There are many different versions of the complete Wiccan Rede. The first version below is a fairly modern version, while the second one is an older version. All versions end with some variation of the words “an ye harm none, do what ye will”. Feel free to send in your favorite version.

Wiccan Rede
also known as the Advice of the Wise

Bide the Witches’ Law ye must,
In perfect Love and perfect Trust.

Live and let all else live,
Fairly take and fairly give.

First tread the Circle thrice about
To keep unwelcome spirits out.

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

Light of eye and soft of touch,
Speak ye 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,
Sing and Dance the joyful rune.

Widdershins by the waning moon,
Chanting out the baneful rune.

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 thee on the mouth.

When the wind blows from the West,
Departed souls will have no 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 Imbolg shows
Watch for flowers through the snows.

When the wheel begins to turn
Soon the Beltaine fires will burn

As the wheel turns to Lammas 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
Nor be counted as his friend.

Merry Meet and Merry Part
Bright the cheeks and warm the heart.

Mind the Three-fold Law you should
Three times bad and three times good.

When misfortune is enow
Wear the star upon your brow.

In love you must be ever true
Unless your love is false to you.

Eight words the Rede fulfil
“And it harm none, do what ye will”.

Rede of the Wiccae

Bide the Wiccan laws ye must, in perfect love and perfect trust.
Live and let live—fairly take and fairly give.
Cast the Circle thrice about to keep all evil spirits out.
To bind the spell every time, let the spell be spake in rhyme.
Soft of eye and light of touch—speak ye little, listen much.

Deosil go by the waxing Moon—sing and dance the Wiccan Rune.
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 ar Her peak, then your heart’s desire seek.
Heed the North wind’s might 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.
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.
When the Wheel begins to turn, let the Beltane fires burn.

When the Wheel has turned to Yule, light the Log and let Pan rule.
Heed ye flower, bush and tree — by the Lady blessed be.
Where the rippling waters go, cast a stone and truth ye’ll know.
When ye are in dire need, hearken not to others’ greed.
With the fool no season spend, or be counted as his friend.
Merry meet and merry part — bright the cheeks and warm the heart.
Mind the Threefold Law ye should — three times bad and three times good.
When misfortune is enow, wear the blue star on thy brow.
True in love ever be, unless thy lover’s false to thee.
Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill — an ye harm none, do what ye will.

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image courtesy of Golden Raven’s Perch

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reader comments

    A rule that states “Do what you want, as long as you harm none”. I think that if you obey this rule you can do better and not be tempted away from being a “Good” witch. —CrystalAngel2006

Rede of Wiccae questions

~Anonymous asks:

    I was reading the Rede of Wiccae and I thought it sounded like some sort of ritual. Also because it’s old language and I’m a new witch I would like to know what some of those parts mean.

    1) What does deosil mean in “Deosil go by the waxing moon…”?

    Doesil means “in the direction of the sun” or clockwise around a circle. Waxing moon is from New Moon to Full Moon.

    2) If I were to “Cast the Circle thrice about” with what and how would I cast it?

    This means to cast a circle by walking in a circle three times. See our article at casting circle for more information.

    3) What are widdershins in “Widdershins go when the Moon doth wane…”?

    Widdershins is counter clockwise. Waning moon is from Full Moon to New Moon.

    4) What’s “… the dread wolfsbane…”?

    Wolfsbane is a poisonious herb, better known as aconite.

    5) Who’s the Lady?

    The Lady is the feminine divine. In older traditions, this was a Goddess (usually Artemis or Diana). In modern Wicca, the divine is viewed to be all-inclusive, and is honored in both the feminine (Lady) and masculine (Lord).

    6) How would I “…kiss the hand to Her times two.”?

    This is more familiarly known as blowing a kiss.

    7)What does this fragment mean? “When the Moon ride ar Her peak…”

    Full Moon.

    8) In the part about the north wind what does it mean by “…lock the door and drop the sail”?

    Those are things that used to be done when the winter storms blew in from the north — close up houses securely and get ships safely in ports. This is a reference to winter.

    9) What are the “nine woods”?

    Nine woods are traditionally placed in the traditional Wiccan balefire: apple, cedar, dogwood, elder, holly, juniper, poplar, oak, and rowan. These nine woods can vary by locality. Pine is often used in place of either holly or elder. A balefire is a ritual fire kindled without the use of metals.

    10) In the part “When the Wheel begins to turn, let the Beltane Fires burn.” what are the Beltane Fires and what’s the Wheel?

    The Wheel is the Wheel of the year (the seasons). Beltane is celebrated around April 30 or May 1. This is a reference to spring replacing winter. The Beltane fire is also known as the balefire mentioned above.

    11) When it mentions the Wheel turning to Yule what does it mean?

    Yule is celebrated on December 25.

    12) What’s the Three Fold Law?

    The three fold law is similar to Hindu and Buddhist karma. The idea is that whatever kind of energy you send out into the world will return three times over. If you do something bad, three times as much bad energy will come back into your life. If you do somethig kind, three times as much kind energy will come back into your life.

    13) What’s the blue star you would where on your brow?

    This is a seven-pointed blue star (or septegram). This symbol is used by the modern Blue Star Wicca tradition. This is a reference to Queen Aster of Phoenecia, who assisted Aset (Isis) when Isis was mourning the death of Asar (Osiris). Queen Aster became a Goddess and a star in the night sky, worshipped throughout the Middle East as Aster, Astarte, and similar names.

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