Wiccan witches live their lives according to the principles and moral code of their belief. These principles are not rigid, and yet, they are not always easy to follow. Abiding by the Wiccan faith can require a good deal of thought and your good actions.
In this chapter, we’ll help you look at the reasons that you want to become a witch. Committing yourself to the craft is a serious step that you don’t want to enter into lightly. You may want to take some time to mull over some of the issues raised in this chapter.
Why Do You Want to Be a Witch?
Do you want to gain in personal power? Do you want to live in tune with yourself and Nature? Witchcraft could be the path for you. Keep in mind that being a witch is more than saying chants, doing spells, and knowing cool stuff. Wicca is a spiritual path. It’s important to look at your motivations before you set off on your journey.
Take this little quiz and find out if your reasons are the right reasons.
a. you want to learn more about yourself.
b. you want to become more in tune with yourself and Nature.
c. you want to turn your boss into a frog.
d. your best friend is doing it.
a. keepers of magi forces.
b. people who can change the future.
c. people who are content with themselves and the world around them.
d. people who dance naked and have orgies.
a. the Devil.
b. a loving God and Goddess.
c. people of like ways and minds.
d. mystical, magickal creatures.
a. be willing to have sex with other people.
b. be willing to do blood sacrifices.
c. be willing to face your true inner self and not be afraid.
d. learn to trust yourself.
a. tries to abide by a positive code of morality.
b. owns a black cat.
c. flies on a broom during a full Moon.
d. knows the intent of her magick.
Were you honest with your answers? We hope so. After all, no one is looking— besides you!
Question 1. Answer a) is an okay answer, but b) is a better answer. Remember Wicca is an Earth-based religion, so it’s not just about you. It’s about you and Nature. You picked c)? Have you forgotten all about the Wiccan Rede? Please read the rest of this chapter carefully and go back and reread Chapters 1, 3, and 4! Answer d)—it’s nice to do things with your friends; but if this is the only reason that you’re interested, if you are going to be a witch, Wicca has got to be your practice. That means commitment of your energies, time, effort, and yourself.
Question 2. Answers a) and b)—there might be some truth in both of these answers, but c) is the best answer. Witches are happy people because they live right and use their energy wisely. Did you choose answer d)? Really? Only some covens practice ritual sky clad. And orgies? We don’t think so.
Question 3. Answer a)—witches do not believe in the Devil. The Devil is a Christian concept that plays no part in Wicca; b)—yes, witches honor the loving God and Goddess; c)—you could say that a coven is made up of people of like ways and minds, but remember, many witches are solitary. And the point of the coven is to honor the God and Goddess; d)—what kind of mystical, magickal creatures? We haven’t mentioned any of those, have we?
Question 4. Answer a)—as we said in Chapter 3, “Practicing Wicca and Witchcraft Today,” sex should never come into your training as a witch. While some covens may practice skyclad, that does not mean that the coven members are engaged in an orgy; b)—witches do not make sacrifices. Remember the Wiccan Rede? In case you don’t, we’re going to talk more about it soon; c) is actually the best answer here. Sure, d) is close, but think about it this way: You need to face your true inner self and not shy away from what you find there in order to trust yourself.
Question 5. a)—correct! This is a most important feature of witchcraft; b) is not the best answer, but ... well, yes, lots of witches do own black cats, although they also live with white cats and dogs and parakeets and gerbils; c) is also not the best answer, but Katherine admits that she really wants to try this! d) is almost right, but answer a) is better. How come? You could know the intent of your magick, and that intent could be to harm. That would not be okay. “An it harm none, do what ye will” is the witch’s most important rule.
So, how did you do? Great, we’re sure! Witchcraft, as you can see, involves Nature, the God and Goddess, self-knowledge, and ethics, and morality. Do you feel confident that being a witch is the right path for you? Many, many people do feel that way because witches don’t just have beliefs, they have principles.
Webweaving
Why are witches associated with brooms and flying? As early as 1458, an inquisitor for the church declared that believing that witches could fly was part of the true and Catholic faith. During that period in history, witches were thought to fly out of their chimneys, mounted astride sticks. By 1580, brooms became one of the vehicles of choice.
