Pagans: Please state the Wiccan Rede (in your own words or as a quote) and describe what it means to you.?

Question

In Edain McCoy's book, Sabbats, she states it "As ye harm none, do what thou will" in the glossary under "Pagan Rede". She says it does not allow pagans to hurt any living being or to try to control another's free will. By asking this question, I am hoping to promote a better understanding of the Wiccan spiritual path. I enjoy learning about different faiths and respect everyone's beliefs.

Answer 1

People should not be hung up on what the term themselves!
A Wiccan is a Pagan, but all Pagans are Wiccan.

The rede is a beautiful text on which to base our lives.
Ariel
)O(

Answer 2

I agree that McCoy is not the best for reliable information.

I see the short-form Rede as a guideline (not a law) that some Wiccans use to consider the consequences of their actions. For a very interesting site about the history of the Rede:
http://www.waningmoon.com/ethics/rede.shtml

As others have said, it only applies to those Wiccan traditions that use it, and not all Wiccan traditions use the Rede. Other pagan religions have their own ethical codes. For example, the Wiccan Rede isn't a part of the many Reconstructionist paths like Asatru, Kemeticism, Religio Romana, Celtic Reconstructionism, or Hellenismos. Druidic organizations also have their own ethical systems. And the religion of Thelema has a different code. I think that Voodoo and Shamanistic paths also have different codes of ethics. So I feel that it is misleading at best for this author to use the phrase "Pagan Rede".

I have nothing against the Rede (or any other religion's ethical code). It can be useful but it isn't a part of my path. And I'm definitely a pagan.

Answer 3

I'm a Pagan pantheist and an eclectic Witch. I think one of the biggest problems we face is that so so so many people don't even acknowledge that there are real Witches. They do seem to acknowledge that Pagans are actually SOMETHING. They also seem to generally acknowledge the legitimacy of pantheism, once it has been explained to them that we are not polytheists, and that we are essentially atheists with a great and deep reverence for the natural world. But go talking about Witches and it is a whole 'nuther ball game. Wiccans do seem to get a certain modicum of acknowledgment as to being actual, whereas those of us who are not Wiccan, who follow a different path and are not necessarily associated with a group, are looked at sometimes as though we are making it all up. I live in the very liberal SF Bay Area, so I can say I am a Witch, a Solitaire, and I'd say that prolly 75% of those I encounter either do acknowledge what I am as being a valid thing to be, or they are also Witches of one sort or other so there is no problem. But I was in Michigan not long ago and told people who asked that I was a Witch. Whoa, did I get the delicately raised eyebrow treatment! Lovely question, as always! Bright Blessings, Lady Morgana

Answer 4

Yet another example of why Edain McCoy is NOT a good resource. What she calls the "Pagan Rede" does NOT apply to all Pagans -- only to Wiccans, since it is the Wiccan Rede. Gah.

And the idea that the Wiccan Rede does not allow us to harm any other living thing is an overly simplistic interpretation. Life survives on death -- it is impossible NOT to live without causing harm to something else, in many ways both great and small. What the Rede DOES suggest we do, in my opinion, is minimize the harm we do where it is appropriate and realistic to do so without also causing harm to ourselves. (According to this interpretation of the Rede, there are times when causing harm is necessary in order to avoid greater harm... but that's another discussion.)

More thoughts on the Wiccan Rede that you might find interesting:

http://wicca.timerift.net/rede.shtml

Answer 5

Here's my version: If it isn't hurting anybody else, then go for it!

It means that it's nobody's business what I do as long as I am not hurting other living beings. It does not mean that I can't harm anybody/anything if I deem it necessary to survive or thrive. What it IS saying in actuality is that there is no reason to avoid a harmless activity even if others believe it to be a sin (magic practiced on oneself, the use of idols, homosexuality, etc.)

Other Wiccans may have slightly different interpretations, but that's their business not mine.

Not all Wiccans follow the Rede, nor is it necessary to do so to be Wiccan. It's not like they can be excommunicated if they don't. ;)

Answer 6

THE WICCAN REDE

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 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 and 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.

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Answer 7

The so-called "long form" of Gwen Thompson is named "Rede of the Wiccae" and NAMES the actual rede in it. It is not the rede.

"An it harm none, do as you will"

In other words, do those actions that cause no harm freely.

[For all other actions, including revenge, please see the rest of the religion....the rede is not ALL there is.]

For over 12 years, *the* internet essay trying to explain what the rede says to untaught and self-taught newbies who are telling people who've followed it for 30 years they are getting it wrong has been http://www.paganlibrary.com/ethics/wiccan_ethics_rede.php

Seriously, rede it, lol....it's 101 required for Wiccans in most trads. (BTW, a lot of BTW doesn't have said Rede at all, and DEFINATELY does not have "Wiccae" in it. I am not, and do not wish to be, BTW, but I would not follow "Wiccae", as it has deliberate errors in it to trap newbies, and that's crappy.)


...oh, and McCoy has already demonstrated she makes things up...."ancient potato goddess of Ireland," anyone?

Answer 8

The real "Wiccan Rede" is much longer than just that one sentence. Try wicca.timerift.net for a nice version of the whole thing. "An ye harm none, do as ye will" is more like the "golden rule". The same as "do unto others as you would have others do unto you".

But yes, that little sentence keeps people who adhere to it from harming any other person, animal, any part of nature, and themselves. As long as you aren't harming anyone, you are free to do as you please.

Answer 9

That is exactly it. As wiccans, we are not allowed to, nor would we want to hurt anyone, to include ourselves. What people need to understand is that we are a peaceful religion intent on harming none. But we are however human, and if we are verbally attacked, we will respond.

Answer 10

Its a basic rule of 'harm none' though many interpretation vary on exactly how far does that go? Some follow a vegetarian diet and take the phrase literally, while others feel that if one is attacked (physicall or spiritually) its our inherant right to defend ourselves.