most Witches would agree that we are responsible for our own actions and own lives. There is no concept of Divine absolution for sin in the Craft ethical system; the consequences of one's actions must be faced and reparations made as necessary against anyone who is harmed.

Witches hold a deep reverence for Nature and animals. They are viewed as part of the God and Goddess, therefore a Witch would find it unnecessary to use any animal as a sacrifice in any ritual. Witches practice their religion for the harmony, balance, and peace it brings them, not for the "control" that some would believe us to be interested in. There is no need for us to steal power from or dominate other human beings.

Witches are secure in their inner strength and the power that comes from attaining this harmony, balance and peace. Some Witches are vegetarians, and some Witches are not. Those that do consume meat try to maintain a gracious and respectful attitude for the animal whose life was taken, and often times offer energy to aid in its passing.

Many Witches, but not all, believe in reincarnation and a conceptual resting place for reflection and self-evaluation between incarnations known as the Summerland. After crossing over, the soul awaits to be returned to a new physical form. We make no claim to fully understand what happens to the soul after death, or how the mechanism of reincarnation exactly works, but we do not believe in an absolute Heaven or Hell where the spirit spends eternity as reward or punishment for one's earthly actions.

Many misconceptions about Witches arose during the Inquisition of the Middle Ages. Pagan practice was a strong force of faith among its followers, and the God and Goddess were highly honored and respected. Church leaders, in order to gain power, used lies and deceit in an effort to convince the populace of the evil ways of Pagan practice. Accusations of heresy and sorcery were rampant and the threat of arrest held the people gripped in fear. Those they could not sway with fear were subjected to torture and death - these very acts increasing the fear in others. It is estimated by many sources that hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children were tortured and executed under the Church's maliciously false definition of the word "Witch".

History has a tendency to repeat itself, so Witches of today never allow those persecutions to be forgotten. We refuse to be held by fear and we stand up for our right to religious freedom. Witches understand that every question asked and even a slander spoken against us, is an opportunity to educate people about our religion. Remember, even the smallest pebble can make waves that reach the shore.

The practice of Witchcraft takes many forms, the form and context varying from group to group, and between each ritual, and may run the range from elaborate ceremony to spontaneous ritual to simple meditation. Is this a form of occultism? Yes. Unfortunately, the word "occult" has attracted unnecessary negativity to it over the years. The word actually means "hidden". Occult practices are those which seek meaning or information considered hidden from the average observer.

Witchcraft is a highly individualized religion. Moreover, the number of different sects or traditions within the Craft may give the impression that no two groups practice the same way. Though practices may vary, most traditions have many similarities, such as myth, ritual and symbolism and a respect for Nature. Most Witches find enough common ground for mutual support and productive networking throughout the Pagan community.

Is Witchcraft a Cult? There are two answers to this question:

Yes, Witchcraft is a cult, in the positive sense that it implies "a system or community of religious worship and ritual" or "an exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, spiritual and intellectual interest."

And no, Witchcraft is not a cult, if one defines a cult as "a fanatical religious group involved in dangerous activity". Cults become dangerous when members trade a sense of salvation and belonging for the ability to think for oneself. They frequently indulge in extravagant homage or adoration, usually of an earthly leader of some sort.

Most Witches and Pagans come to the Craft individually through reading and communing with Nature. They often will remain solitary in their beliefs but others will also seek like-minded groups to celebrate seasonal cycles or monthly Moons with. Witches are extremely individualistic, self-sufficient and defend the right of free will without hesitation.

Sabbats are the holy days most commonly agreed upon among Witches. They are Solar holidays which correspond to ancient days of worship based on the cycles of the year. Found predominantly in Celtic and Germanic cultures, the importance attached to each individual day varied depending on the people. The Sabbats are used as times of rest, celebration, and communion with Deity.

While Sabbats are a time for celebration, Esbats are gathering times especially appropriate for the working of magick. Esbats are held when the Moon is full, as this marks the peak of the Lunar tide, when the Moon is at the height of its power. Esbats are also performed on New or Dark Moons, as this phase also carries with it a specific kind of energy.

