Cameron Miranda
The Wiccan Laws, also known as the Craft Laws, the Old Laws, the Ardanes, or simply The Laws, are a set of ancient rules that govern the practices of Covens. The Laws were first introduced by Gerald Gardner in the 1950s and were originally passed down from initiate to initiate as part of the Book of Shadows. Over time, these Laws have been revised and added to, with different variations emerging, such as the 161 Rules of the Witch and the revised version by a Council of Elders in 1979 to make them more acceptable to modern Wiccans. One notable aspect of Wiccan beliefs is the Rule of Three, or the Threefold Law, which suggests that any magical act, positive or negative, will be returned to the practitioner three times. This concept is comparable to the idea of karma in Eastern religions but with a Western interpretation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of words | 8 |
| Moral | Do what you like so long as you harm no one |
| Non-violence | Refrain from causing any harm or pain to any creature, by thought, word, or deed |
| Key text | "Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfil, An it harm none, do what ye will" |
| First recorded mention | 1964 in a speech by Doreen Valiente |
| First published | 1975 in Green Egg magazine by Lady Gwen Thomson |
| Attributed to | Adriana Porter, grandmother of Lady Gwen Thomson |
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What You'll Learn
- The Wiccan Rede is a statement that provides the key moral system in the new religious movement of Wicca
- Doreen Valiente gave the basis of the Wiccan Rede in a 1964 speech: Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfil, An it harm none, do what ye will
- The Wiccan Rede is also known as the eight words couplet
- The Rede of the Wiccae was published in Green Egg magazine by Lady Gwen Thomson, who claimed it was the original form of the Wiccan Rede
- The Wiccan Rede is a philosophy of living, not just for witches but for all humans
The Wiccan Rede is a statement that provides the key moral system in the new religious movement of Wicca
The Wiccan Rede is believed to have originated from Doreen Valiente, who first publicly recited it in a speech in 1964. However, it is debated whether she was referencing a longer creed or if those eight words were the entirety of her message. Lady Gwen Thomson, who published the Rede in Green Egg magazine in 1975, is also often credited with the piece, which she claimed to have received from her grandmother, Adriana Porter. The precise origin of the Rede is still uncertain, and it continues to evolve as the religion itself evolves.
The Wiccan Rede is not a commandment but rather a guideline to be interpreted and applied to individual situations. It is similar to the Golden Rule, a belief found in almost every religion, and other faiths have the same principle, albeit worded differently. The Rede emphasises the importance of personal choice and responsibility in one's actions, offering a basis for a successful, happy, and empowered life.
The Rede also includes the concept of "Perfect Love and Perfect Trust", which is applied when initiates are challenged at the gate to the circle and speak the password: "Perfect love and perfect trust". This concept encourages Wiccans to recognise each other as the Goddess, the God, and the spirit of all.
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Doreen Valiente gave the basis of the Wiccan Rede in a 1964 speech: Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfil, An it harm none, do what ye will
The Wiccan Rede is a statement that provides the key moral system in the new religious movement of Wicca and certain other related witchcraft-based faiths. In its most well-known form, as an eight-word couplet, it was first publicly recorded in a 1964 speech by Doreen Valiente: "Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfil, An it harm none, do what ye will".
The eight words encapsulate a philosophy of non-violence, instructing followers to refrain from causing harm to any creature, by thought, word, or deed. This principle is so basic and inherently right that many Wiccans do not even think about what it means in practice. Doreen Valiente, in her 1964 speech, gave the basis of the Wiccan Rede, which is often referred to as the Wiccan Law.
The Rede is alive and growing, evolving as its followers do, and it reminds Wiccans that they have the right to choose and act for themselves, but also the responsibility to do so. It encourages Wiccans to lead a spiritual life, offering everything they do in service to the Divine, and to look deep into life, rather than skimming along on the surface.
The Wiccan Rede is often compared to the philosophy of the legendary Good King Pausol, "Do what you like so long as you harm no one", and other faiths have similar principles, albeit worded differently. Doreen Valiente's 1964 speech was the first recorded mention of the Wiccan Rede, although it is debated whether she was referencing a longer creed or if those eight words were the sum of her message.
In 1975, an expanded version of the Rede, titled "Rede Of The Wiccae", was submitted by Lady Gwen Thomson to Green Egg magazine and attributed to her grandmother, Adriana Porter. This longer version of the Rede is a poem consisting of 26 verses, only one of which contains the eight words of the Wiccan Rede.
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The Wiccan Rede is also known as the eight words couplet
The Wiccan Rede is a statement that provides the key moral system in the new religious movement of Wicca and certain other related witchcraft-based faiths. It is also referred to as the Wiccan Law. The Wiccan Rede is a guideline and not a law or a set of rules. It is a basic principle that is so inherently right that we don't even think about what it means.
