The Law:
- The Law was made and ardane of old.
- The Laws were created to give our
lives form and order, that all might be balanced throughout all of the planes.
The Laws were shaped and molded to teach us, to advise us, and to counsel us
in our time of mortal life on earth.
Honor the
Gods:
- Honor the Goddess and the God, for they are the Source of our Strength.
- Honor yourselves, for this force
also lies within each of you.
- At times of need they will come,
to help, protect, and Inspire their children.
- The Gods are of Old, Strong and
Wise! We are their Children, the Hidden ones who through the mists of time and
since the dawn of creation, have worshipped, honored, and loved them as they
have loved us.
- Be true to yourself and each other,
honor your brothers and sisters, and the Gods shall honor you.
Honor Love:
Sexual Unions:
All sexual unions constitute some
degree of responsibility by all parties!
- Concerns are directed towards the
welfare and safety of the family, and especially to children resulting from
the union
- Festivals of fertility, during Beltaine (being the 'merry month,' the month of 'maying,' of dancing
and of lovemaking), are times in the past which produced merry-be-gots (children
conceived with the blessing of the Goddess) who were brought into the world
with complete and total assistance of tribe or clan.
Handfasting:
'Handfastings' are a form of Pagan Marriage or Sacred Union
[for a minimum of a year and a day or as long love lasts]; before Goddess and
God through Sacred Ritual, the taking of Oaths, and of Written Contract [spelling
out details of responsibility, of possessions, and of children from the union]!
Ever remember that oaths made are
not to be taken lightly as those handfasted by the Priests and Priestesses of
the Craft have done so before the Goddess and the God and are to be responsible
to each other for meeting the obligations of oaths taken and of contracts written!
Multiple Relationships:
- Multiple relationships are to be
discussed and decided on by all members of the family with love and respect,
with the understanding that problems within existing relationships become more
complex!
- In the event this results in bringing
in a secondary mate a contract will be written including all involved parties,
whereas the disposition of rank, income, and the communal distribution of possessions
and work loads, including the raising of children, will be set forth and oaths
taken to honor and respect the contract and family!
Children and Family:
- Do not neglect your mates, children,
or possessions.
- Remember that children are beloved
by the Goddess and the God.
- They are neither property nor possessions,
children are to be guided with knowledge and wisdom towards paths of safety,
conducive to their welfare, with care and love!
- They have entered your life, sharing
through the good and bad.
- Let each parent realize that although
they may teach and guide with love, the parent also learns from the child.
Worship:
- The body is the
temple of the Gods and is to be cared for and loved, as you cannot give or receive
love if you cannot love yourself!
- The coven and\or
circle, which is between worlds, is the gateways of the Gods.
- The coven and\or
circle should be truly cast and purified so that it may be a fit place for the
Gods to enter.
- The people of the Wicca
shall be properly prepared and purified, to enter into the presence of
the Gods.
- Let each coven
and\or circle maintain and dedicate unto the Goddess and the God all the things
that are required for their rituals for what is blessed in the name of the
Gods rightly belongs to Them, and the Priest and Priestess shall be the caretakers
thereof.
- Each coven and\or
circle shall be as a family, providing for their needs, care, and well-being!
- With love and worship in our hearts,
we shall raise power from within to Heal the ill, to weave the fabric of our
destiny, to bring strength and life to our people and to worship and empower
the Gods.
- The sacred trust
of the people of the Wicca is to create and to maintain centers of life and knowledge
using the magick of the divine spark within us to focus and channel the forces
of the Spirit of Life.
- Thus we tend and
guard the threads of creation, and we weave the patterns of life, manifested
in the ever-evolving tapestry of our people.
- Keep your body
strong, your mind keen, and your purpose pure, for within your being you shall
channel the Power, and it needs to be strong and pure.
Illness:
None shall enter the coven and\or
circle that have a sickness or an ailment which may be contagious and passed
on -- for to do so causes harm to yourself, as well as to the others of the
coven and\or circle.
Coven and\or Circle
As has been taught of old!
The Power:
Long ago, since
the dawn of time, Men and Women have joined together to bring life into this
world! In the creativity of their joining, they improved and learned from
each other, providing strength and love for each other, respecting and honoring
each other.
