The Goddess of Wicca

The Goddess of the Wicca is the Great Goddess. She is the Ground of Being, the Mother of All Living; the Creatrix, and the Destroyer, for She is ever Dual. She is the Earth Mother, the Lady of the Moon, and the Star Goddess. She is Queen of Heaven, Queen of Earth, and Queen of the Underworld. She is the Triple Goddess: the Virgin, the Bride, and the Hag, called the Three Mothers in Celtic regions.

The three aspects of the Triple Goddess are usually described as the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone; it must be remembered that the connotations of age associated with those titles derive from the experience of humans, who are subject to age and death; the Goddess is eternal: ever-changing and ever self-renewing, She will be young or old as She pleases.

As the Virgin, She is the Creatrix, the Lady of Birth and Death, the Star Goddess, the Queen of Heaven, the Giver of Inspiration, the Initiatrix. She is Diana, Lady of the Moon and the Wild Things, Ever Virgin unto Pan: virgin unto the All, and therefore wed to None. She is also the Virgin Mother; and Her blue and white colors, and title "Queen of Heaven", were borrowed by the Catholic Church for the Virgin Mary. Hers are the Waxing Moon, Venus as Morning and Evening Star, and all the vast starry realm; Her sacred color is White.

As the Bride, She is the Preserver, the Lady of Growth and Fertility, the Earth Mother, the Goddess of flocks and herds, Lady of Love and Fruitfulness and the fertility of the land; as Goddess of the Land She is also the Goddess of Sovereignty, and it is only by Sacred Marriage to Her that the King holds the right to the Throne. Hers are the Full Moon, the Earth, fruits and flocks and fields; Her sacred color is Red.

As the Hag, She is the Destroyer, the Lady of Decay and Death, the Goddess of Night and the Underworld, and also the cave and the tomb. For that which is born must also age, and decay, and die; and out of that which is dead and decaying arises new fertility, for life feeds ever on life. She is the Sow who eats Her own young, the "Nightmare Fertility and Death in One", the Great Necessity by which the food chain and the cycle of life continue. Hence She is also the Goddess of regeneration. Hers is the Waning Moon, the dark night, the silence of the shadows, the midnight crossroads, and the wailing of the widow; Her sacred color is Black.

The Goddess is the Queen of all Witcheries: She is the Enchantress, the Shape-Changer; She is Isis, the "Lady of the Words of Power"; She is Cerridwen, the Sorceress at Her Cauldron; She is Hecate, the Mistress of the Magick of the Dark Moon. She is the Great Lady. She is the Goddess.

Blessed Be
Fairy Star

Kinds of Witchcraft

There are folk who claim to be Hereditary Witches, with an unbroken family tradition, passed down through the generations by their ancestors from the ancient Pagan Mysteries; many of these do not consider their traditions Wiccan; some others have admitted that they only began using the term Wicca to describe their family traditions because what they'd read about Gardnerian beliefs and practices fit more or less closely with their own beliefs and practices. Hereditaries are also often referred to as FamTrad, or Family Traditionalists - a Tradition passed down within the family and hence by hereditary descent.

There are folk who call themselves Traditional Witches, that claim unbroken descent from the ancient Pagan Mysteries either by Initiation into a surviving magicko-religious Tradition or by having been "adopted" into a Hereditary Family Tradition (that "adoption" itself being a form of Initiation); some of these consider themselves Wiccan, although some of them agree they only began using the term Wicca to describe their traditions because what they had read about Gardnerian beliefs and practices fit more or less closely with their own beliefs and practices.
The Gardnerian Tradition is the name given to the body of ritual, belief, magickal practices and training techniques inherited by the initiatory descendents of Gerald B. Gardner. Gardner told of having been initiated into a surviving Coven of Traditional Witches in the New Forest by "Old Dorothy" Clutterbuck in 1939; which makes Gardnerian Wicca a branch of Traditional Witchcraft. There are those who claim that it was Gardner who revived the use of the word Wicca; Gardner claimed otherwise, stating the word was used by the New Forest Coven into which he was initiated.

(1) In his book The Meaning of Witchcraft, first published in 1959, he wrote,

"I realised that I had stumbled upon something interesting; but I was half-initiated before the word, 'Wica' which they used hit me like a thunderbolt, and I knew where I was, and that the Old Religion still existed. And so I found myself in the Circle, and there took the usual oath of secrecy, which bound me not to reveal certain things."

