rede

Bide ye the Wiccan Law ye must,
In perfect love, in perfect trust,
Ye must live and let live,
Fairly take and fairly give.
Cast the circle thrice about,
To keep unwelcome spirits out.
To bind the spell well every time,
Let the spell be spoken in rhyme.
Soft of eye and light of touch,
Speak ye little and listen much.
Deosil go by waxing moon,
Chanting out the Wiccan Rune.
Widdershins go by waning moon,
Chanting out a bainful tune.
When the Lady's moon is new,
Kiss the hand to her times two.
When the moon rides at her peak,
The the heart's desire seek.
Heed the North wind's mighty gale:
Lock the door and trim the sale.
When the wind comes from the South,
Love will kiss thee on the mouth.
When the wind blows from the West,
Departed spirits have no rest.
When the wind blows from the East,
Expect the new and set the feast.
Nine words in the cauldron go,
Burn them quick and burn them slow.
Elder be the Lady's tree,
Cut 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 and the Horned One rules.
Heed ye flower, bush and tree,
By the Lady, Blessed Be.
Where the rippling waters go,
Cast a stone the truth to know.
When ye have and hold a need,
Harken not to others' greed.
With a fool no seasons spend,
Or be counted as his friend.
True in love ye must ever be,
Lest thy love be false to thee.
Eight words the wiccan rede fulfill:
An ye harm none, do as ye will.
Ever mind the rule of three:
What ye sends out, comes back to thee.
Follow this with mind and heart,
And merry ye meet, and merry ye part

This Rede is followed by all traditions. It describes the ideal of love and trust, especially necessary in coven work. Other than these simple ideals and principles, there is no one belief system in Wicca. There are no dogmas, just a belief in the Goddess and God in and around us. there is no codified quest to find salvation in the world or the next. the lack of dogma seems to attract people who are disillusioned with the Catholic Church and it's structure. each tradition and/or coven constructs it's own rules of conduct.