Rede The word Rede is archaic and has its origin from Middle English. The meaning of the word is «advice» or «council». The English Dictonary also has a definition for Rede as an explanation, and the nouns: plan(scheme) or tale(story). «Rede» is closely related to the German «Rat» or the Scandinavian word «Råd«, and it works as a guideline of how a person should behave. The first known use of the word Rede is before the 12th century. Today we can find the word Rede used among the people in the Neopagan religion of Wicca (and some other Witchcraft-based faiths), who follow the Wiccan Rede. The Wiccan Rede contains the phrase: « Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill, An it harm none, do what ye will». »An» is an archaic Middle English word …show more content…
For example does the Roman Catholic church sort them into two categories: mortal and venial sins. The contrast are The Wiccans, they are not given a list of prohibited actions, but are forced to think for themselves. They must decide whether or not an action meets the standars of the Wiccan Rede, and the action must be free from harm in order to be performed. However there is some debate in the Neo-Pagan and Wiccan communities as to the meaning of the Rede. The question about if the concept of the Rede being an advice,not a command is being discussed. Some say that the Rede is only a guideline which each person themselves must interpret to fit different situations. The Wiccan Rede does not tell which actions do harm and which does not, unlike most religions. Therefor it is open to personal interpretation to decide what does and do not …show more content…
Wicca does contain different sects and some of them read «An it harm none, do what ye will» differently. «None» can apply to the self only, or may include animals, plants and more. Essentually, The Rede can be understood as the meaning that a person always sholuld follow their true will instead of trying to obtain simple wants, ensuring that their will does not harm anyone or anything. The Rede can be seen in this light as an encouragement for a Wiccan to take responsibility to his or her actions. Before doing this research I had only read some about the Wiccan Rede, and I described it as an Wiccan poem that tells how to act. I have now learned that the word has a much older origin, and the Wiccan Rede is based on moral and ethics. Personally I find a bit diffucult to be following the Wiccan form of the Rede, because I think there are and may occour situations where it is neccasary to use magick that could be harmful. Even if it is not harmful in a cruel way, it would cause some