THE STANDARD OF THE REDE

When we realise the kinds and orders of results, bothexpected and unexpected, both knowable and unknowable, which eventuate fromalmost every human action, it would seem the better part of both valour andwisdom to never do anything at all, especially not anything which is done withspiritual power guided by no more than human wisdom! Unfortunately, to donothing is also a choice, and the results of inaction are often far worse thanthe results of even ill-considered action.  This is why the second half ofthe Rede demands that we make a decision and act upon it, as well as conformingthat decision to the requirement that it harm none.

THE STANDARD OF THE REDE.  Please note that theWiccan Rede contains no loop-holes whatsoever.  The Rede does not say, “Anit harm none to the best of your knowledge.”  The Rede also does not say“An it harm none to the best of your ability to discern whether it will harm
someone.”

The Wiccan Rede does not say these things, or anythingsimilar to them.  It simply says “An it harm NONE, do what ye will.” This means that YOU, once you have committed to live by the Wiccan Rede, arecommitted to be solely and totally responsible for any harm resulting from ANYACTION YOU TAKE, MAGICKAL OR NOT.

Paul Seymour’s forthcoming book begins with some strongcautionary notes concerning the use of magick.  One of the examples hegives is particularly tragic, and concerns a young man who worked a simple andapparently harmless “money spell”.  The spell worked, and the young mangot his money–he inherited it, when his parents were both killed in an accidentshortly after he worked the spell.

Paul does not say in his book if this young man was aWiccan initiate.  If he was, then in addition to his sorrow and loss, hehas had to live with the fact that, by the standard of the Rede, he isultimately responsible for the death of his parents.

When you commit to live according to the Wiccan Rede, youcommit to conform your entire life, not just the magickal, mystical andreligious aspects of it, to the standard set by the Rede.  Never
again will you be able to act impulsively or without considering the results ofwhat you do.  Never again will you be able to act or even speak inthoughtless irritation or anger.  Instead, you will come to consider theimplications of every word you speak, and of every routine action you do. For it is not just by magick that we can harm ourselves or others; everythingwe do, and everything we say, has the potential to help or harm others, and tohelp or harm ourselves.

It is also important to note that the Rede sets up astandard which prevents us from harming ourselves as well as others. Other religions, including Christianity, regard it as virtuous to suffer
harm for the sake of another, even to die so that another person mightlive.  The Wiccan Rede does not permit this.  You are to harm none,and this means that you are not to harm yourself, even for the sake of doinggood for someone else.  To some, this may seem like a selfishstandard.  But think about it.  Would you wish to benefit by someoneelse’s injury or death?  Of course not!  If you did derive somebenefit, such as an inheritance, from the death of another person, would youfeel good about this?  Well, some people might, but probably you wouldnot.  Therefore, in a very real sense, you yourself are harmed by abenefit you derive from the injury or death of another.  True, the harm isemotional, but it is entirely real.

Wicca recognizes that human beings are socialcreatures.  What does harm to one, does harm to all in varyingdegrees.  Therefore, it is imperative that each person strive to harm noone, himself or herself included.

Finally, it is significant to note that word “ye” in thestatement, “Do what YE will.”  This is the ancient plural form of “you”,and it means that your individual will is assumed to be in accord with someother will, instead of acting entirely on its own.

What is this other will which, together with yours,comprises the “ye” in the Rede?  Well, if you are working in a coven, itcould well be the combined will of the members of the coven.  But thiswould not apply to those who are working on their own, and it is not thehighest or best meaning, even for those working in coven.

How does one act, so as to be certain to harm none? Not by refusing to act, since inaction is itself a decision, and often causesfar more harm than even rash action.  Not by delaying action until the
time for it is past, because that is the same as inaction.  And not byrelying solely upon your own human wisdom, either.

The best way to act, so as to be certain to harm none, isto call upon the Goddess and/or the God, and to hand to Them the power you haveraised, together with the situation you have raised the power to deal with, andsay, “You are holy, good, and wise, and know how to use this power to help andnot harm.  Do Your will in this situation. That is my will, that Your willbe done.”  And thus the Rede is fulfilled: For the “ye” who will areyourself and Them- selves, who are good, and love humanity, and who always actfor the highest good of all.