(2)Gerald B. Gardner, The Meaning of Witchcraft
The Alexandrian Tradition was hived off from the Gardnerian by Alex Sanders; Alex claimed to have been initiated as a Hereditary Witch by his grandmother, when he was seven years old. While this is a romantic story, the fact is that Alex wrote to Gardnerian High Priestess Pat Crowther saying that "To be a witch is something that I have always wanted - and yet I have never found anyone who could help me."

(3) Crowther refused to initiate Sanders; but a letter from Pat Kopanksi to Gerald Gardner exists, in which she informs Gardner of Alex's initiation.

(4) Kopanski, initiated by the Crowthers, had split away from them over personality conflicts.
British Traditional Witchcraft refers to those Traditions tracing descent from a Hereditary, or Traditional, British source and includes not only the Gardnerian and the Alexandrian Traditions and their branches and offshoots but also several others derived from British sources such as Sybil Leek's Horsa Coven in the New Forest, Plant Bran, and the Clan of Tubal Cain of "Robert Cochrane". Some Brit Trad Witches consider the term Wicca a synonym for British Traditional Witchcraft, while others reserve the term Wicca for the Gardnerian and Alexandrian Traditions and their offshoots and consider Wicca to be a wholly-contained subset within British Traditional Witchcraft.

(5)The term British Traditional Wicca is sometimes used, more commonly in the U.S. than Britain and elsewhere, to refer specifically to the Gardnerian and the Alexandrian Traditions, and those Trads that have hived off from them (who thus claim initiatory descent from Gerald Gardner, or from Alex and Maxine Sanders, or both) and whose body of ritual, belief, magickal practices, and training techniques derives directly from the body of Lore passed on by "Old Gerald". Brit Trad Wiccans experience the same Mysteries, using substantially the same rituals and techniques. Variations may exist between individual Covens, Lineages and Traditions but it is the same Initiatory Mystery Path. From a Brit Trad Wiccan viewpoint,
Wicca is an Initiatory, Oathbound, Magick-using, Pagan Mystery Priesthoodcelebrating the Mysteries contained in theLegend of the Descent of the Goddess and in the Charge of the Goddess.

There are groups that have no initiatory connection to Gardner or Sanders, but who have based their rituals and practices on what has been published about the Gardnerian and Alexandrian Traditions; they therefore follow a basically Gardnerian/Alexandrian system. These groups are also sometimes described as British Traditional Wicca, although this usage is generally found only in the U.S., and that term is rarely used that way by British Traditional Witches themselves, who regard descent, whether by birth, or by Initiation or Initiatory adoption, as essential to being "of the Blood", and therefore to being "of the Wicca". For some of these groups the name American Traditionalist Witchcraft may be more accurate while others would be more accurately called American Eclectic Witchcraft.

American Eclectic Wicca is sometimes used to refer to a broad range of individuals or groups that have based their philosophy, rituals and practices on the published works of such modern American Witches as Scott Cunningham and StarHawk. Often American Eclectics take the curious and contradictory position that Wicca is a completely modern religion created by Gerald Gardner but that the beliefs and practices of Wicca are completely individualistic, and therefore nobody can define "Wicca" for others.

(6) In general, American Eclectics emphasize spontaneity and tend to downplay the importance of such concepts as Oaths, Initiations, Lineage, and Tradition, or even to discard those concepts altogether. For most of these people and groups, the name Wicca is inappropriate; American Eclectic Witchcraft is far more accurate.

Welsh (or other ethnic or cultural group) Traditional Wicca or Witchcraft refers to the many Traditions claiming to descend from, or claiming to have revived, the forms and symbolisms and lore of the various ethnic or cultural sources around which they base their practices. Many of these seem to be a "Brit-Trad Wicca" format with an ethnic/cultural veneer; though that "Brit-Trad Wicca" format may be a recent development grafted onto genuinely surviving lore and practices, which is in fact what some have described as having occurred.

Notes:

It has been argued that Gerald invented this story to support his "invention" of "Wicca"; but Gerald actually used the word very infrequently in his published works; and when he did do so, he used it with the meaning of "British Witches".

Gardner habitually spelled it "wica", with only one "c", perhaps because he only heard it rather than read it, perhaps only a variant spelling. Although the "c" or "cc" should actually be pronounced "ch", pronouncing the word "wick-uh" has become most common.
Quoted by Doreen Valiente in The Rebirth Of Witchcraft
This letter is now in a private collection.

