Wiccan Rede

Wiccan Rede

There are no commandments, catechism, or similar doctrine in Wicca. There is only one law, which is known as the Wiccan Rede: "An it harm none, do what thou wilt." The word "an" means "if," so it is saying that you may do whatever you like just so long as what you do harms no one. That "no one" includes yourself.

Other religions express the same idea. In Brahmanism is found, "Do naught unto others which would cause you pain if done to you." In Buddhism, "Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful." Christianity has, "Wherefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." Confucianism states, "Do not unto others what you would not have them do unto you." Islam says, "No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself." Judaism has, "What is hateful to you, do not to your fellowman." Taoism states, "Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain and your neighbor's loss as your own loss." And Zoroastrianism says, "That nature alone is good which refrains from doing unto another whatsoever is not good for itself." Yet many of these other religions find it necessary to supplement this prime law with other laws. As stated in Witchcraft no other laws are necessary, since the Wiccan Rede says it all.