There are many arguments over where Modern Witchcraft or Wicca originates from, but at the end of the day it doesn't really matter; what it believes in today and what its individual practitioners do with the knowledge they obtain is far more important, if you are to understand what Wicca is really all about.

If your interest in Witchcraft is because you've just seen the film 'The Craft', and want to have control over the boy ( or girl) who's just jilted you, or have seen 'Sabrina the Teenage Witch' and want to be able to change your dress in an instant, you've come to the right place; because we're going to do our best to put you off. But if your here because you've got an interest in Ecology, Environmentalism, Human Rights and Spiritual growth, don't worry - we're going to try and put you off too!

If you're interested in Wicca for excitement, wild sex, large silver pentacles, black gothic clothing, turning your boy/girl friend in to a toad/your slave and going for self indulgence, let me tell you whats going to happen: You're going to be sorely disappointed! Thats not to say that Witches don't like excitement, large silver pentacles, black gothic clothing, turning your boy/girlfriend into your slave and having wild sex (at the same time; there are some kinky Witches out there!), but thats not what its principally all about. It is about Spiritual Growth. Not interested in your own Spiritual Growth? Not interested in doing all the hard work? Why become a Witch then?

And becoming a Witch is hard work; and irreversible. You can't undo what you have learnt; it will be with you for the rest of your life. There is statements that goes 'Witches are born', and another that 'Witches are made'. Neither is quite true for Witches 'discover what they are for themselves'. If you can't do that you aren't going to be a Witch.

Once you start on the path it will become an important part of your life. Being a Witch is a vocation, just as being a Doctor, Nurse or for that matter, the Priest of any other religion is, because that is what you are to become a Priest or a Priestess. In Christianity becoming a Priest is hard work, and so is becoming a Witch; a Pagan Priest or Priestess. You can expect your training to take just as long as a Christian Priest or even longer. You learn that you never stop learning; that there is always more to learn, particularly about yourself. Have you changed your mind? have we put you off yet? No, well lets try to shake you up some more!

There is a statement used during initiation; 'thou must suffer to learn'. No truer words have been said. As a Witch you learn that 'initiations happen in everyday life' and that they are always painful; for myself that meant my life being turned upside down for a whole year when I made my final vows to my deity and gave my life to her service. That year hurt, but I learnt more in that one year than I did in the three previous years that I had called myself a Witch. At the end of it I KNEW I was a Witch without any doubt (and I still carry the scars to this day). Such pain is necessary, for the same reason it is necessay for a Rape Counsellor to have been a victim themself. How can you understand the pain someone has been through if you haven't been through it yourself. At the end of the day being a Witch is about service to the Lord and Lady, or whoever your person deity is, so you have to go through that pain. No Pain: No Gain! If you aviod the pain of initiation who are you serving? The answer; no one but yourself. Shaken yet? If yes, give up reading this now. If not, you may make it as a Witch, so read further.

We are not bound by traditions from other times and other cultures, and owe no alleginace to any person or power greater than the divinity manifest through our being.

As Wiccans we welcome and respect all life affirming teachings and traditions, and seek to learn from all and share our learning to those who want it.

In seeking to exclude those whose ways that our contradictory to ours, we do not want to deny participation to those who are sincerely interested in our knowledge and beliefs, regardless of race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, age, nationality or cultural origins.

We practise 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.

We recognise that our intelligence gives us a unique responsibility towards our environment. We seek to live in harmony with nature, in ecological balance offering fulfillment to life and conciousness within an evolutionary concept.

We acknowledge a depth of power far greater thatn that apparent to the average person. Because it is far greater than ordinary, it is sometimes called ‘Supernatural’; but we see as lying within the potential of all.

We conceive of the creative power of the universe as manifesting through polarity - as masculine and feminine - and that this creative power lives in all people and functions through their interaction. We value neither above the other, even though circumstances may require us to put emphasis on the feminine within a patriarchal culture. We value sex in all its myriad of forms, as pleasure, as the symbol and embodiment of life.

We recognise both outer and inner worlds, or psychological worlds - sometimes known as the spiritual world, the collective unconcious, the inner planes etc., and we see in the interaction of these two dimensions the basis for paranormal phenomenon and magical exercises. We neglect neither dimension for the other, seeing both as necessary for our fulfillment.

We do not recognise any authoritian hierarchy, but do honour those who teach, respect those who share their greater knowledge and wisdom, and acknowledge those who have courageously given of themselves in leadership.

Calling oneself ‘Wiccan’ does not make a Wiccan - but neither does heredity itself, or the collection of titles, degrees and initiations. A Wiccan seeks to control the forces within him/herself that make life possible in order to live wisely and well, without harm to others and in harmony with nature.

We accept that it is the affirmation and fulfillment of life, in a continuation of evolution and development of conciousness that gives meaning to the universe we know, and to our personal role within it.

Our only animosity towards Christianity or toward any other religion or philosophy, is to the extent that its institutions have claimed to be ‘the only way’ and have sought to deny freedom to others and to suppress other practises and beliefs.

As Wiccans we are not threatened by debates on ‘the Craft’, the origins of various aspects or different traditions. We are concerned with our present and future.

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

We acknowledge that we seek within nature for that which is contributory to our health and well being.

We see religion, magic and wisdom - in - living as being united in the way one views the world and lives in it - a worldwide view and the philosophy of life we identify as:

(Adapted from a statement made by the American Council of Witches, 1975)