Poem provides guidance on questions of ethics

Wiccans emphasize that their practice doesn't match the media images.
Wiccans are guided by the Witches' Rede, a code of conduct that they compare to the Ten Commandments.
"Every Wiccan knows some version of the Witches' Rede," says Andrea Smith of Youngstown. "It guides us toward the way we should live."
The Rede dates back to the mid-'70s, but parts of it had their origin with Fran & ccedil;ois Rabelais, a 16th-century physician and author. This is one short version, from author Amber K.:
Bide the Wiccan Law ye must,
In perfect love, in perfect trust.
Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill:
An ye harm none, do as ye will.
And ever mind the Rule of Three:
What ye send out, comes backto thee.
Follow this with mind and heart,
And merry ye meet, and merry ye part.
Solitary Wicca is very unstructured, and practitioners tend to go their individual ways. There is a hierarchy, though, especially in covens. Even solitaries recognize levels of expertise.
A desire to serve
Andrea has recently decided to begin an initiatory process to become a solitary high priestess.
"There are three degrees of study," she explains, "and traditionally, each takes a year and a day. When I complete the studies, I would like to be ordained as a high priestess, able to perform wiccanings, handfastings and requiems," analogous to christenings, marriages and burials.
She'll need to apply for a state license to perform marriages, possibly through the Unitarian Universalist Church, "which has been very open to Wiccans.
"I want to do this," she said, "so I can give something back to the Wiccan community. I would never charge money for it. If someone wanted to give me money, I'd donate it to charity. I don't want financial recompense; this is my calling."
Ethical considerations
Mary Johnson of Youngstown agrees. "It would be unethical to take money to help someone."
Tracy Leigh of McDonald adds, "Everything you do comes back to you."
There are unethical Wiccans, Andrea says. "We see things on the Internet -- learn astral projection [out-of-body spirit travel] for $45, or become an ordained witch for $19.95. ... Wiccans can be too fanatical, but that can happen in any religion."
Magic is not essential to the practice of Wicca, the three say.
"Our spiritual relationship -- our harmony -- with the earth is more important than magic," Andrea says. "Wicca isn't cool or sensational. There's no voodoo, no Satanism, no shaking bags of bones. Teen-agers get on the Internet and try instant spells, then they get disillusioned because they don't work. Practicing Wicca is hard, and nothing is going to land in your lap. It could really be seen as mundane."
Media images
All three are amused at the stereotypes and popular portrayal of witches in the media. When Andrea picked out a pet cat, she intentionally didn't choose a black one.
"I wish my cat could talk to me, but he can't."
Tracy says she likes the WB series "Charmed," about a trio of sisters with supernatural powers, "but come on. I wish I could freeze time like that. That would be a good talent to have. I wish my paintings could talk, like the ones in the Harry Potter books."
"And I'd like to shoot lightning bolts from my hands," Andrea adds.
"We wish we could do those things," Mary says, "but spells and charms are really just an extra helping hand. They're a spiritual thing. They'll help you if you're willing."
Power of the mind
"I've seen charms work," Tracy says. "They're the power of positive thinking. You just have to be realistic. For instance, suppose you go on a job interview. A charm can give you a good attitude, make you bouncy and happy and ready to go for it. If you were hiring, would you rather have someone like that, or someone who was tentative and depressing, with no confidence?"
None of them is comfortable using spells or charms on behalf of other people. Mary, for instance, is very interested in herbal remedies but would only use them for herself.
Andrea says, "If someone wants a healing charm, then during my nightly devotions I'll ask for healing energies to be sent that person's way, but that's as far as I'll go."
Mary believes magic isn't just for Wiccans. "Christians believe in magic, they just don't call it that. They light candles, say novenas, wear St. Christopher medals ... . Every religion has its superstitions. Superstition -- that's what you call other people's magic."