"An it harm none, do as you will. An it cause harm, do as you must."
The first part is the original Wiccan Rede. The second part was added by Boniface Wolfsong, originator of our Trad, and is the accepted version of the Rede that our Tradition uses. We do not speak for Wicca as a whole.
There is a lot of commentary about the Wiccan Rede, because "harm none" is sometimes taken to an extreme, based in part on the idea that "Wiccans can't curse/hex/do negative magick." Boniface found that to be an incomplete thought for real life, and idealistic on its own.
"An it cause harm, do as you must" acknowledges that sometimes, you must do harm for the greater good of the situation. That doesn't mean you're free to target someone based on your ego ("witch wars" etc). It means that if a magickal or mundane action to protect yourself or others might include harm to complete that action, as long as it's a justifiable reason, you are NOT going against the Rede.
What morals and ethics you apply to the decision are your own. It requires careful thought and consideration, not just a purely emotional reaction to the situation. Basically, try to do as little harm as possible, avoid it if you can. But don't be a doormat or a victim because "the Rede says I can't harm anyone." Because that's not real life.
The first part is the original Wiccan Rede. The second part was added by Boniface Wolfsong, originator of our Trad, and is the accepted version of the Rede that our Tradition uses. We do not speak for Wicca as a whole.
There is a lot of commentary about the Wiccan Rede, because "harm none" is sometimes taken to an extreme, based in part on the idea that "Wiccans can't curse/hex/do negative magick." Boniface found that to be an incomplete thought for real life, and idealistic on its own.
"An it cause harm, do as you must" acknowledges that sometimes, you must do harm for the greater good of the situation. That doesn't mean you're free to target someone based on your ego ("witch wars" etc). It means that if a magickal or mundane action to protect yourself or others might include harm to complete that action, as long as it's a justifiable reason, you are NOT going against the Rede.
What morals and ethics you apply to the decision are your own. It requires careful thought and consideration, not just a purely emotional reaction to the situation. Basically, try to do as little harm as possible, avoid it if you can. But don't be a doormat or a victim because "the Rede says I can't harm anyone." Because that's not real life.