"Deal Breaker" Concepts
this must be a coven without a tradition or in which anything goes. This is absolutely
not true. In an effort to further clarify what we believe as a tradition and what is
expected of members of Star and Spiral coven I’ve put together this short piece. Reading
this in addition to the Star and Spiral website and the UEW website should help you
decide if this is where you might belong.
The UEW tradition stands very strongly for a few specific concepts. If you don’t agree
with these ideas you shouldn’t even consider joining a UEW coven or learning the
tradition.
1) Intellectual Integrity
2) Historical Accuracy
3) The Five Points of Wiccan Belief
4) Personal Integrity
Having Intellectual Integrity is an ideal that may be uniquely UEW. We are an eclectic
tradition. That does not mean that we are merely a group of eclectic pagans hanging out
together. Universal Eclectic Wicca is a tradition of the religion of Wicca, just like the
Alexandrian tradition, the Correllian Nativist tradition, and many others. We
acknowledge that we can find truths in all paths and all things, hence “universal.” We
are willing to use knowledge from all sources and value a wide range of beliefs, hence
“eclectic.” However, we do not accept all uses of all things taken from any and every
source. We expect our practitioners to be responsible in their eclecticism, using research
and having a deep respect for any practice they adapt for use in Wicca. For instance,
holding a drum circle is a perfectly acceptable practice. Holding a drum circle and
claiming that it’s a Genuine Native American drum circle when you have no right to do
so is wrong. We quote our sources and research our practices.
Historical Accuracy is something we hold dear. No real UEWiccan will try to tell you
that Wicca is “The Old Religion” or even an old religion because there is no evidence to
support that claim, and there is much evidence that proves the opposite. We acknowledge
the difference between the mythological history of Wicca and the actual history of Wicca.
Myths have their place in any practice, but when you start taking your myth as The
Truth you end up with crazy people killing each other.
The Five Points of Wiccan Belief are our system of basic Wiccan ethics. This is what
broadly defines a Wiccan, according to UEW. First, there is the Rede, which states “An it
harm none do as you will.” Second we have The Law of Return, which states that what
you do comes back to you. We do not believe that there is a numerical modifier (x3, x10),
as there is no evidence to support this claim. Third is the Ethic of Personal
Responsibility: we must take responsibility for everything we do, good or ill. With
extraordinarily rare exception, no one may make us do anything against our will, not
even the gods. Fourth is the Ethic of Constant Improvement. We must strive to better
ourselves constantly, in every way, without fail. This means being a life-long learner, as
well as taking care of our physical selves. Lastly is the Ethic of Attunement, which says
we must honor the Divine in all things, and that we understand the Divine to be present
in the gods, the universe, and ourselves.
Personal Integrity reasonably follows from the Five Points. Having personal integrity
means holding yourself to a high standard of moral and ethical behavior. This means
being honest with yourself and others and keeping to your moral code. For Star and
Spiral Coven this means that we expect our members to be honest about who they are,
what their intentions are in wanting to join or learn in the teaching circle, and accepting
The Five Points, among other things. This means not just technically telling the truth,
but speaking the truth as it would be recognized by another person.
So, who wouldn’t fit in here?
1) Anyone who believes that being an eclectic gives them the right to steal the sacred
rites of another culture or the intellectual or physical property of another person.
2) Anyone who believes that Wicca is the ancient pan-European religion of a
matriarchal society that has been handed down in an unbroken line for 30,000 years or so.
3) People who believe that saying “harm none” makes them Wiccan or relieves them
of responsibility for anything.
4) People who can’t get past a modifier on The Law of Return.
5) People who need a devil or other enemy in order to justify the existence of bad
things.
6) People who believe that they have nothing to learn.
7) Anyone who things that the Divine resides only in the gods and that people and
all other parts of the universe are separate from the Divine.
8) People who believe that a free or purchased certificate of credentials from a degree-
mill should give them standing in the coven or the tradition.
9) People who feel that they should join to educate us.
10) Anyone who’s primary goal is initiation, some specific degree, or ordination.
11) Anyone who is needs treatment for or currently suffers from an uncontrolled
addiction or mental illness.
12) Anyone who has been convicted of a crime against children ever, or any felony in
general in the last ten years.
13) Anyone for whom religion is a Very Serious Thing and must always be treated as
such.
What’s a good sign I might fit in?
1) You’re willing to learn.
2) You’re willing to work hard to earn anything—which is to say, standing in the
coven, circles within the tradition, or ordination (if that become a goal).
3) You’re willing to contribute, to the coven and to the community. No one is
asking for your money, but giving time, volunteering to bring food or supplies, or even
to host an event or help with the planning are all ways to contribute.
4) You are willing to accept all Five Points of Wiccan Belief.
5) You have a decent sense of fun and are willing to accept that not every meeting or
ritual will be a somber affair.
6) You are willing to accept multiple views of or interpretations of the Divine.
