The 13 Wiccan Principles

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.