The Wiccan REDE

Bide the Wiccan law ye must,
In perfect love and perfect trust.
Live and let live — fairly take and fairly give.

Cast the circle thrice about
To keep the evil spirits out.
To bind the spell well every time,
Let the spell be spake in rhyme.

Soft of eye and light of touch,
Speak little, listen much.
Deosil go by the waxing Moon,
Chanting out the Witches’ Rune.

Widdershins go when the Moon doth wane,
And the Werewolf howls by the dread Wolfsbane.
When the Lady’s Moon is new,
Kiss your hand to Her times two.

When the Moon rides at Her peak,
Then your heart’s desire seek.
Heed the North wind’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 West,
Departed souls will have no rest.
When the wind blows from the East,
Expect the new and set the feast.

Nine woods in the cauldron go,
Burn them quick 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 the tree of power,
Causing life and magic to flower.

Willow at the waterside stands
To help us to the Summerland.
Hawthorn is burned to purify,
And to draw the faeries nigh.
Hazel, the tree of wisdom and learning,
Adds its strength to the bright fire burning.

White are the flowers of the apple tree,
That brings us fruits of fertility.
Grapes that 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 ye’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 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 Lammas 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 and let Pan rule.
In the Spring, when night equals day,
Time for Ostara to come our way.

When the Sun has reached its height,
Litha then is in sight.
Harvesting comes to one and all
When the Autumn Equinox is called.

Heed the flower, bush, and tree,
By the Lady, blessed be.
Where the rippling waters go,
Cast a stone and truth you’ll know.

When ye have and hold a need,
Heed not 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 Threefold Law you should,
Three times bad and three times good.
When misfortune is enow,
Wear the star upon your brow.

True in love ever be,
Unless thy lover’s false to thee.

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