The Wiccan Rede

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The path of the witch is a continuous journey, often taking many lifetimes, towards self improvement and the ultimate reunification with the Godhead It has been said that power corrupts and even witches are not immune to its temptations. Many people, at one time or another, lose their way along this journey. However, Spirit does not mete out reward or punishment in so much as the individual rewards and punishes himself according to the realities he creates for himself through his own choices. The gift of free will is that we create our own realities. This has been expressed as “what you think, you become,” or in a different context “I think, therefore I am.” For this reason, Wiccans are urged to abide by a code of conduct comprised of two rules, known as The Wiccan Rede and the Threefold Law.

“An it harm none, do what you will,” these eight simple words represent the whole of Wiccan ethics. Since humans have free will, the ‘Rede’ is not an immutable cosmic law, but rather a model for ethical behavior. The Rede is thought to be similar to the Golden Rule, a form of which appears in almost every religion, but while the Golden Rule forbids subjective harm to another, the Wiccan Rede advises that no harm be brought to anyone or anything. Nonetheless, this does not mean that you do not have the right to defend yourself or those you love in the face of danger or abuse.

The Wiccan Rede also alludes to following one’s True Will, a term which has been defined as a person's ultimate destiny in life as well as a moment to moment path of action that operates in perfect harmony with Nature. Therefore, the Rede is less about just following your desires and more about knowing one’s purpose and not only working towards it, but being true to that purpose.

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