"Do what ye will, an harm no one." these eight words are part of the Wiccan Rede. All women possess a magical side to their nature but, as a strength, this magic has become unused, forgotten, and lost. In the practice of Witchcraft, a woman's gifts are used and they become life-sustaining, empowering, and restorative. The Witch personifies a woman's ability to intuit, create, enchant, protect, initiate, nurture, teach, and heal. She is a figure capable of extraordinary judgment, compassion, endurance, and strength. She has proven Herself to be deeply sensual, adaptable, courageous, and wise. Each Witch or Goddess embodies great powers of both strength and gentility, ferocity and generosity. These are the qualities we are striving to regain from the Goddess. One can be angry or fierce as well as loving and compassionate. This is the Witch's legacy to women.

I want to point out that Witchcraft does not now, nor ever has, worship Satan. Satan, or the Devil, is a figure created by early Christians. Modern witches believe the only devils are ignorance and fear. And, in life, characters are not thought of as one dimensionally in terms of good and evil. Rather, in understanding and working with teachers and using dark emotions and difficult experiences of the Goddesses to clarify issues in our own lives.

Follow your own path to the mysteries of the Goddess, and embrace the strength of your own magic. If every woman were to listen closely enough to her own secret song with her whole being, she would discover her true enchantment. The Witch within each of us gives women infinite possibilities for fulfilling her life's choices. Without the Witch we deny ourselves fulfillment at our deepest, most primeval level. Rediscovering the Witch is remembering our magical past and learning how to trust our instinctual nature.

The magic light of the moon guides the Witch's Calendar. Witches practice rites to attune with the natural rhythms of life forces marked by the phases of the Moons and the seasonal quarters and cross-quarters. The moon, along with it's phases, energies, and symbols, possesses a strong influence over all rites of the magic of Witchcraft. There is recognition that intelligence gives Witches unique responsibility toward environment. Living in harmony with Nature is paramount to the Goddess lifestyle. 

The Witch in each woman never dies, simply because she knows no beginning or end. Her message is encoded in the genetic pattern of every female. She is the Divine Feminine, the magical side of your instinctual nature. No matter how deeply she has been buried either by you or by your past, she lives, for her spirit is everlasting.

Thirteen Goals of a Witch

1) Know Yourself 2) Know Your Craft 3) Learn 4) Apply knowledge with Wisdom 5) Achieve balance 6) Keep your words in good order 7) Keep your thoughts in good order

8) Celebrate Life 9) Attune with the cycles of the Earth 10) Breath and eat correctly 11) Exercise the body 12) Meditate 13) Honor the Goddess and God

Words of Wisdom from The Charge:

"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 idea: Strive ever toward it: Let naught stop you or turn you aside."

 

Recommended Readings for the Wicca Craft

Wicca, A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham.....Excellent introductory book about Wicca with many suggestions for rituals you can perform alone.

Power of the Witch by Laurie Cabot with Tom Cowan.....Laurie Cabot, the celebrated Witch of Salem, Mass., explains Wicca in this great introductory book.

The Witches Bible by Stewart & Jane Farrar.....Good scholarly reference book covering the basics of Wicca history, mythology, ritual practice, coven work, holidays, and more.

Interesting Links:

And now that you have read my words on Witchcraft, have I piqued your interest in the Goddess and her power for all woman? If so, these Links shall allow you to explore further the enchantment of the Witch and perhaps to allow you to regain your strength in your own magic.

I have found a great on-line link for Wicca Books. It's through the New York State Witches and has the above three listed books and many more.

The Witches Web is an informative site for practicing witches or those who are simply curious. It has the Witches Web of Days which showcases 365 days of birthdays, celebrations, observances, as well as other information of interest to Witches. Also, here you will find a message board, chat room, and the Witches Web Shop.	The Raven Nest is a mystical shop located in Salem, Mass. It is an experience dedicated to the Magical Arts. And, it will take you to Portals of Knowledge and allow you access to Magic Tools, as well as many other interesting and useful things, to help you along your path of Goddess discovery.	The Cat, The Crow, & The Crown is the home base of the celebrated Salem Witch, Laurie Cabot, who is an Ordained High Priestess of Witchcraft. This site will give you great access about Wicca classes and events and other areas of interest to the modern Witch. Additionally, you can learn more about Laurie and the practice of Witchcraft.