The Laws of Wombat Wiccca

This has been passed around for ages on pagan BBS's and the Net, generally with no authorship attributed, but I've recently been told that these laws were originally written in 1978 by Rosemary Edghill (yes, the fantasy writer). In any case, no collection of Craft Laws could be complete without them...

The Law was made and ardane about a week from last Wednesday.
The Law was made for the Wiccca, in order that they should develop a nice longhand style from copying it.
The Wiccca should give due worship to the Godz, presuming they believe the Godz exist and aren't just metaphors; and obey Their Will, which the HPS of the Coven will make up as she goes along, for it was made for the purpose of ego-tripping and wild parties. The worship of the Wiccca is good for the owners of Occult Supply Stores, for the owners of Occult Supply Stores love the money of the Wiccca.
As a man loveth a woman using the missionary position, so the Wiccca should shaft their fellows and other total strangers frequently.
And it is necessary that the Magick Circle,, which is the principal difference between a Wicccan rite and a frat party, be cast and all Wiccca properly purified to enter it so they can drink five gallons of Ripple each and not throw up.
The HPS shall ~~ruin~~ rule her coven as the local representative of the Goddess, and choose whomever she is sleeping with this week to be her HP... or her Maiden.
And remember that the Wiccca would have it that The God Himself kissed her feet and gave up the position of Ringmaster to her because of her arbitrariness and autocracy, her spite and unreason, her mysteriousness and ignorance; so the HP is expected to go as far away as possible and not even show up for Sabbats.
It is the greatest virtue of a HPS that she turn as many of her Covenors into closet Xtians as possible, for the true HPS realizes that anyone with the sense the Goddess gave a goose is not going to stick around without having a death wish.
In the Olden Days when the Wiccca extended far, we were free and had reservations in all the best restaurants. But these days, we eat at McDonald's.
SO BE IT ARDANE, that none but the Wiccca shall ever be invited to dinner, for people who ignore us are many, and if they ever found out what we are really up to, they would giggle.
SO BE IT ARDANE, that no Coven shall know where the next Coven bide, nor who its member be, save anybody who looks in Circle Network News and the hit team we send out to sanction them.
SO BE IT ARDANE, that no one shall tell anyone anything, least of all thy fellows in the Craft, for fear one of you will learn something; because as it is truly writ: Gerald wrote it, I believe it, that settles it.
And if any break these Laws, they will have to start their own Tradition and make up their own Grandmother.
Let each HPS govern her Coven as she damn well pleases, riding roughshod over the Covenors as long as they will stand for it. But it must be recognized that sooner or later they will get mad and stop bringing the Ripple to Coven meetings. When this happens, it hath ever been the Old Law that the HPS will Elevate them to the Third Degree and kick them out, and promise them the rest of the Book... someday.
Anyone of any degree or none may found a Coven, provided they think they can get away with it and can create a convincing Grandmother.
They may raid other Covens for members as long as no one knows where to find them.
But splitting the Coven oft means new opportunities for evading the consequences of your actions, so the wise HPS will think of it first.
If you should keep a Black Bok, let it be in your own hand of write, except for the parts you xerox out of Lady Sheba. Or better yet, tell everybody they're not of a high enough degree to see it.
Proclaim your Wicccahood loudly, and often; you may be able to do a brisk trade in spells, psychic fairs, and talk shows. If nobody believs you, try holding a public skyclad circle. If all else fails, hire a press agent and advertise in the National Enquirer. If they try to make you talk of the Brotherhood, lay it on with a trowel. Ancient Atlantis is always good for a five-minute spot on the six o' clock news. Not all interviewers are bad; some may even flash your business address on the screen for a few seconds.
To avoid discovery, let your working tools be ordinary stuff such as any may have around the house: AR-15's, Patton Tanks, Howitzers. Have no names or signs on anything, and remove the ones they came with, as otherwise this can lead to a charge of receiving stolen property.
Let the Pentacles be made of wax unless something else is more convenient.
Have no sword, unless you are in the SCA or a collector of WWII memorabilia.
Write the names and signs on a gummed label so that it can be peeled off immediately afterwards; remember that not guilty by reason of insanity is not a valid defense in cases of this kind.
Ever remember that you are the Hidden Children of the Goddess; when you can take time out from karma-dumping runs, psychic vendettas, banishing each other from the coven and discussing how much fun it would be to persecute the Xtians, remember never to do anything to disgrace Her. Or them, if that's possible.
In the Olden Days, when we had Power, we could use the Art against any who ill-treated us; but these days a whispering campaign works better. Remember always that there are a lot of flaky people out there, and for this reason it is best to give a fake name and a post office box address. Someone is always going to blame you for something.
SO BE IT ARDANE: HARM NONE, or at least have a good alibi. Never break this law, or people who get burned along with you will come after you with baseball bats, and you will never be able to score any decent hash again.
Any HPS who does something you don't like you can walk out on, but be sure to grab the Coven Book on the way to the door and set up in business for yourself (Learn Witchcraft From The Experts!).
Always accept money for use of the Art, but keep an eye on the Gypsy Laws. In some states, Barter works better. All may use the Art for their own advantage; remember, quick and dirty works best, and you can lay off Karma on the Coven. If that doesn't work, try dead cats in the mailbox.
'Tis the Old Law, and most important of all the Laws, that no one may do anything that will endanger any of the Craft. Unless there's money in it, or it's to someone you think deserves it, and anyway, "endanger" is in the eye of the beholder.
In any dispute between the Wiccca, no one may invoke any Law but that of the Craft. However, you can break into your opponent's home and mess up his stuff... after all, it says right here they can't go to the police.
Never bargain or haggle when you buy for the Art; most Occult Store owners will throw you out and everyone else will just think you're a nut.
It is ever the way with men and with women that they are ruled by their glands. At any moment, your HPS may run off and become a Rosicrucian. And the way of Resignation is this: if she doesn't answer her phone for two weeks and is never home when you drive by, you can declare her outcast from the Coven and take it over yourself, with as many as will have you. But if she comes back she will probably take over the Coven again, or start another one in the same building and declare you Invalid, and there's not much you can do about it. Learn to live with anxiety. Get everything in writing.
It hath been found that two people sitting around with a bottle of Chianti discussing Atlantean Grandmothers will become fond of each other, if only because of the Stockholm Syndrome. Therefore, let it be resolved that a human being shall be taught in the Craft only by another human being, and screw the middle-class morality of the 1950's.
And the Curses of the Mighty Ones be on all who try to take this seriously, or the Craft seriously, or the Wiccca seriously. Caveat Lector, and May The Force Be With You!

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