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1. Witchcraft means "Craft of the Wise Ones" and is also known as the
"Old Religion". Its practices can be traced to Neolithic "Stone Age") cave
paintings. In early times, the Witch was the local lawyer, psychiatrist, and
doctor. The field of modern medicine can trace its origins to the herbal
medicines of the Witch.
Witchcraft is a nature religion, not unlike the shamanism of the Native Americans. As
the concepts of male and female exist through-out life -- indeed, are necessary to create it
-- most Witches perceive Deity as male and female: the Goddess and the God. Like the
concept of the Trinity, these aren't "many" Gods; they are aspects of the ONE Creator.
The Goddess is seen as Mother Earth and Mother Nature, and is represented by the
Moon. She is seen in the fertility of the plant, animal, and human kingdoms. Her power
is at a peak in the "fertile half" of the year, from May until October.
The God is seen in the woodlands, the Sun, grain, & the hunt. Because most of the
animals that prehistoric humans hunted had horns, He is usually depicted as the "Horned
One". His power is at a peak in the "dark half" of the year, from October to May.
2. Witches don't do evil. They believe in the Wiccan Rede, which is "If It Harms None,
Do What You Will". (In other words, "Do whatever you want; just as long as it doesn't
harm anyone -- including yourself ").
Witches also believe in the "Three-Fold Law", which states that whatever you do -- be it
good or evil -- comes back to you three times over, so (obviously) there is no incentive to
do evil.
3. Witches do NOT believe in or worship Satan, and do not perform any sort of human or
animal sacrifices. Satan is a relatively new concept that originated with Christianity.
Witches put the responsibility for our own actions squarely on whom it belongs:
ourselves. Witchcraft teaches us to be responsible people who take responsibility for our
own actions.
When the Christian Church decided to obliterate religions that were a threat to its power
(including Witchcraft), they decided that their "Satan" had horns and that Witches were
actually worshipping the Devil. This became the death warrant for millions of innocent
people.
4. The Pentagram (a five-pointed star in an upright, one-point-up position) is the symbol
of our religion. The top point symbolizes Spirit (the Creator) being 'above', or ruling, the
Four Elements of Life -- Air, Fire, Water, & Earth -- which are the four lower points.
~ OVER ~
The Circle, being without beginning or end, symbolizes the Deity. It is completely
encompassing the Star within it (which represents the out-stretched human body,
reaching out in search of its connection with Spirit). Together, they represent the
Creator's Protection & Wisdom.
Inverting the Pentagram, as is done by Satanists, symbolizes that the Elements (the
"material world") are superior to the Creator. Unfortunately, through misunderstandings
that have been repeated by the media, the Pentagram -- in whatever position -- has
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