The Wiccan Rede is also known as the eight-word couplet, which was first publicly recorded in a 1964 speech by Doreen Valiente. In its most well-known form, the Rede reads:
> "Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfil, An it harm none, do what ye will."
This can be translated into modern English as:
> "If you do no harm, do what you will."
The Rede is a simple sentence that contains a whole philosophy of living, not just for witches but for all humans. It encourages non-violence and refraining from causing any harm or pain to any creature, by thought, word, or deed. It is about taking responsibility for your actions and making choices that align with your values and the service of the Divine.
The Rede has evolved and been interpreted in various ways, with different versions and layouts appearing over time. It is a living, growing philosophy that is open to interpretation and change.
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The Rede of the Wiccae was published in Green Egg magazine by Lady Gwen Thomson, who claimed it was the original form of the Wiccan Rede
The Wiccan Rede is a statement that provides the key moral system in the new religious movement of Wicca and certain other related witchcraft-based faiths. It is a philosophy of living that contains instructions for a successful, happy, and empowered life. The Rede is similar to a consequentialist formulation of the Golden Rule, a belief found in almost every religion.
The Rede of the Wiccae, published in Green Egg magazine by Lady Gwen Thomson (also known as Lady Gwen Thompson or Lady Gwen) is considered the original form of the Wiccan Rede. Thomson claimed that the text was passed down to her from her grandmother, Adriana Porter. However, this claim has been disputed, as Adriana Porter died in 1946, and no evidence of her authorship exists other than Thomson's word. The poem refers to Wiccan concepts that are not proven to pre-date the 1940s.
The Rede of the Wiccae consists of 26 couplets of advice and includes the well-known Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill, an it harm none, do what ye will". This central tenet of the Wiccan Rede encourages Wiccans to act as they please, as long as they harm no one. It emphasizes the importance of non-violence and refraining from causing harm to any creature, be it through thought, word, or deed.
The Rede of the Wiccae also includes other guidelines for Wiccans to follow. For example, it advises them to "live and let live, fairly take and fairly give". It instructs them to cast the circle thrice to keep evil spirits out and to speak little and listen much. It also provides directions for magical practices, such as dancing the Wiccan rune and moving with the phases of the moon.
Lady Gwen Thomson is considered a crucial figure in American Witchcraft, and her published work, the Rede of the Wiccae, continues to be an important text for Wiccans, even as the precise origin of the Wiccan Rede remains uncertain.
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The Wiccan Rede is a philosophy of living, not just for witches but for all humans
The Wiccan Rede is a statement that provides the key moral system for the religious movement of Wicca and related witchcraft-based faiths. It is often referred to as the Wiccan Law. The Wiccan Rede is considered the closest thing to a written creed for witches.
The Wiccan Rede is comprised of "eight words": "An ye harm none, do what ye will". This means that as long as a person's actions do not harm anyone, they are free to act as they wish. This is comparable to the moral philosophy of the legendary Good King Pausol, who said, "Do what you like so long as you harm no one". The Wiccan Rede is a simple sentence that contains a whole philosophy of living, not just for witches but for all humans. It encourages people to act in a way that does not harm others, and to follow their inner guidance.
The Wiccan Rede is also presented in a longer poem, which was first published in the Green Egg magazine in 1975 by Lady Gwen Thomson (also known as Thompson). This version is attributed to Thomson's grandmother, Adriana Porter, and is commonly known as the "Long Rede". However, the attribution to Porter is disputed, as she died in 1946, and no evidence of her authorship exists beyond Thomson's word. The poem refers to Wiccan concepts that may not pre-date the 1940s.
The Wiccan Rede encourages people to think about the consequences of their actions, words, and thoughts, and to make choices that align with their values. It emphasises the importance of spiritual growth and service to the Divine, and recognises the individual's right to choose their own path in life.
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Frequently asked questions
The Wiccan Law, also known as the Wiccan Rede, is a statement that provides the key moral system in the religious movement of Wicca. A common form of the Rede is "An ye harm none, do what ye will", which translates to "If you do no harm, do what you will" in modern English.
The Wiccan Law was first publicly recorded in a 1964 speech by Doreen Valiente. However, Valiente's version was adapted from a character in Pierre Louÿs' 1901 book, *The Adventures of King Pausole*.
The Wiccan Law is a philosophy for living a successful, happy, and empowered life. It encourages non-violence and refraining from causing any harm or pain to any creature, by thought, word, or deed.
Yes, there are different versions of the Wiccan Law. The original version, known as the "short rede", is an eight-word couplet. Longer versions include a 26-verse poem by Lady Gwen Thomson, published in Green Egg magazine in 1975, and a book by Mark Ventimiglia, which breaks down each line of the poem.
