This, the Rede of the Wiccae (or the Wiccan Rede) is taken to be gospel, for lack of a better word. This is, as I've found it to be, the oldest rendition of this, and I think it needs to go. Why? Because it's a load of crap, that's why. It's superstition in poetic form; hardly does this constitute a moral rede (note: piece of advice) by which to live your life, let alone to be taken as an absolute religious text. There are people who take this piece of work, or subsequent renditions thereof, more seriously than fundamentalist Christians take their Bibles. It's a pretty poem, not a dogmatic text. Yet people are treating it as such. This is a problem, people.
So I'm going to take this poem line by line and rip it to shreds. If you don't want your belief system examined closely for ethical fuckups, I'd suggest you leave now. Otherwise, read. You might learn something. Who knows, I may even be wrong, and I may help you rediscover the Rede for yourself and find a whole new way of accepting it as dogma. However, don't hold your breath on that last one.
So here goes. Twenty-six lines. Twenty-six surgeries. *cracks knuckles*
So much for advice. It's being dictated as a commandment. How can you be forced to do something in perfect love and perfect trust? If I trust someone, they don't have to force me to obey a set of rules. If they ask, and I trust them, I will comply. It doesn't take a genius to see a problem in the very first line.
See, perfect love and perfect trust isn't something you can just snap your fingers and have. These things take time...YEARS...to cultivate. You can't have instant love nor instant trust - they must be earned and reciprocated. Sure, if you've got a group that has been working together for a few years, you can build these things. But for a new group, or one which is really diverse? It just don't fuckin' work.
Let me say that this second line isn't obeyed very much. How many Wiccans do you see who follow the policy of "live and let live"? I know and have met a good share of Wiccans (none of them authors, but I have encountered a few of them online) and I can attest that many of them have personal grievances with someone or something. This commandment is one of neutrality and modesty - two things that the NWO (New Wiccan Orthodoxy) will have none of! Most Wiccans I've come across are far from neutral. Indeed, many are involved in activism, protesting, etc. Indeed, many more are politically biased, more often than not towards the left (e.g. liberal). Most Wiccans I've come across are either Democrat or Green in the voting booth. Most of them are environmentalists. While I respect my environment, I know that activism is not the way to get things solved. You can't truly change someone's mind for them, especially a collective mind with something to be gained by the destruction of the environment. And to tell you the truth, if these evil corporate types are the soulless fuckjobs we believe they are (and I agree), then they won't be swayed by a bunch of pretentious little idealistic hippie witchypoos holding signs and shouting little "2, 4, 6, 8" rhymes. Actually, I agree with the statement that pagans should be neutral. However, note how few pagans actually are neutral and modest, and then you'll see why Verse 2 is bullshit.
3. Cast the Circle thrice about to keep all evil spirits out.
*is imagining poltergeists barraging a coven call screaming "Knock-Knock-Knockin' on Heaven's Door"*
While I won't deny the existence of spirits, malevolent or otherwise, I will say that the Rede is right for the wrong reasons. It's good to cast a Circle. I do it when I work in ritual, and so does almost every other pagan I know. However, I don't cast a circle to keep evil spirits out, but to keep my energy contained within, that it can feed off itself and build and build and build and build and BOOM!...release my Cone of Power with more energy to it. To do this for the sake of protection from evil spirits is superstitious, if you ask me.
Again, the Rede is right for the wrong reasons. The reason that rhyme works is that the human mind works in rhymes...routines...patterns. See, words are a cerebral thing. One must be conscious in order to speak words (especially in a different language). Rhythm is not cerebral. Neither is will. Remember: magic is the use of your will, being to manipulate the energies around you. When you rhyme a phrase, it allows your mind to do that little bit less thinking. It also makes memorized chants that much easier to remember. This gives your brain the freedom to transmit its waves at a lower frequency than the beta state (normal waking consciousness), allowing your will to channel more energy. Rhyming has rhythm. Your heartbeat has rhythm. Your neural impulses have rhythm. The Earth has rhythm. Atoms have rhythm. Electrons have rhythm. Rhythm is the very essence of our being. Don't rhyme to "bind a spell". Rhyme because it's in your bones! See where I'm going with this? Good. If not, you missed the logic train, and you'll have to sit there and wait for the 4:33.
