I am not Wiccan but my own sect of my descent via my family. I try to cling to lables when I can. I do like the word Occult because it means hidden knowledge. We differ greatly. I do research Wicca. I note I am not Anti-Wiccan. Yet, I feel in fure all that may be left will be Wicca so I record there real history.

This bit of history deals with The wiccan rede and where it comes from. All the information sited can be traced with ease. 

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This poem, sometimes erroneously called the Wiccan Rede, was transmitted by Lady Gwen Thompson, founder of The New England Coven of Tradionalist Wicca, and first published in Green Egg Magazine Vol III #69, 1975. The author is said to be Lady Thompson's grandmother, Adriana Porter, written originally in 1910 (however, there is some skepticism surrounding its date and origin).

Even if it was 1910 it would not have been in mass use or be as old as many say it is. Witchcraft never had a single code.

Lady Gwen Thomson (1928-1986), a hereditary witch from New Haven, Connecticut (USA), attributed this text to Adriana Porter, her paternal grandmother, who, as she stated "was well into her 90's when she crossed over into the Summerlands in 1946." Thomson was the primary teacher of The New England Coven of the Traditionalist Witches (N.E.C.T.W.), which she founded in 1972, although her teachings were brought to the public in the late 1960's. This tradition was a combination of her family's tradition blended with popular occultism.

This style of te art wascomon being Witches used what they could get a hold of in information at that time. No rules but the self. 

This was the first time the Rede was publicly referred to as a "rede" (guideline).

Joseph B. Wilson, publisher of the first witchcraft newsletter in the US (The Waxing Moon) and who for many years acted as a central networking hub for correspondence, contacts, etc., shared with that Lady Gwen was one of his early correspondents. Although Wilson could not remember much about her, he recalled that he shared a good bit of his own information from his mentors with her -- which by some accounts has since ended up as part of her adapted hereditary lineage. Mr. Wilson was also able to confirm two other important links to Valiente's Rede influence on the Porter/Thomson Rede:

1) Wilson clearly remembers reprinting Valiente's words in The Waxing Moon. Since his archive was lost several years ago, he could not give an exact date, but it would have been circa 1965-1966.

2) Gwen Thompson was a subscriber to The Waxing Moon.

Although this offers some links to a possible influence of Valiente's Rede in the development of Lady Gwen's rede, it is not conclusive and so we are left with three likely scenarios:

1) Lady Gwen's stated history of her version of the Rede is accurate and was written by her grandmother. This will raise the question: If the passing of Adriana Porter came before the publishing of Gardner's first book containing elements of witchcraft ritual (High Magic's Aid, 1949) and after Gardner is said to have been initiated by "Old Dorothy Clutterbuck" in 1939, then could they share a common source? Or could one have perhaps inspired the Rede from the other? I could find no evidence to support or deny this.

2) Lady Gwen adapted a poem written by her grandmother, adding more Wiccan-like elements. Since the tradition Lady Gwen taught is freely described as an adaptation of her hereditary tradition it is quite possible that Valiente's Rede influenced some of the rewording of Adriana Porter's poem, perhaps even unconsciously doing so.

3) The entire history of Lady Gwen's Rede was made up to add a sense of lineage and credibility to her established tradition. his was common being most witchcraft is oral and not written. The questionable claims of family-based initiations pre-dating Gardner were not un-common and readily abused, "Not to say hey where not real just lacking ininformation.: so the accuracy of Thomson's claim will always remain somewhat debatable without documentation.

Some think she took it from Doreen Valiente. She had a whole host of stuff she would write.

It was said you would submit on the letter train. Letter trains where the news in witchcraft in those days.

I was told.

Witch poems would get around everywhere being witches used to trade information to rebuild what they where doing. Even before Gardener was here. In my family. We knew other Witches. There was a small network. 99% dead today. It just was not in the open. Many where very lonely if you met one it was a wonderful feeling. It was rare but did happen. It also did mean you get along also. We never needed covens or redes to have Witches. We never used the word wicca. Many did not know what Wicca was untill Gardener. Many used the words Witch for women, Wyzard for male, "YI-zard" not Wizard "way-zard" Wizard differs as we talked about, "That "way" and that "y" are huge change between." Some atempted in the early 70's to use these terms but it was thought it would confuse people being they where so close. Many just say witch today. Fine but I remember by my mother. I also don't think we need lables. I taught that way to. I use my term "if have to" to respect women being the womans mystery is not a male mystery. We work together.:) My Grandparents loved to visit the smaller groups of wiccans in the 70's and leave ideas but not change them. Many did this. They needed to evolve with free will.

You will know older Pagans by how they behave talk, and example.

The words that go with the culture they follow being my view is it is something you earn. Almost every branch today has something of a cousin between even if they don't want to admit it. This was done being many wanted to fill blanks. There was a time where there where more students then teachers. It's rare to see something unbroken. Almost everything has been afected.

....
Yet, look what I found. LOL

The first recorded mention of the Wiccan Rede in the eight-word form popular today, at least that I have been able to discover thus far, was in a speech by Doreen Valiente on October 3, 1964 at what may have been the first  witches' dinner organized in modern history. The event was sponsored by Pentagram, a quarterly newsletter and "witchcraft review" started and published by Gerard Noel in 1964.