More on the Witches’ Council and the 13 Goals of a Witch
In 1974, the Council of American Witches, an organization that no longer exists, drew up a list—the “Principle of Wiccan Belief.” We gave you a summary of those 13 principles in Chapter 1, “All About Wicca and Witchcraft.” You might want to look them over again. The Council, which was made up of 73 witches from a variety of different traditions, met in Minneapolis and prepared this document to try to dispel misleading misinformation about witches. The principles have been important in giving Wicca legal status as a religion under U.S. law. In fact, the handbooks issued to U.S. Army chaplains contain these 13 principles.
Scott Cunningham, the respected author of more than 30 books and a practicing witch for 20 years, came up with another list of important principles for witches. Cunningham details the 13 goals of a witch. Here they are:
1. Know yourself.
2. Know your craft.
3. Learn.
4. Apply knowledge with wisdom.
5. Achieve balance.
6. Keep your words in good order.
7. Keep your thoughts in good order.
8. Celebrate life.
9. Attune with the cycles of the Earth.
10. Breathe and eat correctly.
11. Exercise the body.
12. Meditate.
13. Honor the Goddess and God.
We think these are great goals for everyone, witch or not. The point of many of them is that you have to respect yourself and your body. Your body is a temple. You’ve probably heard that before and maybe it sounds clichéd, but listen—your body is sacred because it carries your soul. And, because your body carries your soul, it carries the essence of the God and the Goddess. Yes, you have the God and the Goddess in side you. Even if you do feel crabby and irritable, or hungry and sleepy, or sad. So, your body is the sacred vessel of your soul, a temple, and the goal of all witches is to take care of the temple.
Following the Wiccan Way
You probably understand that being a witch is not just about casting spells and wearing cool outfits. Neither is it a hobby or a pastime. Being a witch means that you are walking on the Wiccan path. It’s a lifestyle, and it is more than that. Being a witch is about commitment and responsibility—to yourself, to your coven (if you have one), to your community, and to the Earth.
Wiccan Rede
Remember the Wiccan Rede from Chapter 1: “An it harm none, do what ye will”? Well, here is the full text of the poem from which the Rede is drawn.
The poem “The Rede of the Wiccae,” sometimes referred to as the Wiccan Rede, was first published in Green Egg Magazine in 1975. Lady Gwen Thompson, a witch from the Celtic Tradition, submitted the poem. Her grandmother, Adriana Porter, had given it to her. No one is really sure how old the poem is. Some people believe it was written in the mid 1930s. Others believe that is unlikely, because the word “Wicca” was not used until the 1960s. No matter how old it is, the Rede remains a central pillar of the Wiccan faith.
“The Rede of the Wiccae” (Being Known as the Counsel of the Wise Ones)
1. Bide the Wiccan laws ye must in perfect love and perfect trust.
2. Live and let live— fairly take and fairly give.
3. Cast the Circle thrice about to keep all evil spirits out.
4. To bind the spell every time, let the spell be spake in rhyme.
5. Soft of eye and light of touch— speak little, listen much.
6. Deosil go by the waxing Moon— sing and dance the Wiccan rune.
7. Widdershins go when the Moon doth wane, and the Werewolf howls by the dread Wolfsbane.
8. When the Lady’s Moon is new, kiss the hand to her times two.
9. When the Moon rides at her peak, then your heart’s desire seek.
10. Heed the Northwind’s mighty gale— lock the door and drop the sail.
11. When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss thee on the mouth.
12. When the wind blows from the East, expect the new and set the feast.
13. When the West wind blows o’er thee, departed spirits restless be.
14. Nine woods in the Cauldron go— burn them quick and burn them slow.
15. Elder be ye Lady’s tree— burn it not or cursed ye’ll be.
16. When the Wheel begins to turn— let the Beltane fires burn.
17. When the Wheel has turned a Yule, light the Log and let Pan rule.
18. Heed ye flower, bush and tree— by the Lady blessed be.
19. Where the rippling waters go, cast a stone an truth ye’ll know.
20. When ye have need, hearken not to other’s greed.
21. With the fool no season spend or be counted as his friend.
22. Merry meet an merry part— bright the cheeks an warm the heart.
23. Mind the Threefold Law ye should— three times bad and three times good.
24. When misfortune is enow, wear the blue star on thy brow.
25. True in love ever be unless thy lover’s false to thee.
26. Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill— an it harm none, do what ye will.
