(Accepted by over 100 Pagan Organizations*, but not
all Pagan Organizations)
1. We believe that all spiritual paths leading to the
benefit, health and enrichment of all living and natural things are equally
valid. No one person or group has the
right or “wisdom” to claim that any particular spiritual path is any more or
less valid than any others. No person,
group, religion or personified deity has a monopoly on truth.
2. We do not recognize an authoritarian hierarchy, but we
do honor those who teach and share their knowledge, wisdom and experience. We acknowledge and respect those who
generously and courageously give of themselves and their time as leaders.
3. We acknowledge greater powers, but we also believe
that power should be sought and can be found within each individual
4. We recognize that a spiritual force of great power
imbues all nature. It is this field that
makes magic and life itself possible. We
undergo rituals and practices to develop our understanding of this force in its
multiple manifestations and personifications in order to become wise and
prudent navigators of its ways. We see
religion, magick and wisdom-in-living as united in our worldview.
5. We perceive, among the creative powers of the
universe, the polarity of and interaction between the principles known as
“masculine” and “feminine”, yin and yang, etc. We understand divine pairs
(complementary opposites) to be mutually supportive and equally valuable.
6. We believe in an ongoing cycle of birth-death-rebirth
which represents the continual renewal-the evolution and development -- of both
consciousness and Spirit. This
ever-repeating cycle provides a meaningful context for the Universe, guiding us
towards definition of our individual roles within it.
7. We actively seek to understand and control the forces
and powers within ourselves which make it possible to live wisely and well
without harm to others and in harmony with all existence. We do not seek power over or control of other
people.
8. Our major thrust and focus is on positive action in
the present (despite whatever history and teachings, ancient or modern from
which we draw). Our mutual concern is to
provide a healthier, happier and more functional future for ourselves, our
Earth, and those who will inhabit it after we are gone.
9. We perceive nature as endlessly and diversely erotic,
sensual and spontaneous; and we value and find beauty in all consensual
eroticism, sensuality and spontaneity. We see such acts of pleasure as symbols,
sacraments and embodiments of sacred life, and as one of the sources of
energies used in magical and religious practices. In general, we believe that life was meant to
be filled with joy, beauty, love, pleasure, learning and humor.
10. We seek all that is contributory to health and well-being
from nature; and consider food, environment, attitude and ones interactions to
be inextricably linked to one’s health.
We practice a variety of traditional and non-traditional healing methods
with the understanding that health, like happiness, needs to be fitted to the
individual.
11. We affirm and celebrate the diverse nature of all
peoples and cultures, and respect the rights of individuals and societies to
live their lives according to their own sincerely held beliefs, as long as they
do not infringe on the right of others.
12. We embrace and celebrate the beauty of Nature in all
its forms. No race or sexual orientation
is superior or inferior to another. Each
is an expression of Nature’s Beauty and is essential to one another. Therefore, we welcome, honor and respect the
whole of humanity.
*
Including the
former Universal Federation of Pagans and a network of Cleveland Pagan groups
that was considering forming a Church together – both of which fell apart over
the issue of how decisions would be made by the attempted alliances.
++++++++++++++
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/2188/ERAAR.htm
THE EARTH
RELIGION ANTI-ABUSE RESOLUTION:
We, the undersigned, adherents of Pagan and Neo-Pagan
Earth Religions, including Wicca, or Neo-Pagan Witchcraft, practice a variety
of positive, life affirming faiths that are dedicated to healing, both
ourselves and the Earth. As such, we do
not advocate or condone any acts that victimize others, including those
proscribed by law.
As one of our most widely accepted percepts is the
Wiccan Rede's injunction "to harm none", we absolutely condemn the practices of child abuse,
sexual abuse, and other-forms of abuse that harm the body, mind or spirits of
individuals. We offer prayers, therapy, and support for the healing of the
victims of such abuses.
We recognize and revere the divinity of nature in our mother the Earth; and we conduct our rites of worship in a manner
that is ethical, compassionate and constitutionally protected.
