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The Wiccan Rede

Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 6:45 am
by The Judge
The Wiccan Rede
(Full Version)

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 its 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 endowed 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"

Re: The Wiccan Rede

Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 8:41 am
by StarWolf
Thank you for posting this.
I am not wiccan, but i know the rede and respect it.
I have few friends that are wiccans and the remember all of this just as a song! :)

Re: The Wiccan Rede

Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2013 9:43 am
by Lark
There are a number of different versions of the Rede that have been created over the years. Anyone interested in the variations and in this history of the Rede might enjoy The Wiccan Rede Project at http://web.archive.org/web/200312180010 ... index.html

Re: The Wiccan Rede

Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2013 10:19 pm
by Vervain
I have never seen quite this version.

I slightly revamped the version of the poem I found years ago, making slight poetic edits and personal revisions. The exact version I use is as follows:

Bide the Wiccan laws ye must,
in perfect love and perfect trust;
Live ye must, and let to live,
fairly take, and fairly give;
Cast the circle thrice about
to keep the evil spirits out;
To bind the magic 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 Witch’s Rune;
Widdershins go by waning moon,
chanting out the baneful rune;
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 in the cauldron go,
burn them quickly, burn them slow;
Elder be the Lady's tree,
burn it not, for cursed to be;
When the wheel begins to turn,
let the Beltane fires burn.
When the Wheel has turned to Yule,
light a log, and let Pan rule;
Heed ye flower, bush, and tree--
all by the Lady blessèd be;
Where the rippling waters go,
cast a stone and truth ye'll know.
When ye truly have a need,
harken not to others’ greed;
With a fool no season spend,
lest ye be counted as his friend.
Merry meet and merry part,
bright the cheeks, and warm the heart.
Mind the Threefold Law ye should
‘Three times bad and three times good’.
When misfortune's at your gate,
tarry not in worthless wait;
True in love ever be--
no virtue's greater than honesty.
Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill:
‘An it harm none, do what ye will.’

Of course, none of these poems are "the" Wiccan Rede. They are of course advice for witches, which I suppose makes them a wiccan rede of a sort, but the Wiccan Rede is simply "An it harm none, do what ye will," or similar variations. This longer "version" is a poem based on and describing the traditions of a certain sect of American Wiccan practice, namely Lady Gwynne Thompson's New England Covens of Traditionalist Witches, first published in a 1975 issue of Green Egg magazine.

This article may be of interest for further reading: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/panmankey/ ... fthewicca/

Also, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Gwen_ ... the_Wiccae

Goddess Bless.

Re: The Wiccan Rede

Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2016 7:20 pm
by Spring Moon
Thanks for sharing, really like the full version of the Rede (though the final line is a perfect, brief moral philosophy to live by).

Re: The Wiccan Rede

Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 6:06 pm
by pagankeith
I always love the different variations of the rede as it always put's it in a different perspective that I thought I knew before. Thank you for sharing this!

Re: The Wiccan Rede

Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2018 5:41 am
by SaorsaTess
I have never seen the full version before. It's beautiful. Thank you for sharing it.

Re: The Wiccan Rede

Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2020 5:44 pm
by Firebird
And I found this version...
check the "Wiccan Rede project" Lark mentioned above.

(from Wicca for the Rest of us, http://wicca.cnbeyer.com/laws/credo.shtml

Bide the Wiccan Laws we must
In Perfect Love and Perfect Trust.
Live and let live,
Fairly take and fairly give.

Cast the Circle thrice about
To keep the evil spirits out.

To bind the spell every time
Let the spell be spake in rhyme.

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

Deosil go by waxing moon,
Chanting out the Witches' Rune.

Widdershins go by waning moon,
Chanting out the baneful rune.

When the Lady's moon is new,
Kiss thy 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 West,
Departed souls will have no rest.

When the wind blows from the East,
Expect the new and set the feast.

Nine woods in the cauldron go,
Burn them fast and burn them slow.

Elder be the Lady's tree,
Burn it not or cursed you'll be.

When the Wheel begins to turn,
Let the Beltane fires burn.

When the Wheel has turned to Yule,
Light the log, the Horned One rules.

Heed ye Flower, Bush and Tree,
By the Lady, Blessed Be.

Where the rippling waters go,
Cast a stone and truth you'll know.

When ye have a true need,
Hearken not to others' greed.

With a fool no season spend,
Lest ye be counted as his friend.

Merry Meet and Merry Part,
Bright the cheeks and warm the heart.

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

When misfortune is enow,
Wear the blue star on thy brow.

True in Love ever be,
Lest thy lover's false to thee.

Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill:
As Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will