- One is incomplete
without the other, together joined they are one in truth.
- It was deemed
that the male would be the Reservoir of the Power, and the essence of the God!
So that he in the joining, becomes the Conduit of the life energy, directing
it towards life's truths, bringing forth the fruits of his labor for his people.
- It was deemed that the female would
be the Channeler of the Power, and the Essence of the Goddess! So that she in
the joining, becomes the Cradle of the life-energy from the joining, channeling
it toward life's truths, bringing forth the fruits of her labor for her people.
- And such is the God drawn to the
love and beauty of Goddess who is the Cradle of life, that he joins with
her bringing forth his Essence and Powers for the furtherance of life.
- Thus the Priestess
must always remember that the Priest represents the God and provides
the life energy that fuels the fires within her coven and\or circle.
- She must use the power wisely, and
only with love, and she must honor and respect he who is the Reservoir of the
Power, as he must honor her as the Channeler of the Power.
The Wiccan Clergy:
Your High Priestess is the earthly,
living representative of the 'Mother of All,' the Goddess from before
the dawn of time, of renewal and rebirth in the coven and\or circle. She commandeth
the respect due to one who is the Lady, Mother, Counselor, and Magus! Your High Priest is the earthly,
living representative of the 'Father of All,' the God from before
the dawn of time, of renewal and rebirth in the coven and\or circle. He commandeth
the respect due to one who is a Lord, Father, Counselor, and Mage!
- The High Priestess shall rule Her
coven and\or circle as the representative of the Goddess.
- The High Priest shall support Her
as the representative of the God.
- Each Priestess and Priest shall
choose their own consorts, yet let them be wise in the learning of our people,
and thus others shall abide by the wisdom of their choice.
- Yet if the coven and\or circle feels
the decision is ill-advised, or that they cannot abide and work in honor and
trust with that consort, then they may request a gathering of all concerned
to meet and to talk, and to resolve the balance with love and honor.
- For only those who are pure and
strong, keen and wise, patient and loving, can effectively and properly carry
out the duties of a 'Priestess and Priest of the Coven and\or Circle!'
The Council of Initiates:
- The members of the Council of Initiates
of the old and of the new coven and\or circle shall meet in peace and with respect,
to decide the level of interaction and connection between the coven and\or circles.
- The Council of Initiates shall be
made up of those Initiates, who have chosen paths as Priestess, Priest, Elder
or Crone! Having been recognized as an initiate of the Tradition, and appointed
by the High Priestess and\or the High Priest - To teach, advise, represent,
and uphold the Traditions of the Craft in their Coven and\or Circle!
Disputes
and Quarrels:
There are those who may think differently
or disagree with their brethren - let them be heard before the Council of Initiates. But, if they will not agree with
their Brethren or if they say, 'I will not work under this High Priestess or
High Priest then :
'for those who can never agree,'
'or must always be in
charge,'
'or refuse to work under any others,'
there can be but one answer: 'Leave this coven and\or circle,
and seek another one, or if ye be of sufficient rank then form a coven and\or
circle of your own.'
- There are also people who cannot
rule justly.
- To those who cannot rule justly,
the answer shall be, 'Those who cannot bear your rule will leave you.'
- In the matter of quarrels or disputes
between the members of the coven and\or circle, the High Priestess shall convene
the Council of Initiates, and inquire into the matter.
- The Council of Initiates shall hear
each person privately, and then both together.
- They then shall decide with reason
and with justice, not favoring one side nor the other.
- The judgments of the Council of
Initiates should incline to try to make some good come from an injustice or
wrongdoing. Many are the ways to restore the balance, so let the judgments be
in keeping with this.
- None may come into coven and\or
circle with those with whom they are at variance, for to do so disrupts the
coven and\or circle, angers the Gods, and hinders the Craft.
New Coven and\or Circle:
- Any one of the coven and\or circle
who is of sufficient rank, and wishes to form a new coven and\or circle, shall
tell the High Priestess and the Elders of their intentions.
- Members of the old coven and\or
circle may join the new coven and\or circle when it is formed, but if they do
so they must leave the other coven and\or circle, unless otherwise instructed.