HA. A fluffbunny's dream. Sorry, it doesn't work that way. Just look at anyone around you. Grass won't bend before a lawn mower. Just look at any of the pagans you know...are they soft of eye and light of touch? Do they keep their mouths shut and their ears open? Given my experiences, I doubt it. I am soft of eye and I am gentle with my hands, and while I do like to think I listen well, you may have already noticed that I am quite loud. But I'm working on that.
I'm going to quote my friend Daven regarding this subject, as I couldn't have said it better: "This is actually good advice that is ignored by just about everyone." The man is right.
Okay. When the moon is waxing, go clockwise. Sounds simple enough. But what's this thing about a Wiccan rune? $ilver never taught you that! Oops. Must be one of those mumbo-jumbo-type things, right? Kind of. The Farrars talk about it, and it's in Gerald Gardner's Book of Shadows. It usually starts like this: "Darksome night and shining Moon,"e;. But how many witchypoos do you know that have memorized this chant? Not too many. Hell, I haven't. Why? Because by Wicca's very nature, there is no book of hymnals on the back of the pew in front of you. "Obsidian," you might say. "Of course not! Wicca isn't centralized!"
LOOK AGAIN, Junior. The fundamental precepts that comprise Wicca is being defined and redefined, paved and repaved, instituted and reinstituted, with every new book published by Llewellyn (or any other publisher, for that matter). This élite clique of authors have complete control over what is and is not true Wicca...and it has strayed very far from the ideals of that sex-crazed psycho we all must venerate, Gerald Gardner. I think he'd be so pissed off at you he'd lose his hard-on at the sight of a thousand covens not using the scourge or taking lustral baths or working naked (oops...excuse me...skyclad...we don't want to sound like we're having an orgy here, do we?). Wicca has a fucked-up past and a fucked-up present, neither of which is soft of eye nor light of touch. Most Wiccans never have been and never will be anything but loudmouthed politically-aligned religious lunatics, just like the cancerous zealots that plague every other established religion on the face of the planet. Get used to it...this ain't the Summerlands.
Woogy woogy! Werevolves!?!? Never mind! We have to go counterclockwise! HOLY SHIT!!! I HEARD THE WEREWOLVES HOWL WHILE STANDING NEXT TO A LITTLE PLANT!
Excuse me while I go stab myself in the face with a spork.
Oh, it's her moon, and I have to kiss her hand? Don't you mean kiss her ass? Here's a way for your HPS to exert control over your behaviours by way of this nonsense being passed off as the gods' truth.
Seriously, I've heard this line misconstrued in this fashion. However, this line's really about blowing a couple kisses to the moon, and the Lady in question is the Goddess. Still, this is about as out of place as the Catholic rule about genuflection. Why is a customary gesture being included in a dogmatic text? THIS ISN'T A DOGMATIC TEXT. THAT'S WHY.
I've found that, while magic's effectiveness has little or no dependence upon the phase of the moon (unless this is somehow incorporated into the ritual), there is a psychological effect to having a bright silver ball illuminating me while I work. I also agree that patience is a good virtue, and I believe this is what these past few verses were trying to instill. However, if I need something NOW, or I need something by, say, the 28th, and it's the 26th and it's a New Moon, I'll be damned if I'm going to wait until the 12th of next month to give me what I need! Granted, Wiccan rites are almost completely centered on the lunar phase, but they shouldn't be limited in this way. That's just fucking stupid, if you ask me. And the last thing we need is MORE STUPIDITY diluting and corrupting that which is pagan.
Coming from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, the north wind drives right across Lake Superior, and it doesn't matter what time of year it is: Lake Superior is fucking cold, and any wind blowing across it for 100 or more miles is going to be fucking cold too. However, this is geographically biased, as I'm sure that a north wind in, say, Morocco, isn't going to suck as bad as a dust storm from the south.
I seriously believe this phrase is utter bullshit, and was only composed as such because nothing else rhymes with south.
