Wiccan Rede

I think a good way to start off this blog is with the

Wiccan Rede

Bide within the Law you must, in perfect Love and perfect Trust.
Live you must and let to live, fairly take and fairly give.

For tread the Circle thrice about to keep unwelcome spirits out.
To bind the spell well every time, let the spell be said in rhyme.

Light of eye and soft of touch, speak you little, listen much.
Honor the Old Ones in deed and name,
let love and light be our guides again.

Deosil go by the waxing moon, chanting out the joyful tune.
Widdershins go when the moon doth wane,
and the werewolf howls by the dread wolfsbane.

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 winds mighty gale, lock the door and trim the sail.
When the Wind blows from the East, expect the new and set the feast.

When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss you on the mouth.
When the wind whispers from the West, all hearts will find peace and rest.

Nine woods in the Cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow.
Birch in the fire goes to represent what the Lady knows.

Oak in the forest towers with might, in the fire it brings the God's
insight. Rowan is a tree of power causing life and magick to flower.

Willows at the waterside stand ready to help us to the Summerland.
Hawthorn is burned to purify and to draw faerie to your eye.

Hazel-the tree of wisdom and learning adds its strength to the bright fire burning.
White are the flowers of Apple tree that brings us fruits of fertility.

Grapes grow upon the vine giving us both joy and wine.
Fir does mark the evergreen to represent immortality seen.

Elder is the Lady's tree burn it not or cursed you'll be.
Four times the Major Sabbats mark in the light and in the dark.

As the old year starts to wane the new begins, it's now Samhain.
When the time for Imbolc shows watch for flowers through the snows.

When the wheel begins to turn soon the Beltane fires will burn.
As the wheel turns to Lamas night power is brought to magick rite.

Four times the Minor Sabbats fall use the Sun to mark them all.
When the wheel has turned to Yule light the log the Horned One rules.

In the spring, when night equals day time for Ostara to come our way.
When the Sun has reached it's height time for Oak and Holly to fight.

Harvesting comes to one and all when the Autumn Equinox does fall.
Heed the flower, bush, and tree by the Lady blessed you'll be.

Where the rippling waters go cast a stone, the truth you'll know.
When you have and hold a need, harken not to others greed.

With a fool no season spend or be counted as his friend.
Merry Meet and Merry Part bright the cheeks and warm the heart.

Mind the Three-fold Laws you should three times bad and three times good.
When misfortune is enow wear the star upon your brow.

Be true in love this you must do unless your love is false to you.

These Eight words the Rede fulfill:

"An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will" 

Interpretations 


The Rede is similar to the Golden Rule, a belief that is found in nearly every religion. Not all traditional Wiccans follow the Rede; Gardnerians (a sect under Wicca) espouse the Charge of the Goddess as a guide for morality. Its line "Keep pure your highest ideal, strive ever towards it; let naught stop you or turn you aside, for mine is the secret door which opens upon the door of youth" is used as a maxim for ethical dilemmas.

There is some debate in the neo-Pagan and Wiccan communities as to the meaning of the Rede. The debate centers on the concept of the Rede being advice, not a commandment. The rejection of specific exhortations and prohibitions of conduct such as those given in the Judeo-Christian Ten Commandments makes the Rede's character somewhat different from major religious texts such as the Holy Bible or the Qur'an. The Rede is only a guideline which the individual must interpret to fit each particular situation and unlike these Abrahamic religions, which actions "do harm" (and which do not) are not discussed in the Rede. What exactly does and does not do harm is therefore open to personal interpretation.

The concept of ethical reciprocity is not explicitly stated, but most Wiccans interpret the Rede to imply the Golden Rule in the belief that the spirit of the Rede is to actively do good for one's fellow humans as well as for oneself. Different sects of Wiccans read "none" differently. "None" can apply to only the self, or it may include animals and/or plants, and so forth. In essence, the Rede can be fully understood as meaning that one should always follow their true will instead of trying to obtain simple wants and to ensure that following one's will it does not harm anyone or anything. In this light, the Rede can be seen as encouraging a Wiccan to take personal responsibility for his or her actions.

Interpretations of "harm none"

There have been a number of published interpretations of how one should determine what constitutes 'harming none'. Silver Ravenwolf, for instance, believes that although acting to restrain a wrong-doer is in a sense harming them, failure to act against them could allow greater harm; this must be carefully weighed up, and preferably a course of action can be found that minimizes harm to all parties.

A few people observe a modern revised Rede with the words "an it cause harm, do as you must" appended.

This information was copied from TheWiccanConnection
TheWiccanConnection is a great group on vampirefreaks.com for Wiccans, Pagans, and those interested in such,  on VF.

My Interpretation of "Harm none" 


As you see in the above "The Rede is only a guideline which the individual must interpret to fit each particular situation and unlike these Abrahamic religions, which actions "do harm" (and which do not) are not discussed in the Rede. What exactly does and does not do harm is therefore open to personal interpretation."

Their are many different interpretations of "Harm none" by wiccans. Some are more strict than others. Generally those that follow the Wiccan Rede interpret it as do no harm to others or yourself. Many include animals and the earth itself in that to. I do, but even with that their are different intreptations. 

Many Wiccans are Vegetarian because of them not wanting to harm any animal at all and take it to include not eating meat, which is perfectly fine however vegetarians should be aware of how to get all the proper nutrients one usually gets from meat elsewhere. It can easily be done but one must know how/what to eat instead of the meat, for protein and other minerals/nutrients that most people get from having meat in their diets. Some people's bodies really need the meat though for health reasons, I believe (and others that i've heard that have been vegetarian, did their diet homework so to speak, and found their bodies just couldn't handle it) that if your craving something their is a reason for it, that your body needs something that is in whatever you are craving and that if your constantly feeling like your being told to eat something (by like a spirit guide or what have you) their is likely a good reason for it. 


That being said I don't eat a lot of meat, simply because I don't like it. I do eat some though, I have medical problems (vater syndrome among others) and my body really does need it, as do some people's without medical issues anyway. However I have went slightly off topic there. Back on track now.


I interpret "Harm none" as not doing harm to yourself, others, animals, or the earth itself. At least not intentionally but like it was mentioned earlier in the information that was copied  "The Rede is only a guideline which the individual must interpret to fit each particular situation" and the amount of situations in life is limitless. Also that one must take responsibility for one's own actions. 


I may elaborate on all this in a later post but for now I think that's enough for the one post lol. I'd love to hear others opinions on the matter so don't be shy! I don't bite! :)