Because this is a comprehensive course for Witchcraft and Wicca (or simply finding your own path) the primary focus is to help you develop your personal practice. Therefore this lesson provides you the basic history of the popular Wiccan Rede to get you thinking about the many implications and meanings of the Rede. This lesson should also get you thinking about your own personal ethics, even if you do not adhere to the Rede or other traditional guidelines. For exams, you will still be expected to know some of the basic origins of the Rede, and these can be found in the References & Resources section at the end of this lesson.
As mentioned in a previous lesson, most (but not all) Witches believe in the Threefold Law, Karma (in a Western sense), the Rede, the Law of Three, or other codes and creeds. It is important to remember that these are not doctrine, ‘holy writ’, or scripture because there is no such thing in Witchcraft or Wicca. Specific Wiccan traditions do have their own codes and creeds, but they do not apply to every Witch (Wiccan, Pagan, or otherwise). These guidelines embraced by Witches are simply expressions of basic truths that are expressed in many ways throughout history and the world.
We will begin with the most basic and the most commonly held code, The Wiccan Rede. Rede is pronounced with a long E and rhymes with creed and feed. Rede means to counsel or advise, or to explain and interpret. It is a plan of action, a design, a guide to living. Note that it is not a law, a commandment or doctrine.
For some, the Wiccan Rede is a reminder of the Threefold Law, for others, it is a guideline for living. Understanding cause and effect takes experience, but keeping the Wiccan Rede in mind can help one to avoid the most major stumbling blocks along the path.
Many Witches consider the Rede to be a guide when making decisions regarding actions magically and in the mundane* world. It is one of the most basic tenets of Wicca, and one of the most misunderstood, overlooked, and underestimated. Many people can repeat to you the words of the Rede, but few understand the meaning and implications of the Rede. This understanding grows and deepens the best through experience.
There are many versions of the Rede, but the most basic is as follows:
An Ye Harm None,
Do as ye Will
There are also newer poetic versions of the Rede. These versions offer more specific interpretations, but not all Wiccans necessarily agree on these interpretations. Most of these versions are written in false archaic language to appear more ancient, or to set them apart as special and applicable to the magical and the mundane. The most popular of these goes like this:
Bide the Witch’s law ye must,
In perfect love and perfect trust.
Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill:
An ye harm none, do what ye will.
Lest in thy self-defense it be,
Ever mind the Rule of Three
Follow this with mind and heart,
Merry ye meet, and merry ye part.
(the last line sometimes reads: “and merry we’ll meet & merry we’ll part.”)
“Lest in thy self-defense it be, ever mind the Rule of Three” is the original wording however, this has been changed or omitted by some (I think this trend began with the author Amber K in her book Covencraft, but it is difficult to determine the trend’s origins). The changing of this line is done for different reasons depending on the Witch.
There are some Wiccans who fear retribution or “bad karma” for any type of defensive action or attack, even if it is self-defense or protecting a loved one. On the other hand, there are those who feel that the Rede only applies to magic, not mundane actions and that it is possible to defend yourself without the use of binding, defensive or attack measures (considered by some to be negative magic).
Because of differences in beliefs among Wiccans such as this, several versions of the poetic Rede have been developed. Both Witchcraft and Wicca are a living spiritual traditions, and as such will constantly grow and evolve. Here is another version of the poetic Rede:
Bide the Witch’s law ye must,
In perfect love, in perfect trust.
Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill:
An ye harm none, do what ye will.
What ye send forth comes back to thee,
(notice the line change above)
So ever mind the Law of Three.
Follow this with mind and heart,
Merry ye meet, and merry ye part.
There are more elaborate and complex versions, and many covens or traditions will write their own Rede. These versions can become quite extensive and sometimes detract from the elegant simple truth of the Rede by adding such things as guilt, fear, rules for how to cast circles and spells, etc. At the same time, some of these are quite beautiful and much of the best poetry in the Craft is versions of the Rede or other ethical codes and words of advice. Here is a brief excerpt from a longer version. This particular version excerpt is also referred to as the “Witch’s Rune” but originally appeared as “Being Known As The Counsel Of The Wise Ones”.
” . . . Live and let live, fairly take, and fairly give.
Cast the circle thrice about to keep the evil spirits out.
To bind the spell every time, let the spell be spoke in rhyme.
Soft of eye and light of touch, speak little and listen much.
Deosil go by the waxing moon chanting out the Witches Rune.
Widdershins go by the waning moon chanting out the baneful rune.
When the Lady’s moon is new, kiss the hand to her times two . . . “1
So what does the Rede mean? This is a very difficult question to answer because each Witch has a different interpretation of the Rede, and each individual’s understanding of the implications of cause and effect deepens and grows with experience. At the very basic level, it means that you can do as you like so long as you don’t harm anyone (including yourself).
Most Witches, Wiccan or not, feel that for every action there is a reaction. This is expressed as The Threefold Law of Returns or the Law of Three. In this example, what you send out is returned to you threefold. The threefold appearance might be seen by some as three events, three times as good, three times worse, etc.
It is important to consider some of the implications of the Rede for yourself and to consider how what you do in magic and in the mundane world may return to you. Please visit this course’s forum and post some of your personal thoughts about the Rede and other codes and guidelines. Forum participation counts towards your grade.
Tidbits & Trivia
1. This is sometimes referred to as “The Long Rede” and has two conflicting origins. It is almost always credited to Lady Gwen Thompson and Adriana Porter. However, it first appeared in 1974 in Herman Slater’s short-lived publication Earth Religion News. The piece was arranged in two-line couplets, numbered one through twenty-six.
A year later a very slightly different version appeared in the Church of All Worlds magazine Green Egg. The piece was part of an article entitled, Wiccan-Pagan Potpourri” Lady Gwen Thompson (this was the Craft Name or pseudonym of Phyllis Thompson [née Healy]), who declared that she was a hereditary Witch and that the poem was passed to her from her grandmother Adriana Porter.
This second rendition of the piece appeared in the Ostara 1975, Vol. III, No. 69 issue of Green Egg Magazine. This magazine is no longer published at the time of this writing but has recently been resurrected as an online eZine.
* Mundane:
In the context of this lesson, the word mundane means ordinary or non-magickal – like the term muggle is used in the Harry Potter books. Although most Witches do not draw a hard line of distinction between the magickal and every day, or the natural and supernatural, it is used in this way for clarity in this particular lesson.