Actually, where I grew up, an east wind meant low pressure, as the midwest doesn't have any onshore currents to worry about coming from the ocean (it's too far inland). This is just more pagan silliness. I suppose it isn't baneful in and of itself, but if every Wiccan in the area sets their tables every time the wind comes from the east, as though new company should arrive, this could become quite time-consuming and thus impede the movement of the neopagan society (which, considering the direction it's going, might not be a bad thing).
As I said, I came from Michigan's U.P. and the wind almost ALWAYS came from the west or something like it. By this, I should assume I was always being hounded by restless spirits, who have now taken control of my body and are now venting themselves through the mouth of an otherwise perfectly fluffybunny Wiccan, and I should have worn more charms and talismen and done more protection spells and donned another amulet and meditated more and blah blah blah blah blah!
Yup, that's exactly what happened. Kurt Cobain was murdered, and JFK killed himself. OJ didn't do it, and the Holocaust never occurred. *smacks himself on the head* THERE IS NO SPOON!
All anger aside, these directionals may work in the British Isles. I don't know, as I've never been there. However, they don't work for me in Maryland, and they didn't work for me in Michigan. These are biased by location, and thus need to be stricken from a record
Which nine? Contradictory instructions on burning them? That helps a lot. Way to go, Witchypoo! Whoa, here comes the logic train, zooming by again! Shit, gotta wait for the 4:33. Here's a $ilver Ravenwolf book to divert your attention and allow you the freedom to IGNORE THE REAL PROBLEM (hint: stupidity).
Here's an excuse to contradict verse 2 and become an environazi! Don't take down any old trees, or you'll be hexed! Right?
WRONG. These two lines are actually taken from a song called The Nine Woods (being birch, oak, rowan, willow, hawthorn, hazel, apple, vine, and fir), which happen to comprise traditional Celtic balefires, to my understanding. So while this might look like superstitious bullshit, it's really not. By the way, the elder tree is poisonous, and witches of old were supposed to transform themselves into elders.
Drive-by arson. This is funny, since the Wheel (of the Year) begins and ends its revolution at Samhain, not Beltaine. So, when Samhain comes around, let's celebrate the wrong festival. Just like Christmas in July. Again, I repeat the moral of this story: MOST WICCANS (like most people) ARE FUCKING IDIOTS.
Let's celebrate Celtic festivals by giving the throne to Greek gods! Brighid will love this! *beams like an idiot*
More proof that present-day Wicca is just a great big hodgepodge of beliefs and practices. I just wish people would seriously admit their inconsistencies. (I do!)
ATTENTION PLANTS! THE GODDESS LOVES YOU!
Sounds like something you'd hear out of those goddess-damned Jesus freak types, now, isn't it? ATTENTION PLANTS! JESUS LOVES YOU!
Hi, Kettle. This here's Pot. YOU'RE BOTH BLACK.
*pulls out a banjo* "Throw a rock in the riverrrrr....throw a rock in the riverrrrr...throw a rock in the river and the gods will speak to yeeeeeee...."
Sound like a load of crap? It's called SCRYING. I choose to scry in a dark mirror, but some people like to divine by rippling a pond. But remember: don't scry over spilled milk.
Finally, something I wholeheartedly agree with. Howeer, you break this commandment every time you buy a Witchy book. Why? Because most of the NWO authors (from what I've seen) have an insatiable lust for power (hence why they're Witches) and for glory (hence why they're published), and by patronizing them by purchasing their book, you allow them to gloat in having sold one more book. (Now, I'm not saying all authors are like this, but a good lot of 'em are, from my observations.) This hearkens to their greed, does it not? So here's my advice: LISTEN TO THE TREES, NOT TO THE INK PRINTED ON THEIR FLESH. If you're really serious about a kinship with nature, pay attention to nature and not to books. You'll get a lot farther forging your intimate bonds with the world around you, instead of being indoctrinated in the very same manner that these spineless shits addicted to self-help books are! Sounds like a hell of a bargain to me. Lying in a patch of trees on a sunny day versus forking out fifteen bucks a book. Hmm. A lot easier on my paycheck, I'll tell ya that much.
