So what is a "rede" anyway?
“Rede” is a Middle English term that means to give counsel, advise, interpret, or explain. In a more archaic
sense it also means to give an account or tell a story.
There are many versions of the Witches Rede and many choose to write their own version based on the original version.
Exactly what the original version is continues to be debated today, so I give examples below ..
Rede Of The Wiccae
(Being
Known As The Counsel Of The Wise Ones)
By Lady Gwen Thompson & Adriana Porter
First Published In Green Egg Magazine
Vol.
III. No. 69 (Ostara 1975)
Bide the Wiccan laws ye must in perfect love and perfect trust.
Live and let live
– fairly take and fairly give.
Cast the Circle thrice about to keep all evil spirits out.
To bind the spell
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 – sing and dance the Wiccan rune.
Widdershins go when the Moon doth wane, and the Werewolf
howls by the dread Wolfsbane.
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 Northwind’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 East,
expect the new and set the feast.
When the West wind blows o’er thee, departed spirits restless be.
Nine woods
in the Cauldron go – burn them quick and burn them slow.
Elder be ye Lady’s tree
– burn it not or cursed ye’ll be.
When the Wheel begins to turn – let the Beltane
fires burn.
When the Wheel has turned a Yule, light the Log and let Pan rule.
Heed ye flower, bush and tree- by the Lady blessed be.
Where the
rippling waters go, cast a stone an truth ye’ll know.
When ye have need, hearken not to other’s
greed.
With the fool no season spend or be counted as his friend.
Merry meet an merry part – bright the cheeks
an warm the heart.
Mind the Threefold Law ye should – three times bad and three times good.
When misfortune
is enow, wear the blue star on thy 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
The Witches Rede
(Full Version)
Bide within the Law you must, in perfect Love and perfect Trust.
Live you must
and let to live, fairly take and fairly give.
For tread the Circle thrice about to keep unwelcome spirits out.
To
bind the spell well every time, let the spell be said in rhyme.
Light of eye and soft of touch, speak you little,
listen much.
Honour the Old Ones in deed and name,
let love and light be our guides again.
Deosil go by the
waxing moon, chanting out the joyful tune.
Widdershins go when the moon doth wane,
and the werewolf howls by the dread
wolfsbane.
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 winds mighty gale, lock the door and trim the sail.
When the Wind blows from
the East, expect the new and set the feast.
When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss you on the mouth.
When
the wind whispers from the West, all hearts will find peace and rest.
Nine woods
in the Cauldron go, burn them fast 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 a tree of power causing life and magick to flower.
Willows at
the waterside stand ready to help us to the Summerland.
Hawthorn is burned to purify and to draw faerie to your eye.
Hazel-the
tree of wisdom and learning adds its strength to the bright fire burning.
White are the flowers of Apple tree that brings
us fruits of fertility.
Grapes 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 you'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 now 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 Lamas night power is brought to magick rite.
Four times the Minor Sabbats fall use the Sun to mark
them all.
When the wheel has turned to Yule light the log the Horned One rules.
In the spring, when night equals
day time for Ostara to come our way.
When the Sun has reached it's height time for Oak and Holly to fight.
Harvesting
comes to one and all when the Autumn Equinox does fall.
Heed the flower, bush, and tree by the Lady blessed you'll be.
Where the rippling waters go cast a stone, the truth you'll know.
When you have and hold a need, harken not to
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 Three-fold Laws you should three times bad and three times good.
When misfortune is
enow wear the star upon your brow.
Be true in love this you must do unless your love is false to you.
These
Eight words the Rede fulfill:
"An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will"
I also found this one, author unknown...
its a good example of how people choose to rewrite their own version!
Bide the Wiccan Laws we must
In Perfect Love and Perfect Trust.
Eight
words the Wiccan Rede fulfil:
"and ye harm none, do what ye will."
LEST IN THY SELF-DEFENSE IT BE,
Ever mind the
rule of three.
Follow this with mind and heart,
and merry ye meet
and merry ye part.