The Laws

Leigh Ann Hussey

To: J RANDOM FOLKSINGER

I am disturbed and disappointed. "The Christians are our enemies." "They will torture you to make you talk about the Craft." "Lie about the Craft." "Covens splitting up makes for bad feelings."

What depressing garbage. This is the 20th century, and this is America, this is not Inquisition days. The more we keep secret, the more the ignorant will assume that we have horrible secrets to keep. The true secrets of the Gods cannot be given away, because they cannot be spoken - they are beyond all language. And as for bad feelings when covens break up, maybe that is how it is where you are, but around here, there is rejoicing when one coven becomes two. Seems to me like my best possible response to your "Laws" is the following song:

BURNING TIMES

The songs are sung to rouse our anger of martyred Witches gone to the fires,
But what is served by righteous singing, if all we do is stew in our ire?
Nine million dead in four hundred years;
More in that time simply died of disease.
Why do we dwell on long past dead
When we are alive in times like these?

(cho)
Rise up, Witches, throw off your masks
And cease crying guilt for ancient crimes.
Earth and all Her children need us
For ALL face now the Burning Times.

In the face of that hostile power, how did the old knowledge stay alive?
How have we still a Craft to practice? Our ancestors knew how to fight and survive!
How do we honor our blessed dead?
Slavery threatens us all but few.
We must teach their cunning ways -
EVERYONE needs the skills they knew!

(cho2)
Rise up, Witches, gather your strength,
And let your power spread and climb;
Earth and all Her children need us
For ALL face now the Burning Times.

I will not cast off Science's works - Witches all forces to Will can bend;
I'll not accuse for war and waste some patriarchy of faceless men.
Men do not cast the only votes;
Women alone do not demonstrate.
Rather than shut out half the race,
Who if not we will change that state?

(cho2)
I will not blame a Father's Church - blame and guilt are their tools, not mine,
And even in the schools and churches, allies there will I seek, and find!
I will not answer hate with fear,
Nor with a smug, cheek-turning love.
I will not answer hate with rage;
By strength alone will I not be moved!

(cho2)
I will not hide in my sacred grove - the fact'ries and cities yet ring me about;
I will not climb my ivory tower - the real world exists tho' I shut it out.
I will not work for Church nor State
Who serve themselves while they serve us lies,
Nor only for my Witchen kin,
But for the family of all alive!

(cho2)
So if rebellion means to fight a State lost sight of why it was built,
If heresy's to reject a Church that rules with force or fear or guilt,
Then let us all be rebels proud,
And shameless heretics by creed -
A tyrant's hand subjects the Earth,
More heretic rebels are what She needs!

(cho2)

Did it ever occur to the writers of your antique laws that the Craft might actually be WELCOMED by a great number of people? That there might actually be more of us than of those who wish us ill? That the only reason those who fear us are so active nowadays is because they see us becoming more and more welcomed by more people? As I say in another song, "When folk in sorrow turn away/ From paths that lead to misery/ And seek new ways for wholeness' sake/ Then waiting, ready shall we be."

All I can say is, I'm Goddess-glad I'm not in your tradition.

To this I would add only one more admonishment, based on my own experience: It is as important not to take oneself, one's power, and one's Craft too seriously as it is not to take them too lightly. Moderation in all things, including moderation. And remember that all acts of love and pleasure are the rites of the Goddess, and this includes HAVING FUN.