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THE 13 GOALS OF WICCA
These goals were supposedly written by Scott Cunningham and I do not try to
take credit for writing them in any way. They are not a bunch of lofty,
unattainable goals. They are a way of life, and realistic things that can be
achieved through work and dedication.
1) Know yourself
Who are you? Do you really know all there is to know about yourself? Getting to
know who we are is a life time journey. We are always growing and changing. The
exploration of the soul is the most important journey you will ever make...and
the longest one too :)
2) Know your Craft
The Craft. So many different ways of worship. So many traditions!
Knowing your chosen Craft path doesn't end when you have read all the 'right'
books or after initiation. That is, in a sense the beginning of knowing your
Craft.
3) Learn
To achieve any of these goals, you must be on a constant quest to learn more.
More about yourself, your Craft and the world around you.
4) Apply knowledge with wisdom
Some people seem to think that these 2 words are interchangeable. They are
not. Knowledge is what you know. You gain knowledge through various forms of
study. Wisdom is something else entirely. It is something that can not be
taught. It is that which you gain through experience and intuition. Combine your
knowledge with your wisdom.
5) Achieve balance
This seems to be something of a challenge as many of us have busy lives. We
have many responsibilities and it can be difficult at times to just stop. Take a
deep breath , and put your personal priorities into perspective. This means
creating balance in your life. Spiritual, emotional and physical. If you
don't have balance, you're unbalanced. It's as simple as that. Make time to
achieve balance...you won't regret it.
6) Keep your thoughts in good order
Self explanatory.
7) Keep your words in good order
Self explanatory but the quotes "Speak little, listen much" come to
mind, along with "Think before you speak".
8) Celebrate life
Enjoy your life. Celebrate it and all of the wonders it brings you. There is
cause for celebration every day. From the simple things like waking up, enjoying
a nice cup of tea or a warm bath
to the more obvious ones. In Pagan books of
days, you see that everyday is cause for celebration.
9) Attune with the cycles of the Earth
This can be a tough thing to do if your schedule seems destined to keep you
indoors. Working long hours in a concrete building with no window, driving in
grid lock traffic and then rushing to take care of your house hold tasks. Our
ways worship the Earth and there are ways (no matter how busy you are) to attune
with the cycles of the Earth.. It just takes some creativity and imagination.
10) Breathe and eat correctly
The importance of eating correctly is fairly obvious. You are what you eat.
Unfortunately, since healthy living has come in to major focus, many have become
confused about just what is and is not good for you. There are, however some
foods that never come into question. Fresh fruits/ vegetables and grains. A
balanced diet that includes these every day is essential.
Breathing is something that is not discussed very much. There are yoga and
meditation books and web pages that do discuss the importance of adopting a
calm, slow and deep breathing pattern.
11) Exercise the body
Self explanatory.
12) Meditate
Meditation is (in my opinion) as important to your health as a proper diet
and regular exercise. It is also imperative, along with visualization for
successful rituals, spells and divination.
13) Honour the Goddess and God
Self explanatory.
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THE WICCAN
REDE
Bide
the Wiccan law ye must,
In perfect love and perfect trust.
Ye must live and let live,
Fairly take and fairly give.
Cast the circle thrice about,
To keep unwelcome spirits out.
To bind the spell well every time,
Let the spell be spoken in rhyme.
Soft of eye and light of touch,
Speak ye little and listen much.
Deosil go by waxing moon,
Chanting out the Witches' Rune.
Widdershins go by waning moon,
Chanting out the baneful tune.
When the Lady's moon is new,
Kiss the hand to her times two.
When the moon rides at her peak,
Then thy hearts desire seek.
Head the North wind's mighty gale
Lock the door and trim the sail.
When the wind comes from the South,
Love will kiss thee on the mouth.
When the Moor winds blow from the West,
Departed spirits have no rest.
When the wind blows from the East,
Expect the new and set the feast.
Nine woods in the cauldron go,
Burn them quick and burn them slow.
