In the 1970's, the Council of American Withes, drew up a list of basic principles.
1. We practice rites to attune ourselves with the natural rhythm of life forces.
2. We recognize that our intelligence gives us an unique responsibility toward our environment
3. We acknowledge a depth of power far greater than is apparent in the average person.
4. We conceive of the creative power in the universe as both masculine and feminine. We value neither gender above the other.
5. We recognize both outer worlds and inner, psycological worlds, and we see in the interaction of these two dimentions the basis for paranormal and magickal exercises.
6. We do not recognize any authoritarian hierarchy.
7. We see religion, magick and wisdom-in-living as being united in the way one veiws the world and lives in it.
8. Calling oneself a "witch" does not make a witch, but neither does heredity itself, or the collecting of titles, degrees, and initiations. Witches seek to control the forces within themselves that make life possible in order to live wisely and well, without harm to others, and in harmony with Nature.
9. Our only animosity towards Christianity, or toward any other religion of philosophy of life, is that its institutions have claimed to be "the one true, right and only way" and have sought to deny freedom to others and to suppress other ways of religious practices and beliefs.
10. We are not threatened by debates on the history of the Craft. We are concerned with our present and our future.
11. We do not accept the concept of absolute evil, nor do we worship any entity known as "Satan" or "the devil" as defined by Christian traditions.
12. We work with Nature for that which contributes to our health and well-being.