- For it is the Old Law that each
Wiccan may join the coven and\or circle of their choice, yet their energy should
not be divided between two!
- Let each coven and\or circle decide
how it shall be known -- whether by earthly name or magickal one. For each child
of the Wicca knows best the safety or dangers of their homeland.
- The Council of Initiates of the
old and new coven and\or circles should meet in peace and brotherly love to
decide the new boundaries.
- Yet it is known that the splitting
of a coven and\or circle often means strife.
- So only if it is truly in a spirit
of peace and harmony should the coven and\or circles meet for the celebration
of the Great Festivals.
Persecution Part One
[In Memory of the Burning Times]
Secrecy:
If in a country or people who seek out those who practice the
old ways to persecute them, then these Old Laws do apply!
- That no coven and\or circle shall
know where the next coven and\or circle bide.
- Or who its members be, save only
the Priest and Priestess and the Messenger.
- And there shall be no communication
between them, save only by the Messenger of the Gods, or the Summoner.
- And while there, none shall say
whence they come, nor give their true names.
- To this end, that if any be tortured,
in their agony, they may not tell what they do not know.
- Nor may they tell where other covens
and\or circles be.
- Or their coven and\or circle homestead.
- Or where the meetings be
Persecution Part Two
[ In Memory of the Burning Times]
Grimoires:
If in a country or people who seek out those who practice the
old ways to persecute them, then these Old Laws do apply! Times have changed
and writings are stored in many ways, as computer files on tape or disk [coded
and encoded], or written by hand in ancient writings and languages, .
- The Mysteries of the craft are still
sought by many who would use them against us even in this day and age, the people
of the craft have always been persecuted by those ignorant or fanatical.
- Whatever means you use to record
your writings, make sure that names, and lists of others are not kept where
they can be discovered and make sure they can be easily destroyed if necessary!
- If any die prematurely before placing
their affairs in order, seek out their writings and place them in safekeeping
for those who should receive them!
- Otherwise make arrangements for
your records to be transferred safely to another without endangering others
so that knowledge will not be lost as it has in the past!
- Old Ways are wise ways - Learn as
much as you may by heart, and when danger is past, rewrite your books when it
be safe.
- For these are the History and records
of our Craft, and Life and Mysteries that lie within.
Persecution Part Three
[In Memory of the Burning
Times]
Tools:
If in a country or people who seek out those who practice the
old ways to persecute them, then these Old Laws do apply!
- To avoid discovery, let 'Will And
Knowledge' be your most powerful tools, let all other working tools be as ordinary
things that any may have in their houses.
- Let the Pentacles be of wax so that
they may be broken at once or melted.
- Have no sword, unless your rank
allows you one.
- Have no names or signs on anything.
- Write the names or signs on them
in ink immediately before consecrating them, and wash it off immediately afterwards.
- Do not engrave them lest they cause
discovery.
The Craft
Past History:
- In the dimly
remembered dawn of ages past, the Wicca were truly free.
- Then Christianity
brought their god of hell and damnation, with their demons and terrors of their
own creation, imposing them on the people of the Wicca! A monotheistic belief
cast
on us by the patriarchal concepts of their god and the politics of that time!
The christian priests in their madness created a burning pit of everlasting
fire, into which they threw all who would not worship their god. We the People
of the old religion were earth oriented, goddess and god worshipping, and celebrating
the seasons and life! It had ever been our ways in the learning of herbal lore,
helping each other survive against disease, illness, women dying during the
delivery of their children! Because we would not worship their god - The Catholic
and Protestant Church, supported by the politics of the times - tried, tortured,
and put millions of innocent men, women and children to death - the Dark ages
of their own creation!
- In those unhappy
times, the Sacred Mysteries were celebrated in secret.
- Thus the people
of the Wicca hid themselves and cloaked their knowledge, and wove veils of secrecy
and silence.
- Thusly the
people of the Wicca have preserved their ways through the time of darkness.
- Yet many of
our ways have been lost due to the ignorance of others.
Present History:
In order to
bring our ways of Life, Love, and Wisdom to the peoples of the Earth, our teachings
and secrets are slowly becoming secrets no more, and it is good, for the age
of shadow and secrecy is passing.
