The Wiccan Rede and the Pagan Rede

The Pagan Rede is one of the major guiding principles of some pagan religions, in particular Wicca. The Rede comes in many forms for its many different religions. In its simplest form, it is “If it harms none, do what you will.”

As near as we can tell from published sources, the origin of the Rede is Alistair Cowley’s principle of Themela, “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.”

In 1974, the “Rede of the Wiccae”, was published in Green Egg. Written by Lady Gwen Thompson, she ascribed it to her grandmother Adriana Porter, although there is little to authenticate this. The poem has since been very widely circulated, somtimes with additional or variant passages. It is commonly known as the “Long Rede”. It is most often published as follows:

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 spake in rhyme.

Soft of eye and light of touch
Speak little, listen much.

Deosil go by the waxing moon
Sing and dance the Wiccan Rune.

Widdershins go when Moon doth wane,
And the werewolves howl 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 wind’s mighty gale
Lock the door an 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 an 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 ye 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 a Yule
Light the Log and let Pan rule.

Heed ye flowers, bush and tree
By the Lady blessed be.

Where the rippling waters go
Cast a stone an truth ye’ll know.

When ye have need
Hearken not to other’s greed.

With the fool no season spend
Or be counted as his friend.

Merry meet an merry part
Bright the cheeks an warm the heart.

Mind the Threefold Law ye should
Three times bad and three times good.

When misfortune is 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 it harm none, do what ye will.

While the Wiccan version suggests “harm none”, it can be generally acknowledged that harming none is a lofty goal that is impossible to achieve.  As a result, I follow a variation of the Rede: “Do what you will, but know what you do.”