Freethought & Rationalism Archive

shiver · 07-17-2002, 02:20 PM

Hear now the word of the Witches,
the secrets we hid in the night,

When dark was our destinys pathway, That now we bring forth in the light.

Mysterious Water and Fire, The
Earth and the wide-ranging Air,

By hidden Quintessence we know Them, and we will keep silent and dare.

The birth and rebirth of all Nature,
the passing of Winter and Spring,

We share with the life Universal, rejoice in the Magical Ring

Four times in the year the Great
Sabbat returns, and the Witches are seen,

At Lammas and Candelas dancing, on May Eve and old Halloween

When daytime and nighttime are
equal, when sun is at greatest and least,

The four lesser Sabbats are summoned, again Witches gather in feast.

Thirteen silver moons in a year
are, thirteen is the Covens array,

Thirteen times at Esbat make merry, for each golden year and a day.

The power has passed down the
ages, each time between woman and man

Each century unto the other, ere times and the ages began.

When drawn is the Magickal circle,
by sword or athame of power,

Its compass between two worlds lies, in the land of shades of that hour.

Our world has no right to know
it, and the world beyond will tell naught,

The oldest of Gods are invoked there, the great work of Magic is wrought.

For two are the mystical pillars,
that stand at the gate of the shrine,

And two are the powers of Nature, the forms and the forces divine.

And do what thou wilt be the challenge,
so be it in love that harms none,

For this is the only commandment, By Magick of old be it done.

Eight words the Witches Creed fulfill:

If it Harms none, Do what Thou Will!

Mageth · 07-17-2002, 02:26 PM

Did you just cast a spell on us or something?

shiver · 07-17-2002, 02:36 PM

~ made you look

Grizzly · 07-17-2002, 02:52 PM

Does this count as proselytizing

Karen M · 07-17-2002, 04:04 PM

Quote:

And do what thou wilt be the challenge,
so be it in love that harms none,

For this is the only commandment, By Magick of old be it done.

Eight words the Witches Creed fulfill:

If it Harms none, Do what Thou Will!

Sounds good to me

Is this some form of moral code for Wiccans?

Veil of Fire · 07-17-2002, 04:59 PM

Karen: The last line has been the 'standard' moral code of Wicca since who-knows-how-long, although it can only be traced back to Gardener in the 50's.

The rest of it was written by a woman whose name I forget, sometime in the 70s I believe.

Bree · 07-17-2002, 10:04 PM

Quote:

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 but little, listen much.

Deosil go by waxing moon,
Chanting out the Witches' Rune.
Widdershins go by waning moon,
Chanting out the baneful tune.

When the Lady's moon is new,
Kiss thy hand to Her, times two.
When the moon rides at her peak,
Then your heart's desire seek.

Heed the North winds' 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 comes from the west,
Departed souls will have no rest.
When the wind comes 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, 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 blow crest on they brow.
True in love, ever be -
Lest thy lover's false to thee.

Eight words this Wiccan Rede fulfil:
An it harm none, do what ye will.

When I was Pagan, this was the Rede which our coven was to take as oath. My grimore is huge.

Aquila ka Hecate · 07-18-2002, 05:36 AM

Veil of Fire:

Quote:

The last line has been the 'standard' moral code of Wicca since who-knows-how-long, although it can only be traced back to Gardener in the 50's.
The rest of it was written by a woman whose name I forget, sometime in the 70s I believe.

It was the Lady Gwen Thompson around 1975, first published in 'Green Egg'.

But Veil, I take issue with the statement that wiccans have had this moral code for who-knows-how-long, since wicca is NO OLDER than about 50 years.

Get used to it- Gerald Gardner started the religion.
Whatever many wiccans would like to believe, the word was unheard of before him.
No nonsense about it meaning 'wise'.
It doesn't.

Perchance · 07-18-2002, 06:20 AM

Don't the Laws of Thelema go something like:

"Do as thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law; Love is the Law, Love under Will."

and

"Each person is a star."

I've read speculation that Gardner took a large part of Wicca from Crowley's work and modified it. Which, if true, makes it odder that some Neopagans are so hostile to Thelemites.

The Wiccan version of it is a little too idealistic, I think. After all, we harm things every day just by existing- we kill bacteria when brushing our teeth, for example. I don't think it's attainable.

-Perchance.

Bree · 07-18-2002, 07:15 AM

Alas yes, "wicca" as we know it is not very old.

However, there are certain circles of paganism which are indeed old and have roots in the Celtic religions.

07-17-2002, 02:20 PM	#1
shiver Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: mysts of avalon Posts: 17	Wiccan Rede Hear now the word of the Witches, the secrets we hid in the night, When dark was our destinys pathway, That now we bring forth in the light. Mysterious Water and Fire, The Earth and the wide-ranging Air, By hidden Quintessence we know Them, and we will keep silent and dare. The birth and rebirth of all Nature, the passing of Winter and Spring, We share with the life Universal, rejoice in the Magical Ring Four times in the year the Great Sabbat returns, and the Witches are seen, At Lammas and Candelas dancing, on May Eve and old Halloween When daytime and nighttime are equal, when sun is at greatest and least, The four lesser Sabbats are summoned, again Witches gather in feast. Thirteen silver moons in a year are, thirteen is the Covens array, Thirteen times at Esbat make merry, for each golden year and a day. The power has passed down the ages, each time between woman and man Each century unto the other, ere times and the ages began. When drawn is the Magickal circle, by sword or athame of power, Its compass between two worlds lies, in the land of shades of that hour. Our world has no right to know it, and the world beyond will tell naught, The oldest of Gods are invoked there, the great work of Magic is wrought. For two are the mystical pillars, that stand at the gate of the shrine, And two are the powers of Nature, the forms and the forces divine. And do what thou wilt be the challenge, so be it in love that harms none, For this is the only commandment, By Magick of old be it done. Eight words the Witches Creed fulfill: If it Harms none, Do what Thou Will!

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07-17-2002, 02:26 PM	#2
Mageth Contributor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Deep in the heart of mother-lovin' Texas Posts: 29,689	Did you just cast a spell on us or something?

07-17-2002, 02:36 PM	#3
shiver Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: mysts of avalon Posts: 17	~ made you look

07-17-2002, 02:52 PM	#4
Grizzly Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 2,936	Does this count as proselytizing

07-17-2002, 04:59 PM	#6
Veil of Fire Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: South Carolina Posts: 451	Karen: The last line has been the 'standard' moral code of Wicca since who-knows-how-long, although it can only be traced back to Gardener in the 50's. The rest of it was written by a woman whose name I forget, sometime in the 70s I believe.

07-18-2002, 06:20 AM	#9
Perchance Veteran Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1,059	Don't the Laws of Thelema go something like: "Do as thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law; Love is the Law, Love under Will." and "Each person is a star." I've read speculation that Gardner took a large part of Wicca from Crowley's work and modified it. Which, if true, makes it odder that some Neopagans are so hostile to Thelemites. The Wiccan version of it is a little too idealistic, I think. After all, we harm things every day just by existing- we kill bacteria when brushing our teeth, for example. I don't think it's attainable. -Perchance.

07-18-2002, 07:15 AM	#10
Bree Veteran Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Twin Cities, USA Posts: 3,197	Alas yes, "wicca" as we know it is not very old. However, there are certain circles of paganism which are indeed old and have roots in the Celtic religions.

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