Pagans only - American Council of Witches?

Question

It is long know that in 1974 - an "Ameican Council of Witches" was formed and released this document called the 13 principles of Wiccan belief. After some research and based on the opinions of Elders I have run into with decades of experience ... no one can really tell me WHO these people were, and under what authority they were releasing what.

I did find an old article (in an OLD issue Playboy of all things) relating to this conference and who was there. I did know and have met a few of the people mentioned, but the article did NOT mention everyone or any details as to by whom they were summoned.

Here are my questions: Who are these people specifically? Under what authority did they release this document to speak for all Wiccans (particularly when not all of them were Wiccans)? Why do people who have no idea who these people might have been keep reprinting this document? Does it stand true with or without anything to back it up?

Here it is:
Adopted by the Council of American Witches Witch meet,
April 11-14, 1974, Minneapolis, Minnesota.


The Craft contains a large number of groups with bonds to each other, for the most part, which are looser than those you will find between Christian churches. Each has it's own traditions, it's own beliefs, it's own pantheon, etc. So just WHAT is it that, overall, a Witch believes in? The American Council of Witches was formed to determine what it was that all Witches have in common, belief-wise. In the early 1970's, a paper was released with their findings, and gives a good overall picture of it.

The Council of American Witches finds it necessary to define Witchcraft in terms of the American experience and needs. We are not bound by traditions from other times and other cultures and owe no allegiance to any person or power greater than the Divinity manifest through our own being. As American Witches, we welcome and respect all life-affirming teachings and traditions, and seek to learn from all and to share our learning within our Council. It is in this spirit of welcome and cooperation that we adopt these few principles of Wiccan belief. In seeking to be inclusive, we do not wish to open ourselves to the destruction of our group by those on self-serving power trips, or to philosophies and practices contradictory to those principles. In seeking to exclude those whose ways are contradictory to ours, we do not wish to deny participation to any who are sincerely interested in our knowledge and beliefs, regardless of race, color, sex, age, national or cultural heritage, or sexual preference. We therefore ask only that those who seek to identify with us accept those few basic principles:


1. We practice 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.

2. We recognize that our intelligence gives us a unique responsibility toward our environment, we seek to live in harmony with Nature, in ecological balance, offering fulfillment to life and consciousness within an evolutionary concept.

3. We acknowledge a depth of power far greater than is apparent to the average person. Because it is far greater than ordinary, it is sometimes called "supernatural," but we see it as lying within that which is naturally potential to us all.

4. We conceive of the Creative Power in the Universe as manifesting through polarity - as masculine and feminine - and that this same Creative Power lives in all people and functions through the interaction of the masculine and feminine. We value neither above the other, knowing each to be supportive of the other. We value sexuality as pleasure, as the symbol and embodiment of Life, and as one of the sources of energies used in magickal practices and religious worship.

5. We recognize both outer and inner or psychological worlds - sometimes known as the Spiritual World, The Collective Unconscious, the Inner Planes, etc. - and we see in their interaction of these two dimensions the basis for paranormal phenomena and magickal exercises. We neglect neither dimension for the other, seeing both as necessary for our fulfillment.

6. We do not recognize any authoritarian hierarchy, but do honor those who teach, respect those who share their greater wisdom and knowledge, and acknowledge those who have courageously given of themsleves in leadership.

7. We see religion, magick and wisdom-in-living as being united in the way one views the world and lives within it - a world-view and philosophy-of-life which we identify as Witchcraft, the Wiccan Way.

8. Calling oneself "Witch" does not make a Witch, but neither does heredity itself, or the collecting of titles, degrees and initiations. A Witch 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.

9. We acknowledge that it is the affirmation and fulfillment of life in a continuance of evolution and development of consciousness that gives meaning to the Universe we know and to our personal role within it.

10. Our only animosity toward Christianity or toward any other religion or philosophy-of-life is to the extent that its institutions have claimed to be "the one true, right and only way" and have sought to deny freedom to others, and to suppress other ways of religious practices and belief.

11. As American Witches, we are not threatened by debates on the history of the Craft, the origins of various terms, the legitimacy of various aspects of various traditions. We are concerned only with our present and future.

