The most important of all Wiccan axioms is the Wiccan Rede. This is also the golden rule by which all Wicca practitioners need to abide by. Although the Wiccan Rede is a succinct and amazing creation of prose, it is the last line that envelops all of the Wiccan moral system. It is the basis of the religion of Wicca which is now the fastest growing religion in the USA. The words that inspire all Wiccans to choose the light and to spread it all over the world are “An it harm none, do what ye will”.
The Wiccan Rede
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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 the Circle thrice about to keep unwelcome spirits out.
To bind the spell well every time, let the spell be said in rhyme.
Light of eye and soft of 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.
Widdershins go when the moon doth wane,
and the werewolf howls by the dread wolfsbane.
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 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 might, in the fire it brings the God’s
insight. Rowan is a tree of power causing life and magick to flower.
Willows at the waterside stand ready to help us to the Summerland.
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 grow upon the vine giving us both joy and wine.
Fir does mark the evergreen to represent immortality seen.
Elder 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 snows.
When the wheel begins to turn soon the Beltane fires will burn.
As the wheel turns to Lamas night power is brought to magick 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 Ostara to come our way.
When the Sun has reached it’s 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”
From this Rede came many of the Wiccan sayings.
1. Merry Meet, Merry Part and Merry Meet Again
This phrase is used when people greet each other for the first time and also for subsequent meetings. Wicca is a way of life that emphasizes the joy of being in this wonderful world where we come with a plan to enjoy certain experiences that we have chosen. As perfect beings we know that we will not be harmed even if the experiences seemingly “hurt” us. Only our physical body will be damaged even if something terrible happens. Our soul will always be a magickal, complete and glorious soul. Knowing this, why worry about anything while on Earth? So Wiccans make a practice of being happy regardless. When they meet someone, they wish to have a wonderful interaction with the person or persons and also hope to meet them again in similar circumstances. It is a call for joy and camaraderie which allows everyone to enjoy life to the fullest. This term may also be used when they are communicating with Goddess or God after rituals.
2. “Blessed Be” or “Brightest Blessings”
Wicca is a religion of love and freedom. There is nothing hateful or scary about Wicca when compared to other religions which work by scaring people into avoiding “sin” and “hell” or “purgatory” etc. As most people are aware, we are blessed and perfect beings who are in this Earth for a human experience. Even if the worst physical catastrophe happens in our life, we will just let go of our body and move on to the next life without regret.
Some of us know that we are always blessed and will have a “bright” future anyway. So this greeting is just a reiteration of the Wiccan attitude of “always be happy” This kind of attitude will bring joy to everyone we meet so that even an unhappy person or animal will soon be dancing with joy in our company.
3. In Perfect Love and Perfect Trust.
Wiccans practice their religion every minute of every day and not just on weekends. As we go around doing our daily chores, we interact with a large number of people at home, during our commute, at work, in the grocery stores, etc. Everyone we see is a perfect being, whether they are human, animal or other spirits. As the wise ones know, each of us mirror our lives with others. Each of us is an “instance” of a human being. What we experience today may be the experience of another tomorrow. So we need to treat each other with love and trust. One day we may give and the next day we make take. The best way to live our life is to completely trust others and always know that whatever you give will come back to you three-fold. This complete trust and joy enables the world to be what it can be- perfect.
This saying may also be used while doing rituals as part of the give and take of the law of the Universe.
4. So Mote It Be.
Although “mote” means the tiniest of substances, “So Mote it Be” is one of the most powerful sentences on Earth. This saying is used when a ritual or spell is being pushed into the most powerful strata of the Universe. As the intentions merge into the subtle layers or consciousness, the phrase “Mote it be” is the final push that sends the message to enable our thoughts to create the results. This is one of the most powerful of all phrases and it is used at the end of spells to forcefully push our desire further into the Universe.