Some Brit Trad Witches (both Gardnerian and non-Gardnerian) hold that only the Initiatory Descendents of Gardner are "the Wicca", having inherited that name, and the Initiatory Lineage, directly from the Wicca of Old Dorothy's New Forest Coven. It is worth noting in this regard that Sybil Leek, who spoke of there being four New Forest Covens including her own Horsa Coven, also used the word "Wicca" (as did Gardner) to mean Brit Trad Witches/Witchcraft. This argument that "Since Gardner created the word, nobody has the right to define it for anyone else" is contradictory indeed, since surely those who inherited the practices from the alleged creator have the right to define what they inherited. To claim "Anyone who identifies her/himself as Wiccan is really Wiccan" lacks definition; in fact, it would allow any definition whatsoever and thus would effectively render the word "Wicca" meaningless and therefore incapable of conveying any real information about someone who thus identified themselves.

Blessed Be
Fairy Star

What is Wicca?

Wicca is an Initiatory, Oathbound, Magick-using,Pagan Mystery Priesthood celebrating the Mysteriesrevealed in the "Legend of the Descent of the Goddess"and in the "Charge of the Goddess".

The word wicca was originally the Old English word meaning "a male witch"; "a female witch" was a wicce; the craft of witches, or "witchcraft", was wiccecraeft; and "to bewitch" was wiccian. Just as the Old English words wicca and wicce evolved into the modern English word "witch", so too the word wiccecraeft evolved into the modern English word "witchcraft".
Our modern English word "witch" is the correct term for anyone who practices witchcraft, the magickal arts of a witch. Nevertheless, there are people who practice the magickal side of witchcraft but not the religious; such folk may be called witches, but they are not Witches. The use of Witch as a proper noun denotes a religious practitioner, of whom Wiccans are a proper subset: "All Wiccans are Witches, but not all Witches are Wiccan."

The word Wicca refers to British Traditional Witchcraft, also called English Traditional Witchcraft: a specific magickal Mystery tradition that evolved down through the centuries along with the evolution of the English people and the English language. The use of the Old English word Wicca distinguishes British Traditional Witchcraft from the many other forms of religious Witchcraft that exist.

While it might seem odd that the Old English word for "male witch" is used today for a kind of Witchcraft, the English language has often used the masculine gender for a mixed gender plural. For example, the word brethren is used of a mixed-gender group of people related by blood, faith, philosophy, or other affiliation; in other words, "brethren" is used as a synonym for "brothers and sisters". The Wiccan Law of the Craft speaks of "the Brethren", "Brothers and Sisters", "the Craft", and "the Wicca"; clearly, all of these terms are mixed-gender plurals including both male and female. So while the Old English form was "wiccecraeft", the modern usage has become "Wicca Craft": the Craft of the Wicca.

The following paragraphs explain the terms used in the definition of Wicca in more detail:

Initiatory

The term Initiatory refers both to the Spiritual Initiation that can only be received from the Gods, and to the ritual of Initiation by which an individual is brought into Wicca and consecrated as a Priest(ess) and Witch.

Oathbound

The term Oathbound refers to the Oath of secrecy regarding the "Secrets of the Art" which the Initiate swears during their Initiation. The concept of Initiaton, involving an Oath of secrecy, has always been a hallmark of the Pagan Mysteries, for example the Mysteries of Isis and the Eleusinian Mysteries.

Magick-using

The term Magick-using refers to the fact that Wicca is a form of Witchcraft, and therefore all Wiccans are Witches. As such, they practice the Magickal Art which is part of the Witches' traditional Craft. Magick may be defined as "causing change to occur in conformity to will, through the proper direction of the proper force, in the proper degree, in the proper manner, to achieve the desired result." There are some modern Pagans who call themselves Wiccan, but who deny that the word Wicca has anything to do with Witchcraft or the practice of Magickal Arts; but as we have seen, the etymological and historical evidence clearly proves otherwise. "All Wiccans are Witches, but not all Witches are Wiccan."

Pagan

The term Pagan refers to the fact that Wicca is one of the Pagan religions that have always existed in the world, religions which affirm that Nature is not apart from, but is a living part of the Divine, and that the Universe is a many-layered Reality in which the ancient Goddesses and Gods worshipped from the earliest times live, move, and have Their Being. The medieval Church insisted those Pagan Deities were "the Devil", and that the Priests and Priestesses who served those Deities were "servants of the Devil". And so those who called themselves the Wicca, the Witches, were viewed by the Church as devil-worshippers, the servants of evil. While there are those who deny that the word Witch was ever connected with the worship of Pagan Deities, the etymological and historical evidence clearly proves otherwise. "All Wiccans are Pagan, but not all Pagans are Wiccan."

