No one likes the idea of Pagans and Wiccans running around flinging curses and hexes willy-nilly, so the Law of Three (Threefold Law, Law of Return, Rule of Three, etc.) is actually quite effective in making people stop and think before they act. Quite simply, it's the concept of cause and effect. When crafting a spell, any competent Wiccan or Pagan is going to stop and think about the end results of the working. If the possible ramifications of one's actions will likely be negative, that may make us stop to say, "Hey, maybe I better rethink this a bit."
Although the Law of Three sounds prohibitive, many Wiccans see it instead as a useful standard to live by. It allows one to set boundaries for oneself by saying, "Am I prepared to accept the consequences - be they good or bad - for my deeds, both magical and mundane?"
It states that both the good and the evil that one creates in the world will be returned threefold (in joy or suffering). This is like the thought of karma: whatever you do, it comes back to you. If you do something bad, itll come back three times as much. If you do something good, then itll come back three times as much.
The Wiccan Rede and the Rule of Three are both very similar to the popular "Golden Rule": Treat others how you want to be treated. All have the same general meaning, stating that you should think before doing things. Everything has a cause and effect, a consequence whether good or bad.
"Ever mind the Rule of Three, three times what thou givest returns to thee, this lesson well, thou must learn, thee only gets what thou dost earn." is similar version.
"Mind the Threefold Law ye should - three times bad and three times good." is another.
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Origin: http://candle-magic.blogspot.com
