The origins of the Rede are uncertain. Perhaps the first
publication of this couplet poem occurred in the early 1970's by Lady Gwen
Thompson, a Celtic Traditional Witch and founding HPS of NECTW, in an issue
of Green Egg
magazine. The version that follows was published in the Earth Religion
News by a former student and initiate of hers, Ed Buczynski.
My thanks to Herb of NECTW
for helping me get my attributions straight.
- 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 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 little, listen much.
- Deosil go by the waxing moon,
- Chanting out the Witches' Rune.
- Widdershins go by the 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 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:
- An ye harm none, do what ye will.
And an addition to the traditional Rede
has appeared (attribution unknown):
- Lest in thy self-defense it be
- Ever mind the rule of Three
- Follow this with mind and heart
- And merry ye meet, and merry ye part.
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