1-THE
WICCAN LAWS
The Law
was made and ordained of old.
The Law
was made for the Wicca, to advise and help in their troubles.
The
Wicca should give due worship to the gods and obey their will, which they ordain, for it was made for the
good of Wicca as the worship of the
Wicca is good for the gods. For the gods love the brethren of Wicca.
As a
man loveth a woman by mastering her,
So
should the Wicca love the gods by being mastered by them.
And it
is necessary that the Circle which is the temple of the gods, should be truly cast and purified. And that it may be a fit place
for the
gods to enter.
And the
Wicca shall be properly prepared and purified to enter into the presence of the gods.
With
love and worship in their hearts, they shall raise power from their bodies to give power to the gods.
As has
been taught of old.
10.For
in this way only may men have communion with the gods, for the gods cannot help man without the help of man.
HPS
& HP
11.And
the High Priestess shall rule her coven as the representative of the Goddess.
12.And
the High Priest shall support her as the representative of the God.
13.And
the High Priestess shall choose whom she will, be he of sufficient rank, to be her High Priest.
14.For,
as the God Himself kissed Her feet in the five-fold salute, laying His power at the feet of the Goddess
because of Her youth and beauty, Her
sweetness and kindness, Her wisdom and justice, Her humility and generosity,
15.So
He resigned all His power to Her.
16.But
the High Priestess should ever mind that the power comes from Him.
17.It
is only lent, to be used wisely and justly.
18.And
the greatest virtue of a High Priestess be that she recognize that youth is necessary to the representative of
the Goddess.
19.So
she will gracefully retire in favour of a younger woman should the Coven so decide in council.
20.For
a true High Priestess realizes that gracefully surrendering pride of place is one of the greatest
virtues.
21.And
that thereby she will return to that pride of place in another life, with greater power and beauty.
SECURITY
22.In
the old days, when witchdom extended far, we were free and worshipped in all the greater temples.
23.But
in these unhappy times we must celebrate our sacred mysteries in secret.
24.So
be it ordained that none but the Wicca may see our mysteries, for our enemies are many and torture loosens
the tongue of man.
25.So
be it ordained that no Coven shall know where the next Coven bide.
26.Or
who its members be, save only the Priest and Priestess and messenger.
27.And
there shall be no communication between them, save by the messenger of the gods, or the summoner.
28.And
only if it be safe may the Covens meet in some safe place for the great festivals.
29.And
while there, none shall say whence they came nor give their true names.
30.To
this end, that if any be tortured, in their agony, they may not tell if they do not know.
31.So
be it ordained that no one shall tell anyone not of the craft who be
of the
Wicca, nor give any names or where they bide, or in any way tell anything which can betray any of us to our
foes.
32.Nor
may he tell where the Covendom be.
33.Or
the Covenstead.
34.Or
where the meetings be.
35.And
if any break these Laws, even under torture, THE CURSE OF THE
GODDESS
SHALL BE UPON THEM, so they may never be reborn on earth and may remain where they belong, in the hell of
the Christians.
DISPUTES
36.Let
each High Priestess govern her Coven with justice and love, with the help and advice of the High Priest and
the Elders, always heeding the advice
of the Messenger of the Gods if he cometh. 37.She will heed all complaints of
all Brothers and strive to settle all
differences among them.
38.But
it must be recognized that there will always be people who will ever strive to force others to do as they
will.
39.These
are not necessarily evil.
40.And
they oft have good ideas and such ideas should be talked over in council.
41.But
if they will not agree with their Brothers, or if they say,
42."I
will not work under this High Priestess,"
43.It
hath ever been the Old Law to be convenient to the Brethren and to avoid disputes.
NEW
COVENS
44.Any
of the third may claim to found a new Coven because they live over a league away from the Covenstead or are
about to do so.
45.Anyone
living within the Covendom and wishing to form a new Coven,
shall
tell the Elders of their intention, and on the instant avoid their dwelling and remove to the new
Covendom.
46.Members
of the old Coven may join the new one when it is formed. But if they do, they must utterly avoid the
old Coven.
47.The
Elders of the new and old Covens should meet in peace and brotherly love to decide the new
boundaries.
48.Those
of the craft who dwell outside both Covendoms may join either but not both.
49.Though
all may, if the Elders agree, meet for the great festivals if it be truly in peace and brotherly love,
50.But
splitting the Coven often means strife, so for this reason these
Laws
were made of old and may the CURSE OF THE GODDESS BE ON ANY WHO DISREGARD THEM. So be it ordained.
