No discussion of Wicca would ever be complete without mention of the Wiccan Rede: "And it harm none, do what thou will". The exact language may alter slightly according to tradition, but the sentiment is unchanged. It is both moral code and religious law (as close as Wiccans get to general "laws"). It governs both our use of magick, as well as our relations with each other and the world at large.
Simply worded, it nonetheless opens the door to much debate within the Wiccan community. What does it mean by "harm none"? Does the rule cover harm to other humans, or to all life? Does it mean we should be vegetarians (thus harming no animals), or is it just regulating human affairs? (Those who say it mandates vegetarianism get rather annoyed when someone points out that plants are alive, and where should we draw the line between taking life and our own survival...you's be surprised at how heated the conversation can get!)
It is an integral part of Wiccan practice and philosophy, however, and bears a closer look for one to understand just who these Witches are and what we're about.
Generally, most agree that harming nothing ever is a pretty damn difficult rule to follow, and that it's impossible to follow absolutely literally. None among us would quibble with defending our own life or that of our loved ones against attackers, and yet the simplicity can leave many Wiccans with great moral dilemmas.
The general consensus is that the Rede is a practical safety valve, one that makes us think twice before doing things that can impact others in a negative way. This can be a great gift...after all, most reading this would agree that a great many of the things we've done in life that we regret have happened when we didn't carefully think through the consequences of our actions. Though it can be merciless in it's brevity, it is also quite liberating in it's application to everyday life.
Some may think that it is a unpractical moral code, because it's simplicity would seem to open it up to much abuse through interpretation. However, most of us can agree that even a meticulously worded set of laws and guidelines can be twisted and abused, and can point to numerous instances in American religious life where this has happened. Complexity does not beget purity when it comes to religious morality. To the Wiccan, it is something to allow to rest in the back of the mind, a filter through which to examine both our actions and motivations.
Of course, to understand my interpretation of the rede, we must first look at where it comes from.
It's no secret that Gerald Gardner (founder of modern Wicca) was a fan of Aleister Crowley. Old Gerald was not only a fifth degree initiate of Crowley's O.T.O., but the original, pre-Doreen Valiente version of the Book of Shadows was filled with Crowleyania. In fact, bits of Crowley still survive in the Charge of the Goddess, amongst other things.
Crowley's motto was "Do what thou wilt, so mote it be", and "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law". This sentiment has been one of the most misunderstood things about Crowley over the years (well, except for his attitudes on sacrifice, but that's another topic all together), by both supporters and detractors. It is not, mind you, the idea of doing whatever you want whenever you want and damn the consequences. Rather, it's about following your TRUE will.
What is one's true will? Not the mere base urgings of the primitive brain, but rather one's true path in life. This is what separates one's true will from one's ego-driven whims. Your true will is your true path in life, whatever that may be.
To "do what thou wilt", or "follow one's true path" being the highest law a person can follow is, in fact, a highly laudable endeavour. It means finding one's path of greatest spiritual growth and fulfillment, and not allowing anyone to knock one off of it. It means being dedicated to one's further spiritual evolution to the point where every decision made in life is done in relation with that evolution. It means living your path every moment of every day. It is being a mystic, a magician, a shaman...a Witch.
The similarity between Crowley's law and the Rede is hardly an accident. Like I said, Gardner was a student of Crowley, was 5th degree O.T.O., and even had a charter to run an O.T.O temple. He was a fan of both Crowley's magickal ideas and his poetry. And it seems he adapted Crowley's law for Wicca.
How does this all fit into the ethos of the Rede? Well, if we step away from a literal interpretation of the words (and literalists are often annoying anyway...just ask a Christian), and look at it in broader, Thelemic context, then it's meaning becomes more appearant.
"An it harm none" is the part that trips many people up. however, it really isn't all that difficult to understand. Throughout the years since Crowley published the Book of the Law (from which the "Do what thou wilt shall be whole of the law" passage is from), some have interpreted it to mean "pursue your goals at all cost, and step on anyone who gets in your way, or use anyone who makes things easier or more convenient for you". This is, unfortunately, a debased bastardization of this rule, and one that subverts any spiritual growth that may be ordinarily gained by living the rule other times. Gardner saw this rampant in the British occult community of his day, and decided to do something about it.
The Wiccan Rede, "An it harm none, do what ye will", is an evolution of Crowley's Law of Thelema. It states, quite simply, that one should follow one's true path without being tripped up by ego plays or abusive impulses. Or, more succintly, that one's TRUE path will never call on you to subvert the true will of another. One's true path will never cause you to use or abuse people for your own whims. Spiritual evolution is a personal quest, and while others may aid us along the way, they are not "things" to be used and tossed away. They are spiritual beings just like you.
Of course, ask twelve Wiccans a question and you'll get 13 answers...others may differ. This is one view.
Blessed Be,
Taliesin