The Wiccan Rede is the heart of Wiccan ethics, and it fits in eight words: "An it harm none, do what ye will."
Wicca doesn't have a holy book or a list of commandments. That doesn't mean anything goes. Our moral compass is the Wiccan Rede, a short piece of advice that asks you to use your freedom wisely and take responsibility for what you do.
In this guide we'll explain what the Wiccan Rede means in plain English, where it came from, the full Rede poem and what its lines mean, and how to actually use "harm none" in your spells and your everyday life.
What Is the Wiccan Rede?
The word rede (said like "reed") is an old English word meaning advice or counsel. That's fitting, because the Wiccan Rede isn't a commandment or a law. Most Wiccans see it as wise guidance that you apply with your own judgment, which may look different in different situations.
In the form most people know, the Wiccan Rede has just eight words:
An it harm none, do what ye will.
You'll also see it written as "An ye harm none, do what ye will" or "Harm none, do what ye will." In modern English it means: as long as it harms no one, do what you want. It expresses both the freedom we have as Wiccans and the responsibility that comes with it.
What "An It Harm None, Do What Ye Will" Really Means
The old-fashioned wording trips people up, so let's take it word by word:
- An is an old word for "if."
- It is whatever you're about to do: a spell, a choice, a word.
- Harm none means cause no harm to anyone, including yourself, other people, animals and the Earth.
- Do what ye will means act according to your true will, your deeper purpose, not just passing whims.
Notice what the Rede doesn't say. It doesn't tell you what's forbidden, and it doesn't list punishments. It gives you the freedom to act and trusts you to think about the consequences first.
Of course, it's impossible to live without causing any harm at all. Eating, driving and even walking on grass affect other living things. So most Wiccans read the Rede as a call to minimize harm: to think carefully, choose the kindest option you can, and take responsibility when things go wrong.
Does "Harm None" Include Yourself?
Yes, and this part is easy to forget. Overworking until you're ill, staying in a situation that hurts you or casting a spell that ties you to someone unhealthy all go against the Rede too. Caring for yourself is part of harming none.
Does the Rede Allow Protection Magick?
Most Wiccans believe it does. Protecting yourself, your home and the people you love isn't harm; it's care. Many Wiccans use protection spells that shield and deflect rather than strike back. Our guides to protection spells for your home and protection herbs are written with the Rede in mind.
Where the Wiccan Rede Comes From
The idea behind the Rede was part of Wicca from early on. Gerald Gardner, who brought Wicca to public attention, wrote in 1959 that witches tend to follow the morality of "do what you like so long as you harm no one."
The Rede in its famous eight-word form first appeared publicly in 1964, in a speech by Doreen Valiente, one of the most important early Wiccan writers. Many people notice a likeness to Aleister Crowley's "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law," but the Rede adds the condition that matters most: harm none.
The longer Rede poem, sometimes called the "Rede of the Wiccae," was published in the mid-1970s by Lady Gwen Thompson, who said it came from her grandmother. Since then many versions have circulated, with lines added, dropped or reworded. The version below is one of the most widely shared.
The Full Wiccan Rede Poem
The eight-word Rede is enough to guide your path, but the full poem is lovely to read, and it's not very long. Here is the complete Wiccan Rede:
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 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, 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 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 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 others' 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 thy 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.
