Rede

                           Bide ye Wiccan laws ye must
                          In perfect love and perfect trust
                  Live and let live, fairly take and fairly give.
          Form the circle thrice about to keep the evil spirits out.
                              Soft of eye, light of touch,
                           Speak ye little and listen much.
         To bind ye spell every time, let ye spell be spake in rhyme.
       Doesil go by the waxing moon, singing out the Witches' Rune.
Widdershins go by the waning moon, chanting out the baneful Rune.
                             When the Lady's moon is new,
                             Kiss thy hand to her times two.
        When the moon rides at her peak,then ye heart's desire seek.
    Heed the North wind's mighty gale, lock the door and trim the sail.
                        When the wind comes from the South,
                            love will kiss thee 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 ye cauldron go,
                         burn them fast and burn them slow.
             Elder be the Lady's tree, burn it not or cursed ye'll be.
        When the wheel begins to turn, soon the Beltaine fire'll burn.
                         When the wheel hath turned a Yule,
                          light a log- the Horned One rules.
           Heed ye flower, bush, and tree, by the Lady blessed be.
     When the rippling waters flow, cast a stone and truth ye'll know.
                            When ye have and hold a need,
                            Harken not with others' greed.
       With a fool no seasons spend lest ye be counted as his friend.
   Merry meet and merry part, bright the cheeks and warm the hearts.
                           Mind ye threefold law ye should,
                       three times bad and three times good.
            When misfortune is anow, wear the star upon thy brow.
         True in love ye must ever be, lest thy love be false to thee.
                    In these eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill,
                         "An it harm none, do what thou wilt."

I was hesitant to add this poem to my website.
I've found that a lot of Wiccans emphasize the Rede to death and I didn't want to seem as if I am suggesting it should be followed word for word- or followed at all, for that matter. Beginners sometimes take this piece of poetry and think that by following it exactly, he or she will then be a true Wiccan. That isn't true at all. This is just a prayer, or a piece of poetry, that suggests a general attitude that Wiccans should- or "might"- express. It is not meant to be followed exactly or to be revered as "the law." I noticed some Wiccans even mention, when asked about their beliefs, that they "honor the Rede." As if that honestly gives anyone a clue as to what they believe. It's a piece of poetry that expresses a particular Wiccan's thoughts- it is not a "golden rule" for Wiccans. I suppose there is nothing wrong with considering it as such...just don't be fooled into believing that if you honor this poem in its entirety, then you are Wiccan. Normally, the final "harm none" statement is the main focus of Wiccans.
Not all Pagans follow this Rede. It's a Wiccan tradition. Personally, I think it's great poetry with a nice piece of advice in closing......nothing more.