J. Random Folksinger writes:
I had reason to search the Web under my pseudonym, J. Random
Folksinger, and found a couple of my works included in your Book of
Shadows Index. While it is nice to see my writings still in
circulation, my Commentaries on the Abbreviated Laws (included in the
Abbreviated Laws file) and the Book of the New Law (free-standing)
are among my more negative works.
I am much prouder of my modern-English version of the Old Laws of the
Craft, which is mainly different from the other versions because you
can understand the language. I made no deletions and extremely few
additions to the original texts, and compared over 10 different
versions as well as various exigeses which were lovingly sent me by
Judy Harrow.
I would very much like to have this added to your files, and have
attached a copy for your perusal and/or addition. This is in DOS Text
format, feel free to convert it to HTML if needed.
In Service to the Goddess,
Moss Bliss
aka J.Random Folksinger and Harry Smothers (many filk references)
THE LAWS
YOUR HIGH PRIESTESS
In the Magic Circle, the words, commands, and wishes of the High
Priestess are Law. She is the earthly representative of our gracious
Goddess. She is to be obeyed and respected in all things. She is our
Lady and, above all others, a Queen in the highest sense of the word.
All female coveners will curtsy and say "Blessed Be" when
they come before Her, and all male coveners will bend their knee and
kiss Her on the right cheek and say "Blessed Be".
YOUR HIGH PRIEST
In the Magic Circle, the High Priest is the earthly representative of
the Great God. He commands the respect due a Magus, Lord Counselor,
and father.
THE LAWS
THE LAWS WERE MADE FOR THE WITCHES TO ADVISE THEM IN THEIR TROUBLES. DO
NOT CHANGE THEM LIGHTLY.
1. The Witches should worship the Gods as is their due, and obey their
will. For the worship of the Gods is good for the Witches even as the
worship of the Witches is good for the Gods: For the Gods love all
their Witches.
2. As a man loves a woman more by learning more of her wants and
desires, so should the Witches love the Gods by the learning
(mastering) of them.
3. It is necessary that the Magic Circle, which is the Temple of the
Gods in these times, be cast and purified such that it may be a
fitting place for the Gods; and the Witches should be properly
prepared and purified to enter into the presence of the Gods.
4. With love and worship in their hearts the Witches shall raise power
from their bodies (and the elements around them), and they shall
offer this power to the Gods so that the Gods may help their Witches.
5. The High Priestess shall rule her coven as the representative of the
Goddess, and the High Priest shall support her as the representative
of the God. The High Priestess will choose any member of the coven to
be her High Priest, if he has sufficient standing in the coven. As
the God Himself kissed our Lady's feet, gave Her the five-fold
salute, and offered Her His power because of Her youth and beauty,
Her sweetness and kindness, Her wisdom and justice, Her humility,
gentleness, and generosity, and shared His power with Her, so
therefore the High Priestess should always be aware that all power
comes from Him; it is only lent, to be used wisely and justly.
6. The greatest virtue of a High Priestess shall be recognition that
youth is necessary to the representative of the Goddess. She will,
therefore, gracefully retire in favor of a younger covener should the
coven so decide in council. The true High Priestess should realize
that gracefully surrendering the pride of place is one of the
greatest virtues, and that thereby she will return to that pride of
place in another life with even greater power and beauty.
7. In the Old Days, when there were many Witches, we were free and
worshipped freely in the greatest temples; but in these times, we
must celebrate our sacred mysteries in secret. Therefore, none but
the Witches is to see our mysteries; no coven shall know the location
of any other coven or who its members are, except the High Priest,
the High Priestess, and the Messenger; and that there shall be no
communication among the covens, except by the Messenger of the Gods
or the Summoner.
Only if it is safe may the covens meet in some safe place for the Great
Festivals; and while there, none shall give their true names or any
information about their coven or its members. This law is made for
this reason: no one can tell our enemies what they do not themselves know.
8. It is ordained that no one shall tell any person not in the Craft
who other Witches are, or give them names, or addresses, or in any
way tell anything that can betray a Witch to their face. Nor may
anyone tell where the covendom or covenstead is, where any meetings
are held, or any other information about the coven unless directed to
do so by the coven in council.
9. If anyone breaks these laws, even under torture, may the Curse of
the God and the Goddess be upon them, so that they may not be reborn
upon the Earth (but shall live forever in the Hell of the Christians).
10. Let each High Priest and High Priestess govern their coven with
justice and love, with the help and advice of the other and of the
elders of the coven, always heeding the advice of the Messenger of
the Gods if he should arrive. They will heed all the suggestions of
their coveners and strive to settle any differences among them.