Mystery

The term Mystery refers to a "Divine Secret" or spiritual truth conveyed to the Initiate by means of a secret rite; for the Mysteries themselves cannot be fully expressed in words, since even if that spiritual truth could be fully expressed verbally, it is the inner spiritual experience of that truth which conveys full comprehension and accomplishes the spiritual Initiation.

Priesthood

Etymologists derive the Old English words wicce and wicca from the Indo-European root weik, which according to Webster's New World Dictionary meant "to separate (hence set aside for religious worship)." In other words, "to consecrate". That original meaning, in reference to people rather than to places or things, clearly indicates consecration to a specific Priesthood. In Wicca, the Initiate is consecrated as both Priest(ess) and Witch, thus the word Wicca unites the concepts of "specific consecrated Priesthood", and of "practitioner of the witches' magickal craft", in a single word.

Blessed Be
Fairy Star

The Law of The Craft

The Law was made and ordained of old.

The Law was made for the Wicca, that it might advise and help them in following the Path of Light and of Initiation.

The Wicca should give due worship to the Gods and obey Their Will, for the Gods love the Brethren of the Wicca, and the Will of the Gods is the True Will of the Initiate.

As two people love each other by living together and loving together,
So the Wicca should love the Gods by living always in Their Sight, and joining Them in Spirit and in Body.

And it is necessary that the Circle, which is the true Holy Temple of the Gods, should be truly purified and cast, that it may be a fit Place for Gods to enter.

And the Wicca should be properly prepared and purified to enter into the Presence of the Gods.
With love and worship in their hearts, they shall raise Power from their bodies, and channel Power from the Universe, to give Power to the Gods and help to humankind,
As has been taught of old.

For in this way only may folk have Communion with the Gods, and use the Power for Aid, and Growth, and Wisdom, for the Gods cannot help humankind without the help of humankind.

And the High Priestess shall rule the Coven as the representative of the Goddess.

And the High Priest shall rule the Coven as the representative of the God.

And the High Priestess shall choose whom she will, be they of sufficient rank, to be the Maiden, the deputy of the High Priestess; and the High Priest shall choose whom he will, be they of sufficient rank, to be the Guardian, the Summoner, the deputy of the High Priest.

And they shall rule the Coven jointly and equally; yet the High Priestess shall have charge within the Circle, and the High Priest shall support her.

For, as the God Himself kissed Her Feet in the Fivefold Salute, laying His Power at the Feet of the Goddess because She is the Source of All Life and Being and He draws His Life and Being and Power from Her as Her First-Begotten Son and Lover,
So He resigned all His Power unto Her, and received it back again.

But the High Priestess and the High Priest should ever mind that all Power comes from the Gods.

It is only lent to be used wisely and justly.

And the greatest virtue of a High Priestess or High Priest be that he or she recognizes that spiritual growth is necessary to the Life of the Coven.

So will he or she gracefully retire in favor of another should it be necessary for the Life of the Coven.

For the true High Priestess or High Priest realizes that gracefully surrendering pride of place is one of the greatest virtues.

And that thereby he or she will return to that pride of place in another life, with greater Power and Wisdom.

In the old days, when Witchdom extended far, we were free and worshipped in all the great Temples.

But then came unhappy times, when our Sacred Mysteries were celebrated in secret.
And it was ordained that none but the Wicca might see our Mysteries, for our enemies were many and torture loosens the tongue of man.

And it was ordained that no Coven should know where the next Coven bode,
Or who its members were, save only the Priest and Priestess and the Messenger.

And there should be no communication between them, save only by the Messenger of the Gods, or the Summoner.

And only if it were safe might the Covens meet in some safe place for the Great Festivals.

And while there, none should say whence they came, nor give their true names.

To this end: that if any were tortured, in their agony they could not tell what they did not know.
Now we may meet freely again to practice our Mysteries, and worship the Gods in safety; but let all be wary, for prejudices still live.

So be it ordained: that no one shall tell anyone, not of the Craft, who be of the Wicca, or give any names, or where they bide, without their consent and permission; or in any way tell anything which may betray any of us to our foes.

Nor may they tell where the Covendom be.
Or the Covenstead.

Or where the Meetings be.

Save with the consent of the members of the Coven, and the permission of the High Priestess and the High Priest.