12. We do not accept the concept of "absolute evil" nor do we worship any entity known as Satan or the Devil, as defined by the Christian tradition. We do not seek our power through the suffering of other, nor do we accept the concept that personal benefits can only be derived through denial to another.

13. We seek within Nature for that which is contributory to our health and well-being.

The article was July '74 issue of Playboy

Answer 1

The author of those principles is Carl Llewellyn Weschcke who was the founder of the Council of American Witches. To my knowledge, the rest of the council of 73 were never named publicly.

Carl wrote in 'Touchstone' [Council of American Witches newsletter] that many Witches felt that a common definition was necessary as a "self-policing" mechanism "to protect ourselves from misunderstanding brought
about by those whose personal power trips have exposed us to ridicule and injury." It was also felt that a common statement would help dispel the sensationalist image pushed in the media, which continued to link Wicca with Satanism

Answer 2

I don't know who they are. I've tried finding out who the 73 members of that council were to begin with, but there is no listing of the members themselves. They disbanded later that same year and many other Pagan/Wiccan groups adopted the 13 principles as their own. One main group that did this was the Covenant of the Goddess - which also does NOT list the members of the original council.

Hope you have better luck on your search than I did.

Answer 3

No. Some Witches are Born, others must be made. "Simplistic" eh? All have the Right to search for that which they wish to find. The High Towers some live in, are actually Prisons-for their Minds, Bodies, and Spirits. "complex" is not better, just different. What works for one, may not work for another, hence the Freedom inherent within "Witches and Pagans". "poor views" are caused by poor sight. Those who oppose others waste their time. when there is so much Good Work to be done. Children are silly and inattentive-Oldsters are rigid and unable to be open. Such is the World. "words and rituals" are what connects us all to our Past, but "waving hands and woven paces"( I`m sure you recognise this quote) are not the Key. Give a link to your Works, and we all can Learn of The Reality that drives you. "The Truth, against The World" is what we see in the Mirror. The World is real, the Mirror is real, but what is it that we See? /!\ edit: What about OtherKin Fluffy Bunnies? You are right that the views of Witchcraft are affected by incorrect views, but look in the Mirror I mentioned and you will see one of the problems.

Answer 4

I own a book with these statements written in it. They are largely inaccurate. They claim magic and religion is united which is not correct. One is born magical, religion is a choice. Also they say they are the "American Council of Witches" why then are stating Wiccan belief? Why are they not called the Council of Wiccans? They are further proving
how much misinformation is out there regarding magic. Witchcraft is magic practiced by witches and is only part of magic, as magic also includes wizardry. Also, "craft" means skill and is NOT a religion. They have no "authority" although I can see why you would think they do, they are arrogant and assertive in their writing. They angered many in the magical community as magic has nothing to do with those that cannot do it.

I know of many who would agree with these statements as they truly believe being Wiccan means an automatic link to magic which is utter rubbish. I would ignore this as this is clear misinformation by people who know not of magic nor really of religion as they are arrogant enough to think they speak for all magical people on religious matters.

Answer 5

you know, i used to think raymond buckland had been a part of it and could have sworn that he said as much in big blue (buckland's complete book of witchcraft), but i just took a look in the edition i have now and he doesn't make that claim. i could have sworn i saw it in the early edition i had when i first started on this path.
i think a majority of the council were probably the percieved elders of the time. i also think they had a much closer link to gardner and the like, so they may have viewed that as their authority to define what is at the essence of wicca.
i think it keeps being used because it holds a certain amount of truth. it's like the bible in that way. no one truly knows who its writers were, yet it is all over the world in inumerable languages. even though not all wiccans believe in the same things, these principles seem to be the most common views held by them.
yes, it does stand true by itself.

Answer 6

I can understand why they never put their names out to the public. There are some confused extremest in this country.

Sad isn't it!

Well, I for one accept these principles. I feel they are very good rules to live by in addition to the Wiccan Rede.

Blessings!

Answer 7

You said: "Under what authority did they release this document to speak for all Wiccans (particularly when not all of them were Wiccans)?"

I have never heard this claimed. The document in question is just an operationalization, not a dictate.

Answer 8

Fascinating isn't it. They then couldn't agree on its implementation so it wasn't