Book of Shadows
Deosil means “clockwise.’ Deosil movement in a circle is used to draw the positive. Widdershins means “counterclockwise.’ Widdershins movement is usually used in dispelling negative things, such as bad energy or disease.
Honoring the Wiccan Rede
So, that’s the Wiccan Rede. We think it’s quite beautiful. But, what, you ask, does it mean? Let’s take a look, line by line:
1. You must keep the Wiccan laws with an attitude of perfect love and perfect trust. If you don’t completely agree with what Wicca is about, you might want to rethink your choice to follow the Wiccan path.
2. Respect people and Nature. Treat them both as you want to be treated.
3. Witches generally cast a circle around them when preparing to do magick. The circle is cast three times because three is a very magickal number. It stands for the three phases of the Goddess and God, and it’s the number of creativity. In addition, there is the threefold law that says events usually happen in threes.
4. Witches speak their spells in rhyme because it gives the conscious mind some thing to do. While your conscious mind is busy listening to the words, your unconscious can tap into your energy and the energy of the God and the Goddess—and magick is done.
5. Be gentle. Sit back and listen. Wise people don’t blab; they listen.
6. When the Moon is waxing, or getting bigger, move around the ritual circle clockwise to bring good things toward you.
7. When the Moon is waning, or getting smaller, move around the circle counter clockwise to take away negativity. Wolfsbane is dreaded because it is a poisonous plant.
8. When the Moon is new and has just become visible in the sky again after being dark, salute the Lady and welcome her by kissing your two fingers.
9. When the Moon is full, go after your heart’s desire. At that time of the month, you can ask anything of her.
10—13. These couplets describe various elements associated with the four directions.
14—15. There are nine different kinds of magickal wood that are often burned in the cauldron during rituals—apple, birch, fir, hawthorn, hazel, oak, rowan, vine, and willow. But never burn the elder (that’s a kind of tree, too). Elder trees are the Lady’s tree, and in honor of her they are always spared.
16—17. The turning of the wheel refers to the cycle of the year. Beltane is one of the year’s major Sabbats, or holidays. It occurs in the spring. Yule, another Sabbat, sits on the opposite side of the wheel of the year, at the time of the winter sol stice.
18. Take care of Nature, and respect it for the Lady’s sake.
19. Watch what happens when you throw a stone into water. The ripples spread out from where the stone landed. In much the same way, your actions, like the
stone, send out ripples that affect everyone and everything around you.
20. Don’t allow the idea of profit to sway you. Don’t take money for your magickal work.
21. People will associate you with the company you keep. If you hang around with fools, you may just be seen as one, too.
22. Basically, this means it’s good to be with friends.
23. Pay attention to the threefold law. Whatever you do, good or bad, comes back to you three times.
24. When you are in trouble, visualize a blue pentagram on your forehead. The pentagram will protect you.
25. Be loyal in love, but if the sucker isn’t loyal to you, forget about him (or her)!
26. Eight words sum it up—if it harms none, do what you want.
So Mote It Be
Why not learn “The Rede of the Wiccae’ by heart? If you memorize it, then you really will have it in your heart! You haven’t had to commit a poem to memory in a million years? Work on one couplet at a time. The rhyme will help make the words easier to re member. Write the couplet out a few times on scrap paper. Post the couplet in places where you’ll see it—on your computer monitor, the dashboard of your car, the door to the refrigerator, the bathroom mirror. Before you know it, you will know it! Then you can add another one.
To Know, to Dare
The witches’ pyramid describes the necessary conditions you must meet to perform magick. You must be ready to…
1. Know who you are and what you are. You have to know the rules. You must know what magickal rites you are going to be doing. And you must know your intention.
