WitchCraft
WitchCraft to me is a wonderful way of life. In no way is it evil. We do not
sacrifice babies or animals. That is another subject entirely. The word
WitchCraft has been twisted and turned throughout history. To top it all off,
Hollywood has caused the biggest problem concerning the meaning of the word.
It is not about worshipping a devil or turning people in to toads. It is not
about making things fly through the air. It is about personal power. It is
about having an open mind. It is about self-help. It is about utilizing the
energy within yourself and the energy of the universe and sending it out to
achieve your greatest goals. It is about healing, yourself and others. It is
about using your mind in a positive manner. It is about you. It is about
cherishing and taking care of Mother Earth. It is about becoming one with
nature. It is about respecting others no matter what religion, sex, ethnical
background, race, or sexual preference. It is about love. This is what I get
out of the Craft. One of my many goals in life is to find myself. I have come
a long way so far and I owe it all to myself. Through the mysteries of Wicca I
still have an exciting journey ahead.
Wicca is one of the fastest growing religions in the world. Seldom will you
find a person who hasn't heard the word Wicca. I think it is great that people
are opening up their minds to study the fantastic teachings of Wicca. Always
through time there will be closed-minded people who think that their way is the
only way. People try to put others down by bashing Wicca. I don't think it is
fair because I hold Wicca very dear to my heart, and if someone talks bad about
it, I take it as if someone has said mean things towards my mother! Nothing
bothers me more when people talk about things they don't understand. Some
people never want to take the time to sit down and try to understand it. Their
minds are too poisoned by false teachings. I am not here to put down other
religions because all religions are very interesting. I would love to study
each culture and take the time to understand what people of different cultures
believe in. I think it is important to try to understand the things that other
people consider different. We have to live on this planet together
so why not try to understand each other?
When I fist started reading about WitchCraft I felt so empowered and strong.
When I actually started applying the teachings to my life I felt completely new
and improved. I can remember the first time I attended a Full Moon ritual at
The Three Witches Church, here in Philadelphia. I was a nervous wreck! For 22
years I have been a devout Catholic and there I was attending a ritual because
of the Full Moon. As I entered the doors to the Church, I felt like I was
doing something wrong. As soon as the ritual got under way I felt like I
belonged there. After the ritual, everyone always stays a while and talks. I
met so many people that night and I still see them now at every ritual I
attend. I have never met people who would go out of their way to stop and say
hello to a complete stranger. It was so unexpected that I stood their shocked
not knowing what to say. They must have thought I was an idiot. Here in
Philly, people just don't do that without trying to start a fight or something
(not that Philadelphia is filled with all mean and nasty people). I never
experienced anything like that when I used to attend mass. Everyone was always
so snub and arrogant. I really felt comfortable, like I belonged in the
company of positive, open-minded people. It was such an enlightening
experience. I even became friends with the two wonderful women who run the
rituals. Now whenever I need help with a spell or even if I need someone to
talk to, I will call them up.
There was a time in my life when I needed some kind of change. I was really
feeling down and depressed. I felt like I was useless. I am an up and coming
singer trying so hard to make in a business that doesn't care about what you sound
like but who you know. When I was a practicing Catholic, I used to pray that
God would make an opportunity come my way. I never took the time out to
realize that if I want my dream to become a reality, I would have to go after
it myself. It is such a shame that I was never taught that in Catholic
school. Now I have done things myself. I have met contacts and it really
looks like the ball is finally rolling. I owe that all to Wicca.
Thirteen Goals of a Witch
- Know yourself
- Know your Craft(Wicca)
- Learn
- Apply knowledge with wisdom
- Achieve balance
- Keep your words in good order
- Keep your thoughts in good order
- Celebrate Life
- Attune with the cycles of the Earth
- Breathe and eat correctly
- Exercise the body
- Meditate
- Honor the Goddess and God
The Covenant of Aradia
- Observe the times of the sacred gatherings, for therein is the foundation of the powers.
- When good is done for you, you are bound to return it threefold. And if you shall help another you will not accept payment but shall bind the one served to likewise help yet another three (people).
- Use not your power or knowledge of the Craft, neither call forth your aids, for your own glory or as proof of your standing. Work instead for the good of your coven or for those who are outside (should they prove worthy). For your own need you may work if no harm is done through your gain.
- Take not the life of any living thing except it be to preserve another life. If you take a life to provide food, then all if its being must be used in respect to its life force. That which can not be used must be returned to the Earth with blessings made.
- Give not your word lightly, for you are bound by your words, and by your oaths.
- You shall not bow before any authority over you except it be that of the Creators, or their emissaries. All others are wordly ego.
- You are bound to teach and initiate all who appear to be worthy, and to aid in the continuance of the Old Religion.
- Belittle not anothers beliefs nor degrade another for their ways. But offer your own truth without argument and strive to dwell in peace with those who differ.
- As there be no harm to another, then let your actions be as you will. Love and freedom are the essence of the Law.
- Strive to live your life in compassion and awareness to the minds and hearts of all who share in your presence.
- Be true to your own understanding and strive to turn away from that which is opposed within you.
- Destroy not, neither scar, the beauty of Nature around you. Hold reverence for all things in Nature, second only to the Creators. Waste nothing.
- Remain open in your heart and in your mind to the Great Ones, the Creators, and to your brothers and sister alike.
Numbers
These numbers are to be used in magickal workings or for ritual purposes. Odd numbers and related to women, Goddess energy, whereas even numbers are related to men, God energy.
- 1. The universe, The One; the source of all.
- 2. The Goddess and God; The perfect duality; balance.
- 3. The Triple Goddess; The Lunar phases; the physical.
- 4. The elements; the winds; the seasons.
- 5. The senses; the pentagram; a Goddess number.
- 7. power; protection and magick.
- 8. The number of the Sabbats; a God number.
- 9. A number of the Goddess.
- 13.The number of Esbats; a fortunate number.
- 15.The number of good fortune.
- 21.The number of Sabbats and Moons in the Wiccan year.
- 28.A number of the Moon; a Goddess number.
The planets are number like this:
- Saturn, 3
- Jupiter, 4
- Mars, 5
- Sun, 6
- Venus, 7
- Mercury, 8
- Moon, 9
***There are many different variations of this system, this is just one I of then I came across.
©1999
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