Understanding the wiccan rede

The Wiccan Rede was first introduced by Lady Gwen Thompson in Green Egg Magazine in 1975. It is said that her grandmother, Adriana Porter, gave it to her. There are many debates about how old it is, yet since Wicca was introduced in the 1950s it is probably about that old. There are some people who known and follow the Wiccan rede by heart and there are some who don’t agree with it.

Wiccan Rede

Bide the Wiccan laws ye must in perfect love and perfect trust

This means that basically if you don’t agree with Wicca and the laws, then you should rethink your choice




Live and Let live – fairly take and fairly give

We need to respect people and nature



Cast the Circle thrice about to keep all evil spirits out

Generally a circle is formed before a ritual begins and casting it three times because three is a magickal number. Three also stands for the three phases of the Goddess and God, the number of creativity, and the threefold law.



To bind the spell every time, let the spell be spoke in rhyme

Rhyming gives our conscious mind something to do, while our unconscious mind taps into the energy.



Soft of eye and light of though, speak little, listen much

Basically, wise people don’t talk all the time.



Deosil go by the waxing moon, sing and dance the wiccan rune

Deosil means moving clockwise, so when the moon is waxing or getting bigger we move clockwise to bring good things to us



Widdershins go when the moon doth wane, and the werewolf howls by the dread wolfsbane

Widdershins means moving counter clockwise, so we move counter clockwise during the waning, or getting smaller, moon to get rid of negative things. Also wolfsbane is poisonous.



When the Lady’s Moon is new, kiss the hand to her times two

To honor the goddess with the moon is new we are to kiss two fingers



When the moon rides at her peak, then your heart’s desire seek

The full moon is a good time to ask for what your heart desires



Heed the Northwind’s mighty gate, 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 over thee, departed spirits restless be

These four are in reference to the four directions



Nine woods in the Cauldron go, burn them quick and burn them slow

Elder be the lady’s tree, burn it not or cursed you’ll be

There are nine different magickal woods: apple, birch, fir, hawthorn, hazel, oak, rowan, vine, and willow. But we are not to burn the elder tree as it is always spared for the goddess.



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

The Wheel is in reference to the cycles of the seasons. Beltane is a major sabbat in the spring, and Yule is on the opposite side of the wheel in winter.



Heed ye flower, bush and tree, by the Lady blessed be

Basically, take care of nature



Where the rippling waters go, cast a stone and truth you’ll know

When you throw a stone into the water, it sends ripples out. Just as your actions will have ripples effects those around us



When ye have need, hearken not to other’s greed

We should never take money for our magickal workings



With the fool no season spend, or be counted as his friend

People will judge us by the company we keep, so if we decided to keep company with a fool, they are going to think of us as fools too.



Merry meet an merry part, bright the checks and warm the heart

Basically, be good to friends



Mind the threefold law ye should, three time bad and three times good

Pay attention to the threefold law, if you send good out it will come back three time and if you send bad out it will come back three times bad.



When misfortune is enow, wear a blue star on thy brow

Picture a blue pentagram on your forehead for protection



True in love ever be, unless thy lover’s false to thee

Be loyal to love, unless your lover’s isn’t loyal to you



Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill, an it harm none, do what ye will

Don’t harm anyone on purpose.


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