We neither acknowledge
nor worship the Christian devil, "Satan" who is not in our Pagan
pantheons.
We
will not tolerate slander or libel
against our churches, clergy or congregations; and we are prepared to defend
our civil rights with such legal action as we deem
http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_term.htm
SOME
OF THE RENDERINGS OF THE WICCAN REDE ARE:
*
An it harm
none, do as ye will
*
An ye harm
none, do what ye will.
*
An it harm
none, do what thou wilt.
*
An it harm
none, do what thou wilt.
i.e. do what ever you want to, as long as
it harms no one, including yourself. "This belief constantly reminds us
that there are many consequences to our actions and we must consider all
possible outcomes before acting. The Wiccan Rede thereby binds Wiccans to do
the right thing." 1
The Three-fold law states
that any good that a person does to another returns to themselves, magnified
three times. Any harm also returns in the same ratio. This heavily motivates
Wiccans to behave ethically, and to avoid harming others.
+++++++++++++
http://members.tripod.com/~vortexae/wicca.htm
The "Wiccan Rede" sums up our
religious ethics, though "harm none" is wide open to interpretation.
Some fulfill the Law through vegetarianism. Some, insisting that "harm
none" includes the self, refuse to smoke, drink, alter their bodies, or
condone suicide. Most will refrain from "hexing" people, preferring
spells to "bind" dangerous characters rather than harm them, and many
will never cast a spell at all, not even for healing, without the subject's
explicit permission. Manipulation, too, is a form of harm.
Wiccans also tend to be practical, I've
found, and "harm none" becomes an ideal rather than an absolute.
Obviously, our physical needs mandate that something die so that we live --
even if it's just a carrot. I tend to adulterate the Rede a little; "An it
harm none unnecessarily, do what ye will." Or, "without
justification." This means that I should examine my actions to
ensure the least harm to all involved. Self-defense, aggression of any sort,
and fetus abortion all are realms of action in which potential harm to one
party must be weighted against potential harm to another.
Of course, nobody's perfect...
The Rede defines morality
in terms of how we treat each other and ourselves; few Wiccans recognize the
idea of "sins against God." For example, we tend to support gay
rights and all sorts of equality, and decry homophobic, racist, sexist, or
superpatriotic rhetoric. The harm done by two women in love is nonexistent; the
harm done to them by intolerance, persecution, and hate-crimes is despicable. I
personally have a hard time justifying causing misery on the say-so of what may
be a fictitious character, and if I'm wrong, I'd rather be sent to Hell than to
spend eternity in His Heaven, thank you very much
++++++++++++++
VISIONWEAVERS’ COVEN ETHICS
*
Respect for life of this planet
*
Respect for other's rights
*
Honesty and keep commitments
*
We refrain from magic that would increase harm
*
Vision quests should be to open doors, not to lay a trip on people
*
Protect privacy and guard mysteries of the Craft
*
Aid and teach others in the Craft, without demands for personal gain
++++++++++++++
From: http://www.stonecreed.org/dedicant/9virtues.html (no longer on-line at this URL)
NINE VIRTUES OF THE
FOLK
The Ways of the
Providers: In ancient
*
Industry - The primary virtue of the makers of wealth is
earnest labor in pursuit of bounty and prosperity.
*
Sensuality - A central theme of the providers is the power of
reproduction, sexuality and pleasure. We affirm that feasting, music and
sensual delight are virtues.
*
Hospitality - Bounty must be shared. The right of a guest to food
and drink, the obligation to share with the clan and with strangers are sacred
duties.
The Ways of the
Warriors: The need of any people
for defense and the ability to stand firm among the strong demanded the
presence of warriors. They walked proudly as equals with all others.
*
Courage - The primary virtue of the warrior is never to turn
away from duty or right action because of fear.
*
Strength - The body is the primary weapon and tool of the
warrior. It, and the heart and mind, should be able to answer his needs.
*
Honor - The warrior's way calls for obedience, mercy,
justice and pride. The warrior keeps her oaths, and does right.
