The Rede

Bide the Witches Redes ye must,
In Perfect Love and Perfect Trust;
Live ye must and let to live,
Fairly take and fairly give;
Form the Circle thrice about,
To keep unwelcome spirits out;
Bind fast the spell every time,
Let the words be spoke in rhyme.

Soft of eye and light of touch,
Speak ye little, listen much;
Deosil go by waxing moon,
Sing and dance the Witches' Rune;
Widdershins go by waning moon,
Chant ye then a baleful tune;
When the Lady's moon is new,
Kiss hand to her times two;
When the moon rides at peak,
Herat's desire then ye seek.

Heed the North wind's mighty gale,
Lock the door and trim the sail;
When the wind comes from the South,
Love will kiss them on the mouth;
When the wend blows from the West,
Departed souls have no rest;
When the wind blows from the East,
Expect the new and set the feast.

Nine woods in the cauldron go,
Burn them quick, burn them slow;
Elder be the Lady's tree,
Burn it not or cursed you’ll be;
When the wind begins to turn,
Soon Beltane fires will burn;
When the wheel has turned to Yule,
Light the log, the Horned One rules.

Heed the flower, bush or tree,
By the Lady blessed be,
When the rippling waters floe,
Cast a stone - the truth you'll know;
When ye have & hold a need,
Hearken not to others' greed;
With a fool no seasons spend,
Or be counted as his friend.

Merry meet and merry part,
Bright the cheeks, warm the heart;
Mind the threefold law ye should,
Three times bad and three times good;
Whenever misfortune is endows,
Wear the star upon your brow;
True in troth ever ye be.

Left they love prove false to thee.
'Tis by the sun that life be won,
And by the moon that change be done;
if ye would clear the path to will,
Make certain the mind be still;
what good be tools without Inner Light?
What good be magic without wisdom-sight?
Eight words the Witches Rede fulfill -
An it harm none, do what ye will

Many a witch subscribe to the threefold law of return, this is most wise.
It should be noted that I personally will deal out with a return of sevens for those who trangress this mage.