Chapter 32

MAGICK, WITCHCRAFT, PAGAN, WICCA, VOODOO, SHAMANISM

Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill: an it harm none, do what ye will.Traditional Wiccan couplet, popularized by Doreen Valiente, 1964

I have bundled Magic, Witchcraft, Paganism, Wicca, Voodoo, and Shamanism together, among other practices, because of their similarities. None is considered a religion in its own right, because they have a very open-minded definition of content and standards, versus other religions with strict standards of belief, behavior, and acceptability. These practices accept such a broad array of gods, beliefs, behaviors, rituals, and celebrations that they do not fit under the rigid standards of a religion, and are often mixed with religious beliefs. Such is the case of Santería, a Pagan/Witchcraft practice very common in Cuba, brought there by the African slaves. Santería is heavily mixed with Catholic Christianity; in fact, the two found much in common, and (under pressure from the Catholic Church to convert to Christianity or die) the practitioners decided to use the same names the Catholics used for their saints to stand in for their own gods.

Wicca is the revitalization of the Old Religion, which predates Christianity by at least ten thousand years, if not more. Its name, Wicca, means “Wise One,” and was derived from the Anglo-Saxon word wicce, which means “to bend.”

A ritual is a tool of communication with the forces and/or beings of other densities/dimensions.

In many traditional religions, people are considered bad from the start — inherently flawed and expected to fail. Because of these supposed negative traits, and the acknowledgment of them, folks rally together, form a worship group, and placate their God, who has made them aware of their flaws and loves them anyway; if they work hard at apologizing for their mistakes, flaws, and inherent sinfulness, they may have a shot at redemption and a favorable afterlife.

Principles of Wiccan Belief

At the spring Witchmeet held in April 1974 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Council of American Witches adopted a statement titled “The Principles of Wiccan Belief.” The statement was created in the hope of bringing awareness to the general public as well as to the Wiccan community; and though it was intended for Wiccans in the U.S., it holds true for many Wiccans around the world. Not all Wiccans have adopted this document, for the few statements included here cannot fully encompass one’s religion, views, and beliefs; these are more like guidelines than religious “law,” and should be understood as such.

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 our learnings within our Council. It is in this spirit of welcome and cooperation that we adopt these few principles of Wiccan belief. We therefore ask only that those who seek to identify with us accept these 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, functioning 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, as the symbol and embodiment of Life, and as one of the sources of energy used in magickal practice and religious worship.

We recognize both an outer world and an inner, or psychological, world — 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 one a Witch — but neither does heredity itself, nor the collecting of titles, degrees, and initiations. A Witch seeks to control the forces within herself or himself 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 the 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 practice and belief. As American Witches, we are not threatened by debates on the history of the Craft, the origins of various terms, or 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 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 benefit can only be derived by denial to another. We work within Nature for that which is contributory to our health and well-being.

The Ten Native American Commandments

Treat the Earth, and all that dwell thereon, with respect. Remain close to the Great Spirit. Show great respect for your fellow beings. Work together for the benefit of all mankind. Give assistance and kindness wherever needed. Do what you know to be right. Look after the well-being of mind and body. Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good. Be truthful and honest at all times. Take full responsibility for your actions. (www.ChildrenOfRa.org (archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20160111041833/http://childrenofra.org/))

Finding a Group

If you are looking for a group, then going out and meeting people, talking, asking questions, and showing your intent to find one are the most important steps. If you stay at home and never mingle with other people, then don’t expect anything to happen. This is not a “spoon-fed” path to walk; there is a lot of serious work involved, and when you do find a group, the work doesn’t stop. Joining a group means giving up a lot of free time, substituting social time for coven time, and spending a lot of time studying and experiencing. So whichever path you follow, and whichever type of group you are seeking — make an effort, and be patient.