Wiccan Rede

An it harm none, do what ye will is the quintessential Wiccan (a popular Neopagan religion; a subset of witch) Rede (saying or advice).

There are a number of variations of this saying, the above being the most popular. Other versions include:

An it harm none, do as thou wilt

Do what you will, so long as it harms none

An it harm none, do what thou will

That it harm none, do as thou wilt

Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill, / An it harm none do what ye will.

The complete poem "The Wiccan Rede" by Adriana Porter is 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 ye little, listen much.

Deosil go by the 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 the North 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 'neath 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 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 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 ye harm none, do what ye will.

The combination of Wicca with no harm to others and do what thou wilt made its first known appearance in The Old Laws by Gerald Gardner, 1953. A similar phrase, Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law, appears in Aleister Crowley's works by at least 1909, in The Book of the Law.

The Rede is seen by both Wiccans and outside observers as very similar to the Golden Rule, a belief that is found in nearly every religion. It should be noted that, while the Golden Rule forbids harm subjectively, the Wiccan Rede forbids harm absolutely. The concept of ethical reciprocity is not explicity stated, but most Wiccans interpret the Rede to imply the Golden Rule in the belief that the spirit of the Rede is not just to do no harm, but to actively do good for one's fellow humans as well as oneself. Different sects of Wiccans read "none" differently: some include the self, others include animals or plants, and so forth.

It is also noted by some as similar to the Harm principle.

In addition to the concept of ethical reciprocity expressed by most versions of the Golden Rule, however, the Rede also expressly rejects the concept of sin outside of harm to oneself or to another.

The rejection of specific exhortations and prohibitions of conduct such as those given in the Ten Commandments in Christianity makes its character somewhat different. The Rede is only a guideline which the individual must interpret to fit each particular situation.

Interestingly, the ethics espoused in the Rede have gained quite a bit of modern currency among anarchists and some libertarians, and have become widely used in debates over, e.g., drug legalization and euthanasia.

Compare with: Thelema

See also

• Rule of Three (Wiccan)

External links

• The Wiccan Rede: A Historical Journey (http://www.waningmoon.com/ethics/rede.shtml)
• Exegesis on the Rede (http://www.draknet.com/proteus/rede.htm)
• The Wiccan Rede (http://www.witchvox.com/basics/rede.html)
• The Wiccan Rede Project (http://web.archive.org/web/20040213230016/http%3A//www.draknetfree.com/sheathomas/)