Overview of Wiccan Spiritual Philosophy

by Rev. Selena Fox of Circle Sanctuary
excerpted from materials provided to US military chaplains at the Pentagon

Spiritual Principles 

Honor the Divine, understanding It as immanent and transcendant, as well as both multifaceted and as a united, interconnected whole.

Live life with consideration of others as well as oneself, endeavoring to be of service and to do no harm.

Celebrate and attune to Nature and Nature's rhythms understanding this as central to Divine understanding and worship.

Spiritual Values 

Cultivate virtues, including integrity, honesty, reliability, responsibility, balance, perseverance, empathy, kindness, compassion, knowledge, service, freedom.

Cultivate balance and moderation, such as balancing intellect and intuition in cognitive processing; work and rest in daily life; time with others and time alone.

Cultivate good communication and healthy relationships with family, friends, community, and the greater Circle of Life.

Conceptualizing The Divine 

"The Divine" is a term often used to refer to what is known in other religions as "God" (Christianity, Judaism), "Allah" (Islam), "Tao" (Taoism), and "Great Spirit" (Native American religions). Since The Divine is viewed as both immanent (indwelling) and as transcendent (beyond the limits of humaness), spiritual philosophy is Panentheistic. In that The Divine is viewed as a Great Unity, spiritual philosophy has a Monotheistic dimension. In that The Divine is also viewed as multifaceted, spiritual philosophy also is Polytheistic. The Divine is honored as both Mother Goddess and Father God, as well as Their Unity. In addition, The Goddess and The God have many sacred forms or aspects. The Divine also is acknowledged as manifest through the Five Elements of Nature (Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit). As with most other Nature religions, spiritual philosophy also is Animistic, in that The Divine takes the form of a spiritual dimension not only within living humans, but within ancestors, animals, plants, places, and all things.

Nature 

Attunement to and communion with Nature are central to spiritual philosophy and practice. Humans are viewed as part of Nature, not as dominators or as owners of Nature.

Circle 

The predominant ritual and social space form is the circle. As in ancient times, the circle represents many concepts, including wholeness, balance, the cycles of Nature, continuity, partnership, and interconnectedness. The circle is used by individuals in personal rituals as well as by large and small groups for group rituals and festivals. The circle form facilitates shared experience and encourages participation.

References

Information was compiled by Selena Fox from a variety of sources in the Circle Sanctuary archives, including:

• Adler, Margot (1979, 1986, 1997). Drawing Down the Moon. Revised and expanded edition. New York : Penguin/Arkana.
• Ahlquist, Cynthia (1999). Llewellyn's Witches' Calendar. St. Paul, Minnesota: Llewellyn Publications.
• Carpenter, Dennis, Ph.D., editor. CIRCLE Magazine. Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin: Circle Publications. published since 1978.
• Fox, Selena (1979). Circle Guide to Wicca and Pagan Resources. Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin: Circle Publications.
• Guiley, Rosemary (1989). The Encyclopedia of Witches and Witchcraft. New York: Facts on File.