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The Rede
That's it. Just those eight words. Coupled with the Law of Return, they form
the basis of Wiccan morals and ethics. They are also the basis for all sorts of strange claims concerning the practices and
beliefs of some Wiccans.
The first half of the Rede basically means to make choices based on doing the least amount of harm possible to yourself, the
people around you, and the environment. It doesn't dictate vegetarianism, pacifism, pro-life views, or put any other
restrictions on the free choices of individuals.
The second part does not mean "Do whatever you want." It refers to your will, your intentions and actions as
guided by your conscience. Every individual problem and every set of circumstances is different. The way you solve these problems
is a direct reflection of your will.
In other words, the Rede means "Cause as little harm as possible with each decision and action, letting your conscience be
your guide." As long as a person isn't a sociopath or having other mental problems, their conscience will usually guide them
to act within the bounds of what is generally accepted as appropriate behavior.
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More Info
A rather long poem is often,
and innacurately,
referred to
as the Wiccan Reed.
That poem is more accurately titled
"The Rede of the Wiccae"
which can be viewed in the
"Doctrines" section.
Two excellent research sites
regarding the Rede are
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