The 13 Principles Of Witchcraft
 
The following set of thirteen principles was
adopted by the Council of American Witches, in April, 1974.

1: We practice rites to attune ourselves with the natural rhythm of life forces marked 
    by the phases of the Moon and the seasonal Quarters and Cross Quarters.

2: We recognize that our intelligence gives us a unique responsibility toward our environment. 
    We seek to live in harmony with Nature, in ecological balance 
    offering fulfillment and consciousness within an evolutionary concept.

3: We acknowledge a depth of power far greater than that apparent to the average person.
    Because it is far greater than ordinary it is sometimes called supernatural, 
    but we see it as lying within that which is naturally potential to all.

4: We conceive of the Creative Power in the universe as manifesting through polarity ~
    as masculine and feminine~ and that this same Creative Power lies in all people, 
    and functions through the interaction of the masculine and feminine.
    We value neither above the other, knowing each to be supportive to each other.
    We value sex as pleasure, as the symbol and embodiment of life, and as one of the 
    sources of energies used in magickal practice and religious worship.

5: We recognize both outer worlds and inner, or psychological, worlds sometimes known 
    as the Spiritual World, the Collective Unconscious, Inner Planes, etc. ~
    and we see in the interaction of these two dimensions the basis for paranormal 
    phenomena and magickal exercises. We neglect neither dimension for the other, 
    seeing both as necessary for our fulfillment.

6: We do not recognize any authoritarian hierarchy, but do honor those who teach, 
    respect those who share their greater knowledge and wisdom, 
    and acknowledge those who have courageously given of themselves in leadership.

7: We see religion, magick, and wisdom in living as being united in the way one views 
    the world and lives within it ~a world view and philosophy of life which 
    we identify as Witchcraft~ The Wiccan Way. 

8: Calling oneself "Witch" does not make a Witch, but neither does heredity itself, 
    not the collecting of titles, degrees, and initiations. 
    A Witch seeks to control the forces within her/himself that make
    life possible in order to live wisely and well without harm to others and in harmony with Nature.

9: We believe in the affirmation and fulfillment of life in a continuation of evolution and 
    development of consciousness giving meaning to the Universe we know and our
    personal role within it.

10: Our only animosity towards Christianity, or towards any other religion or 
      philosophy of life, is to the extent that its institutions have claimed to be "the only way", 
      and have sought to deny freedom to others and to surpress other ways of religious practice 
      and belief.

11: As American {Or World-Wide!} Witches, we are not threatened by debates on the 
      history of the Craft, the origins of various terms, the legitimacy of various aspects 
      of different traditions. We are concerned with our present and our future.

12: We do not accept the concept of absolute evil, nor do we worship any entity known 
      as Satan or the Devil, as defined by the Christian tradition. 
     We do not seek power through the sufferings of others, nor accept that personal benefit 
     can be derived only by denial to another.

13: We believe that we should seek within Nature that which is contributory 
      to our health and well-being.