And if any break these Laws, even under torture, may the Curse of the Goddess be upon them, so that they may never be reborn on Earth nor pass beyond Earth's Boundaries; and may they remain where they belong, in the hell of the Christians.

Let each High Priestess and High Priest govern their Coven with justice and love, with the help and advice of the Elders, always heeding the advice of the Messenger of the Gods if such cometh.

They will heed all complaints of all Brothers and Sisters and strive to settle all differences among them.

But it must be recognized that there will always be people who will ever strive to force others to do as they will.

These are not necessarily evil,
And they oft have good ideas, and such ideas should be talked over in Council.

But if they will not agree with their Brothers and Sisters, or if they say, "I will not work under this High Priest" or "I will not work under this High Priestess,"
It hath ever been the Old Law, to be convenient to the Brethren and to avoid disputes.

Any of the Third may claim to found a new Coven because they live too far from the Covenstead, or they are about to do so, or because of the size of the Coven, or for other good and sufficient reason.

Anyone working within the Coven and wishing to form a new Coven shall tell the Elders of their Intention, and on the instant avoid the old Coven and establish a new Covenstead.

Members of the old Coven may join the new one when it is formed, but if they do so they must utterly avoid the old Coven.

The Elders of the old and new Covens should meet in peace and brotherly love to decide the new boundaries and resolve any differences between them.

Those of the Craft who live outside both Covens may join either indifferent, but not both.
Though all may, if the Elders agree, meet for the Great Festivals, if it be truly in peace and brotherly love.

But splitting the Coven oft means strife, so for this reason these Laws were made of old, and may the Curse of the Goddess be on any who disregard them! So be it ordained.

If you would keep a Book, let it be in your own hand of write. Let Brothers and Sisters copy what they will, but never let the Book out of your hands, and never keep the writings of another.
For if it be found in their hand of write, they may be taken and arraigned.

Let each guard their own writings, and destroy them whenever danger threatens.

Learn as much as you may by heart and, when danger is past, rewrite your Book, an it be safe.
For this reason, if any die, destroy their Book an they have not been able to.
For, an it be found, 'tis clear proof against them.

And our oppressors know well "Ye may not be a Witch alone."

So all their kin and friends be in danger of torture.

So destroy everything not necessary.

If your Book be found on you, 'tis clear proof against you alone, you may be arraigned.

If you are taken, keep all thoughts of the Craft from your mind.

If the torture be too great to bear, say, "I will confess. I cannot bear this torture. What do you want me to say?"
If they try to make you tell of the Brethren, do not.

But if they try to make you speak of impossibilities such as flying through the air, consorting with the Christian Devil, or sacrificing children, or eating men's flesh,
To obtain relief from the torture say, "I had an evil dream, I was beside myself, I was crazed."

Not all magistrates are bad, if there be an excuse they may show mercy.

If you have confessed aught, deny it afterwards, say you babbled under the torture, say you knew not what you said.

If you are condemned, fear not.

The Brethren are powerful, and will help you to escape if you stand steadfast.
But if you betray aught, there is no hope for you in this life or in that which is to come.
Be sure, if steadfast you go to the pyre, drugs will reach you, you will feel naught. You will but go to death and what lies beyond, the Ecstasy of the Goddess.

To avoid discovery, let the 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 and signs on them in ink before consecrating them and wash it off immediately afterwards.

Let the color of the hilts tell which is which.

Do not engrave them lest they cause discovery.

Ever remember ye are the Hidden Children of the Goddess, so never do anything to disgrace them or Her.

Never boast, never threaten, never say you would wish ill of anyone.

Should the Persecutions come again, then do as was done in the Burning Times:
If any person, not in the Circle, speak of the Craft, say, "Speak not to me of such, it frightens me. 'Tis evil luck to speak of it."

For this reason, the Christians had their spies everywhere. These spoke as if they were well-affected to us, as if they would come to our Meetings, saying, "My mother used to worship the Old Ones. I would I could go myself."

To such as these, ever deny all knowledge.

But to others, ever say, "'Tis foolish talk of Witches flying through the air. To do so they must be as light as thistledown. And men say that Witches all be such blear-eyed old crones, so what pleasure can there be at a Witch Meeting such as folks talk on?"

And say, "Many wise men now say there be no such creatures."

Ever make it a jest, and in some future time, perhaps, the Persecution may die again, and we may worship our Gods openly in safety again.

Let us all pray for that Happy Day!

May the Blessings of the Goddess and God be on all who keep these Laws which are ordained.
If the Craft have any appanage, let all guard it and help to keep it clear and good for the Craft.
And let all justly guard all monies of the Craft.

