Wiccan Philosophy and Beliefs

In 1974, the Council of American Witches in Minneapolis defined modern Witchcraft in terms of the American experience. Many Wiccan Traditions are still using modified versions of the original tenets.

The following set of Philosophy and Beliefs come from the Light & Shadows Tradition as formed with that as a guideline...there have been a few changes made to suit our personal tradition.

1. We believe in one source of divinity, termed the Devine or Deity, which is formless and infinite.
   
2. We believe in a Higher source known to be the Goddess  which goes by many names and is also unnamed and the God as Her partner and consort which also has many names according to panthion of the Goddess and also may go unnamed as our source of divinity. Each person within the coven work with their own patron God & Goddess and as a group we work with many according to need We see the manifestation of diety embodied in the Divine persons of the Goddess and the God. We believe that Deity manifests into the physical Universe through many different interconnected planes of existence.
   
3. Through understanding the interconnected planes of existence, we have a realization that any Goddess is a part, or a face of, the one Goddess, and all Gods are part, or aspects of, one God; and that ultimately the God and Goddess are part of and reflections of Deity, the source of divinity.
   
4. We believe that Deity is immanent within Nature, that each of us contains the essence of the Divine, and that all of creation has inherent worth as a consequence of immanence. We believe there is no separation between the Infinite and Nature, yet the infinite Deity is greater that the sum of its parts.
   
5. As an Initiatory religion, we seek to understand the ways of Nature and the Universe. We believe that there is no ultimate conflict between religion and science. We practice celebratory rites to attune ourselves with the natural rhythm of life's forces, marked by the phases of the Moon and the Seasonal quarters and cross quarters.
   
6. We believe in the pursuit of individual experience of Divinity, and we practice a system of worship intended to cultivate that connection. We believe that through worship of Gods and Goddesses we can develop a closer connection to the All. Since the Infinite is immanent, we see all life experience as sacred.
   
7. Our beliefs give us a unique responsibility toward our environment, and we seek to live in ecological balance and harmony with Nature’s forces and elements. We use celebratory rituals to commemorate the life cycles evident within Nature.
   
8. We recognize the patterns of the ancient alchemical elements, correspondences and symbology of Earth, Fire, Water and Air, and the fifth element of Spirit as emblems of the powers in Nature. The elements are symbols of body, intention, emotion, intellect, and immanence.
   
9. We practice Magick, which is the Art and Science of causing change to occur in Conformity with Will. We recognize other planes of "Being" than just the physical one on which we reside and the powers of interaction of these planes provide the basis for paranormal phenomenon and magick. We work Magick of a positive nature with the intent to benefit the well being of all involved and we accept responsibility for the consequences of our actions.
   
10. We believe that consciousness evolves through many lifetimes and gives meaning to the universe and our personal role within it. We believe that souls reincarnate in order to learn valuable lessons on the pathway to ultimate enlightenment and that the Law of Karma (or three fold return) governs which lessons are to be learned and in what manner.
    
11. We seek to aid and encourage all members to progress and improve themselves mentally, physically, and spiritually. We seek to make our everyday life a reflection of our inner awareness. We seek to work for a better understanding of and a better relationship between man/woman, Nature, and the Infinite.
    
12. We believe that through Initiation, we make a commitment to self-transformation, conscious evolution, and the journey toward enlightenment. We strive to deepen awareness and experience of the union of Nature, the God and Goddess, and the All. The Hermetic maxim, “as above ~ so below�?or that the microcosm (humankind) is a miniature of the macrocosm (the Divinity) teaches us that through interlocking psychic forces, Divinity exists within each man and woman.
    
13. We believe all religions have a valid place and do not seek to deny or suppress religious practices and beliefs that are different from our own. We do not proselytize, attempt to save or convert members of other religions to our beliefs, but we also do not turn away serious seekers. In the same respect, we expect our views to be respected in our circle.