Sybil Leek's Six Tenets of Witchcraft (6 of 6)

Knowledge

Finally, there is the tenet of knowledge. Without knowledge, there is no growth, no chance to evolve. While we may read books and take classes, true learning also comes from life experience. To truly advance on a spiritual plane, we must accept the fact that we don't know everything there is to know, and that we must always continue to learn, both in this lifetime and in the next. Once we stop learning, we stagnate as a spiritual being.

A final note: It is important to remember that, much like other guidelines found in modern Pagan religions, this list does not apply to every path. Not all witches adhere to these tenets. If you are an eclectic practitioner, you may want to look at this list and see how it can be applied to your own belief system.

 Reblogged From author *Pattie Willington

- The Crafty Witch

Sybil Leek's Six Tenets of Witchcraft (5 of 6)

Tolerance

Tolerance may be one of the least acted-upon principles of many modern belief systems. While many people espouse the virtue of tolerance, many refuse to be so, making blanket statements about people whose religion doesn’t coincide with our own. To tolerate someone else's belief doesn’t mean to put up with it begrudgingly; instead it means to accept their right to choose differently from us. We are all human beings, and all connected to the Divine; this factor makes us part of the cosmic whole. When in fact we look at the concept of "do no harm" -- and this includes with our words as well as our actions -- we must refrain from doing harm not because a rule tells us so, but because it's the right thing to do. After all, what goes around comes around.

 

 Reblogged From author *Pattie Willington

- The Crafty Witch

Sybil Leek's Six Tenets of Witchcraft (4 of 6)

Humility

When we stand before the gods, we know that we are imperfect, and they know this too -- and yet they still manage to tolerate us and guide us. We are flawed, and yet we often try to be the best person we can. This paradox, then, is an example of humility. It is the knowledge that while we may be mere lowly mortals, we are deserving of love and happiness and opportunity -- and the chance to make the world a better place, not only for ourselves but for others. As part of this process, we must love ourselves, because if we don't, who will?

 Reblogged From author *Pattie Willington

- The Crafty Witch

Sybil Leek's Six Tenets of Witchcraft (3 of 6)

Trust

 A key part of many NeoWiccan paths today is the concept of perfect love and perfect trust. To someone who is spiritually whole, trust is a many-layered principle. It not only means trust in those around us, but also in our gods and in ourselves. Trust is not blind, but it does involve faith. For example, we may know that the gods walk with us and guide us; we trust them to do so because of past experience, not because someone has told us to believe this. Trust is being willing to close your eyes and fall, knowing that the person waiting to catch you will do so.

 

Original author *Pattie Willington

 

-The Crafty Witch

Sybil Leek's Six Tenets of Witchcraft (2 of 6)

Harmony

 Harmony is something we must give ourselves. It is not something others can attain for us, nor is it something that we can gain without effort. It is a gift to our soul, from our soul. How do we interact with others? Do we allow the shortcomings of the people in our life to negatively affect us? Are we forever blaming other people, and making excuses instead of finding reasons? If we are, then we are lacking harmony and must re-evaluate our life, and our perception of what things are. To truly find harmony, we have to stop looking around us and begin looking inside us. To this effect, harmony must work hand in hand with the concept of balance.

 

original author *Patti Willington

 

- The Crafty Witch