This is why I have distanced myself from Wicca. It's a religion where mindless leftist feminazi environazi fools are allowed to run rampant, and I won't be associated with that until it changes. It really disturbs me that people are allowed to turn pieces of poetry (like the Rede) and fantasy books (Lord of the Rings, the Mists of Avalon, Anne Rice's vampire chronicles) as religious texts, and are permitted to incorporate this into their religions - and are allowed to claim antiquity to their beliefs!
Awwww!!! Soooooo cuuuuuuuuute!!! So fullll of shiiiiiiiiit!!! The NWO has some serious problems right now, and that is a lack of love and reverence for Nature. We need to concentrate on that, and not happy little fluff like this. WAKE UP, PEOPLE. WE'RE LOSING OUR RELIGION TO THESE BOZOS. THIS IS THE SHIT WE'RE BEING GIVEN INSTEAD OF INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO REVERE NATURE. Just think of all the conditions being placed upon these sentiments which are supposed to be pure of heart. What joy can you get from indoctrination? Certainly nowhere near as much joy as can be obtained from walking amongst the elms or rolling around in the grass, that's for damn sure.
This is a whole other rant altogether. In sum: FUCK THE THREEFOLD LAW. It's bunk. It's a refurbishing of the Eastern concept of karma. Get used to it. It's not Celtic. It's Indian. And it's crap. But that's beside the point.
When I'm sick of being shit on, I should put a dainty little blue star up by my forehead. Sure. That will look really good on a six-foot redheaded guy. Why don't you just recite a little chant? Move the negative energy from around you (like I do)? But damn...a blue star...hardly worth comprising 3.8% of one's religious doctrine. Wouldn't it be really silly if Christians dedicated 3% of the Bible to the building of the Tabernacle! Hahahaha....wait, what's that? They did? Oh. Read the last, oh, fifteen chapters of Exodus. See the silliness of that. Then apply it to yourselves, you hypocritical pieces of fluffybunny patchouli-incense-smelling shit.
Fifty years ago it may have been a different story, but today this can be summed in two words: COMMON SENSE. I realize most people aren't endowed with this gift, but these are the people we DON'T WANT fucking up paganism for the true seeker. Why cater to them by dedicating another 3.8% of this almighty religious text to them? Doesn't that sound counterintuitive (read: fucked up) to you? It does to me.
Well, judging from the harm that adhering to the Rede can cause...do I really need to finish this sentence?
Of course this rant is cynical. I'm pointing out the worst that can happen by adhering to this poem verbatim as an absolute unalterable code of laws. Of course, there are many people who can use this to their benefit, who don't go to the extremes I just illustrated. This, of course, falls under the same premise that Christians can follow their Bible with love in their hearts and never commit any of the unjust and cruel acts the Bible in parts instructs them to commit. Everyone knows most Muslims aren't terrorists - in fact, many use the Qu'ran as a tool for to improve their way of life. This is the purest purpose of any and all religious texts, and I believe it is possible to adhere to a religious text without causing yourself to become a raving lunatic bent on a path of destruction. Know how to do that? By the spirit, not the letter, of the laws you choose to adopt as your own.
So here's my advice: Take your legalistic interpretation of the Rede and go shove it up your HPS's ass. You don't need it. You don't need any religious text to live a good and moral life. You don't need a catchy little poem in which to encrypt your moral values. You don't need that crutch. You only need to learn how to coexist with society at large, and to follow what you know is good in your heart more than you stray from it. That's all you really need to do to live a good life, to live in peace and harmony with the world and its denizens, and to be a true pagan.
Be honest in all things. Be good to yourself, the people around you, and the world you live in. Don't be afraid to have fun. Don't be afraid to be yourself. And NEVER EVER EVER! let someone else do your thinking for you. Do these things, and you'll turn out just fine.
Note the imperfect English and lack of form in the Rede as I have it here. It's been sitting on my hard drive here for a while, as I've copied it onto Notepad a long time ago, and can't remember where I got it from. But the words are correct to my recollection, so in the interest of sloth I let the problem lie. If you think I'm plagiarising...well, I am, and I admit it, so fuck you. :)
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