Elder be the Lady's tree,
Burn it not or cursed ye'll be.
When the Wheel begins to turn,
Let the Beltane fires burn.
When the Wheel has turned to Yule,
Light the log and the Horned One rules.
Heed ye flower, bush and tree,
By the Lady, Blessed Be.
Where the rippling waters go, cast a stone,
The truth to know.
When ye have and hold a need,
Hearken not to others greed.
With a fool no seasons spend,
Or be counted as his friend.
Merry Meet and Merry Part,
Bright the cheeks and warm the heart.
Mind the Threefold Law ye should,
Three times bad and three times good.
When misfortune in enow,
Wear the blue star on thy brow.
True in love ye must ever be,
Lest thy love be false to thee.
These words the Wiccan Rede fulfill
An ye harm none, do what ye will.
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THE WITCHES'
RUNE
Darksome night and
shining moon
Harken to the Witches Rune
East then South, West then North
Here come I to call thee forth.
By all the powers of land and sea
Be obedient unto me.
Wand and pentacle, cup and sword
Harken ye unto my word
Cords and censor, scourge and knife
Waken all ye into life
Powers of the witches blade
Come ye as the charge is made.
Queen of heaven, field and dell
Send your aid unto this spell.
Horned hunter of the night
Work my will by magic rite.
By all the might of moon and sun
As I do will, it shall be done
By all the powers of land and sea
As I say, so mote it be.
Author Unknown
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THE REDE OF CHIVALRY:
Taken from Magical Rites of the
Crystal Well, Ed Fitch.
"Insofar as the
Craft of the Wise is the most ancient and most honourable creed of humankind, it
behooves all who are Witches to act in ways that give respect to the Old Gods,
to their sisters and brothers of the Craft, and to themselves. Therefore, be it
noted that:
Chivalry is a high code of
honour which
is of most ancient Pagan origin, and must be lived by all who follow the Old
Ways.
It must be kenned that thoughts and
intent put forth on this middle-Earth will wax strong in other worlds beyond, and
return...bringing into creation, on this world, that which had been sent forth.
Thus one should exercise discipline, for "as ye do plant, so shall ye harvest."
It is only by preparing our minds to be
as Gods that we can ultimately attain godhead.
"This above all...to thine own self be
true..."
A Witch's word must have the validity
of a signed and witness oath. Thus, give thy word sparingly, but adhere to it
like iron.
Refrain from speaking ill of others,
for not all truths of the matter may be known.
Pass not unverified words about
another, for hearsay is, in a large part, a thing of falsehoods.
Be thou honest with others, and have
them known that honesty is likewise expected of them.
The fury of the moment plays folly with
the truth; to keep one's head is a virtue.
Contemplate always the consequences of
thine acts upon others. Strive not to harm.
Diverse covens may well have diverse
news on love between members and with others. When a coven, clan or grove is
visited or joined, one should discern quietly their practices, and abide
thereby.
Dignity, a gracious manner, and a good
humour are much to be admired.
As a Witch thou hast
power, and thy powers wax strongly as wisdom increases. Therefore exercise
discretion in the use thereof.
Courage and
honour endure forever. Their
echoes remain when the mountains have crumbled to dust.
Pledge friendship and fealty to those
who so warrant. Strengthen others of the Brethren and they shall strengthen
thee.
Thou shall not reveal secrets of
another Witch or
another coven. Others have laboured long and hard for them and cherish them as
treasures.
Though there may be differences between
those of the Old Ways, those who are once-born must see nothing and must hear
nothing.
Those who follow the mysteries should
be above reproach in the eyes of the world.
The laws of the land should be obeyed
whenever possible and within reason, for in the main they have been chosen with
wisdom.
Have pride in thyself, and seek
perfection in body and in mind. For the Lady has said, "How can thou honour
another unless thou give honour to thyself first?" Those who seek the mysteries
should consider themselves as select of the Gods, for it is they who lead the
race of humans to the highest of thrones and beyond the very stars"
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CHARGE OF THE
GODDESS
Whenever ye have need of anything,
once in the month and better it be when
the moon is full,
then shall ye assemble in some secret
place,
and adore the spirit of me,
who am Queen of all witches.
