Lesson One: The History and Philosophy of Witchcraft

In Paleolithic times, we didn’t understand nature and gave different parts a deity. This practice is called animism. 

God of Hunting (depicted as horned) was deemed most important for basic survival. As a ritual, people would put on horns and animal skin and play the part of the animal, and the ritual would end in its “death”. The Penobscot Indians wore deer masks and horns less than a hundred years ago. There are also dancing rituals, depicted in cave drawings, used for this purpose. 

A Goddess of Fertility also existed as another important aspect of survival. Fertility goddesses are often referred to as “Venus figurines”. When depicted in clay the Goddess had exaggerated features (large breasts and butt and often looking pregnant) but her arms, legs, and face were barely defined. 

The Goddess ruled and watched over the summer months and the God ruled/watched over the winter months. Summer = crops growing. Winter = hunting needed more. Other deities fell into the background. Places of worship were built where one could honor the God(dess). 

Pope Gregory the Great attempted to destroy the “idols” and repurposed the temples for Christianity (a man-made religion). When being built, Pagans put images of their own deities in the woodwork and carvings. 

The goddess is depicted with her legs opened and enlarged genitalia. God is depicted with horns and surrounded by foliage…also known as “Jack of the Green” or “Robin of the Woods”.

Pagans and Wiccans became rivals of the Church. Since the Christian devil has horns and the God of Pagan had horns, they were deemed “devil worshippers”. This still goes on today. The Old Religion didn’t divide things as definitively good or bad, but gods were more human with a good and bad side. 

Pagan = people who live in the country

Heathen = one who dwells on the heath

Being used as derogatory terms is incorrect.

The total count of “witches” burned, hung, or tortured is nine million. Not all were followers of the Old Religion. Witchcraft had been passed down orally…there was no non-Christian biased writing about witchcraft until Dr. Gerald Gardner in 1954. When they did finally start writing down rituals, it was known as a Book of Shadows

Witchcraft is about being a part of and respecting nature. It’s about joy and living in the moment (a contrast from Christianity). When stressed, scared, or angry go and sit against a tree…feel the negative emotions leave and be replaced with warmth. Thank the tree.

The main tenet of Witchcraft: “An’ it harm none, do what thou wilt”, or in modern terms: “Do what you will…but do not do anything that will harm another”.

Principles of Wiccan Belief

1. We practice rites to attune ourselves to the natural rhythm of life forces marked by the phases of the Moon and the seasonal quarters and cross quarters.
2. We recognize 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 that 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 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 lies 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 sex as pleasure, as the symbol and embodiment of life, and as one of the sources of energy used in magickal practice and religious worship. 
5. We recognize both outer worlds and inner, or psychological, worlds sometimes known as the Spiritual World, the Collective Unconscious, Inner Planes, etc. - and we see in the interaction of these 2 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 knowledge and wisdom, and acknowledge those who have courageously given of themselves 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 worldview and philosophy of life that we identify as Witchcraft - the Wiccan way.
8. Calling oneself Witch does not make a Witch - but neither does heredity itself, nor the collecting of titles, degrees, and initiations. A Witch seeks to control the focus within themself that makes life possible to live wisely and well without harm to others and in harmony with nature.
9. We believe in the affirmation and fulfillment of life in a continuation of evolution and development of consciousness giving meaning to the Universe we know and 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 only way and have sought to deny freedom to others and to suppress other ways of religious practice and belief. 
11. As American Witches, we are not threatened by debates on the history of the Craft, the origins of various terms, and the legitimacy of various aspects of different traditions. We are concerned with our present and our 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 power through the suffering of others, nor accept that personal benefit can be derived only by denial to another.
13.  We believe that we should seek within nature that which is contributory to our health and well-being.

Lesson One Questions

1. It is often helpful to examine our feelings/attitudes toward a philosophy or topic we are interested in. What is your understanding, or feeling of Witchcraft? Examine your impressions, preconceptions, biases, etc. How have your reactions changed regarding Witchcraft throughout your life?

My original introduction to Witchcraft was in my Baptist church, where it was taught that anything “witchy” or “magic” related was evil. I grew up believing that this precious Craft was evil and trying to pull people into hell.

That belief slowly started to change when a friend and I became interested in the healing properties of crystals. We were originally looking into essential oils, and crystals just kinda came along with it. We told our parents that we just thought “it was neat”. Slowly more witchcraft crept its way in…crystals, candles, prayers turning into rituals, etc.

Now witchcraft has become my main form of spirituality. It’s something that brings me peace on things that I may not understand. I feel I have more control over my life and I become more attuned with nature when I practice regularly.

2. There are many different denominations of Witchcraft. (Information is found on these in Appendix A.) Based on what you know at this point, which denomination do you think you’d like to practice, and why?

The Church of the Crescent Moon and PectiWita are the denominations closest to what I practice. Specifically Church of the Crescent Moon because they state that they are not Wiccan. However, I can’t find either online and I prefer solitary practice without the confines a denomination may place on me.

3. The earliest conceptions of magick dealt with sympathetic magick. How can sympathetic magick help you today? In what way can you foresee using it? List some possibilities.

I think that sympathetic magic could help me with growing my plants…just seeing and manifesting healthy plants, along with proper care, would help them. I could also use it to help keep my cats safe and healthy. 

4. Make a tape recording outlining the principles of Witchcraft that you intend to adhere to. Keep the tape for future use for recording favorite rituals. Speaking out loud helps to consolidate beliefs, and make them clearer to you.