The Do's and Don'ts of Witchcraft
By Laurie Cabot
Witches do not do evil...
They believe that doing evil and harm is against all ethical and moral laws. Witches simply do not do harm (even to themselves)
Witches DO NOT worship Satan...
Simply put: He's Their Boy... NOT Ours! Witches do not have a Satan/Devil or any all-evil deity in their religious structure. Witchcraft is a religion that underscores polarity and views the God and the Goddess as equal entities.
A Male Witch is not a Warlock...
The word Warlock is a Scottish word meaning "oath breaker", and became a term designating a male Witch during the "burning times". A Male Witch is simply that.
Witches wear clothing of every color and every style...
Many Witches do choose to wear black clothing or ritual robes. The color black is the culmination of all vibrational rates of light on the material plane. Black absorbs light information and helps Witches be more receptive to psychic impressions and energies.
Witches come from every socio-economic and ethnic background...
Many Witches are professional people holding positions of responsibility such as Doctors, Nurses, Police Officers, Teachers etc. Witchcraft does not discriminate against color or ethnic origin and does view everything as equal in the eyes of the Goddess and the God.
Witches do use Spells...
A spell is a thought, a projection, or a prayer. Other religions use prayer, meditation, projection and ritual to produce an intended result. The word "spell" does not imply doing evil or harm.
Witches do use Magic Wands...
Often you see the use of magic wands in children's cartoons and movies making the idea seem frivolous. In actuality they are used in healing for directing energy.
Witches do use Witchcraft as a science, an art and a religion...
They use their knowledge and magic in harmony with the Universe and Nature around them.
The word "Witch" has a deep and rich history...
As defined by the English Oxford dictionary "Witchcraft" is a Celtic (pronounced Kell-tick) word meaning the wise, good people. "Wicce" (wick-kay) designates a female Witch whereas "Wicca" (wick-kah) designates a male Witch.
In the religion of Witchcraft we view the pentacle as an amulet and a symbol for protection...
The five-pointed star represents the human body and the earth. In combination, the star surrounded by the circle represents the human body encompassed by the protection of the Goddess/God force. The pentacle is the symbol for Universal Wisdom.
Witches do concern themselves with ecology...
They have never forgotten this basic fact: the world is not our enemy. Neither is it inert, dumb matter. The earth and all living things share the same life-force. They are composed of patterns of intelligence, of knowledge, and of divinity. all life is a web. We are woven into it as sisters and brothers of All. Witches need to be grounded in both worlds and awake to their responsibilities for both worlds. It is only by being responsible human beings that we can be responsible Witches and only responsible Witches will survive*
* Excerpt from "Power of the Witch" by Laurie Cabot,
Delacourt Press. (Dell Publishing) N.Y., N.Y., October 1989
RE: Do's and don't's of Witchcraft
Thank you for posting that excert.
My family is Christian/Catholic and I've been trying to make them at least understand Wicca, even if they don't agree with it. I'm not trying to convert any of them, I just wish they could see that it's not evil. Especially my Gran who's exact words on witchcraft were: "If I ever find out about you practicing witchcraft, I don't want to know anything about it." She writes it off without even understanding it.
Thank you. I'm going to print this out and ask her to read it in hopes of her at least accepting that it's something I believe, even if she disagrees. [sm=love-smiley-009.gif]
RE: Do's and don't's of Witchcraft
I fully sympathise with your background, mine is the same!
Well the Xtian Satan is our Pan, the Horned God, demonised. We came before the Xtians so they used some of our Deities against us, as well as poaching all our Sabbats and renaming them, and in some cases just moving them slightly.I don't think there is a single ecclesiastical event, act of worship that doesn't have its roots in Paganism, with the possible exception of Plenary Indulgences!!
Good luck anyway