Lesson 5: Wiccan Ethics, The Wiccan Rede
“An It Harm None – Do as ye Will”
The Wiccan Rede : “An It Harm None – Do as ye Will” is the central moral/ethical code of the Wiccan Tradition. Interpretation of this is down to the individual practicing Wicca, the stress is on personal responsibility for both magickal and mundane action.
(Note: There are various “poetic” versions of the Rede widely published today. Although some of them are very magickal sounding and beautiful, the Wiccan Rede itself is _only_ the eight words given above, the rest as they say, is just “poetry”!)
If you are unable to take responsibility for your actions, then practising magick (in any tradition) is probably a bad idea – regardless of whether or not you believe in the Rede or decide to follow it.
You may also want to read the following articles from the Avalonia Book of Shadows section of this site:The Wiccan Rede by Iris and Wiccan Ethics – Extract from Circle of Fire
Exercise 5
a) Note down the Wiccan Rede on a clean page in your notebook.
b) Spend some time thinking about what the Rede means to you and what it means to you? Is this something you could apply to your life? How would you apply it to everyday situations? Make notes on the various issues you can think of where the Rede would be helpful and where it may seem impossible.