- Yet, let the
sharing of our ways be guided by wisdom and love. We are a people of strength,
honor and courage. Our Rites and our Mysteries are sacred, we will allow no
one to defile our worship or our heritage.
- For the defilement
of our ways is a loss of honor to self, our people, and the Gods.
Valuables:
If your coven and\or circle owns
any land, let all guard it, and help to keep it clean. Let all justly guard
all the things that are required for their rituals, and moneys of the coven
and\or circle, as well as the rights and property of all members of the coven
and\or circle.
Discussing
The Craft:
- There will be those who would inquire
as to the ways of the Goddess, or who wish to become of the Wicca.
- You shall Search their hearts, and
even into their spirits you shall look, as you are able to for the truth.
- For, the Wicca do not look to acquire
membership, or quantity of peoples.
- Yet, let none be turned away if
their hearts are true, and their desire earnest!
Conduct:
Treat other traditions of the craft
with respect. For we are all the 'Children of
the God and Goddess,' and an honorable People; 'Do nothing to dishonor the Craft,
our People, or the Gods!'
- Use and Respect - Tools, Grounds,
Temples, and Homes of the people of the Craft, for in using them they are sacred
and are to be kept clean and cleaned up after use. If resources and materials
are used, compensation is to be made! We cannot expect others to respect us,
if we cannot respect ourselves!
- Give the respect due to other Religions
and beliefs as we would expect them to respect us!
- We shall always give aid to humanity
with an attitude of love for we are all born, living and die on this Earth.
Give of yourselves what you would expect in return!
- You should always keep the Counsel
of the Elders,
- Reveal naught to others of where
our coven and\or circles may be,
- Nor reveal our ways without the
consent of your Priestess or your Priest.
Truth and Honor:
If you do not believe, 'The Sacred
Watchwords of the Coven and\or Circle,' and you intend to walk the sacred paths
within the coven and\or circles of the Lady and the Lord. Then you must leave
until what you believe and what you profess to believe are not in conflict.
- You must not profess with your lips
that which is not in your heart.
- If you swear an oath you should
honor it.
- Be truthful in all your works and
deeds, especially within the coven and\or circle, for what you say within the
presence of the Gods becomes manifest.
- To lie or give false testimony before
Clergy, Elders, or the people of the Wicca - creates dishonor and distrust, becoming
unworthy to stand within coven and\or circle. One can only regain honor through
truth and deed.
Use
of The Art:
Remember the Arts are the gifts
of the Gods and should only be used wisely.
- Vanity and Pride distance the people,
and misuse of the power is foolish and dangerous!
- Tis the old Law and the most important
of all Laws that no one may do anything which will endanger any of the Craft,
or bring them into contact with the law of the land, or any of our persecutors.
- That this Law shall ever continue
to help us in our plights. No one, however great an injury or injustice they
receive, may use the Art in any way to do ill or harm any. But they may, after
great consultations with all, use the Art to restrain Oppressors from harming
us or persecuting others, to confuse and make harmless their actions.
- Throughout the world it has been
many a year since Wiccans have been burned.
- Use the Power wisely so that the
persecutions will not start again.
- Never break the Laws, however much
you might be tempted, and never consent to their being broken.
- And if you know they are being broken,
then you must work strongly against it.
- In any disputes involving the people of the Wicca, no one may invoke any laws but those of the Craft, or any tribunal but
that of Priestess, Priest, and Elders.
- Respect the nature of each life,
and do not abuse, or take that which is not yours to take.
- To steal from another, in the end
means having to sacrifice something dearer to you in order to attain the balance.
- If there be any Priestess, Priest,
or Elder who has advised or consented to break the Laws of the people of the
Wicca,
in regard to the use of the Craft, or to cause harm to others; The Council of
Initiates must convene and decide with wisdom and justice whether the accused
must immediately be relieved of their office, for it is the lives of the Children
of the Goddess which they endanger, as well as the Honor of the Craft.
- Do good, an it be safe and only
if it be safe.
Payment:
Never accept money for the use of
the Power. The Power can be used to increase love, health, and wealth, as long
as it is done within the Wiccan Redes.
