THE REDE AND THE CHARGE
The Wiccan Rede is a moral guide to which Wiccans hold themselvesaccountable. Similar to an earlier writing by Aleister Crowley, "Do what thou
wilt shall be the whole of the Law," was transmuted to read, "And ye harm
none, do what thou wilt," and is now the most commonly accepted version of
the Wiccan Law. It was adopted because it represents some of the most
fundamental Wiccan principles, having made its way into the following poem.
The Law is about self-accountability, self-responsibility, and above all,
self-awareness. It speaks of the need to be more aware of the fact that what
we do affects other people and living things. Wicca does not restrict us to a set
of defined guidelines. We are of our own command, but the underlying principle
is that what we do should not hurt others.
A frequently overlooked principle of the Rede is that harming none
includes not harming ourselves. Even knowing this, many Wiccans do not take
an active part in keeping themselves from harm. We may not inflict intentional
physical pain upon ourselves, but we would do better to take care of our bodies.
Once the body is exhausted beyond its means, the spark of life cannot
continue.
THE WICCAN REDE
And ye harm none, do what thou wilt.
THE WICCAN REDE
Extended Version 1
Bide in the Wiccan Law ye must,
In perfect love and perfect trust.
Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill:
An ye harm none, do what ye will.
Ever mind the Rule of Three:
What ye send out, comes back to thee.
Follow this with mind and heart,
And merry ye meet, and merry ye part.
(Author unknown)
THE WICCAN REDE
Extended Version 2
Bide ye the Wiccan laws ye must, in perfect love and perfect trust.
Ye must live and let live, fairly take and fairly give.
Cast the circle thrice about, to keep unwelcome spirits out.
To bind the spell well every time, let the spell be spake in rhyme.
Soft of eye and light of touch, speak ye little and listen much.
Deosil1 goes by waxing moon, chanting out the Wiccan rune.
Widdershins2 go by waning moon, chanting out the baneful tune.
When the Lady's moon is new, kiss the hand to Her times two.
When the moon rides at Her peak, then the heart's desire seek.
Heed the North wind's mighty gale, lock the door and trim the sail.
When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss thee on the mouth.
When the moor wind blows from the West, departed spirits 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 quick and burn them slow.
Elder be the Lady's tree, burn it not or cursed ye'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, cast a stone, the truth to know.
When ye have and hold a need, hearken not to other's greed.
With a fool no seasons spend, or be counted as his friend.
Merry meet and merry part, bright the cheeks and warm the heart.
Mind the Threefold Law ye should, three times bad and three times good.
When misfortune is now, wear the blue star on thy brow.
True in love ye must ever be, lest they love be false to thee.
These eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill: "An harm ye none, do what thou
will."
THE CHARGE OF THE GODDESS
Listen to the words of the Great Mother, she who was of old also called among
mortals Artemis, Astarte, Athene, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Kali Ma,
Cerridwen, Isis, Arianrhod, Brigid, and by many other names:
"Whenever you have need of anything, once in the month, and better it be
when the Moon is full, then shall ye assemble in some secret place and call
upon the spirit of me who is Queen of all the Witches. There shall ye assemble,
ye who are fain to learn all sorcery yet have not won its deepest secrets; to
these I will teach things that are as yet unknown. And ye shall be free from
slavery, and as a token that ye be truly free, ye shall be naked in your rites.
Dance, sing, feast, make music and love, all in My praise. For Mine is the
ecstasy of the spirit and Mine is also joy on earth. My law is love unto all
beings.
"Keep pure your highest ideals; strive ever toward them, let naught turn you
aside, for Mine is the secret door which opens upon the door of youth. And Mine
is the cup of the Wine of Life and Cauldron of Cerridwen, which is the Holy Grail
of immortality. I am the gracious Goddess, who gives the gift of joy unto the
hearts of men and women. Upon Earth I give knowledge of the spirit eternal
and beyond death I give peace, freedom, and reunion with those who have
gone before. Nor do I demand sacrifice, for behold, I am the Mother of all
things, and My love is poured out upon the Earth."
"Hear ye the words of the Star Goddess, She in the dust of whose feet are the
hosts of heaven, whose body encircles the universe:
"I am the beauty of the green Earth and the white Moon among the stars and
the mysteries of the waters. I call unto thy soul, arise and come unto Me, for I
am the soul of nature who gives life to the universe. From Me all things proceed
and to Me all must return. And before My face, beloved of gods and humans, let
thine innermost divine self be enfolded in the rapture of the Infinite.
"Let my worship be within the heart that rejoices, for all acts of love and
pleasure are My rituals. Therefore let there be beauty and strength, power and
compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you. And thou who
thinkest to seek Me, know that seeking and yearning shall avail thee not, unless
thou knowest the Mystery: if that which thou seekest, thou findest not within
thee, thou shalt never find it without. For, behold, I have been with thee from
the beginning, and I am that which is attained at the end of desire."
THE CHARGE OF THE GOD
Listen to the words of the Great Father, who of old was called Osiris, Adonis,
Zeus, Thor, Pan, Cernunnos, Herne, Lugh, and by many other names:
"My Law is Harmony with all things. Mine is the secret that opens the gates of
life and mine is the dish of salt of the earth that is the body of Cernunnos that
is the eternal circle of rebirth. I give the knowledge of life everlasting, and
beyond death I give the promise of regeneration and renewal. I am the
sacrifice, the father of all things, and my protection blankets the earth."
"Hear the words of the dancing God, the music of whose laughter stirs the
winds, whose voice calls the seasons:
"I who am the Lord of the Hunt and the Power of the Light, sun among the
clouds and the secret of the flame, I call upon your bodies to arise and come
unto me. For I am the flesh of the earth and all its beings. Through me all
things must die and with me are reborn. Let my worship be in the body that
sings, for behold all acts of willing sacrifice are my rituals. Let there be desire
and fear, anger and weakness, joy and peace, awe and longing within you. For
these too are part of the mysteries found within yourself, within me, all
beginnings have endings, and all endings have beginnings."
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