Explication of the Principles of Wiccan Belief - Part 2

By Angela Kaufman

“We recognize that our intelligence gives us a unique responsibility toward our environment.  We seek to live in harmony with nature in ecological balance offering fulfillment to life and consciousness within an evolutionary concept.”

This principle carries a heavy message, and it should be considered as a sum of smaller parts.  Recognizing an intelligence that gives us a unique responsibility toward our environment; this intelligence, of course, is cognitive, but it is also spiritual awareness.  Our intelligence in this regard refers not to IQ but to an awareness of and regard for nature and our true place within the tapestry of our ecosystem, not standing atop it with motives of dominion.  Our Wiccan beliefs support an awareness of the delicate balance in the natural world and our role as a part of nature not the dominant force in nature.  Having realized the significance of this Wiccan truth, that nature and the Earth are living, evolving, spiritual energies, that the Earth is our Mother, that the plant and animal life are connected to us, not inferior or dependent upon us, the Wiccan practitioner now carries a solemn responsibility to consider upholding this balance responsibly in their every action.  The intelligence then is an awareness of the natural currents that are physical manifestations of Divine energy in all forms of life on Earth. The responsibility is to respect, honor, and treat life on Earth as if life depends on it, as it does!

We seek to live in harmony with nature is of course a natural byproduct of this realization.  We seek to “fairly take and fairly give” as it is essential in Wiccan perspective to continuously observe the flow of energy (energy manifest in nature, growth, material things etc.) and that stagnation is the root of decay.  We seek to facilitate the balance in flow of energy in nature and ourselves.  We seek not to acquire for acquisition sake, nor to dominate people, animals, nature, or things for conquest or titles.  We seek to live in harmony recognizing our place is within the ecosystem and not at some imaginary throne on top of the food chain.  Our goal in attaining balance to the best of our abilities requires that we observe ways to fulfill our spiritual purpose that does not rely on the dominion of the natural world, but realizing our place within it, as facilitators of growth, harmony, balance and the flow of energy.

The phrase “offering fulfillment to life and consciousness within an evolutionary concept” supports this idea as well.  We seek to find our fulfillment in our role as part of nature and the ecosystem of our community, including the environment surrounding us.  Our sense of consciousness does not end with the human beings in our lives, but is believed to be inherent also in animals, plant life, and natural forces that all seek survival through evolving and growth, but also follow the cyclical patterns of nature, thereby also retreating, decaying, transforming and growing anew.  We seek to recognize these cycles within our own lifespan and to co-exist in the environment in which we live with an understanding of sustainability and balance.

Angela Kaufman is the coauthor of Wicca:What’s the Real Deal? Breaking Through the Misconceptions, along with Dayna Winters, and Patricia Gardner.  You can find out more about the book at: http://www.wwtrd.webs.com.