GRIMOIRE
51.If
you would keep a book, let it be in your own hand of write. Let
brothers and sisters copy what they will, but never let the book
out of your hands, and never keep the
writings of another.
52.For
if it be found in their hand of write, they may be taken and arraigned.
53.Let
each guard his own writings and destroy them whenever danger threatens.
54.Learn as much as you may by heart and, when danger is past, rewrite your book, an it be safe.
55.For
this reason, if any die, destroy their book an they have not been able to.
56.For,
an it be found, 'tis clear proof against them.
57.And
our oppressors know well "Ye may not be a witch alone". 58.So all
their kin and friends be in danger of torture,
59.So
destroy everything not necessary.
60.If
your book be found on you, 'tis clear proof against you alone, you may be arraigned.
PERSECUTION
61.Keep
all thoughts of the craft from your mind.
62.If
the torture be too great to bear, say "I will confess. I cannot
bear this torture. What do you
want me to say?" 63.If they try to make you speak of the Brotherhood, do not.
64.But
if they try to make you speak of impossibilities such as flying through the air, consorting with a Christian devil
or sacrificing children, or eating
men's flesh,
65.To
obtain relief from torture say "I had an evil dream, I was beside myself, I was crazed."
66.Not
all magistrates are bad, if there be an excuse, they may show mercy.
67.If
you have confessed aught, deny it afterwards, say you babbled under torture, say you knew not what you
said.
68.If
you are condemned, fear not.
69.The
Brotherhood is powerful and will help you to escape if you stand steadfast, but if you betray aught there is
no hope for you in this life or in
that to come.
70.Be
sure, if steadfast you go to the pyre, drugs will reach you, you will feel naught. You go to death and what lies
beyond, the ecstasy of the goddess.
TOOLS
71.To
avoid discovery, let the working tools be as ordinary things that any may have in their houses.
72.Let
the pentacles be of wax so that they may be broken at once or melted.
73.Have
no sword unless your rank allows it.
74.Have
no names or signs on anything.
75.Write
the names and signs on them in ink before consecrating them and wash it off immediately afterwards.
76.Let
the colours of the hilts tell which is which.
77.Do
not engrave them lest they cause discovery.
CONDUCT
78.Ever
remember ye are the hidden children of the Goddess so never do anything to disgrace them or Her.
79.Never
boast, never threaten, never say you would wish ill of anyone. 80.If any person
not in the Circle, speak of the craft, say, "Speak not to me of such, it frightens me, 'tis evil
luck to speak of it."
81.For
this reason, the Christians have their spies everywhere. These speak as if they were well affected to us, as if
they would come to our meetings,
saying, "My mother used to worship the Old Ones. I would I could go
myself." 82.To such as these, ever deny all knowledge.
83.But
to others, ever say, "'Tis foolish men talk of witches flying through the air. To do so they must be as light as
thistledown. And men say that witches
all be blear-eyed old crones, so what pleasure can there be at a witch meeting such as folks talk on ?"
84.And
say, "Many wise men now say there be no such creatures." 85.Ever make
it jest) and in some future time perhaps, the
persecution may die and we may worship our gods in safety again.
86.Let
us all pray for that happy day.
87.May
the blessings of the Goddess and God be on all who keep these Laws which are ordained.
VALUABLES
88.If
the craft hath any appanage, let all guard it and help to keep it clear and good for the craft.
89.And
let all justly guard all monies of the craft.
90.And
if any Brother truly wrought it, 'tis right they have their pay, an it be just. An this be not taking money for the art, but
for good and honest work.
91.And
even the Christians say, "The labourer is worthy of his hire," but if any Brother work willingly for
the good of the craft without pay,
'tis but to their greater honour. So be
it ordained.
QUARRELS
If
there be any dispute or quarrel among the Brethren, the High Priestess shall straightly convene the Elders
and inquire into the matter, and
they shall hear both sides, first alone and then together.
And
they shall decide justly, not favouring one side or the other.
Ever
recognising there be people who can never agree to work under others.
But at
the same time, there be some people who cannot rule justly.
To
those who must ever be chief, there is one answer.
"'Void
the Coven or seek another one, or make a Coven of your own, taking with you those who will go."
To
those who cannot rule justly, the answer be, "Those who cannot bear your rule will leave you."
For
none may come to meetings with those with whom they are at variance.
So, an
either cannot agree, get hence, for the craft must ever survive.
So be it ordained.