A Query into the Rede
By Sophya Byrd
5/5
()
About this ebook
A Circle of six Wiccans trained in Western philosophy discuss the Wiccan Rede in an attempt to understand it better. Is it ever possible to do no harm? Who or what should not be harmed? Does it matter that we may not be able to foresee all of the consequences of our actions, including the harm they may cause? And for that matter, does the Rede really direct Wiccans to avoid harming others? A philosophical investigation into one of the key tenets of Wicca.
Related to A Query into the Rede
Related ebooks
The Teen Witches' Guide to Palm Reading: Discover the Secret Forces of the Universe... and Unlock your Own Hidden Power! Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Faeries and I: How I Discovered the Faeries Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHilda: Magic on the Rocks Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFairy Magic: The Forest Wars of the Fairy Princess and the Goblin Witch Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAccess freedom in 10 Celtic rituals Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Hedging the Witch: Uncollected Anthology, #10 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCovenant of the Cauldron Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAchieve harmony with Celtic magic in 8 rituals Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Throwing Bones, Crystals, Stones, and Curios: Includes 20 Unique Casting Boards for Divination and Insight Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsShaman vs Witch Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBitchcraft: Simple Spells for Everyday Annoyances & Sweet Revenge Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHypnotism Spells Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTriple Duty Spice Rack Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mental Projection: Travel the Universe Using Your Mind Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWrestling with Love Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA World Within: Spiritual Awakening in Modern Times Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPrairie Witch: An Anthology Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSummary of Skye Alexander's The Modern Guide to Witchcraft Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Book of Magic & Witchcraft: 27 book Collection: Salem Trials, Lives of the Necromancers, Modern Magic, Witch Stories… Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsManifesting Abundance for Witches Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEchoes of Darkness A Death Goddess Novella Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsE'steem: The Witches Of Eastland Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSongs from and English Witch Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIntroduction to Celtic magic in 8 spells Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSpitfire: The Remarkable Flight Of A Very Courageous Hummingbird Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIrish Witchcraft and Demonology Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Philosophy For You
The Four Loves Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Art of War Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Courage to Be Happy: Discover the Power of Positive Psychology and Choose Happiness Every Day Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Meditations: Complete and Unabridged Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sun Tzu's The Art of War: Bilingual Edition Complete Chinese and English Text Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Denial of Death Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Republic by Plato Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Art of Loving Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Beyond Good and Evil Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Experiencing God (2021 Edition): Knowing and Doing the Will of God Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Complete Papyrus of Ani Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar...: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Human Condition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Be Here Now Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Inward Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tao Te Ching: A New English Version Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5History of Western Philosophy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Tao Te Ching: Six Translations Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The City of God Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lying Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Bhagavad Gita (in English): The Authentic English Translation for Accurate and Unbiased Understanding Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Little Book of Stoicism: Timeless Wisdom to Gain Resilience, Confidence, and Calmness Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Buddha's Guide to Gratitude: The Life-changing Power of Everyday Mindfulness Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The School of Life: An Emotional Education: An Emotional Education Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for A Query into the Rede
1 rating0 reviews
Book preview
A Query into the Rede - Sophya Byrd
Introduction
This discussion should be read as having taken place among six members of a circle of Wiccans who later edited their exchange for publication. As some participating members did not wish their identities to be known even to other members of the Craft, all six took an oath of secrecy. All participating members of the circle are familiar with the Craft and have read some traditional philosophical works.
The participating members offer their discussion here for the enjoyment of the reader, who may (or may not) be a Witch who is interested in pondering the Rede. They do not urge the reader to accept 'the' answer contained here. In the first place, there is no single answer offered, so it would be quite impossible to accept it even if the reader wanted to. In the second place, what is proposed is not so much an 'answer' as a set of further questions. The reader is urged to consider the mystery of the Rede for herself.
At the outset, the reader may wish to remind himself that the Rede is a statement most often expressed as An it harm none, do as yet wilt or (in somewhat longer form) An it harm none, do as yet wilt, and that shall be the whole of the law. It appears in several places, including the Old Laws (also known as the Ardanes or the 161 Laws).
*****
Participants:
Eyrie, the High Priestess
Lark, Raven, Dove, Robin, and Corbin, all Wiccans joining in this Circle of Discussion
*****
The Discussion
Eyrie said to the coven: An it harm none, do as yet wilt, and that shall be the whole of the law. What do you all think about this Rede?
Raven said: I understand the Rede to mean 'Do whatever you want so long as no one is hurt.' Would the rest of you agree with me?
Lark: Yes.
Robin: Yes.
Corbin: Wait a minute. Is the idea that no one is hurt, or that nothing is hurt? Would it be all right for me to do whatever I want if an animal was hurt?
Dove: Or what about a plant?
Lark: Good point, Corbin and Dove. I would try to avoid harming the animal. Plants are a little bit more difficult to be sure about, but I think we should try to avoid hurting them too.
Raven: Okay, so the rule should be 'Do whatever you want so long as no human, plant, or animal is hurt.'
Dove: I'll add: extradimensional beings, aliens, and higher powers. They shouldn't be hurt either.
Lark: Agreed.
Corbin: What about natural features of the earth? I'm thinking about rivers, lakes, stones, mountains, the ocean, the sky. . . .
Dove: How can you harm the sky?
Corbin: You can pollute the atmosphere.
Dove: I agree it's possible to pollute the atmosphere, but is that the same thing as hurting a person? he person feels pain, but the atmosphere doesn't.
Corbin: How do you know it doesn't?
Dove: Good point. Still, does it matter? The atmosphere can certainly be damaged, and damage is a kind of harm.
Raven: What's more, the pollution of the atmosphere eventually causes us humans harm. So I think we should count the atmosphere as something that falls within the Rede's prohibition on wanton harm.
Dove: All right.
Corbin: Let me sum up. Do we agree that the Rede allows us to follow our desires only