American Council of Witches
Encyclopedia
The American Council of Witches (founded in 1973, and convened and disbanded in 1974) or "The Council of American Witches", was an independent group of approximately seventy three members who each followed a Pagan, Neopagan or Witchcraft
Tradition, who gathered to draft a set of common principles.
to postulate a summary set of principles which would clarify the actuality of Neopagan religions in North America
, unify and define the many differing beliefs across the many paths and traditions prevalent in Neopaganism at that time, and to counteract misinformation, cultural stigma, stereotypes, and governmental lack of recognition. This council was assembled by Carl Llewellyn Weschcke, the president of Llewellyn Worldwide
Ltd., one of the largest publishers of occult
, Neopagan, and New Age
books in the world. These principles, officially titled "Principles of Belief" within the document (but also referred to as "The Thirteen Principles of Belief" or "The Thirteen Principles of Wicca
n Belief"), are still endorsed by many American Witches, Neopagan groups and individuals.
In 1978 these principles were incorporated into the United States of America Army
's Religious Requirements and Practices of Certain Selected Groups: A Handbook for Chaplain
s in a section on the Wiccan religion. This section was prepared under the direction of Rev. Dr. J. Gordon Melton
, director of the Institute for the Study of American Religion and editor of the Encyclopedia of American Religion .
The American Council of Witches disbanded later that year due to difficulties in reconciling differences among its members' traditions.
, but are rather subject only to their inherent Divine
connection: "We are not bound by traditions from other times and other cultures and owe no allegiance to any person or power greater than the Divinity manifest through our own being."
The participants also expressed a desire to include anyone wishing to be affiliated with a Neopagan tradition, as long as their views, attitudes and opinions do not contradict or oppose those of the tradition: "In seeking to be inclusive, we do not wish to open ourselves to the destruction of our group by those on self-serving power trips, or to philosophies & practices contradictory to these principles. In seeking to exclude those whose ways are contradictory to ours, we do not want to deny participation with us to any who are sincerely interested in our knowledge & beliefs, regardless of race, color, sex, age, national or cultural origins, or sexual preference."
Below is a condensed version as provided by The American Council of Witches in 1974:
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
Tradition, who gathered to draft a set of common principles.
History
The council convened April 11–14, 1974, in a Spring "Witchmeet" in Minneapolis, MinnesotaMinneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
to postulate a summary set of principles which would clarify the actuality of Neopagan religions in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, unify and define the many differing beliefs across the many paths and traditions prevalent in Neopaganism at that time, and to counteract misinformation, cultural stigma, stereotypes, and governmental lack of recognition. This council was assembled by Carl Llewellyn Weschcke, the president of Llewellyn Worldwide
Llewellyn Worldwide
Llewellyn Worldwide is a New Age publisher, currently based in Woodbury, Minnesota, a suburb of St. Paul. Llewellyn's mission is to "serve the trade and consumers worldwide with options and tools for exploring new worlds of mind & spirit, thereby aiding in the quests of expanded human potential,...
Ltd., one of the largest publishers of occult
Occult
The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus , referring to "knowledge of the hidden". In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g...
, Neopagan, and New Age
New Age
The New Age movement is a Western spiritual movement that developed in the second half of the 20th century. Its central precepts have been described as "drawing on both Eastern and Western spiritual and metaphysical traditions and then infusing them with influences from self-help and motivational...
books in the world. These principles, officially titled "Principles of Belief" within the document (but also referred to as "The Thirteen Principles of Belief" or "The Thirteen Principles of Wicca
Wicca
Wicca , is a modern Pagan religious movement. Developing in England in the first half of the 20th century, Wicca was popularised in the 1950s and early 1960s by a Wiccan High Priest named Gerald Gardner, who at the time called it the "witch cult" and "witchcraft," and its adherents "the Wica."...
n Belief"), are still endorsed by many American Witches, Neopagan groups and individuals.
In 1978 these principles were incorporated into the United States of America Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
's Religious Requirements and Practices of Certain Selected Groups: A Handbook for Chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
s in a section on the Wiccan religion. This section was prepared under the direction of Rev. Dr. J. Gordon Melton
J. Gordon Melton
John Gordon Melton is an American religious scholar who was the founding director of the Institute for the Study of American Religion and is currently a research specialist in religion and New Religious Movements with the Department of Religious Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara...
, director of the Institute for the Study of American Religion and editor of the Encyclopedia of American Religion .
The American Council of Witches disbanded later that year due to difficulties in reconciling differences among its members' traditions.
The Views of The Council
The position of the Witches expressed in the document is that modern Witches are not bound to any modern interpretation of historical evidence or any contemporary hierarchyHierarchical organization
A hierarchical organization is an organizational structure where every entity in the organization, except one, is subordinate to a single other entity. This arrangement is a form of a hierarchy. In an organization, the hierarchy usually consists of a singular/group of power at the top with...
, but are rather subject only to their inherent Divine
Divinity
Divinity and divine are broadly applied but loosely defined terms, used variously within different faiths and belief systems — and even by different individuals within a given faith — to refer to some transcendent or transcendental power or deity, or its attributes or manifestations in...
connection: "We are not bound by traditions from other times and other cultures and owe no allegiance to any person or power greater than the Divinity manifest through our own being."
The participants also expressed a desire to include anyone wishing to be affiliated with a Neopagan tradition, as long as their views, attitudes and opinions do not contradict or oppose those of the tradition: "In seeking to be inclusive, we do not wish to open ourselves to the destruction of our group by those on self-serving power trips, or to philosophies & practices contradictory to these principles. In seeking to exclude those whose ways are contradictory to ours, we do not want to deny participation with us to any who are sincerely interested in our knowledge & beliefs, regardless of race, color, sex, age, national or cultural origins, or sexual preference."
The Thirteen Principles Of Belief
In April 1974 the council drafted a general set of principles loosely acceptable across the many traditions participating in the Council. This document, called Principles of Wiccan Belief, remains of importance to many modern-day Neopagan groups and individuals.Below is a condensed version as provided by The American Council of Witches in 1974:
Members on the Council
This is a list of some of the members on the Council of American Witches:- Carl Llewellyn Weschcke -- Chairman (acting)
- Gavin FrostGavin FrostGavin Frost , B.Sc., PhD, D.D., born in Aldridge, Staffordshire, England, is an occult author, a Wiccan Priest, a doctor of Physics and Mathematics, and a prominent member of the American Wiccan community...
- Herman SlaterHerman SlaterHerman Slater was an American Wiccan high priest and occult-bookstore proprietor as well as an editor, publisher, and author. He died of AIDS in 1992. - Beginnings :...
- Isaac BonewitsIsaac BonewitsPhillip Emmons Isaac Bonewits was an influential American Druid who published a number of books on the subject of Neopaganism and magic. He was also a liturgist, singer and songwriter, and founded the Druidic organisation Ár nDraíocht Féin, as well as the Neopagan civil rights group, the Aquarian...
- Oberon Zell-RavenheartOberon Zell-RavenheartOberon Zell-Ravenheart is a co-founder of the Church of All Worlds, as well as a writer and speaker on the subject of Neopaganism. He completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri in 1965...
(then Otter G'Zell)