My two favorite myths:

1.  You can’t be a Witch and a Christian.

2.  You can’t be a Christian and a Witch.

Here’s the deal.  Witches don’t fly on broomsticks.  In fact, NO ONE flies around on broomsticks.  At least not with “magick”.  This is truth.  If people *could* fly on broomsticks then the IQA (International Quidditch Association) would have a lot more people showing up to watch their games.  (Fact:  The IQA is real.)  And right up there with the misconception about witches and broomsticks, you have the one about witches and the kind of spirituality they are allowed to have.

And guess what?  Witches are allowed to have whatever kind of spirituality they want.  For me, that spirituality follows what is essentially the shared golden rule between the two.  In Christianity we have Matthew 7:12 handing us the following (New American Standard translation – my personal favorite) “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”  Slightly later in Matthew 22:36-40 we see this sentiment echo’ed “36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and[a]foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”

For witches the classic Rede given to us via the practice of Wicca (side note:  not all witches are Wiccan – but I’d say the majority of us are fans of the Rede) – “And it harm none, so be it.”  More can be found on this sentiment over here.

For you witch purists out there I realize the Rede is WAY longer.  But so is the bible.  My point is that I’d like to focus on the common for a minute.

Both the verses in Matthew  and the Rede tell us not to hurt people.  Matthew is more round-about, making the assumption that you don’t want to be treated bad.  The Rede is more concise – do whatever you want to do as long as you don’t hurt someone.  The none means “including yourself.”  Both of them?  Essentially the same.

Do you guys love this as much as I do?  This idea that right off the bat, two spiritual traditions have this great big commonality to work with?