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1.
Witchcraft
means "Craft of the Wise Ones" and is also known as
the "Old Religion". Its practices can be traced to
Neolithic ("Stone Age") cave paintings. In early
times, the Witch was the local lawyer, psychiatrist, and
doctor. The field of modern medicine can trace its origins to
the herbal medicines of the Witch.
Witchcraft
is a nature
religion, not unlike the shamanism of the Native
Americans. As the concepts of male and female exist
through-out life -- indeed, are necessary to create it -- most
Witches perceive Deity as male and female: the Goddess and the
God. Like the concept of the Trinity, these aren't
"many" Gods; they are
aspects of the One
Creator.
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Artist:
Jonathon Earl Bowser - Used with permission |
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The
Goddess is seen as Mother Earth and Mother Nature, and is
represented by the Moon. She is seen in the fertility of the
plant, animal, and human kingdoms. Her power is at a peak in
the "fertile half" of the year, from May until
October.
The
God is seen in the woodlands, the Sun, grain, & the hunt.
Because most of the animals that prehistoric humans hunted had
horns, He is usually depicted as the "Horned One".
His power is at a peak in the "dark half" of the
year, from October to May.
2.
Witches don't do evil. They believe in the Wiccan Rede, which is
"If It Harms None, Do What You Will". (In other
words, "Do whatever you want; just as long as it doesn't
harm anyone -- including
yourself").
Witches also believe in the "Three-Fold Law", which
states that whatever you do -- be it good or evil -- comes
back to you three times over, so (obviously) there is no
incentive to do evil.
3.
Witches
do NOT believe in or worship
Satan, and do not perform
any sort of human or animal sacrifices. Satan is a relatively
new concept that originated with Christianity. Witches put the
responsibility for our own actions squarely on whom it
belongs: ourselves. Witchcraft teaches us to be responsible
people who take responsibility for our own actions.
When the Christian Church decided to obliterate religions that
were a threat to its power (including Witchcraft), they
decided that their "Satan" had horns and that
Witches were actually worshipping the Devil. This became the
death warrant for millions of innocent people.
4.
The
Pentagram (a five-pointed star in an upright, one-point-up
position) is the symbol of our religion. The top point
symbolizes Spirit (the Creator) being 'above', or ruling, the
Four Elements of Life -- Air, Fire, Water, & Earth --
which are the four lower points.
The Circle, being without beginning or end, symbolizes the
Deity. It is completely encompassing the Star within it (which
represents the out-stretched human body, reaching out in
search of its connection with Spirit). Together, they
represent the Creator's Protection & Wisdom.
Inverting the Pentagram, as is done by Satanists, symbolizes
that the Elements (the "material world") are
superior to the Creator. Unfortunately, through
misunderstandings that have been repeated by the media, the
Pentagram -- in whatever position -- has become wrongly
equated with Satanism. (Please note, though, that in England,
there are several traditions that use the inverted pentagram
as a symbol for a second degree -- which obviously has nothing
to do with Satanism).
5.
A
male
Witch is not a "Warlock". This is a Scottish term,
meaning "traitor", or "oath-breaker". (A
male Witch is a "Witch").
6.
Witchcraft
is a legal religion protected under the First and Fourteenth
amendments. We are non-proselytizing; we don't seek to convert
anyone. We feel that
all religions are equally valid, and that you should be
free to choose the one with which you are most comfortable. No
religion has the monopoly of God (despite what some may
claim).
In our opinion, far too many
religions place too much emphasis on the actual religion (or
it's leader), and seem to be worshipping that, instead of God.
This, in our opinion, is wrong thinking.
As long as it doesn't infringe
on the rights of others, we all have a right to our own method
of worshipping the Deity.
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