2. Dare to do what you are planning. Do you dare to follow through?
3.Will the magick to happen. Do you have the ability and the will to follow through? Can you will your energy to make it happen?
4.Keep silent and not brag or boast about what you have done. You don’t take your magick for granted, but you sit back quietly, watch, and know that you are growing.
All You Need to Put Yourself Tune with Magickal Energy
You really don’t need much to put yourself in touch with magickal energy. Remember magick is in you. Magickal energy is something that we all possess. Then how come you haven’t been per forming magick since you could walk? Well, there are some prerequisites. First off, you must try to solve your problem using mundane means. In other words, if you want to get your security de posit back from your former landlord, and he isn’t coughing it up, you need to write him a letter. Send it registered. Tell him you will take him to court. After you have exhausted all the non magickal means at your disposal, only then should you do magick.
Magickal Purpose
Before you perform an act of magick, you must be 100 percent clear on why you are doing it. What do you hope to achieve? Why are you using magick in this case? Have you really tried to attain what you want through nonmagickal means? Are you sure that your actions are for the good of all and not just for your own self-interest. Are you sure that your magickal action will not harm anyone? If you come up with clear and positive answers then you can proceed.
Book of Shadows
A pentagram is a five-pointed star. It is made of five straight lines and contains a pentagon inside it. When surrounded by a circle or a pentagon, a pentagram becomes a pentacle. A pentacle is a symbol of the Wiccan faith.
Magickal Concentration
In order to use your magickal energy, you must be able to concentrate. You have to focus intently and visualize the magick—actually see what you want to have happen ing happen in your mind. When performing an act of magick, you will build up a huge amount of energy with your powers of concentration. Then, when the energy is really intense, you send that energy out to work for you. Don’t worry. You can do this. And we’ll be telling you more about it, and giving more detailed directions, later.
A Good Finger
Once you have built up your magickal energy, direct the energy toward the place you want it to go. In ritual, Wiccans usually use an athame, a special ritual knife (more about these in Chapter 6, “What You Need to Do Magick”). If you don’t have an athame, you can use your finger. Remember, the magick is in you, not in the tools that you use. Using an athame is helpful, though. The ritual objects help you focus your mind. The tools give the conscious mind something to settle on so that the sub conscious can work. The symbolism of the athame speaks to your subconscious, as well. Because the subconscious works with images and symbols and not words, just seeing the athame can get your subconscious primed.
Your Place in the Universe
As a witch, you need to know your place in the Universe. You are only a minute part of the whole Universe. But you are connected to every other part of the Universe. Everything affects you, and what you do affects everything. No matter how small an action you take, someone, or something, will feel it. If you sneeze in Cleveland, some one in South America will feel it. Each and every thing that you do has an effect, no matter how small.
If you do magick, it can truly change things. None of us can fully comprehend how much change we can create. As a witch, you need to respect this. Remember the image of the stone thrown into a pool of water? Think of the ripples moving away from the center as your energy moving away from you. As the ripples of energy spread out, they affect and change everything they touch. You can change things. You can have major impact on people and their lives. With this power, comes responsibility—to other people, to animals, to the Earth, and to yourself.
The Least You Need to Know
Witches have ethics. If you are going to be a witch, you must understand the witches’ moral code, the Wiccan Rede, and you must try to live by it.
Living by the Wiccan Rede includes taking care of you. Take good care of your body; it is truly your temple.
Magickal energy lives inside of you. In order to use that energy, you have to learn to concentrate. You also must be totally clear on the reasons why you are using magick. And they better be good reasons!
All of your actions have effects. Especially magickal ones! You might not see the effects immediately or you might not see them at all, but know that everything that you do causes a reaction somewhere in the universe. For this reason, we all must use our powers wisely.
Banish!
Didn’t your mother always tell you it was rude to point? Well, especially so if you are a witch! But seriously, if a person knows that you are a witch, and you point your finger at that person and say something in rhyme, you could really do some damage. Even if you are just kidding, you could hurt that person psychologically. So, don’t joke around about your powers. You also want to avoid intimidating others. Even if you are mad. Even if the person deserves it. Remember the Wiccan Rede, and don’t pointl