The Wiccan Ardanes

1. The Law was made and ardane of old by those whom art called, The Old Ones.

2. The Law was made for the Wicce, to advise and help comfort in their troubles.

3. The Wicca should give due worship to the Gods and obey Their will, which they ardane, for it was made for the good of Wicce, as the worship of the Wicce is good for the gods. For the Gods love the brethren of the Wicce, and it is from this love that cometh the Power.

4. As a man loveth a woman by mastering her,

5. So should the Wicce love the Gods by mastering them.

6. And it is necessary that the Magick Circle, which is the temple of the Gods, should be duly cast and purified that it may be a fit place for the Gods to enter and dwell.

7. And the Wicce should be properly purified and prepared in heart to enter into the presence of the Gods.

8. With love and worship in their hearts, they shall raise power from their bodies to give power to the Gods. And in so doing the complete Circle is formed.

9. As has been taught of old.

10. For in this way only may man have communication with the Gods, for the gods cannot help men without the help of man.

11. And the High Priestess shall rule Her Coven as the representative of the Goddess.

12. And the High Priest shall support and protect Her as the representative of the God.

13. And the High Priestess shall choose whom She will, if he have sufficient rank, to be Her High Priest.

14. For, as the God Himself kissed Her feet in the Five-fold salute, laying His power at the feet of the Goddess, because of Her youth and beauty, Her sweetness and kindness, Her wisdom and Her justice, Her humility and gentleness and generosity,

15. So He resigned all His power to Her.

16. But the High Priestess should ever mind that the power comes from Him.

17. It is only lent, to be used wisely and justly.

18. And the greatest virtue of a High Priestess be that She recognizes that youth is necessary to the representative of the eternal Goddess.

19. So she will gracefully retire in favour of a younger woman should the Coven so decide in council.

20. For the true High Priestess realizes that gracefully and humbly surrendering pride of place is one of the greatest virtues.

21. And it shal be that She thereby return to that pride of place in another life, with greater power and beauty.

22. In the old days, when Witches extended far, we were truly free and joyfully worshipped in all the greatest temples.

23. But, in these unhappy times of woe, we must celebrate our Sacred Mysteries in secret.

24. So be it ardane, that none but the Wicce may see our Mysteries, for our enemies are many and torture loosens the tongue of men.

25. So be it ardane, that no Coven may know where the next Coven bide.

26. Or who its members be, save only the Priest and Priestess and Messenger.

27. And there shall be no communication between them, save only by the Messenger of the Gods, or the Summoner.

28. And only if it be safe may the Covens meet in some safe and secret place for the Great Festivals.

29. And while there, none shall say whence they came, nor give their true names.

30. To this end, that if any be tortured, in their agony, they may not tell if they do not know.

31. So be it ardane, that no one shall tell anyone, not of the Craft, who be of the Wicce, nor give any names, or where any abide, or in any way tell anything which can betray any of us to our foes.

32. Nor may he tell where the Covendom be.

33. Nor the Covenstead.

34. Nor where the meetings be.

35. And if any break these Laws, without express permission, even under torture, the curse of the Goddess shall be upon them, so they may never be reborn on earth, and may remain where they belong, in the hell of the Christians.

36. Let each High Priestess govern Her Coven with justice and love, and with the help and advice of the High Priest and the Elders, always heeding the advice of the Messenger of the Gods, if he cometh.

37. She will heed all complaints of all Brothers and strive to settle all differences among them in reason and justice.

38. But it must be recognized that there will always be people who will ever strive to force others to do as they will.

39. These are not necessarily evil.

40. And they oft have good ideas, and such ideas should be talked over and decided in council.

41. But, if they will not agree with their Brothers, or if they say,

42. "I will not work under this High Priestess,"

43. It hath ever been the Old Law, to be convenient to the Brethren, and to avoid disputes.

44. Any of the third may claim to found a new Coven, because they live over a league away from the Covenstead or are about to do so.

45. Anyone living within the Covendom and wishing to form a new Coven shall tell the Elders of their intentions and on the instant avoid their dwelling and remove to the new Covendom.

46. Members of the old Coven may join the new one when it is formed, but if they do so, they must utterly, unless otherwise so bidden, avoid the old Coven.

47. The Elders of the new and old Covens shall meet in peace and brotherly love to decide the new boundaries.

48. Those of the craft who live outside both Covens may join either indifferently, but certainly not both.

49. Though all may, if the Elders be in agreement, meet for the Great Festivals, if it be truly in peace and brotherly love,

50. But it is known that the splitting the Coven often means strife, so for this reason these Laws were made of old, and may the Curse of the Goddess be on any who disregard or take these Laws lightly!!

SO BE IT ARDANE

51. If ye would keep a Black Book, let it be in your own hand of write, let all Brothers and Sisters copy what they will, but never shall ye let the book out of your hands, and ys shall never keep the writings of another.

52. For if it be found in their hand of write, they may be taken and engained.

53. And let each guard his own writings, and destroy them whenever danger threatens.

54. Learn as much as you may by heart, and when danger is past, rewrite your book an it be safe.

55. For this reason, if any die, destroy their book, an they have not been able to.

56. For an it be found, 'tis clear proof against them.

57. And our oppressors know well "Ye may not be a Witch alone".

58. So all their kin and friends be in danger of torture.

59. So destroy everything not necessary.

60. If your book be found on you, 'tis clear proof against you alone. You may be engained.

61. Under torture keep all thoughts of the Craft from your mind.

62. If the torture be too great to bear, say "I will confess. I cannot bear this torture. What would you have me to say?"

63. If they try to make you talk of the Brotherhood, do not.

64. But if they try to make you speak of impossibilities such as flying through the air, consorting with the christian devil, or sacrificing children or eating men's flesh,

65. To obtain relief from the torture, say, "I hold an evil dream, I was beside myself, I was crazed."

66. Not all the magistrates are cruel; if there be any excuse, they may show mercy.

67. If you have confessed ought, deny it afterwards. Say you babbled under the torture, say you know not what you said.

68. If you are condemned, fear not.

69.Fear not, the Brotherhood is powerful, they will help you to escape if you, but stand steadfast in trust.

70. But if you betray any Secrets, and Bretheren, there is no hope for you in this life or any that is to come.

71. Be sure, if steadfast you go to the pyre, drugs will reach you, you will feel naught. You go but to death and that peace which lies beyond.

72. To avoid discovery, let the working tools be as ordinary things that any may have in their houses.

73. Let the Pentacles be of wax so that they may be broken at once or melted should danger threaten.

74. Have no sword, unless your rank allows you one.

75. Have no names or signs on anything.

76. Write the names or signs on them in ink immediately before consecrating them and wash it off immediately after all rites have ended.

77. Do not engrave them lest they cause discovery.

78. Let the color of the hilts tell which is which.

79. Ever remember, ye are the "Hidden Children of the Goddess", so never do anything to disgrace them or Her.