There shall ye assemble,
ye who are fain to learn all sorcery,
yet have not won its deepest secrets;
to these will I teach all things that
are as yet unknown.
And ye shall be free from slavery;
and as a sign that ye be truly free,
you shall be naked in your rites;
and ye shall dance, sing, feast, make
music and love,
all in my praise.
For mine is the ecstasy of the spirit,
and mine also is joy on earth;
for my law is love unto all beings.
Keep pure your highest ideals;
strive ever towards them,
let nothing stop you or turn you aside.
For mine is the secret door which
opens upon the Land of Youth,
and mine is the cup of the wine of life,
and the Cauldron of Cerridwen,
which is the Holy Vessel of Immortality.
I am the gracious Goddess,
who gives the gift of joy unto the heart
of man.
Upon earth, I give the knowledge of the spirit
eternal;
and beyond death, I give peace, and freedom,
and reunion with those who have gone
before.
Nor do I demand sacrifice;
for behold, I am the Mother of all
living,
and my love is poured out upon the
Earth.
I am the beauty of the green earth,
and the white moon among the stars,
and the mystery of the waters,
and the desire of the heart of man.
Call unto thy soul, arise, and come unto
me.
For I am the soul of Nature,
who gives life to the Universe.
From me all things proceed,
and unto me all things must return;
and before my face, beloved of gods and
of men,
let thine innermost divine self be
enfolded,
in the rapture of the infinite.
Let my worship be within the heart that
rejoicest,
for behold, all acts of love and
pleasure are my rituals.
Therefore, let there be beauty and
strength,
power and compassion, honour and
humility,
mirth and reverence within you.
And thou who thinketh to seek for me,
know thy seeking and yearning shall
avail thee not,
unless thou knoweth the mystery;
that if that which thou seekest thou
findest not within thee,
thou wilt never find it without thee.
For behold, I have been with thee from
the beginning;
and I am that which is attained at the
end of desire.
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CHARGE
OF THE GOD
Listen to the Words of the
Horned God,
Who was of old called among men:
Adonis, Tammuz, Dianus, Herne,
Bran, Beli, Lugh, Gwyn,
Dionysus, Osiris, Cernunnos,
Pan,
And by many other Names.
O Secret of Secrets,
That art hidden in the being of
all that lives,
Not Thee do we adore,
For That which adoreth is also
Thou.
Thou art That, and That am I.
I am the Flame that burns in the
heart of every being,
And in the core of every Star.
I am Life, and the Giver of
Life,
Yet therefore is the Knowledge
of Me
The Knowledge of Death and
Resurrection.
I am alone, the Lord within
ourselves,
Whose Name is Mystery of
Mysteries.
I am the Horned God.
I am the Lord of the Universe,
The Father of all living,
The All-Devourer and the
All-Begetter.
I am He Whose Seed lies strewn
As glittering Gems across velvet
darkness
Within the Womb of the Mother.
I am the Lord of the Shadows
In the darkness of the
Underworld,
For I am the Midnight Sun.
I am the Light of the Stars,
And the Spark of the Spirit
Eternal,
For I am the God Within.
I am the Horned Leader of the
Hosts of Air,
The Leader of the Wild Hunt,
The Judge of Gods and of Men.
I am the Hidden God,
Who ever yet remains,
For I dwell within the secret
seed.
I am the seed of grain,
I am the seed of flesh,
I am the Seed of the Stars.
I am the Lord of the Heights,
I am the Lord of the Depths,
God of forest, of flock, and of
field.
I am the Hunter and Hunted,
I am the wolf and the Shepherd,
I am the vine and the grain.
I am a Guiding Star above you,
I am a bright Flame before you,
I am a smooth Path beneath you.
I am the Light of Life.
I am the Flame of Love.
I am the Horned God!
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