The Magical Rede
Ethics of Modern Witchcraft
There are certain rules of morality that are followed by most conscientious practitioners of Magic. These are rules which we would like to encourage you to abide by as students of Pendragon's School of Magic. These rules or Magical Rede are optional, not essential, but you will find that your spells are more in alignment with the spirit of real magic when you follow the path of white witchcraft.
Magic is simply a benign force. It is neither good nor evil itself; but a wizard whose conscience is pure and whose mental attitude is positive and healthy will find that they are a much more powerful conduit for magic than a wizard whose mind is clogged with darkness and resentment. A so called "curse" will never work, in the purest sense of the word, it will only work upon the person who cast it- perhaps driving them to take action in word or deed that does indeed harm the cursee. Again, remember that magic is a benign force. It is neither good nor evil, and it works upon your will and upon the physical world but it cannot directly contravene the magical will of another.
Magic is capable of great things and if practised will certainly change your life for the better. Do not be led astray though by liars and people who revel in the (false) idea of magical power over others. There is no such thing. The only and greatest power which magic will give you is the tiller to your own life, the illumination upon the path to your own greatest happiness, fulfilment, personal prosperity, and the similar well being of those you care about.
The Wiccan Rede
You may or may not already have heard of the Wiccan Rede. This appears in various forms throughout history and the written word, and is often changed and reformatted depending on the magical practitioner. The Wiccan Rede will have existed and evolved in the magical zeitgeist and hearts and minds of witches long before it was written down. However, the first recorded document presenting an official Wiccan Rede as we know it would be a 26 line poem which appeared in Earth Religion News in 1974. The Wiccan Rede is summarised by this well known quote which I am sure you will probably recognise-
"An' if harm none, do what thou wilt"
- Which means, of course - do what you want as long as it harms no one. This could not be simpler. Do bear in mind though that "no one" also includes yourself! So harm no one else, and don't harm yourself either.
Harmful spells are in most instances very easy to recognise. If, for example, you are tempted to cast a curse on your next door neighbours dog because it has fouled on your lawn then you know that this is obviously a harmful spell and that you should therefore desist…
Some harmful spells are less easy to recognise though. Anything that attempts to play around with someone else's free will could be considered a harmful spell; even if the spell is cast with love and the best intentions. So resist the temptation to work a spell to prevent your friend from being dumped by her boyfriend and getting a broken heart - it may be that she is stuck in a toxic relationship and must bear the short term emotional pain in order to escape and meet someone else who will make her really happy. Just one example of a situation in which you might be tempted to wave your magic wand and mess with someone else's life, there are many, many more!
The Golden Rule of Magical Work
The golden rule in Wicca follows a similar theme to many other philosophies and even religions throughout history. It is simply an extension of our innate instinctive human morality.
On a deep level, most peoples and cultures have recognised the need to treat others as they like to be treated themselves. So as witches and wizards we are in very good company when we aspire to do no harm, but as much good as we can in the world- whilst taking personal responsibility for our OWN happiness and highest path. This is the golden rule of magical work and you should prioritise this above all others.
If you take away nothing else from this lesson, let it be that before you cast any spell you stop and think about whether it has the potential to directly harm others. If the answer is yes, then please either abandon the spell altogether, or else think about some way you could reformulate it to be kinder and more expansive. As an example, that spell to prevent your friends boyfriend leaving her could be reworked to become a spell for her to find true love and romantic fulfilment. (Either with her current or a future partner). This allows a spell to be cast that is incredibly effective- as it is in line with her own will.
Subsidiary Rules of Magic
Aside from the Golden Rule, the Witches Rede of "An' if harm none, do what thou wilt", there are other subsidiary rules, which can help you to define whether the spell you are attempting to cast is ethical or not.
1) Never cast a spell on another person without their permission.
An exception to this rule would be in the case of a healing spell when the other person is unable to give it, or for a child when it may be inappropriate to discuss your witchcraft. To be extra sure, you may wish to include a statement in your spell allowing the persons higher being to reject the healing if it is not wanted. It is hard to imagine healing not being wanted, but in the case of the very elderly or infirm or mentally traumatised they may sometimes be ready to pass on; and also there are probably higher laws we may not be privy to in this physical plane. Assume people want healing, but do allow them a get out clause in your spell.
2) Never cast a spell in haste or anger.
Again, there are exceptions. If you need a parking space, you need one now! And controlled anger can be a potent magical tool. But it's important to apply the "never casting in haste or anger" rule in emotionally charged situations when you may not be thinking clearly or be in possession of the full facts. Wait, cool down and reconsider. Check that you have remembered the Witches Rede or Golden Rule. Harm none!
The Law of Three
Another commonly held wiccan belief is the Rule of Three. This states that any energy you put out into the world, whether in thought or word or deed, will be returned to you threefold. So, if you send out positive energy, generosity and love, you will receive these positive things in abundance in your own life. On the other hand, if you are constantly broadcasting negative thoughts and casting dubious spells, this negativity could come back to you with a vengeance.
Grey or black spells have a tendency to return surprising and unsavoury results- remember you can never truly cast a spell against another's will - it will backfire somehow, often without the cursee even being aware of it directly. A love spell on a specific person, for instance, will never have the desired effect unless they are half inclined to love you anyway- you, however, could end up nursing an even greater obsession with them than you did before, with the tendrils of magic emotionally plucking at your own will instead of your desired lovers.
The law of three can be understood and summed up by the word "karma"; which is a concept most of us are already familiar with. There is a lot to be said for being the best version of yourself you can be. It may sound counter intuitive to be happy and positive if you are living on the breadline, but strangely this may be the first step in rising above undesirable circumstances.
By following the Witches Rede, never casting a spell in haste or anger, and being aware of the Law of Three, you can protect yourself from any uncomfortable magical backlash and make sure that as a witch or wizard you are performing spells to your very highest potential. Remember, no truly powerful magician is ever reduced to throwing curses - they are far too busy being delighted by the successful lives they have built, surrounded by the wonderful people they have attracted to share it with…
That which you concentrate on, you will attain.
Interested in this subject? Check out Curses 101.
