Wiccan Rede and Pagan laws
The basic rule of wicca is known as the wiccan rede:
An Harm none, do what ye will
this is not to say, that you can just do whatever you want but more, think carefully as to how your actions will affect others and choose wisely your path.this poem is known as the Wiccan Rede today was written by Adriana Porter who died in 1946.
The Wiccan Rede
Bide the Wiccan laws ye must, in perfect love and perfect trust.
Live and let live - fairly take and fairly give.
Cast the Circle thrice about to keep all evil spirits out.
To bind the spell every time, let the spell be spoke in rhyme.
Soft of eye and light of touch - speak ya little, listen much.
Deosil go by waxing Moon - sing and dance the Wiccan Rune.
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 to morth 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 east, expect the new and set the feast.
when the west wind blows o'er thee, departed spirits restless be.
nine woods in the cauldron go - burn them quick and burn them slow.
elder be ya 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, lighty the Log and let Pan rule.
Heed ya flower, bush and tree - by the Lady blessed be.
Where the rippling waters go, cast a stone and truth ye'll know.
When ye are in dire need, hearken not to others' greed.
With the fool no season spend, or be counted as his friend.
Merry meet and merry part - bright the cheeks and warm the heart.
When misfortune in enow, wear the blue star on thy brow.
True in love ever be, unless thy lover's false to thee
Eight words the wiccan Rede fulfill - an ya harm none, do what ye will.The second law is the Three Fold Law which states:
"Any Energy You Send Out Will Come Back Three-Fold"
Which basically means that what goes around comes around. Only, in this case, comes around times three. This is pretty much the same thing as the Third Law of Physics (or was it the second? oh well, anyways,) that says "for every action there is an equal but oposite reaction." Well, perhaps it's not exactly the same, but you get the idea.
Another was to look at the three fold law is in the same light as The Golden Rule, treat others as you would want to be treated. And the idea of Karma also applys here. So there's lots of ways to interprete and look at the three fold law, just as every thing else in this world.
these rules should guide ones practice and never be forgotten. Not to say that the wiccan rede and three fold law apply only to witchcraft and/or wicca, and therefore only practicers of it need follow them. All religions, if they be worth following, should teach the practitioner to do good. I know that's a rather general term, but you get the idea.
Written by ArielMorgan with due credit given to Adriana Porter.
