The Wiccan Rede
(Explained)


“Bide the Wiccan laws ye must
in perfect love and perfect trust.”

You must keep the Wiccan laws with an attitude of perfect love and perfect trust. If you don’t completely agree with what Wicca is about, you might want to rethink your choice to follow the Wiccan path.



“Live and let live—
fairly take and fairly give.”

Respect people and nature. Treat them both as you want to be treated.



“Cast the Circle thrice about
to keep all evil spirits out.”

Witches generally cast a circle around them when preparing to do magic. The circle is cast three times because three is a very magical number. It stands for the three phases of the Goddess and God, and it’s the number of creativity. In addition, there is the threefold law that says events usually happen in threes.



“To bind the spell every time,
Let the spell be spake in rhyme.”

Witches speak their spells in rhyme because it gives the conscious mind something to do. While your conscious mind is busy listening to the words, your unconscious can tap into our energy and the energy of the God and the Goddess—and magic is done.



“Soft of eye and light to touch—
Speak little, listen much.”

Be gentle. Sit back and listen. Wise people don’t blab, they listen.



“Deosil go by the waxing Moon—
Sing and dance the Wiccan rune.”

When the Moon is waxing, or getting bigger, move around the ritual circle clockwise to bring good things toward you.



“Widdershins go when the Moon doth wane,
And the Werewolf howls by the dread Wolfsbane.”

When the Moon is waning, or getting smaller, move around the circle counter-clockwise to take away negativity. Wolfsbane is dreaded because it is a poisonous plant.



“When the Lady’s Moon is new,
Kiss the hand to her times two.”

When the Moon is new and has just become visible in the sky again after being dark, salute the Lady and welcome her by kissing your two fingers.



“When the Moon rides at her peak,
Then your heart’s desire seek.”

When the Moon is full, go after your heart’s desire. At that time of the month, you can ask anything of her.



“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.”

These couplets describe various elements associated with the four directions.



“Nine woods in the Cauldron go—
Burn them quick and burn them slow.

Elder be ye Lady’s tree—
Burn it not or cursed ye’ll be.”

There are nine different kinds of magical wood that are often burned in the cauldron during rituals—apple, birch, fir, hawthorn, hazel, oak, rowan, vine, and willow. But never burn the elder. Elder trees are the Lady’s tree, and in honor of her they are always spared.



“When the Wheel begins to turn—
Let the Beltane fires burn.

When the Wheel has turned a Yule,
Light the log and let Pan rule.”

The turning of the wheel refers to the cycle of the year. Beltane is one of the year’s major Sabbats, or holidays. It occurs in the spring. Yule, another Sabbat sits on the opposite side of the wheel of the year, at the time of the winter solstice.



“Heed ye flower, bush and tree—
By the Lady blessed by.”

Take care of nature, and respect it for the Lady’s sake.



“Where the rippling waters go,
Cast a stone an truth ye’ll know.”

Watch what happens when you throw a stone into water. The ripples spread one from where the stone landed. In much the same way, your actions, like the stone, send out ripples that affect everyone and everything around you.



“When ye have need,
Hearken not to other’s greed.”

Don’t allow the idea of profit to sway you. Don’t take money for your magical work.



“With the fool no season spend
Or be counted as his friend.”

People will associate you with the company you keep. If you hang around with fools, you may just be seen as one, too.



“Merry meet and merry part—
Bright the cheeks an warm the heart.”

Basically, this means it’s good to be with friends.



“Mind the threefold law ye should—
Three times bad and three times good.”

Pay attention to the threefold law. Whatever you do, good or bad, comes back to you three times.



“When misfortune is enow,
Wear the blue star on thy brow.”

When you are in trouble, visualize a blue pentagram on your forehead. The pentagram will protect you.



“True in love ever be
Unless the lover’s false to thee.”

Be loyal in love, but if the sucker isn’t loyal to you, forget about him (or her)!



“Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill—
An it harm none, do what ye will.”

Eight words sum it up—if it harms none, do what you want.