But if any Brother or Sister truly wrought it, 'tis right they have their pay, an it be just. And this be not taking money for the Art, but for good and honest work.

And even the Christians say, "The laborer is worthy of his hire," but if any Brother or Sister work willingly for the good of the Craft without pay, 'tis but to their greater honor. So be it ordained.

If there be any quarrels or disputes among the Brethren, the High Priestess and the High Priest shall straightly convene the Elders and inquire into the matter, and they shall hear both sides, first alone and then together.

And they shall decide justly, not favoring one side or the other.

Ever recognizing there be people who can never agree to work under others.

But at the same time, there be some people who cannot rule justly.

To those who must ever be chief, there is one answer.

Void the Coven, seek another one or make a Coven of your own, taking with you those who would go.

To those who cannot rule justly the answer be, "Those who cannot bear your rule will leave you."

For none may come to Meetings with those with whom they are at variance.

So, an either cannot agree, "Get hence," for the Craft must ever survive. So be it ordained.
In the olden days when we had power, we could use the Art against any who ill-treated the Brethren; but in the evil days we learned that we must not do so! For our enemies devised a burning pit of everlasting fire, into which they said their God cast all the people who worship Him, except it be the very few who were released by their priests' spells and masses. And this were chiefly by giving monies and rich gifts to receive His favor, for their great God was ever in need of money.

But as our Gods need our aid to make fertility for humans, herds, and crops, so was the God of the Christians ever in need of man's help to search us out and destroy us. Their priests ever told them that any who got our help were damned to this hell forever, so they were mad with the terror of it.

But they made men believe they might escape this hell if they gave Witches to the tormentors. So for this reason all were forever spying, thinking, "An I catch but one of the Wicca, I will escape this fiery pit."

So for this reason we had our hidels, and men searching long and not finding said, "There be none, or if there be, they be in a far country."

But when one of our oppressors died, or even became sick, ever was the cry, "This be Witches' malice," and the hunt was up again. And though they slew ten of their own to one of ours, still they cared not. They have countless thousands.

While we are few indeed.

So be it ordained: that none shall use the Art in any way to do ill to any.

However much they injure us, harm none. And nowtimes many believe we exist not.

So be it ordained: that this Law shall ever continue to help us in our plight, 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 our enemies from harming us Brothers and Sisters or hurting others, but only to constrain them and never to punish.

To this end: men would say, "Such a one is a mighty searcher out, and a persecutor of old women whom they deemeth to be Witches, and none hath done him harm, so it be proof that they cannot, or more truly there be none."

For all knew full well that so many folk had died because someone had a grudge against them, or were persecuted because they had money or goods to seize, or because they had none to bribe the searchers. And many had died because they were scolding old women. So much that men now say that only old women are Witches.

And this was to our advantage and turned suspicion away from us.

In England and Scotland 'tis now many a year since a Witch hath died the death. But any misuse of the Power might raise the Persecution again.

So never break this Law, however much you are tempted, and never consent to its being broken in the least.

If you know it is being broken, you must work strongly against it.

And any High Priestess or High Priest who consents to its breach must immediately be deposed, for 'tis the blood of the Brethren they endanger.

Do good, an it be safe, and only if it be safe.

And strictly keep to the Old Law.

Never accept money for the use of the Art, for money ever smeareth the taker. 'Tis sorcerers and conjurers and the priests of the Christians who ever accept money for the use of their arts. And they sell pardons to let men escape from their sins.

Be not as these. If you accept no money, you will be free from temptation to use the Art for evil causes.

All may use the Art for their own advantage, or for the advantage of the Craft, only if you are sure you harm none.

But ever let the Coven debate this at length. Only if all are satisfied that none may be harmed may the Art be used.

If it is not possible to achieve your ends one way, perchance the aim may be achieved by acting in a way which is different, so as to harm none. May the Curse of the Goddess be on any who breaketh this Law. So be it ordained.

'Tis judged lawful if ever 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, provided it harmeth him not in any way and the full price is paid without haggling.

Never bargain or cheapen anything whilst you buy by the Art. So be it ordained.

'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 persecutors.

In any disputes between the Brethren, no one may invoke any laws but those of the Craft.

Or any tribunal but that of the Priestess, Priest, and Elders. And may the Curse of the Goddess be on any who do so. So be it ordained.

