"An it harm none, do what thou wilt." This is the Wiccan Rede, the rule that most Wiccans live by. It is very simple, yet it seems so hard for some to follow. It can be interpreted so many ways. It is said in many different ways, and may or may not have been the first of the phrases like it. The Golden Rule may have come from it, or vice versa. It means simply that you can live any way that you want as long as you harm noone.
As I have said, it can be interpreted in many ways. Some may feel that it means to eat no animal flesh. Others may go further, feeling that animals should be protected, using them not for our gain.
I do not feel this way. To me, it means the willful harming of another creature. We must live, as the animals live. I do not believe that animals hurt each other just for the sake of violence. They attack one another for food, or in defense of territory. Do we feel that they are wrong or evil in this?
I do eat meat, and wear leather, and live in a wooden house. My furniture is made of wood, I love fresh flowers and I like to eat salads. If we are to think that we should not eat meat because this means the harming of animals, should we also not hurt the plants?
I would never hurt an animal simply for pleasure. I have never tried to harm another intentionally. I do not feel that the Wiccan Rede should be taken so far, but I believe in it fully. I believe that to find pleasure in harming another is wrong, but that we should not be quite as sensitive as we have become either.
Another interpretation of the Wiccan Rede that I feel has been lost is the 'harm none' part. To me, this means NONE. Plant, animal, person, and yourself! Realize that you are the most important thing in your life, and to constantly put yourself in a harmful situation is not good. It is very hard to work any magick or praise the Lord and Lady when you are not taking care of yourself. Remember that, because it is very important.
Bide the Wiccan Laws we 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 spirts out.
To bind the spell everytime, let the spell be spake in rhyme.
Soft of eye and light of touch, speak little, listen much.
Desoil go by the waxing moon, chanting out the Witches' Rune.
Widdershins go 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 wind's mighty gale, lock the door and drop the sail.
When the wind come from the South, love will kiss the 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 fast and burn them slow.
Elder be the Lady's tree, burn it not or cursed you'll be.
When the wheel begins to turn, let the Beltane fires burn.
When the wheel has turned to Yule, light the log and the horned one rules.
Heed ye 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 a true need, hearken not to other's greed, with a fool no season spend,
Lest ye 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 blue star on they brow.
True in love ever be, lest thy lover's false to thee.
Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill:
an' ye harm none, do what ye will.
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