Wiccan Rede/Crede?

Question

Does anyone else think that the Wiccan Rede/Crede's "an it harm none, do what ye will" and the law of Karma are just ways that they try to stop people from doing black magic? I dont, but I think thats what theyre for. I use "an it harm none, do what ye will, and it cause harm, do what ye must"

Answer 1

Apparently you have never read the entire Rede. Wait one and I'll get it for you. There's nothing to do with "Black magic" as such a thing does not exist--except in some uninformed minds.

Bide the Wiccan laws ye must
in Perfect Love and Perfect Trust

Live and let live
Freely take and freely give

Cast the circle thrice about
To keep all 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
Sing and dance the Wiccan rune

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

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 northwind'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 fast and burn them slow

Elder be ye Lady's tree
Burn it not or cursed ye'll be

When the wheel begins to turn
Let the Beltain fires burn

When the wheel has turned to Yule
Light the log and let Pan rule

Heed ye flower, bush and tree
By the Lady, Blessed be
Where the rippling waters go
Cast a stone and truth ye'll know

When ye have a need
Hearken not to others' greed

With the fool no season spend
Nor 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 is enow
Wear the blue star on thy brow

True in love ever be
Unless thy lover's false to thee

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

Answer 2

Really I think its more part of the religion of it. very few religions out there will actually tell people its ok to do them harm and this is just another form of giving a reason not to do harm. I mean it is truth that when you do harm it comes back at you and when you do good it comes back to you. in my opinion a Wiccan who wants to add in "and it cause harm, do what ye must" is not a true wiccan at all. try looking at some other pagan religion because Wicca is not about causing harm to anyone. I believe Voodoo and Hoodoo religions do not have rules against causing harm to others. im not certain though because i have not studied either. In my opinion a Wiccan will feel more that Karma will handle any that cause harm. therefore vengence or revenge is not necessary. Also as far as I know Terry has the correct version of the wiccan rede there. atleast thats the one that I have always seen.

Answer 3

You also have to realize that not only was the rede not originally a part of Wicca, it is also not a rule or law. The word rede means guide, the full version of the rede meant to be a guide to certain things in the Wiccan religion.
BB,
Lord AmonRaHa

Answer 4

It depends on your version of its origin.
The first one says that it originated in a speech by Doreen Valiente in 1964 in order to bring tolerance of other covens and the outside world. That it was taken from a character in Pierre Louys' book called "The Adventures of King Pausole," published in 1901, in which the King states 'Do what you like so long as you harm no one.'

The second says that it came from the Wiccan Credo written by Adriana Porter in 1910 (or Gerald Gardner in the 1940's) and the end of it states: "The end of the Credo contains one version of the Wiccan Rede. It reads:

"Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill:
An' it harm none, Do what ye will. Blessed Be to thee."

I think they were attempting to inject some morality there in order to make it more palatable to the social conscience of that era, rather than to prevent one from doing "black magic".
Just my two cents' worth.

Answer 5

So basically if you don't like an idea, it must be the Man trying to get you down? From what little information you give, I can only guess you do not understand the Rede or ideas of karma very well.

Answer 6

I do not follow the Wiccan Rede. However, I do have my own ethics. I am not bloodthirsty for revenge or have a desire to cause malevolence just because I can. That type of thinking is insane.
I will use bindings if I feel the need for it. I will do other types of magic if I feel the situation warrants it. I have a collection of curses and hexes available to me. I have not used them, I keep them because I find them interesting.

Answer 7

I think it's more of a recognition that sh*t happens to people who are unbalanced much more so than to people who try and do well to others. It's pretty obvious, even from a purely psychological standpoint. Doesn't require any mysticism, just a basic understanding of human nature.

Answer 8

Why would anyone WANT to do black magic?
Everything you do effects yourself and others. It spirals out into everything you do and everything around you. The choices you make effecting other people WILL COME BACK TO YOU, because you are the originator. It effects how people react to you, treat you, and trust you. This isn't Christianity. They don't make things up to "control" people.

Answer 9

Your creepy mind control will not work on me because I am wearing my Tin Foil Hat.