Should the Persecutions come again, it is not forbidden to say, as Christians do, "There be Witchcraft in the land," because our oppressors of old make it heresy not to believe in Witchcraft, and so a crime to deny it, which thereby puts you under suspicion.

But ever say, "I know not of it here, perchance there may be, but afar off, I know not where."

But ever speak of those as old crones, consorting with the Devil and riding through the air.

And ever say, "But how may men ride through the air an they be not light as thistledown?"

But the Curse of the Goddess be on any who cast suspicion on any of the Brethren.

Or who speak of any real meeting place or where they bide. So be it ordained.

Let the Craft keep books with the names of all herbs which are good, and all cures, so all may learn.

But keep another book with all the Banes and Bales, and let only the Elders and other trustworthy people have the knowledge. So be it ordained.

Remember the Art is the Secret of the Gods, and may only be used in earnest and never for show or vainglory.

Unbelievers may taunt us, saying, "You have no Power, show us your Power. Do Magick before our eyes, then only will we believe," seeking to cause us to betray the Art before them.
Heed them not, for the Art is holy, and may only be used in need. And the Curse of the Gods be on any who break this Law. So be it ordained.

It ever be the way with women, and with men also, that they ever seek for love.
Nor should we reprove them for this.

But it may be found a disadvantage to the Craft.

As so many a time it has happened that a High Priestess or a High Priest, impelled by love, hath departed with their love. That is, they have left the Coven.

Now if the High Priestess or the High Priest wishes to resign, he or she may do so in full Coven.
And this resignation is valid.

But if they should run off without resigning, who may know if they may not return within a few months?

So the Law is, if a High Priestess or a High Priest leaves his or her Coven for a time with the consent of the Elders, but returns within the space of a Year and a Day, then he or she shall be taken back and all shall be as before.

Meanwhile, if he or she has a deputy, that deputy shall act as High Priestess or High Priest for as long as the High Priestess or High Priest is away.

If he or she returns not at the end of a Year and a Day, then shall the Coven elect a new High Priestess or High Priest.

Unless there be good reason to the contrary, the person who has done the work shall reap the benefit of the reward: the Maiden or the Guardian, the deputy of the High Priestess or the High Priest.

If somebody else is elected, the deputy is made deputy of the new High Priestess or High Priest. So be it ordained.

It hath been found that practicing the Art doth cause a fondness between aspirant and tutor, and it is the cause of better results if this be so.

And if for any reason this be undesirable, it can easily be avoided by both persons from the outset firmly resolving in their minds that if any such ensue, it shall be that of brother and sister, or parent and child, or of children of the same Mother.

And it is for this reason that it hath been said that a man may be taught only by a woman and a woman by a man, and that woman and woman and man and man should never attempt these practices together; but this hath come from the repression of the Christians and is a taint that should be rejected.

And may all the Curses of the Mighty Ones be on any who attempt these practices with another with the Intent of arousing the desire of the other, and thereby profane the Art. So be it ordained.

Order and discipline must be kept.

A High Priestess or a High Priest may, and should, punish all faults.
To this end, all the Craft must receive correction willingly.

All properly prepared, the culprit kneeling should be told his fault and his sentence pronounced.
Punishment should be the setting of a corrective task; or something symbolic such as the Scourge; or something amusing such as several Kisses, or something of this nature, as a forfeit; but if the fault be truly severe, then let the punsihment be banishment of the culprit for a Year and a Day.

The culprit must acknowledge the justice of the punishment by kissing the hand of the Priestess or the Priest, who shall be holding the Scourge in that hand, on receiving sentence. So be it ordained.

Likewise should the High Priestess and High Priest justly reward all merit and praise all worthy efforts. So be it ordained.

May the Blessings of the Goddess and the God,and the Blessings of all the Mighty Ones,be on all who keep these Laws which are Ordained!

Blessed Be

Fairy Star

The Legend Of The Descent Of The Goddess

Listen to the Legend of the Descent of the Goddess to the Underworld! Long ago, when the world was young, it came to pass that Adonis, the Young Lord, was killed by a wild sow in the hunt; and His Spirit departed to the Underworld. Then did all things wither and die, for the Great Mother wept and mourned at the loss of the Young Lord, and Fertility departed from the Land. Now Kore, the Maiden, the Daughter of the Great Mother, had learned much of Wisdom from the Elder Gods, but She had learned nothing of the Mystery of Love, or of the Mystery of Death. When Kore saw that the flowers She so delighted in had all faded and died, She resolved to journey to the Underworld, the Land of Death, for She wished tosolve all Mysteries.
Traveling far and wide, She came at last to the Borders of the Land of Death, the Boundary of the Underworld; and She found Herself facing a Gate, and a Guardian, who challenged Her, saying,

"Remove Thy gowns and jewels, for naught mayest Thou bring with Thee into this, Our Land!"
Accordingly, Kore removed Her gowns and jewels. Then did the Guardian say,
"Before I may admit Thee, Thou must know My Name, and be bound as are the Dead."