The Ways of the Wise: In ancient cultures the intellectual skills, the
keeping of records and lore, the work of philosophy and religion was in the
hands of professionals.
*
Memory - The primary virtue of the wise rulers is the
remembering of history, mythology, legal precedent and genealogy. Especially,
the proper ways of worship and magic must be passed on.
*
Reason - The ability to draw conclusions from evidence and
precedent provides the objective voice that sees beyond the personal.
*
Vision - In order to move forward, a ruler needs innovation,
creativity and foresight. The wise seek a developed power of intuition.
Please understand that this
classification does not mean that warriors don't need reason nor farmers
courage. In our modern lives, we are called to have all of these skills and all
of these virtues. We are each called to be warriors, to be producers, to be
priest/esses at various times and in various ways. And in each and everyone of
these roles all the virtues will be helpful.
++++++++++++++
From OTO Webpage
http://oto-usa.org/l77.html
Liber OZ
"the law of the strong; this is our law
and the joy of the world" - AL II:21
"Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the
Law" -
"thou hast no right but to do thy will. Do that and no other shall say nay" -
"Every man and every woman is a star" -
There is no god but man.
1. Man has the right to live by his own law -
to live in the way that he wills to do:
to work as he will:
to play as he will:
to rest as he will:
to die when and how he will.
2. Man has the right to eat what he will:
to drink what he will:
to dwell where he will:
to move as he will on the face of the
earth.
3. Man has the right to think what he will:
to speak what he will:
to write what he will:
to draw, paint, carve, etch, mould, build
as he will:
to dress as he will.
4. Man has the right to love as he will:
"take your fill and will of love as
ye will, when where and with whom ye will" -
5. Man has the right to kill those who would
thwart these rights.
"the slaves shall serve" - AL II:58
"Love is the law; love under will" -
from http://oto-usa.org/faq.html
Do members of your Order practice "black
magic"?
"Black magic" is
commonly conceived as a type of "sorcery" or "diabolism"
intended to cause harm to other beings.
A PLEDGE TO PAGAN SPIRITUALITY
by Selena Fox of Circle and Formally Accepted by
Hundreds of Pagans
I am a Pagan and I dedicate
myself to channeling the Spiritual Energy of my Inner Self to help and to heal
myself and others.
*
I know that I am
part of the Whole of Nature. May I grow in understanding of the Unity of all
Nature. May I always walk in Balance.
*
May I always be
mindful of the diversity of Nature as well as its Unity and may I always be
tolerant of those whose race, appearance, sex, sexual preference, culture, and
other ways differ from my own.
*
May I use the
Force (psychic power) wisely and never use it for aggression nor for malevolent
purposes. May I never direct it to curtail the free will of another.
*
May I always be
mindful that I create my own reality and that I have the power within me to
create positivity in my life.
*
May I always act
in honorable ways: being honest with myself and others, keeping my word
whenever I have given it, fulfilling all responsibilities and commitments I
have taken on to the best of my ability.
*
May I always
remember that whatever is sent out always returns magnified to the sender. May
the Forces of Karma move swiftly to remind me of my spiritual commitments when
I have begun to falter from them, and may I use this Karmic feedback to help
myself grow and be more attuned to my Inner Pagan Spirit.
*
May I always
remain strong and committed to my Spiritual ideals in the face of adversity and
negativity. May the Force of my Inner Spirit ground out all malevolence
directed my way and transform it into positivity. May my Inner Light shine so
strongly that malevolent forces cannot even approach my sphere of existence.
*
May I always grow
in Inner Wisdom and Understanding. May I see every problem that I face as an
opportunity to develop myself spiritually in solving it.
*
May I always act
out of Love to all other beings on this Planet - to other humans, to plants, to
animals, to minerals, to elementals, to spirits, and to other entities.
*
May I always be
mindful that the Goddess and God in all their
forms dwell within me and that this divinity is reflected through my own
Inner Self, my Pagan Spirit.
*
May I always
channel Love and Light from my being. May my Inner Spirit, rather than my ego
self, guide all my thoughts, feelings, and actions.
SO MOTE IT BE