The Compleat Wiccan Rede

Bide the Wiccan Laws we must
In Perfect Love and Perfect Trust.
Live and let live,
Fairly take and fairly give.
Caste the Circle thrice about
To keep the evil spirits out.
To bind the spell every time
Let the spell be spake in rhyme.
Soft of eye and light of touch,
Speak little, 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.
When the moon rides at her peak,
Then your heart's desire seek.
Heed the North wind's mighty gale,
Lock the door and drop the sail.
When the wind comes from the South
Love will kiss thee on the mouth.
When the wind blows from the West,
Departed souls will have no rest.
When the wind blows from the East,
Expect the new and set the feast.
Nine woods in the cauldron go,
Burn them fast and burn them slow.
Elder be the Lady's tree,
Burn it not or cursed you'll be.
When the Wheel begins to turn,
Let the Beltane fires burn.
When the Wheel has turned to Yule,
Light the log and the Horned One rules.
Heed ye Flower, Bush and Tree,
By the Lady, blessed be.
Where the rippling waters go,
Caste a stone and truth you'll know
When ye have a true need,
Hearken not to others' greed.
With a fool no season spend,
Lest ye be counted as his friend.
Merry meet and merry part,
Bright the cheeks and warm the heart.
Mind the Threefold Law you should,
Three times bad and three times good.
Lest in thy self-defense it be,
Ever mind the Rule of Three
When misfortune is enow,
Wear the blue star on thy brow.
True in Love ever be,
Lest thy lover's false to thee.
Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill:
An it harm none, do what ye will. 


Some Thought and Comments on the Rede

This is the only dogma in Wicca. It first appeared in this most complete form (compleat is an older spelling of the same word) in the magazine Green Egg. If anyone knows the year, please let me know! As I've said, most witches tend to shorten it the the last two lines "Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfil/An it harm none, Do as ye will" or even MORE to simply "harm none." While this simple phrase provides a terrific ethical code, it's not exactly the basis for a religion in my opinion. The complete version of the Rede, on the other hand, is. In it are all the basic tennets of Wiccan belief and practice. If you are just beginning your study of Wicca, or even if you're already initiated, it's a good idea to sit and study the Rede for a while. There's more in it than first meets the eye.


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