Most modern Witches keep a Book of Shadows which is more like an individual's workbook, journal, or diary, meaningful to the person who keeps it. This book contains rituals, discoveries, spells, poetry, herb lore, etc. Covens almost always keep a similar group book. It isn't completely known how the term "Book of Shadows" came to be, but one would assume that this ties to the Burning Times, when the Church set out to eliminate all texts along with the followers of the Olde Ways. The writings that existed were more than likely taken into the "shadows" and hidden with the survivors.

There is no bible, in the Christian sense, in Witchcraft. A bible is the supposed word of a deity revealed through a prophet. Witchcraft is a religion of personal experience.

We are commonly asked if Witches cast spells. Some do and some don't. Magick is entwined in our beliefs but should never be the focus of this path, and those who seek our ways only for this purpose are misguided. A spell is a ritual formula, or series of steps, to direct psychic energy to accomplish a desired end. This energy is drawn from oneself, concentrated and then sent out into the Universe to achieve a positive goal. Sometimes the power of Elemental forces are enlisted to assist in the work (Earth magick).

Since Witchcraft teaches that what one sends out is returned threefold (body, mind and spirit), Witches are very careful to never send out harmful energy carelessly. Witches may use ritual tools, as well as invoke the aid of spirit guides, familiars or other Elemental energies to add strength to the process.

A coven is a group of three or more practitioners of Witchcraft (or Wicca), who share common spiritual beliefs and goals and have developed a rapport with one another regarding the focus and flow of ritual. (Thirteen members is considered the traditional limit and anywhere from three to nine members is considered ideal.)

The word coven is of medieval Scots origin (circa 1500) meaning a gathering of any kind, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. It derives from the Latin root word convenire, meaning to gather or meet, which also gave rise to the English word convene. The first recorded use of it being applied to Witches comes much later, from 1662 in the Witch-trial of Isobel Gowdie, which describes a coven of thirteen members.

One does not typically join a coven without first going through formal training and initiation, and traditionally that training takes a year-and-a-day to complete. Many covens, including our own, are private and "ordered" using some form of degree system, which means that people cannot join without training. Throughout the training process, it is determined whether an individual shares the same beliefs, goals and personality traits that will blend harmoniously with other coven members.

Witches have a very healthy and open view of sexuality. Sex is a part of Nature and held to be sacred to the Divine. The ritual of the "Great Rite" is a symbolic representation of the union between the Goddess and God resulting in the creation of all that exists. Very few traditions, if any, engage in sex as a part of group rites and there are no orgies during ritual. However, many couples who have chosen each other, and jointly follow the path, do use sex magick in their private rites and rituals. It is a deeply intimate sharing of body, mind and spirit which bonds them together closer than anything else can.

Group ritual nudity is sometimes practiced in Witchcraft, although we believe that this is not typical in the majority of covens, at least not in the United States. The term "skyclad" means "clad only by the sky". There are those who believe that the absence of clothing allows energy to transfer to and from them more freely. Many simply feel closer to the Goddess and God while in their natural form without the bindings of clothing, insecurities or socially retarded inhibitions regarding the human form.

Many practitioners wear a robe or some other clothing made of natural materials while participating in group activities and go skyclad only when observing rites alone or with their mate and this applies to our Tradition. Regardless, working skyclad during ritual is very liberating and is in no way a sexual act for those evolved enough to understand its true purpose. It can be a deeply spiritual act for those who choose to do so.

Witchcraft is in no way related to Satanism. Satan, or the Devil, is a concept of mainstream monotheistic religions and has absolutely no place in Paganism or Witchcraft. Devil worship is the practice of profaning Christian symbolism and is thus a Christian heresy, rather than a Pagan religion. And while Witchcraft is pre-Christian, it is in no way anti-Christian.

Since Witchcraft predates the major World religions, the concept of the Satan or Devil figure contained in their mythology is unfamiliar and unknown to us. The same is true of the concept of Hell. There is no place or counterpart within the Craft. Witchcraft does not now, nor has it ever had, a figure of "absolute evil" within its belief system. We believe that the Divine God and Goddess energy permeates all of creation, which would logically exclude a "god of evil".

And lastly, Witchcraft is not a missionary religion. We do not "proselytize" or try to make converts. We feel that if this path is right for you, you will find your way to it. We are, however, becoming more visual and vocal in an attempt to educate and dispel myths and superstitions about the Craft

To learn more about our religion and Tradition, we invite you to enroll in our online Course of Study program. Please click here for details.

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