- Do not use the Craft for unworthy
causes.
- Never bargain or cheapen anything
whilst you live by the Art.
- But if any of the Craft truly wrought
it, 'tis right they have their pay, and it be just. And this be not taking money
for the Art, but for good and honest work.
- And ever be the saying - "The
worker that honors their Craft is worth the pay," "But the worker
that gives of themself to the Craft," is repaid threefold - in friendship,
respect, and honor!
- All may use the Craft to help and
aid them, or for the advantage of their coven and\or circle, or the Craft -
within the Principles of the Wiccan Rede.
- If it is not possible to achieve
your ends one way, then perhaps the goal may be achieved by acting in a different
way, so as to harm none.
- 'Tis judged lawful if any of the
Craft need a house or land and none will sell, to incline the owner's mind so
as to be willing to sell, providing it harms none and the full price is paid.
- Let each Wiccan and coven and\or
circle always debate these matters at length.
-
Only if all be satisfied that none be harmed in any way, may the Art then be
used.
Craft Lore:
Let the Craft keep books with the
names of all herbs which are good for all peoples, and all cures, so that all
may learn. The Lore of the Craft is all Knowledge
that brings wisdom, strength, and life to our People and thusly to the Great
Mother and Great Father of Creation!
Time
of Change:
Let the Priestess and Priest lead
as long as they are able, and their leadership be wise and strong, and to the
benefit of the People.
- Yet if due to age or ill health,
then let them have the vision and the wisdom to step away from their position,
and pass the duties of the coven and\or circle to the next generation.
- So will they at the proper time,
gracefully retire in favor of youth, should the People so decide in the Council
of Initiates.
- For the true High Priestess and
Priest realize that gracefully surrendering the pride of place is one of the
greatest virtues.
- And that thereby they will return
to that pride of place in another life, with greater power, beauty, and strength.
Resignations:
- It shall ever be the way with women,
and with men also that they seek new love.
- Nor should we reprove them, even
if this to be to our disadvantage.
- As, so many a time in the past,
it has happened that a High Priest or High Priestess impelled by love, hath
departed with their love, that is, they have left the coven and\or circle.
- They may do so in full coven and\or
circle.
- Now if a High Priestess and\or High
Priest wish to resign, being tired of their duties and charges, then they may
step down, but only after having trained and acknowledged a successor.
- Their resignation will be valid
when their Successor has accepted and been sworn in!
So The Law is:
- If a High
Priestess and\or High Priest leave their coven and\or circle for any reason
other than desertion, but return within the space of a year and a day, then
she and\or he may request to be taken back, The Council of Initiates will convene
and if all approve - then all shall be as before.
- If a High
Priest or High Priestess deserts their coven and\or circle, then they have lost
the right to ever lead again within this life, so great a trust they have broken.
Leadership is a sacred commitment and an honor, and they have shown that they
cannot be trusted with such responsibility.
- If the High
Priestess and\or High Priest take a Sabbatical from coven and\or circle, if
her\his personal life and duties require it, for up to a year and a day.
- They shall
both have chosen and trained deputies to act in their place, those deputies
corresponding to the High Priestess and\or High Priest, whichever or both are
on sabbatical - shall act as High Priestess and\or High Priest for as long as,
or up to a year and a day, while the High Priestess and\or High Priest are away.
- The Deputy\High
Priestess may accept the present High Priest, or choose the deputy\High Priest
only if approved by the Council of Initiates, and only until the High Priestess
returns at which time the High Priest will be reinstated if she so chooses.
- If the High
Priestess and\or High Priest do not return at the end of a year and a day, then
the coven and\or circle shall elect a new High Priestess and\or High Priest.
- Unless there
is good reason to the contrary, the Deputies who have acted as the High Priestess
and\or High Priest should reap the reward. But if another is elected, the deputy
of the High Priestess will be made maiden and deputy of the High Priestess.
Whereas the deputy of the High Priest shall be made acting greenman and deputy
of the High Priest!
- The New High
Priestess shall have final say in her choice of High Priest or retain the one
already there!
The people of the Wicca deserve Laws to empower
them for this time and ages to come!
Rewritten by Elkin Vanaeon
02/11/1999
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