There are many versions of the Wiccan Rede – our single commandment (single, as opposed to the Christian ten) – and some of them become quite ridiculous in length and complexity. I prefer one of the simplest versions, as it was the one I was taught first, and I wholeheartedly believe in it.

The Wiccan Rede

Think it’s too simple to misunderstand? Unfortunately, it isn’t. The Wiccan Rede is probably the single most misunderstood thing about our religion. Let’s look at it phrase by phrase:

This actually comes from magic (or “magick,” as some folks insist on misspelling it). I discuss magic at some length elsewhere in these pages, but suffice to say here that magic itself is a technique that taps deeply into the subconscious mind.

In other words, people who practice magic together had better share “perfect love and perfect trust,” or the results of said magic may not be what they intend at all.

Often shortened to just “harm none,” this is seen as being the real meat of the Rede, and in many ways, it is. Many of us forget, though, that “harm none” was actually an afterthought!

Whatever you may believe concerning the ancient practices of the northern European Celts, there is no doubt at all that the modern form of Wicca evolved from the practices of Thelema, or Golden Dawn. When Gerald Gardner, who was a member of Golden Dawn, said, “Do as thou wilt be the whole of the law,” this was often misinterpreted as meaning that members should do anything and everything they wanted to do. 

The misunderstanding comes from the word “will” or “wilt.” The word, as used in Golden Dawn rituals and in the Wiccan Rede, refers to the magical will, or put another way, the higher self. Obviously, your higher self never wants to harm another sentient being.

When Gardner established the forms that became Wicca today, he intended to develop a set of religious practices accessible to everyone, regardless of intelligence, education, etc. So he included “harm none” in the Rede so that his words would never be misunderstood, even when taken at face value by a stranger to our beliefs and way of life. Unfortunately, however, such misunderstandings still persist, with many Christians believing that the Rede constitutes a license to do anything and everything we get a mad impulse to do. 

Instead, we teach that you must at all times act in accordance with your magical will, or with the careful map you have planned out for your own life.

In other words, be true to yourself!

The Rule of Three states that whatever energy you send out from your life, be it good or evil, returns to you three times. As an example, if you murder someone, you will die by violence at the end of three future lives. If you perform an act of kindness for another, three acts of kindness will come your way. This is a very simplistic view, but hopefully, it makes sense to everyone.

The interesting thing here is the exemption for self defense. Wicca does not ask us to become victims or martyrs. Ever. “Turn the other cheek” is a Christian concept. I will never cause or initiate harm to another - unless it is in self defense. In self defense, the gloves can – and do – come off.

“Merry ye Meet and Merry ye Part” is an extremely clear reference to reincarnation. Meetings are times for merry play, but then so are partings, even of friends and loved ones – because nothing on this Earth is forever! As the Wheel of Life turns, we will meet again. Always!

In the Judeo-Christian belief systems most common in the United States, everything on Earth is subordinate to some eternal reward or punishment that takes place somewhere else, somewhere not on Earth. You’re here once, and then gone forever. 

In our belief system, reward and punishment are not eternal, and they take place right here on Earth, in this life or the next (or the one after that). Most importantly of all, life is a gift to be enjoyed! Merriment, for us, is worship.

All graphics on this site obtained from Witchway Graphics. They do not ask for credit, but they do the finest, most incredible, most STUNNING Pagan graphics on the Web - and they deserve all the credit we can give them!