about

About Witches

What Witches are Not: We are not devil worshippers, celebrants at black masses, workers of evil magick, or sacraficers of childern or animals. We are not ugly old hags with green skin and warts on our noses. We also do not fly around on broomsticks. (at least not all of us)
   What Witches are: People. People who are a lot like everyone else in many ways. We smile, laugh, or kid around when we are happy. We stomp around and even cuss when we are mad. Some of us like bowling, pizza, and beer. And some of us like going to plays, the opera or a fine glass of wine. Either way we are all just like everyone else. But, one thing makes us Witches....Partly its what we believe. We believe the Divine Spirit is present in all creatures and all things. People, animals, plants, stones, you name it.
   Because the Earth and all of Nature are Divine, we treat them with reverence and respect.
   We believe the ultimate creative force manifests as both Feminine and Masculine; so we often symbolize (IT) as the Goddess and the God.
   Most of us believe that all Goddesses and Gods that have ever been created, imagined, or discovered are aspects of the Goddess and the God, some of our favorites are the triple Goddess of the Moon (Maidian, Mother, & Crone); the Horned God of wildlife, death, and rebirth; the Earth Mother; and the Green Man.
   Most of us believe that we evolve spiritually over the course of many lifetimes. Upon death we go to the Summerland, a state of rest and reflection, and eventually we choose when and where to be reborn.
    We also believe that everyone has access to the divine. We have no revealed scripture, prophet, or messiah. We do not have a manmade structure or building to worship in, ie: chruch, some larger covens will build a Covenstead. Our place of worship is outside (weather permitting), there you are surrounded by the Earth energy and The God and Goddess. We do not believe that race, ethnic heritage, gender or sexual orientation matter when it comes to spiritual worth. So we welcome all those whose hearts are drawn to the Old Religion. Last but not least, we think people should be free to choose the religion that best fits their needs. Paganism is not the only valid spiritual path, and we try to respect and learn from other religions. But Paganism isn't only about what we believe. It's mostly about what we do and how we live.
    And so we work magick, real magick, which is not like the hocus-pocus in movie and fantasy novels. But magick only for positive purposes: spiritual development, healing, guidance, safety, and so forth. With magick we visit realms unseen by other eyes, make our visions manifest, and re-create our lives.
     We work our magick according to the MOON Phases. We also gather at Sabbat festivals to celebrate the change of the seasons. Witches prefer to meet outdoors when possible.
     Witches work, study and celebrate in small groups, usually 3 to 13 in number, called covens; and sometimes in larger groups or "groves". These may be associated with a tradition or federation, but are usually autonomous- there is NO central church authority. That is why we have dozens of diverse traditions with somewhat different beliefs.
    Witches take RESPONSIBILITY! We are God/Goddess, integral parts of the Divinity that surrounds us.
    Healing is an ancient part of our heritage, from the days of the herb women and cunning men of the villages of Europe. So it is no surprise that many modern Witches follow professions within the healing arts.
    Witches sense a wider world than most people imagine; part of our calling is to explore the tiny nooks of wilderness, the astral planes of existence, the realms of the honored dead, the kingdoms of imagination, the ancient past and the possible futures, and to discover God/Goddess and our ownwholeness in the quest.