Chapter 4: Rules and Covens

Morals/ Rules
We have just as many morals as anyone else. But our big rules have to do with the rule of three. All that basically means is anything you do comes back to you. So do something nice and you get nice reflected back at you times three. If you do something bad same thing, what you gave out times three. This isn’t exact math though; if you give someone a hundred dollars don’t expect three hundred dollars to come back at you. There are no good witches or bad witches, just people. One other big thing to remember if you start doing spells though is you can suffer consequences if a spell backfires or you don’t ask permission to cast it onto someone. The only rule we have is to not harm others, so we don’t cast “evil spells” or anything like that.
We do not believe in Satan, but respect other religions. The only problem we have with other religions is their idea that their way is the only right way. God/the all is like a diamond – there are many faucets (faces) to it and no matter which one you choose to look through you are seeing the same center. This is how religion is, you just have to find the religion that works with your perspective. There is no right way to practice your spirituality, and there is no right way to practice Wicca. A witch is just a Wiccan who has studied and has done their dedication ceremony; a witch seeks to control the forces within themselves, they live wisely, and are in harmony with nature. They also know mind, religion, spirit, and magical applications function together and it is important to have an open mind.
We have an “official” moral code called the Reed. It is basically a poem that instructs you what you can or can not do. It reminds you to share perfect love and trust, to merry meet and merry part, blessed be, cast circles for spiritual safety, and listen more than you speak. It has many little rules in it but most people don’t follow it word for word because the last line is “Eight words the Wiccan Reed fulfill: An ye harm none, do what ye will.” This basically means that it doesn’t matter if you follow all the little rules in the poem as long as you follow the last and most important one of not harming anyone.

The Wiccan “Church”: Covens
Instead of “churches” we have covens. The Wiccan religion has no central government and anyone can create a coven. Each coven has Ordains (rules) and a way of doing things, as well as a B.O.S. (a B.O.S. is a Book of Shadows which is a reference book every Wiccan and every coven makes for themselves). You can become a member of a coven by being initiated. A coven is a group of four or more Wiccans helping each other along a spiritual path. If you do not want to be part of a coven right away you can be a solitary. To do that you have to have a dedication ceremony where you dedicate yourself to the lord and lady and to your study of the craft. This can be done at age twelve or older.
There are different positions in the coven. Temple summoner (or maiden) is a skilled person who assists the High Priest and High Priestess. The Officers of the Quarters are the people (one for each direction) who are responsible for a certain element in a ceremony. A Priest/Priestess is a person who dedicates themselves to helping others and to the path of the lady/lord. A High Priest/High Priestess is a Priest/Priestess that has certain responsibilities in a coven and is the leader in some of the coven ceremonies. Usually the elders or the people mentioned above decide democratically what the coven will or will not do and what rules they will have, with all ties being broken by a decision between the High Priestess and High Priest. The Ordains are a set of spiritual and practical coven laws, and are decided when the coven is formed but can be modified later.
There are youth covens, ran and including Wiccans from age 12 to 17. There are adult covens limited to 18 years of age and above, and family covens which include people of all ages. A good way to find a coven is through networking, like the website Witch’s Voice (http://www.witchvox.com).