Ethics and Principles

These are very important to the Wiccan belief system.  They are the theology and codes of conduct for the Wiccan religion.

Principles of the Wiccan Belief System

Wicca is a broad movement with much internal diversity in its beliefs and practices, in large part because of the absence of any single leader or centralized governing body. Within Wiccan groups it is often considered more important for all members to follow the same ritual procedures than to believe the same thing.

Wiccans typically identify as Pagans and are heavily inspired by the extinct pre-Christian religions of Europe, North Africa, and western Asia and, to a lesser extent, by living non-Abrahamic religions such as Hinduism. They usually call themselves witches, although, in contrast to the traditional idea that witches are inherently bad, Wiccans give the term positive connotations. In the religion’s early decades, most Wiccans adhered to the idea of the Egyptologist-cum-folklorist Margaret Murray (1863–1963) that people persecuted as witches during the early modern period followed a pre-Christian religion. While many Wiccans no longer believe this discredited notion, they often feel a kinship with those historically accused of witchcraft.

Drawing on terminology associated with witchcraft, Wiccan groups call themselves covens. These are often led by a high priest and a high priestess and can have as few as three members, although 13 is repeatedly cited as the ideal number. Coven membership is typically granted through an initiation ritual. In several older traditions, such as Gardnerian and Alexandrian Wicca, initiates can advance through two additional degrees, reflecting the influence of Freemasonry’s three-degree system. Being initiated into a tradition connects the newcomer to that tradition’s lineage—something that certain Wiccans place great importance on. Admittance to a coven is typically at the discretion of its members: some covens are eager to recruit, and others are closed to new initiates. Most traditions welcome both men and women, although a few operate on a single-sex basis. Throughout Wicca’s history, there have been covens that excluded gay or transgender people; such exclusions are now less common, and the religion has a notably high proportion of LGBTQ adherents. Despite the importance of the coven structure in Wiccan history, most Wiccans today operate as solitary practitioners.

Theological views vary among Wiccans. Gardner presented a theology devoted to a mother goddess and a horned god, claiming both to be deities created by an unknowable deistic divinity. Many subsequent Wiccan groups have had different theologies—for instance, promoting goddess monotheism, pantheism, or polytheistic perspectives embracing deities from many world mythologies. There is also divergence among Wiccans as to whether the deities literally exist or are instead symbolic or archetypal figures. Despite this variation, the tendency to draw deity names and images from pre-Christian Europe is a recurring feature, as are rituals to invoke a deity to enter and possess a coven member, often termed “drawing down the moon.” Afterlife beliefs similarly vary; many Wiccans believe in reincarnation or in an afterlife realm called the Summerland.