What the Rede Poem's Lines Mean
The poem is a mix of ethics, ritual instructions and old country wisdom. Here's a plain-English guide to some of its key lines:
| Line | What it means |
|---|---|
| Bide the Wiccan Laws we must in Perfect Love and Perfect Trust. | Practice with an open heart and honesty, especially with others in your circle. |
| Live and let live. Fairly take and fairly give. | Respect other people's paths and keep your dealings fair. |
| Cast the Circle thrice about to keep the evil spirits out. | Cast a sacred circle before ritual to protect your space. |
| To bind the spell every time let the spell be spake in rhyme. | Rhyme helps you remember and focus your spoken spells. |
| Soft of eye and light of touch, Speak little, listen much. | Be gentle, observant and humble. |
| Deosil go by the waxing moon... Widdershins go by the waning moon. | Move sunwise (clockwise) to draw things in as the moon grows, and counterclockwise to release as it shrinks. |
| When the moon rides at her peak, then your heart's desire seek. | The full moon is the time for your biggest wishes. Check our moon calendar. |
| Elder be the Lady's tree, burn it not or cursed you'll be. | Respect the elder tree, which folklore links to the Goddess. |
| When ye have a true need, hearken not to others' greed. | Follow your genuine needs, not other people's pressure. |
| Mind the Threefold Law you should, three times bad and three times good. | What you send out comes back to you, multiplied. |
| Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill: An ye harm none, do what ye will. | Everything comes back to the core rule: harm none. |
The sabbat lines ("let the Beltane fires burn," "light the log") connect the Rede to the Wheel of the Year, and the line about the Threefold Law points to another key Wiccan belief.
The Rede and the Threefold Law
The Rede tells you what to aim for; the Threefold Law describes what happens when you don't. It's the belief that whatever energy you put into the world, positive or negative, comes back to you three times over. Use magick to heal, help and protect, and good returns to you. Aim to cause harm, and expect it to come back.
Not every Wiccan takes the Threefold Law literally, but together these two ideas encourage kindness, care and consideration for everyone, Wiccan or not.
How to Apply the Wiccan Rede to a Spell in 5 Steps
Before you cast, run your plan through the Rede. It only takes a few minutes:
- Name your goal. Write down exactly what you want the spell to do.
- Check for harm. Could it hurt anyone, including you? Think about side effects, not just the main aim.
- Check for free will. Does it try to control someone else's mind or choices? If so, rework it. A love spell to attract love is fine; a spell to make a particular person love you isn't.
- Find the gentlest version. "I attract a job that suits me" beats "I get Sam's job."
- Take responsibility. Record the spell in your Book of Shadows, and if anything turns out badly, make it right.
If you'd like to go further with ethical spellwork, our magick and spells course builds on these ideas, and jar spells are an easy place to practice.
Living the Rede Every Day
The Rede isn't only for ritual. Many Wiccans use it to guide everyday choices: speaking kindly, buying from people and companies that treat the Earth well, reducing waste, standing up for others and looking after their own health. Each small choice that harms less is a way of honoring the Goddess and God and the world they made.
Final Thoughts
You're free to practice Wicca in your own way, and the Rede doesn't ask you to follow every line of the poem or every ritual detail. It asks one thing: remember the core of it. As long as you harm no one, do what you will.
What does "harm none" mean to you in your daily life? We'd love to hear your thoughts.
Sources
- Cunningham, Scott. Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner. 1988.
- Hutton, Ronald. The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft. 1999.
Check out our other articles:
The Threefold Law
What Is Wicca?
The Wheel of the Year
Protection Spells for Your Home
See All Articles
Love this article? Share the magick with your friends and loved ones!
Wiccan Rede FAQs
Is the Wiccan Rede a law?
No. Rede means advice or counsel, so the Wiccan Rede is guidance rather than a rule with punishments. Wiccans are trusted to apply it with their own judgment and to take responsibility for their actions.
What does "an" mean in the Wiccan Rede?
"An" is an old English word for "if." So "an it harm none, do what ye will" means "if it harms no one, do what you want."
Who wrote the Wiccan Rede?
The eight-word Rede was first made public by Doreen Valiente in a 1964 speech, building on Gerald Gardner's earlier idea of harming no one. The longer Rede poem was published by Lady Gwen Thompson in the mid-1970s.
Do all witches follow the Wiccan Rede?
No. The Rede is the ethic of Wicca, so witches who aren't Wiccan don't have to follow it. Many non-Wiccan witches still live by similar values, while others set their own personal code.
Is it possible to truly harm none?
Not completely, since everyday life affects other living things. Most Wiccans read the Rede as a call to keep harm as small as possible, think before acting and make amends when something goes wrong.
How many versions of the Wiccan Rede are there?
Many. The short eight-word Rede is fairly stable, but the longer poem has circulated in several versions with different lines. Wiccans usually treat them all as inspiration rather than scripture.
