The Wiccan Rede??

Question

I have seen many different versions of the Wiccan Rede and I was wondering what you opinions were on the "correct" one?

I somewhat like the one with this part "Widdershins go when the moon doth wane And werewolf howls by the dread wolfsbane" but its akward to say.

Also instead of wasteing another 5 points to ask another question. What are the nine woods that go in a cauldron? and how does one burn them quick and slow?

And any other explanation you might have about the wiccan Rede, please any CORRECT information would be great.

May the best win the ten.

ok wings??? how about someone answer the questions. thanks though.

Puck---that was a cut and paste from a web article i read myself too....don't claim it as your own research.

Answer 1

The actual Rede is something like 27 lines long. I'm not Wiccan but I have contacts who are so I will star you.

Answer 2

I feel that things such as the rede function as advice, but not absolute law. Besides, the rede is not a command to harm none. Those are only two words. I personally like the newish idea of an it harm, do as thou *must*. In general, I think the full (8-word) rede is a good thing to follow. "harm none" is a little impractical, if not impossible. edit: To those who are referencing the esoteric and nonsensical "bide ye the wiccan laws you must" poem... THAT IS NOT THE REDE. It merely has the Rede as the last line. If you actually read the poem you will find it certainly sounds mystical and authoritative but much of it makes absolutely no sense, and I believe it was written around the 70's anyway.

Answer 3

The most commonly accepted form, "Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfil, An' it harm none, do what ye will.", can only be verified to 1964. Before that, it had several antecedents. The most influential was probably Aleister Crowley's "Do what thou Wilt shall be the whole of the law. Love is the law, love under will. There is no Law beyond Do what thou wilt"

It has been alleged that Gardner and Crowley felt that this ethic would be far too dangerous to promulgate to the hoi-polloi, so a "safer" version was developed, specifically, "Do what you like so long as you harm no one" (1956, Gerald Gardner).

It should be noted that there is simply no documentary tradition before Gardner's 1956 publication, although similar sentences might have been used in preceding decades.

Like a great deal of Wicca, it appears to be entirely made up in the 20th century.

Answer 4

The ‘Rede’ was first put into print by Charles Leyland circa 1901 (in his books about Strega – Traditional Italian Witchcraft), but was totally re-written by Doreen Valiente circa 1940’s – personally I like this version best of all.

Another account came from Gerald Gardner stating that the Rede came from the words of the legendary King Paulsol, or that it even had it’s roots in Crowley’s Law of Thelma. In short there is no correct version, go with the version you like best.

Nine woods are placed into a traditional Wiccan balefire. These woods are Rowan, Dogwood, Pine, Poplar, Oak, Juniper, Holly, Cedar, and Apple. If you did your research ‘Wikipedia’ it would tell you to use Elder instead of Pine, and the words of the Rede clearly state that this is the Goddess’s tree and if you burn it you will be cursed. In some regions, superstitions, religious beliefs, or traditions prohibits the cutting of certain trees.

I hope this helps.

Answer 5

These days I wouldn't say there is any "correct" version of the poem. They all say basically the same thing. Wolfsbane is actually a plant that is supposedly toxic to wolves. As for the woods "burn them quick and burn them slow" refers to the actual way wood burns. Certain ones burn faster than others. I've also seen different lists of the 9 sacred woods - it depends on the tradition you follow.

Answer 6

This should really be in the Religion and Spirituality section. Being that Wicca, IS a religion.

There is a saying that "if you ask 10 wiccans the same question, you will get 10 different answers"

There is no correct way in Wicca, and there for, no correct Rede.

Answer 7

http://www.angelfire.com/rant/ingwitch/rede.html
"An it harm none, do as you will"

The Rede of the Wiccae, the poem which you are confusing with the Wiccan Rede because it has the Rede IN IT, is part of a tradition called NECTW.

It would make sense to ask them what woods they mean.

Answer 8

well the main rule of wicca is "An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will" which basically means do whatever you want as long as it doesn't harm anyone