Wiccan Rede

Wiccan Rede

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Taken from Raven Grimassi, The Encyclopedia of Wicca & Witchcraft, Llewellyn Publications, St. Paul, MN 2000.
Bide within the law you must,
In perfect love and perfect trust.
Live you must and let to live,
Fairly take and fairly give.

For tread that Circle thrice about
To keep unwelcome spirits out. 
To bind the spell well every time
Let the spell be said in rhyme

Light of the eye and soft to touch, 
Speak you little, listen much. 
Honor the old ones in deed and name. 
Let love and light be our guides again.

Deosil go by the waxing moon, 
Chanting out the joyful tune. 
Winddershins go where the moon doth wane,
And the warewolf howls by the dead wolfsbane.

When the Lady's moon is new, 
Kiss the hand to Her times two. 
When the moon rides at Her peak,
Then you heart's desires seek.

Head the North winds mighty gale, 
Lock the door and trim the sail. 
When the wind blows from the East,
Expect the new and set the feast.

When the wind comes from the South, 
Love will kiss you on the mouth. 
When the wind whispers from the West,
All hearts will find peace and rest.

Nine woods in the cauldron go,
Burn them fast and burn them slow. 
Birch in the fire goes
To represent what the Lady knows.

Oak in the forest towers with the might,
In the fire it brings the God's insight. 
Rowan is a tree of power,
Causing life and magic to flower.

Willows at the waterside stand
Ready to help us to the Summer-land. 
Hawthorn is burned to purify
And to draw faerie to your eye.

Hazel - the tree of wisdom and learning
Adds its strength to the bright fire burning. 
White are the flowers of Apple Tree
That brings us fruits of fertility.

Grapes grown upon the vine
Giving us both joy and wine. 
Fir does mark the evergreen
To represent immortality seen.

Eldar is the Lady's tree. 
Burn it not or cursed you'll be. 
Four times the Major Sabbats mark
In the light and in the dark.

As the old year starts to wane,
The new begins, it's now Samhain. 
When the time for Imbolc shows,
Watch for flowers through the snow.

When the wheel begins to turn
Soon the Beltane fires will burn. 
As the wheel turns to Lamas night,
Power is brought to magic rite.

Four times the Minor Sabbats fall;
Use the sun to mark them all. 
When the wheel has turned to Yule,
Light the log; the Horned One rules.

In the spring, when night equals day,
Time for Ostra to come our way. 
When the Sun has reached its height,
Time for Oak and Holly to fight.

Harvesting comes to one and all
When the Autumn Equinox does fall. 
Heed the flower, bush, and tree
By the Lady blessed you'll be.

Where the rippling waters go
Cast a stone, the truth you'll know. 
When you have and hold a need,
Harken not to others' greed.

With a fool no season spend,
Or be counted as his friend. 
Merry Meet and Merry Part
Bright the cheeks and warm the heart.

Mind the Three-fold Laws you should. 
Three times bad and three times good. 
When misfortune is enow
Wear the star upon your brow.

Be true in love; this you must do
Unless your love is false to you. 
These eight words the Rede fulfill: 
"An ye harm none, Do what ye will."

Copyright © 2000 - 2001
Kristen Helmer