Personal Standards of a Witch

Abide the Witches' Rede: Do Thy Will Shall Be the Whole of the Law. This be the oldest of the Ardaynes.

We are of the Old Ways, among those who walk with the Goddess and the God and receive Their Love.

Keep the Sabbats and the Esbats to the best of thy means. To do otherwise is to lessen thy connection with the

Goddess and God.

An ye discover the Rede to broken, it is thy duty to mend it.

Be kind to all creatures, for hurtful thoughts return to the sender. Misery is self-created, as is joy. Create joy and

disdain misery and sorrow.

Watch, listen, and withhold judgment. In debate, let thy silences be long, thy thoughts clear, and thy words

chosen with care.

Fain be on any who boast, threaten, or speak ill of others.

Speak in truth always; save when speaking so would lead to great harm.

Thou shalt not haggle over the price of thy ritual tools.

Thou shalt keep thy body, thy clothes, and thy house clean and in goodly order.

Should thou ever take a task upon thyself, thou shalt work to the utmost to accomplish is properly and in goodly time.

Relationships with Others

Revere, honour, tend and heal thy Mother Earth.

Of that which ye grow, make, or use, allow as much as possible to return to Mother Earth, in honour of Her, and to

nourish Her cycle of Life.

Thou shalt not pass judgment of those on other paths, but shall offer them Love and aid as needed.

Thou shalt not steal from human, animal, or spirit. Should thou have a need, which thou canst not meet,

turn to Witches for aid.

Give friendship and hospitality to strangers.

Thou shalt not profess Love, nor be handfasted to, one thou dost not Love.

Honour the commitments and Loves of others, and do not couple together an it be cause of pain to another.

Raise thy offspring with every kindness. Feed, clothe, and house them as best ye can. Offer them all thy Love and

affection. Teach them in the ways of wisdom and strength.

Thou shalt not own slaves, nor willingly be part of any nation, community, or group, which allows this practice.

It is the will of the Lady that we shall be truly free.

Deal fairly and honestly in all business with others. Follow to the letter and spirit all contracts thou agree to.

Within the Coven

The High Priestess shall rule her coven as a representative of the Goddess.

The High Priestess shall choose whom she will have serve as High Priest, provided he hath attained the Third Degree.

The High Priest shall support her as a representative of the God.

When in the Circle, the commands and wishes of the High Priestess stand as Law.

The High Priest commands the respect due a Magus, Hierophant, and Father.

Should there be a dispute among the Coven; the High Priestess shall convene the Elders. The Council shall hear

both sides, alone, then together, and shall make a just decision.

Should the High Priestess and High Priest find it necessary to correct, rebuke, or punish a covener, this shall

be done in private, and accepted with good grace by the recipient.

Any who refuse to work under the High Priestess may hive off to found a new coven, provided they hath attained the

Third Degree. They and any members that hive with them shall avoid the old coven and covenstead for a time, until

the new coven has bonded, and harmonious relations can be established between the covens.

Should a High Priestess leave her coven, yet return to it within a year and a day, she shall be taken back, and all

be as before. In her absence, the coven Maiden shall act as High Priestess. Should the High Priestess not return

within a year and a day a new High Priestess shall be elected. She that has served in her stead shall take the role

upon herself, unless there is powerful reason to the contrary.

The High Priestess shall gracefully retire in favour of a new High Priestess, should the coven so decide in Counsel.

A High Priestess who consents to breaking the Rede shall be immediately dismissed from her position, stripped of

her title, and her garter.

Before the coven uses the Power, let them debate at length. Only if all are satisfied that the Rede shall be fulfilled may

any Magick be used.

The Circle shall be duly cast and purified. A Witch shall be prepared and purified to enter the Circle.

None may tell cowans neither where the covenstead be, nor where the meetings, without consent of the coven.

The Nature of Our Way

As often as possible, hold the Rites in forests, by the seashore, on deserted mountaintops, or near tranquil lakes.

We are Witches, and our ways are the ways of old, as our temples are the temples of old.

An altar shall be kept within thy personal space, to do honour to the Lord and Lady. Thy altar shall be filled

with thine ritual tools, and gifts from Nature.

Seek out wisdom in books, rare manuscripts, and cryptic poems if you will, but seek it also in simple stones and

fragile herbs and in the cries of wild birds. Listen to the whisperings of the wind and the roar of water if you would

discover Magick, for it is here that the old secrets of the Power are still preserved.

Books contain words. Trees contain energies and wisdom books ne'er dreamt of.

Ever remember that the Old Ways are constantly revealing themselves. Therefore, be as the river willow that bends

and sways with the wind. That which remains changeless shall outlive its spirit, but that which evolves and grows

will shine for centuries.

Honour all living things, for we are of the bird, the fish, the bee, and the tree. Destroy not life, save it be to preserve your own.

Within the Craft

Mock not the rituals or spells of another, for who can say yours are greater in power and wisdom? In like kind,

thou shalt not gossip or speak evil of other Witches. To do so does dishonour to all Witches and more so to thyself.

Thou shalt not lie to the Elders or to any Witch.

Ensure that thy actions are honourable, for all that you do shall surely return to you, for good or bane. Such are the

workings of the universe.

None but initiated may see our inner mysteries. Only with the consent of the coven may cowans be invited to ordinary

rituals.

None shall reveal to cowans who is a Witch, or give names, addresses, or any information that may betray us. None may

do that which may endanger Witches, or bring them into contact with the law of the land, or any of our persecutors.

None may come to the Circle with those with whom they are at odds. In any disputes among Witches, none may invoke

any laws save those of the Craft, or any court, save that of the Council.

Thou shalt keep a book in thy own hand of write. Let it be thy Book of Shadows. Fill it with the teachings of the coven, and

a record of thy own rites and learning.

Let a Witch copy what they will from it, but do not let the Book from your keep, nor ever keep the Book of another Witch.

Thou shalt teach only what thou know to those students whom you, or the coven, choose.

Thou shalt not teach those who seek to use the power for destruction or control.

Thou shalt not teach to boost pride, for, ever remember: the Witch who teaches for vainglory shall take little pride in her

handiwork, yet those who teach out of Love shall be enfolded in the arms of the Ancient Ones.

Thou shalt not accept money for the use of Magick, nor for any work done in the Circle, nor for the teaching of the Craft

within the Circle. It is unwise to accept money for use of the Power, as it quickly controls its taker.

Of the Power

Give of thy skills, work, talents, and earnings to thy coven, the Craft, to that who do Her work, and to worthy causes which

honour the Lady and Lord. Honour those who work willingly for the Craft without pay.

The Power shall not be used to bring harm, to injure, or to control others. However, should the need arise, the Power shall

be used to protect your life, or the lives of others.

The Power is used only as need dictates, yet may be used for your own gain, as long as by doing so the Rede is honoured.

Thou shalt not use thy Magick and the Power for show, pride or vainglory, for such cheapens the mysteries of

the Witches.

The Power is the sacred gift of the Goddess and God, and should not be misused or abused.

Thou shalt do no thing that would disgrace the Goddess or Witches.

Ever remember that if thou wouldst be a Witch, thou shalt keep the Ardaynes close to your heart, for it is the nature of

Witches to keep the Law. Love is the Law, Love under Will.