And Kore replied,

"Thou art Auriel, Archangel of Earth."
And, stepping within His Gate, Kore was bound as are the Dead.
Stepping within Auriel's Gate, Kore found Herself facing a second Gate, and a second Guardian, who also challenged Her, saying,

"Drink Thou from My Cup: it may be bitter and death to Thee, or it may be sweet with Life."

And Kore answered,

"Thou art Gabriel, Archangel of Water. Thy Cup is death to Me only if I so love sensual pleasures that I let them enslave Me, lulling Me into sleep and forgetfulness. To Me Thy Cup is Life, for it is the Cup of Love, and Love conquers all."

Stepping within Gabriel's Gate, Kore found Herself facing a third Gate, and a third Guardian, who also challenged Her, saying,

"Touch My Wand: it may strike Thee dead, or it may only change Thee forever."

And Kore replied,

"Thou art Michael, Archangel of Fire. I fear not Thy Wand, for I know its Mystery: it is the Wand of Fire, and of the Will, and the Magickal Fire is the Fire of Transformation. My Will changed Me forever when it led Me to seek the Mysteries, at My own choosing, and now I see that death is but a change: from what was, to what will be; and every moment of life is a death, as future becomes past at our own choosing."

Stepping within Michael's Gate, Kore found Herself facing a fourth Gate, and a fourth Guardian, who also challenged Her, saying,

"This, My Blade, will end Thy Quest, for its bite is death!"

Kore replied,

"Thou art Raphael, Archangel of Air. Not yet is My Quest ended, for Thy Sword is the Blade of the Mind, piercing through the Veils of Illusion; and the flat of the Blade is the Bridge of Balance over the Abyss that separates us from the Supernal. I seek Your Lord!"

Leaving Her body behind Her, the Spirit of Kore passed through Raphael's Gate, and found Herself at last in the Center of the Circle, facing Osiris, the Dark Lord of the Underworld Himself. Such was Her Beauty that Osiris knelt before Her, and gave Her the Fivefold Kiss, and said,

"Lady, Thou art lovely! What seekest Thou in the Land of Death?"

Kore replied,

"I come seeking the Knowledge of the final Mystery of Death. Why dost Thou cause all things that I love, and delight in, to wither and die?"

Then did Osiris say,

"I, whom all fear, do but serve the Will of the Dark Goddess: She who is Mistress of Fate. 'Tis age, and fate, which cause all things to wither; but when folk die at the end of their time, I give them rest, and peace, and strength, and refreshment between lives of striving to fulfill the Quest, so that they may return. But Thou! Thou art lovely! Return not! Abide with Me, and be My Bride!"

But Kore said,

"O Lord of Shadows, I must fulfill My Quest for Knowledge of the final Mystery of Death; therefore I must experience it at Thy Hands. Behold, because of this I love Thee not!"

The Lord of the Shadows said,

"Then Thou must feel the Scourge of Death!"

And Kore replied,

"It is Fate: better so!"

And She knelt before Him. And Osiris, the Dark Lord, took His Scourge and scourged Her tenderly.

(Oathbound material omitted)
Then Kore said,

"I will be Thy Bride! For I have felt the Pangs of Love!"

And She embraced Him.

(Oathbound material omitted)

And They were United in Love; and this is the Mystery of the Lance Dripping Blood, and of the Holy Grail that receives it, the Cauldron of Regeneration. And She took His Crown, and placed it about Her Neck, and it became the Necklace which is the Circle of Rebirth. For there be Three Great Events in the Life of Man: Love, Death, and Resurrection in a new body; and Magick controls them all. For to fulfill love, thou must be reborn in the same time and place as the loved one, and thou must remember and love them again. But to be reborn, thou must die and be made ready for a new body. And to die, thou must first be born. And without love thou may not be born; and these be all the Magicks.

For our Gracious Goddess sayeth,"Behold! I am Divided for Love's Sake, for the Chance of Union:that the pain of separation is as nothing,and the Joy of Union, All!"

Blessed Be
Fairystar