11. It is recognized that there will always be people who will try to
make everybody agree with their ideas: these people are not
necessarily bad -- they often have good ideas, and these ideas should
be discussed in council. But if they will not come to agree with
their other coveners, or if they say, "I will not work with this
High Priestess," then the elders will have them leave. It should
be suggested that they might join another coven, or if they are of
sufficient standing they may be encouraged to found their own coven.
For it is better this way, to avoid strife among the family of Witches.
12. When using geographic boundaries, whenever anyone of Third Degree
lives more than a league from the covenstead (or are about to), any
of these may found a new coven; indeed, any Witch living within the
covenstead who wishes to form a new coven will inform the elders of
this intention, and immediately move to a new dwelling beyond the
boundaries of known covensteads. Members of any coven may choose to
join the new coven when it is formed, but they must totally avoid
their old coven if they choose this course. The elders of the old and
new covens should meet in peace and love to determine the boundaries
of the covens. Any Witch living outside of any two covens may choose
to join either coven, but never both. All may meet for the Great
Festivals if the elders agree, so long as they meet in peace and
love. Let the elders confer as to the use of this law when it is not
directly applicable. Always be aware that the splitting of a coven
breeds bad feelings (energy vortices?); this law was made chiefly for
this reason. And may happier times come!
13. If you would keep a Book (whether it is called a Black Book, Book of
Shadows, Book of Light, or whatever), write it in your own hand. Let
your brothers and sisters in the Craft copy as they will from your
book in their hand, but never let your Book out of your hands and
never keep the writing of another. Every Witch should keep and guard
their own writings, that none may be discovered through their Book
being found in another's possession.
14. Destroy your Book whenever danger threatens, and commit as many as
possible of these Laws to memory. Destroy the writings of a deceased
Witch if they did not have time to do so themselves. If any of their
writings are found, it is clear proof against both the writer and the
holder, for our enemies firmly believe that "one may not be a
Witch alone": their family and all who are known to be friends
may be suspected as Witches. Be responsible with your writings and
you will protect all who love you.
15. If your Book is found on you, it is clear proof against you along
unless you tell our enemies what you know. You may be taken and
tortured, but keep all thoughts of the Craft from your mind. If the
torture is too much to bear, tell them, "I cannot bear this
torture. I will confess. What do you want me to say?" If they
try to make you talk about the Craft, do not; but if they try to make
you speak of absurd things, such as flying through the air,
consorting with the Christian devil, sacrificing children, or eating
men's flesh, say, "I held an evil dream; I was beside myself; I
was crazed," or words to that effect, to obtain relief from the
torture. Not all magistrates are bad -- if there
is any semblance of an excuse, they may show mercy. If you have
confessed to anything, deny it afterwards: say that you babbled under
torture, or that you don't remember what you said. If you are
condemned, do not be afraid, for the Craft is powerful and your
escape will be aided if you stand fast. If you go steadfast to the
flames, be certain that drugs will reach you and you will feel
nothing of the pain. You will only go to death and what lies beyond
-- the ecstasy of the God and the Goddess. If you betray anything,
however, there is no hope for you in this life or that which is to come.
16. To avoid being discovered, choose your working tools to be ordinary
items which you would have around the house. Make your Pentacles out
of wax so that you can break and melt them at once. Do not keep a
sword unless its presence would alarm no one. Have no signs or names
visible on anything: write the signs in ink or water immediately
before consecrating the tool, and wash them off immediately after. Do
not engrave anything, for this will only help you be discovered. Keep
your athame and kerfan (working knife) among your kitchen knives, and
let the colors of the hilts determine the one from the other and from
the other knives. Always remember that we are the Hidden Children of
the Goddess. Never do anything to disgrace the Craft or Her -- never
boast, never threaten, and never say that you wish ill of anyone.
17. It is not forbidden to say, "There is Witchcraft in the
land," for the Christians say so themselves and have made it
heresy not to believe so; but always say, "I know nothing of it
here, though it may be elsewhere." If any person speaks about
the Craft outside of the Circle, say, "Don't speak of such
things -- it frightens me. It is bad luck to talk about such
things." Say this for this reason: the Christians have their
spies everywhere. These spies have been known to talk as if they were
drawn to the Craft and as if they would want to come to our meetings,
and they say such things as, "My fathers and forefathers
worshipped the Old Ones, and my mother; I would like to worship in
this way myself." To all of these, tell them that you do not
know what they are talking about, and that you wish they would stop.
But to others, say, "It's silly to talk about Witches flying
around in the air; they would have to be lighter than feathers or
thistle-down. Besides, everyone knows that Witches are all
bleary-eyed old hags; what fun could they possibly have at their
meetings, and why should I want to participate? And besides, you know
we were taught in school that there are no such things as
Witches." Always make fun of the subject, that we may worship in
peace when the persecution ends: let us all work for that happy time.
