The Rede of the Wicca

Bide the Wiccan Laws ye must In Perfect Love and Perfect Trust.
Live an’ let live, fairly take an’ fairly give.
Cast the circle thrice about to keep all evil spirits out.
To bind the spell every time, let the spell be spake in rhyme.
Soft of eye an’ light of touch, speak little, listen much.
Deosil go by the waxing moon, sing and dance the Wiccan rune.
Widdershins go when the moon doth wane, an’ the werewolf howls by the dread wolfsbane.
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 Northwind’s 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 blows from the east, expect the new and set the feast.
When the west wind blows o’er thee, departed spirits restless be.
Nine woods in the cauldron go, burn them quick an’ burn them slow.
Elder be ye Lady’s tree, burn it not or cursed ye’ll be.
When the Wheel begins to turn, let the Beltane fires burn.
When the Wheel has turned a Yule, light the log an’ the Horned One rules.
Heed ye flower bush an’ tree, by the Lady blessèd be.
Where the rippling waters go, cast a stone an’ truth ye’ll know.
When ye have need, hearken not to others greed.
With the fool no season spend or be counted as his friend.
Merry meet an’ merry part, bright the cheeks an’ warm the heart.
Mind the Threefold Law ye should, three times bad an’ three times good.
When misfortune is enow, wear the Blue Star on thy brow.
True in love ever be unless thy lover’s false to thee.
Eight words ye Wiccan Rede fulfill, an’ it harm none, do what ye will.

The following piece was written by Tony Kelly of the Selene Community in Wales circa 1968, at the onset of the modern neo-pagan movement. It has been published in A Book of Pagan Rituals (Herman Slater, ed.), and has been often quoted. It is something which still speaks to the heart of many today.

Old Friends

                          This amazing phenomenon has been happening. I signed on to Facebook as a way to communicate with my other siblings. We are scattered almost to the four corners. My brother Mark, somewhere, either the Canary Islands or Berlin....Alex in Santa Fe, Colin in San Fransisco, Paula in upstate New York  ( but a city girl at heart!), not to mention nephew's, niece's, cousins and Exes  of theirs whom I still Love. So it was cool, I was connected, I had traveled around and didn't have the continuity in my friendships that most people experience.     
                          Then the Men that have played important roles in my life started to appear. It was joyous, my first true love that I kept having "almost" meetings with , a number given to a mutual friend, a number transposed , a web site down, all kind of weird little glitches. I adore this man and it was so great to actually meet in front of the Harvard Coop, like we had used to, the last time 33 years ago.

                           Then I got the whole gang, a tight knit group of peeps that either owned, worked or orbited around Fowle's in Newburyport.  So along with all this reconnecting there has been great joy and also great sadness. I took for granted that because I was alive and  well everyone else would be. It was strange that when I was told that we had lost this fiercely loving woman, I flashed on her child and couldn't quite grasp that she was grown and about to get married....I had that cute little 6 year old, giggly  face in my minds eye. After that experience, It was brought home how tenuous it all is....and how petty we all can be at times. We are all older and hopefully wiser. If there were any transgressions along the way, that was then. It taught me that I don't want to miss anymore Now with someone.



  Amy Maliszewski's daughter Rachel and long time dear  friend , Lenore Rogers ( along with others, I don't know )  started this Foundation called "Amy's Treat".  It's an amazing way to honor Amy and give to those dealing with cancer a small respite.  Check it out... http://www.amystreat.org/index.html .  There is a concert coming up in November.   Times are tough,  but lots of little bits can add up!