Wiccan Lore

- a part of the Guild of Pagans Guild Book of Shadows.

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The Modern Rede
by Christopher Brown


Listen to the spirit realm
Still your mind and hear them well
Kin they are in soul and heart
Wisdom to you they will impart

So you may listen properly
Respect all you hear and see
Whether tree or stone or seeker too
Their vision is like gold to you

That magic vision's yours as well
Through its sight you will excel
Trust your instincts, heart, and sight
They're your roadmap in this life

If allies on your path you need
You'll find them in the stones and trees
Should another join you in your quest
Remember: diversity is best

"As above, so below"
This is your guideline so you'll know
All of life and spirituality
Are connected intimately

Remember the cycle that you see
As leaves turn colors on the trees
Become attuned to Nature's wheel
And magic's power you will feel

First of all, be true to you
Second, harm none in what you do
Third, ask "How shall I grow?"
As each action creates your soul

Fourth, magic is your tool
Be wise in spellwork that you do
Fifth, your actions will return
Though fire warms, it also burns

By body, mind and soul you'll grow
Secrets are your right to know
Respect all others as yourself
And you'll be as rich in spirit wealth.

-[Nere]

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Wiccan Rede

Bide the Wiccan Laws ye must,
in perfect Love and perfect Trust.
Live and let live,
fairly take and fairly give.
Cast the Circle thrice about
to keep unwelcome spirits out.
To bind the spell every time,
let the spell be spake in rhyme.
Soft of eye and light of touch,
speak little, listen much.
Honor the Old Ones in deed and name,
let love and light be our guides again.
Deosil go by the waxing moon,
chanting out the Witches' rune.
Widdershins go by the waning moon,
Chanting out the baneful rune.
When the Lady's moon is new,
kiss the hand to Her times two.
When the moon rides at Her peak
then your heart's desire seek.
Heed the North winds mighty gale,
lock the door and drop the sail.
When the wind comes from the South,
love will kiss thee on the mouth.
When the wind whispers from the West,
departed souls will 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 fast and burn them slow.
Birch in the fire goes
to represent what the Lady knows.
Oak in the forest towers with might,
in the fire it brings the God's insight.
Rowan is a tree of power
causing life and magick to flower.
Willows at the waterside stand
ready to help us to the Summerland.
Hawthorn is burned to purify
and to draw faerie to your eye.
Hazel-the tree of wisdom and learning
adds its strength to the bright fire burning.
White are the flowers of Apple tree
that brings us fruits of fertility.
Grapes grow upon the vine
giving us both joy and wine.
Fir does mark the evergreen
to represent immortality seen.
Elder is the Lady's tree
burn it not or cursed you'll be.
Four times the Major Sabbats mark
in the light and in the dark.
As the old year starts to wane
the new begins, it's now Samhain.
When the time for Imbolc shows
watch for flowers through the snows.
When the wheel begins to turn
Let the Beltane fires burn.
As the wheel turns to Lamas night
power is brought to magick rite.
Four times the Minor Sabbats fall
use the Sun to mark them all.
When the wheel has turned to Yule
light the log the Horned One rules.
In the spring, when night equals day
time for Ostara to come our way.
When the Sun has reached it's height
time for Oak and Holly to fight.
Harvesting comes to one and all
when the Autumn Equinox does fall.
Heed the flower, bush, and tree
by the Lady blessed you'll be.
Where the rippling waters go
cast a stone, the truth you'll know.
When ye have and hold a need,
harken not to others greed.
With a fool no season spend
Lest ye be counted as his friend.
Merry Meet and Merry Part
bright the cheeks and warm the heart.
Mind the Three-fold Law you should
three times bad and three times good.
When misfortune is enow
wear the star upon your brow.
True in love ever be,
Lest thy lover's false to thee.
These Eight words the Rede fulfill:
"An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will"

[Lady In Black]

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Shakespeare's Herbal Code


Shakespeare's words in MacBeth are dotted with herbal lore. Here are some of the 'translations' of what the 'witches' might have put in their cauldron:

Eye of Newt - any of the 'eye' flowers such as daisy, horehound, bachelor's buttons, etc.
Toe of Frog - buttercup

Wool of Bat - holly leaves

Tongue of Dog - houndstongue

Lizard's Leg - a creeping plant such as ivy

Scale of Dragon - leaf of dragonwort, tarragon

Tooth of Wolf - leaf of wolfsbane

Gall of Goat - honeysuckle or st. John's wort

Nose of Turtle - turtle's cap

Adder's Fork - bistort

Tiger's Chaundron - lady's mantle


from: The Magical Almanac, 1993, Scott Cunningham 
-Nere...I couldn't resist putting this up...I love Shakespeare.

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Color Magick

Once upon a time the colors of the world
started to quarrel: all claimed that they
were the best, the most important, the
most useful, the favorite.
GREEN said: "Clearly I am the most
important. I am the sign of life and of hope.
I was chosen for grass, leaves, trees--without
me, all animals would die. Look out over the
countryside and you will see that I am
in the majority."

BLUE interrupted: "You only think about
the Earth, but consider the sky and sea.
It is the water that is the basis of life
and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea.
The sky gives space and peace and serenity.
Without my peace, you would all be nothing."

YELLOW chuckled:"You are all so serious.
I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth to
the world. The sun is yellow, the moon is
yellow, the stars are yellow. Every time you
look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to
smile. Without me, there would be no fun."

ORANGE started next to blow her temper.
"I am the color of health and strength.
I may be scarce but I am precious for I
serve the needs of human life. I carry the
most important vitamins. Think of carrots,
pumpkins, oranges, mangos, and pawpaws.
I don't hang around all the time, but when
I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my
beauty is so striking that no one gives
another thought to any of you".

RED could stand it no longer.
He shouted out: "I am the ruler of all of you!
I am blood! Lifes blood! I am the color of
danger and of bravery. I am willing to fight
for a cause. I bring fire to the blood! I am
the color of passion and of love, the red rose,
the poppy and the poinsettia. Without me,
the earth would be as empty as the moon!"

PURPLE rose up to his full height.
He was very tall and spoke with great pomp:
"I am the color of royalty and power. Kings,
chiefs, and bishops have always chosen me for
I am a sign of authority and wisdom.
People do not question me, they
listen and obey".

Finally, INDIGO spoke, much more
quietly than all the others, but with just
as much determination: "Think of me. I am
the color of silence. You hardly notice me,
but without me you all become superficial.
I represent thought and reflection, twilight
and deep water. You need me for balance and
contrast, for prayer and inner peace."

And so all the colors went on boasting and
quarreling, each convinced of their own
superiority. Soon, their quarreling became
louder and louder. Suddenly there was a
startling flash of bright lightening! Thunder
rolled and boomed! Rain started to pour
down relentlessly. The colors crouched
down in fear drawing close to one another
for comfort. In the midst of the clamor,
RAIN began to speak: "You foolish colors,
fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to
dominate the rest. Don't you know you were
each made for a special purpose, unique
and different? Join hands with one
another and come to me."

Doing as they were told, the colors united
and joined hands. The rain continued:
"From now on, when it rains, each of you
will stretch across the sky in a great bow
of colors as a reminder that you can all
live in peace.
The rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow".

And so, whenever a good rain washes the
world, and a rainbow appears in the sky,
let us remember to appreciate one another.

~*~

Author Unknown
~~~Based on a Native American Legend~~~
-[Nere]

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