May the blessing of the God and the Goddess be upon all who keep this law.
18. If any in the Craft holds any property, let all Witches guard it and
keep it clear and good for the use of the Craft. It is the further
responsibility of all Witches to guard Craft funds wisely.
19. If any Witch offers a well-made item, it is proper to pay them for
it according to the value of the work; this is not taking money for
the Craft, but payment for honest work -- even the Christians believe
that "the labourer is worth his hire". Still, if any Witch
works willingly for the good of the Craft and will not accept
payment, this shall be to their greater honor.
20. It is known that a coven may be bound together by sexual ties, and
that this is often not desirable. When it is found that this is not
desirable, the coven should be made up of loving couples, and there
may also be single coveners. In such cases, it is required that the
search for new love be undertaken outside the coven except when two
single coveners find love with each other; otherwise, it will often
cause division in the coven. For while all acts of love and pleasure
are indeed the rituals of our beloved Goddess, She is not inclined to
favor acts which divide Her covens and scatter Her Witches unnecessarily.
21. If there should arise quarrels or disputes among the Witches, the
High Priestess or High Priest shall immediately convene the elders
and inquire into the problem. The elders shall hear each side
separately, and then both together. Their decision should be just, not siding
with one side until the matter is determined, recognizing that there
are people who cannot work under others, and others who cannot make
wise decisions. To those who must always be in charge, the possible
solutions for them are to void the coven altogether, find another
coven for them, or for them to found a new coven (taking with them
all who will go). To those who cannot rule wisely, the solution is
that those who cannot bear the rule will leave the coven. No one can
truly worship the Gods when personal conflicts among the coveners are
not resolved; all who cause strife in the coven must be told, "Go
away from us, for the Craft must ever survive."
22. In the Old Days, we could use the Art against anyone who treated the
Witches badly; but in these times, we must not do so. Our enemies
have invented a burning pit of everlasting fire into which their God
throws everyone who does not worship Him, except for those few who
buy their penance from His priests (for their God always seems to be
in need of money). Even as our Gods need our aid to make fertility
for people and crops, so it is that the God of the Christians is
always needing men to find and destroy us. Their priests tell them
that any man who is helped by us will be damned to their Hell
forever, to the point that men are mad with the terror of it. But the
priests also make them believe that they may escape this Hell if they
give up Witches to be tortured, so that these men are always
thinking, "If I catch only one Witch, I will escape the fiery
pit." For this reason we have our hiding places, and when no
Witches are found, the searchers will say, "There aren't any
Witches, or at least not in this area." But as soon as one of
our oppressors dies or even catches a cold, the cry will go up that
it is "Witches' work", and the hunt will be on again. And
while they may kill ten Christians for every Witch, they will not
care, for they are countless millions while we are few indeed.
23. THEREFORE, IT IS ORDAINED that none shall use the Art in any way to
harm anyone or even wish them ill. However much they may injure us,
HARM NONE, and may the Christians forget that we exist.
24. These laws are ordained to help us in our difficulties. No person,
no matter how large the injury or injustice they incur, may use the
Art in any way to do evil or harm anyone. But they may use the Art,
after great consultation with the elders and fellow coveners, to keep
the Christians and their tools from harming anyone -- but only to
constrain them. To this end, some day men will say, "That man
says he is a mighty persecutor of Witches, but all we ever see him
torture are old women -- we cannot see that they have hurt anyone,
and if they are all such powerful Witches, why has he not been
harmed?" They will see him
as the evil person he is, regardless of his professed beliefs. We
know that too many people have died because someone had a grudge
against them, or were persecuted because another wanted their wealth
or because they were too poor to bribe the witch-hunters. And many
have died only for being old women -- so many that most men now seem
to believe that only old women are Witches. This is to our advantage,
for it turns many suspicious eyes away from us; but we mourn deeply
for the old women. Still, in England and Scotland, it has been
hundreds of years since a Witch "died the death"; be
vigilant, for the misuse of our power might begin the persecutions
again. Never break this law no matter how much you are tempted. Never
consent to the breaking of this law: even a High Priestess who merely
consents to the breaking of this law must be deposed immediately, for
it is the blood of all the Witches that she endangers. DO ONLY GOOD,
and then only when it is safe to do anything at all.
25. Never accept money for the use of the Art, for money always smudges
the receiver. Christians take money for the use of their arts, and
they sell pot-metal charms, pardons, and potions to men so that they
may escape from their sins. Do not act like these; as long as you
refuse to take money, you will be free from the temptation to use the
Art for evil causes. All may use the Art for their own advantage, or
for the advantage of the Craft, but you must always be certain that
no one will be harmed by its use. Let the coven debate the use of the Art at
length, and only when all are satisfied that none will be harmed by
its use will the use be allowed. Remember that if you cannot achieve
your means in one fashion, your aim may still be reached through
another -- always harming none.
