So there is a new article on PaganNews.com on the Wiccan Rede. The Wiccan Rede, for those who don't know, goes something like this "Bide the Wiccan Rede we must, in Perfect Love and Perfect Trust".

Personally, I like the version I saw in an occult shop one time in England, next to some particularly delicate knick-knacks:

"Bide the Wiccan Rede we must, touch if you will, pay if you bust."

Anyway, I thought I would include the full Rede here for those not familiar with it.

Where it originated is a bit hard to say. Doreen Valiente used pieces of it in several writings. The "eight words" couplet (see below) was first recorded in 1964. The version below appeared in Green Egg magazine in 1974 and is attributed by Lady Gwen Thompson to her grandmother Adriana Porter. Here it is:

Bide the Wiccan Law ye 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 gail
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 fire's 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 other's 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 they brow
True in Love ever be
Lest they lover is false to thee
Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill
An' ye harm none
do what ye will
Follow this with Mind and Heart
Merry ye Meet and Merry ye Part

So now you know :)