The Wicca Rede manuscript is a document that is often considered a core principle of the modern Wiccan religion. It is often referred to as the "Wiccan Rede" or simply the "Rede." The word "Rede" comes from the Middle English word "reden," which means "to advise" or "to counsel." The Wicca Rede manuscript is a poem-like text that was first published in a book by Doreen Valiente, a prominent figure in the early development of modern Wicca. The poem outlines a set of moral guidelines or ethical principles to be followed by Wiccans. It emphasizes the importance of acting responsibly, doing no harm, and respecting the free will of others.
(L – R): Lamnatu Adam – Executive Director at Songtaba, Eunice Agbenyadzi – Programmes Manager at STAR Ghana Foundation & Feruzah Salisu – Project Officer at STAR Ghana Foundation.
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and as many communities relied on each other to provide social safety nets, accused witches faced an even larger risk of marginalization, with ostracization a common reaction from families and communities. With the increase in media coverage in the past few years, the situation at witch camps has been further exposed, with reports of old er women being accused of using witchcraft to cause illness, misery, and calamities.
It emphasizes the importance of acting responsibly, doing no harm, and respecting the free will of others. The Rede begins with the well-known phrase, "An it Harm None, Do What Ye Will." This is often interpreted as a statement of personal freedom, giving Wiccans the right to pursue their own desires and interests as long as they do not cause harm to others.
Eunice "Goody" Cole Memorial Stone
Decades before the frenzy that would engulf nearby Salem, Massachusetts in 1692, Eunice “Goody” Cole was New Hampshire’s most infamous witch, and the only woman to be convicted of witchcraft in the state’s history. Throughout her long, painful life, both her neighbors and court juries claimed that it was obvious that Cole had “familiarity with the devil.”
A reportedly eccentric, unpleasant resident of Hampton, New Hampshire, Cole’s fellow townsfolk accused her of everything from killing their livestock, taking the form of animals, and communicating with the devil. Starting in 1656, Cole would be tried for witchcraft three times, whipped, imprisoned for years on end, and stripped of her citizenship.
However, Cole was never executed. Instead, she was eventually released from prison into the care of Hampton residents, who brought her food and helped her with other daily tasks, which they did begrudgingly since most truly believed in her association with the devil. In 1680, it is reported that Cole died, having reached her eighties.
Some accounts state that her body was buried on her property, while say her corpse was thrown into a shallow grave. Local lore has it that those who buried her drove a stake through her heart, attaching a horseshoe to prevent any further wrongdoings from her postmortem. In any case, her body has never been recovered.
Though New England’s witch hunts ended, Cole slowly became a famed Hampton historical figure. John Greenleaf Whittier, the poet most famous as the author of the poem Snow-Bound, took the Goody Cole legend and expanded it using her as the cause of a very real shipwreck off of Hampton’s coast in his poem The Wreck of the Rivermouth, as well as writing her into his poem The Changeling.
In 1938, in an effort to drum up some attention to the coastal town, The Society in Hampton for the Apprehension of Those Falsely Accusing Eunice ‘Goody’ Cole of Having Had Familiarity With the Devil took it upon themselves to reinstate Cole’s citizenship. Copies of Cole’s court records were symbolically burnt at the ceremony. The ashes of the documents were to be buried beneath a planned memorial stone for Eunice Cole, but one of the area’s worst hurricanes hit that year, and the plans for the memorial were forgotten. Over the next few years, rumors of sightings of a ghostly old woman abounded.
Then in 1963, Harold Fernald, a Hampton resident, teacher, and part-time police officer, took it upon himself to erect a stone on the supposed location of Cole’s property. The stone is a sculpted, unmarked, boulder on the historic town green.
The ashes still sit in Tuck Museum. The museum itself is closed until April 2021, but you can still see the memorial to Cole outside.
Know Before You Go
From I-95 North take Exit 1 Seabrook, New Hampshire. Merge onto NH-107 South. Turn left onto US-1 North/Lafayette Road. At 3.7 miles, turn right onto Park Avenue.I-95 South Take exit 2 to merge onto NH-101 East/State Route 101 East. Exit onto US-1 South/Lafayette Road toward Hampton/Seabrook.Slight left to merge onto US-1 N/Lafayette Rd toward NH-101/I-95 N/Exeter/Hampton/Hampton Beach. Turn right onto Park Avenue and the museum will be on left.The Tuck Museum is open Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
It encourages individuals to think about the consequences of their actions and to act in ways that promote positivity and harmony. The Wicca Rede manuscript also mentions the concept of the "Rule of Three," also known as the Law of Return. This principle suggests that whatever energy or action a person puts out into the world will come back to them threefold. This idea is often seen as a form of karma, with the belief that good deeds will be rewarded and negative actions will have consequences. Overall, the Wicca Rede manuscript serves as a guiding principle for Wiccans, encouraging them to live in harmony with nature, respect the rights of others, and take responsibility for their actions. It promotes a moral code that emphasizes personal freedom and accountability, while also recognizing the interconnectedness of all beings. The Rede is considered a central text in Wiccan philosophy and is often used as a basis for ethical decision-making and spellcasting within the religion..
Reviews for "Ancient Wisdom in the Wicca Rede Manuscript for Modern Practitioners"
1. Sarah - 1/5 stars - I was very disappointed with the "Wicca rede manuscript". I found it to be poorly written and lacking in any real substance or depth. The information provided was very basic and didn't offer anything new or interesting. It felt like the author was just rehashing common knowledge without adding any personal insights or experiences. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a comprehensive and insightful guide to Wicca.
2. John - 2/5 stars - I was hoping to learn more about Wicca and its principles, but the "Wicca rede manuscript" fell short of my expectations. The writing style was dry and didactic, making it feel more like a textbook than an engaging read. The information presented lacked depth and failed to provide any real practical guidance or application. I found myself skimming through the pages, searching for something that would capture my interest, but unfortunately, I didn't find it. This book may be suitable for absolute beginners, but those with any prior knowledge or interest in Wicca would find it unfulfilling.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars - As someone who has been practicing Wicca for several years, I was disappointed with the "Wicca rede manuscript". The book seemed to focus more on the author's personal beliefs and opinions rather than providing factual information or historical context. It lacked the depth and nuance I was hoping for, and I found myself disagreeing with many of the author's interpretations. Additionally, the writing style was overly simplistic and repetitive, which became tedious to read. Overall, I would not recommend this book to experienced practitioners or those looking for a comprehensive understanding of Wicca.