26. If anyone in the Craft needs a house or land and there is no one
willing to sell to them, you may use the Art to incline an owner's
mind to be willing to sell, provided that the spell does not harm the
owner or the property and that the full value is paid without
haggling. Never bargain or cheapen anything while living by the Art.
27. The most important of laws: Do nothing that will endanger anyone
in the Craft or which will bring them into conflict with the law of
the land or any of our persecutors. In this regard, it is NEVER permissible,
in any dispute involving the Craft, to invoke any laws other than
those of the Craft, nor may any tribunals be held other than one
consisting of the High Priestess, the High Priest, and the elders.
28. The coven is to keep two books on herbalism: one of these will list
the names and uses of all herbs which are cures for ills or are
otherwise good for humans, and all may have access to this book to
learn these things. But keep a separate book with the names of all
poisonous herbs and those used in dark spells, letting only the
elders and other trusted Witches know of these secrets or even of
this book's existence.
29. Remember that the Art is the secret of the Gods and may only be used
in earnest -- never for show, or pride, or personal glory. The
Christians may taunt you saying, "You have no power: Perform
some magic for us, and then we may believe." Do not listen to
them, for the Art is holy and is to be used only in need.
30. It has always been the way of men and women that they should seek
after love, and while no one should be reproved for this, it may be
to the disadvantage of the Craft sometimes. It has happened too many
times that a High Priestess has found a new love and run off with
him, giving no word to the coven of this. A High Priestess may resign
in full coven at any time, and this resignation is valid; but if she
has not resigned, the coven shall wait for her to return for a year
and a day (for she may return sooner, having left for love). If she
has a deputy, that deputy is to act as Priestess for as long as the
High Priestess is away. If she returns within this time, all will be
as if she had never left; but if she does not return within this
time, a new High Priestess shall be elected in full coven. Unless
there is a good reason to the contrary, the deputy, having done the
work, should reap the reward and be chosen as the new High Priestess.
But if another is chosen, the deputy shall be the maiden and deputy
of the new High Priestess.
31. The High Priest serves at the pleasure of the High Priestess. If the
High Priestess is gone for more than a year and a day, he shall
continue in his office while the deputy serves in her place. However,
once a new High Priestess has been chosen, the new High Priestess
will appoint her own High Priest (and it may be the current High
Priest or not). Neither the prior High Priest nor his friends may be
angry if a new High Priest is chosen, for pride must always give way
to harmony in the coven.
32. The Art is sacred: it is the Art of the working of energies, and it
must always be taught inside of the Magic Circle. It has been found
that teaching the Art frequently leads to a sexual attraction between
the teacher and student -- and that this often improves the result.
If for any reason this is not desirable, it should be avoided at the
beginning by both persons firmly - and verbally - resolving that
their relations will be limited to that of brother and sister, or
parent and child. It is for the reason that shared love often
increases the result of working magic that teaching should always be
done from man-to-woman and from woman-to-man. When a coven is made up
of members of all one sex, the masculine-to-feminine energy exchange
should be adhered to whenever possible. Teaching people about the
Craft, however, may be done whenever and wherever it is safe, so long
as the teacher is knowledgeable, the student is willing, and the
information taught is available publicly or is not a secret of the
Art. No one may charge for teaching, unless it is to cover such
expenses as the cost of the room, books or other printed materials,
refreshments, and so forth.
33. Order and discipline must be kept within the coven: the High
Priestess or the High Priest should and may punish all faults. To
this end, all in the Craft should receive their correction willingly.
With the culprit kneeling, all in the Circle should be told of the
offense, and the sentence will be pronounced. Punishment might
include the scourge or the recasting of the Circle, followed by
something silly such as several kisses. The culprit must acknowledge
the justice of the punishment by kissing the scourge upon receiving
sentence, and afterward by thanking everyone for their loving correction.
SO MOTE IT BE!
Source: "J. Random Folksinger" (I did this as a project for my 2nd
Degree.) - Available on most pagan BBSes and the Web as JRFLaws.
These laws are a combination of what I was taught and what I learned,
using many different sources, including my neo-Gardnerian training,
two different sets of Celtic Craft laws, several other versions found in
print, exigeses lovingly provieded me by Judy Harrow, and the picked brains
of several of my students. You may contact the redactor at
mordewis@infotrail.net, as of 11/99 (subject to change).
Chroma, hue, brightness, contrast and depth ....or the world is grey and flat.
Seuss/Zappa: 2000 -- Ascended Masters Party
Visit my webpage at http://moss.witchesgathering.com; hear some of my
songs at http://www.witchesgathering.com/moss.html