Blessings Darlings!
Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill - an it harm none, do as you Will.
Okay. What does it mean, and in what circumstances? Does it apply to the Will (capital W, as in Higher Will) or will (lower case w, as in whatever you choose to do)? What is 'harm'? Can you 'harm none' in ANY situation? CAN you do anything that goes against your Higher Will, anyway?
Yeah. All the usual questions about the Wiccan Rede.
How about THIS for an interpretation - "do what ever you want, as long as it harms no one. But since NOTHING you do harms no one at all ... do whatever you want and just take responsibility for your choices. And if you claim you harm none - you lie to yourself."
Frondly, Fern
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AND - no one ever think that THEY are the 'fundamentalist' (except those who follow the 5 fundamentals). It's always "That person over THERE is the fundamentalist, I'm the middle of the road moderate person."
ReplyDeleteHmmm, I'm confused. :P I take that as "Don't do anything that could harm someone/something so be a GOOD person. Be nice." :) Am I on the right path?
ReplyDeleteBrenda Lee
That's one interpretation. Except that the rede doesn't say to not harm anyone. It says if it harms no one, do anything. It doesn't ban a thing. And the 'whole rede' - the long prose thing - says it's cool to harm if it's in self defense. Self defense is, shall we say, open to vast interpretation.
ReplyDeleteAnd then there are the folks who insist that the entire world must follow the Rede. Even if they are not Wiccan. Even if they are not Pagan. Because it is the One True Way.
Is doing magic to stop a serial rapist 'harm'? The rapist will see anything that stops him as harming him.
It's all a matter of whose ox is gored.
Well than I totally misunderstood. Interesting....I guess it's why not all Pagan's follow the rede. :/
ReplyDeleteThere are LOTS of debates on what the Rede 'really means'.
ReplyDeleteBut no where does it say you can't, or shouldn't, ever harm anyone. It is far more limited than that.
Interesting discussion. This very topic caused me to rethink the label of Wiccan. I feel you must do what you must do and then be willing to take ownership of your actions. One thing that always bugs me about the Rede and those who quote is constantly is that often it is not applied to themselves and self harm. Whether that be not taking care of their health, drinking too much etc...Have a good week!
ReplyDeleteI always took it to mean, if no harm will come from it, do whatever you want, but if harm will come from it, you may still do it, but understand that there will be consequences.
ReplyDelete