Demanding tolerance between covens as well as toward the outside world, Doreen spoke the Anglo-Saxon witch formula called the Wiccan Rede or wise teaching: "Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfil, An' it harm none, do what ye will."

Valiente's "Eight Words" quote was also published in volume one (1964) of the Pentagram, the UK newsletter that hosted the event and as will be discussed later was subsequently published beween circa 1965 and 1966 in the United States in The Waxing Moon newsletter. In 1965 the Rede was again quoted without references in Justine Glass' book Witchcraft, The Sixth Sense:

The other, only slightly less important belief of the witches is in hurtlessness; an article of faith also of the ancient Huna religion, which is thought to have originated in Africa and traveled across the world, by way of Egypt and India to Hawaii. The kahunas taught that the only sin was to hurt either oneself or someone else. The Wiccan Rede (i.e. Counsel or advice of the Wise Ones) is: 'An ye harm no one, do what ye will.'

Sadly no reference is given but since Glass had quoted from Pentagram earlier in that chapter it is quite possible that her above mention of the Rede derived from something inspired by Valiente's speech in 1964. The wording is a bit different from that speech, but this may have been due to the usual changes that occur when information is passed via word of mouth or as the author recalled the quote from memory. Since Glass had an advertisement calling for help in her research which was printed in the same issue of Pentagram (and on the very same page) as Valiente's "Eight Words" quote, this is a likely source.

Rede of the Wiccae - Being known as the Counsel of the Wise Ones

First printing ever 1975 Green egg

1. Bide the Wiccan laws ye must in perfect love and perfect trust
2. Live and let live, fairly take and fairly give.
3. Cast the Circle thrice about to keep all evil spirits out
4. To bind the spell every time, let the spell be spake in rhyme.
5. Soft of eye an light of touch, speak little, listen much
6. Deosil go by the waxing moon, sing an dance the Wiccan Rune.
7. Widdershins go when Moon doth wane, An the werewolves howl by the dread wolfsbane.
8. When the Lady's moon is new, kiss the hand to her times two.
9. When the moon rides at her peak, then your heart's desire seek.
10. Heed the North wind's mighty gale, lock the door and trim the sail
11. When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss thee on the mouth.
12. When the wind blows from the East, expect the new and set the feast.
13. When the West wind blows o'er thee Departed spirits restless be.
14. Nine woods in the cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow.
15. Elder be ye Lady's tree, burn it not or cursed ye'll be.
16. When the wheel begins to turn, let the Beltane fires burn.
17. When the wheel hath turned a Yule, light the log and let Pan rule.
18. Heed ye flowers, bush an tree, by the Lady blessed be.
19. Where the rippling waters go, cast a stone and truth ye'll know.
20. When ye have need, harken not to others greed
21. With the fool no season spend, or be counted as his friend.
22. Merry meet and merry part, bright the cheeks and warm the heart.
23. Mind ye Threefold law ye should, three times bad an three times good.
24. When misfortune is enow, wear the blue star on thy brow.
25. True in love ever be, unless thy lover's false to thee.
26. Eight words the Wicca Rede fulfill, 'An it harm none, do what ye will.'

Untill the mid 1980's all over the world many covens had redes that all had a differ in them. Those that follow Gerald are taught the version we know now are taught of fake tales about it. As we know Gerald never knew of the rede and no one had ever spoke of it before the 70's besides a small mention of 64.

Alex Saunders who loved Crowleys works, working in channel, and whatever he could get his paws on with a big smile did have mention. The tail end anyhow. He may have helped along what we know of the rede today.

Circa 1970/1971, Alex Sanders composed a series of lectures written by himself and others which were privately distributed as a course for novices in Alexandrian Wicca, a tradition Sanders founded. In the essay entitled The Book of Shadows, it is mentioned that during first degree initiation, The Book [of Shadows] is closed in front of him [the one being initiated] and he is shown the cover, on which is often written the motto of Wicca: "An it harm none - do what ye will."

Many took all of this as hundreds of years old being they thought thats what they where being taught.

When the new kids started to learn they did not know anything.

They where made to copy this rede by hand and given a speach on it's age. This was taught over and over in mixed truth. 

Many covens have taught the rede few know the history being it was lost being no one asked. My point is it should not be the only focus of moral. It needs to be taught as a recent source or a Coven should comeup with there own ideal.

Witchcraft is not a art of sheep.

Many can repeat it few know it is a idea of "ethics" and not law. It was a poem to help you think. Thats all. It was not a rule.

These lectures that give a clue were published in the book The Alex Sanders Lectures in 1984 but were in private circulation since the 1970's. This is the only reference to the wording of the Rede in Sander's published material, although he had made reference to Crowley's "Do what thou wilt" phrase in Stewart Farrar's What Witches Do (1971).

Now when it comes to the origin of the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca, there is much controversy. Alex claimed to have been initiated into the Craft by his grandmother at the age of seven, which was later determined to be a hoax. "As one knows we protect children but we don't give them guns." Now  had that at 7 but was given no anything. I think he based his story off a dead trad. There is also much debate as to how he was able to obtain a copy of the Gardnerian Book of Shadows which he had passed off as his own while incorporating additional elements of ritual magic into it. The point to be made here is simply that Sander's teachings were heavily influenced by Gardner's work among others and that this reference to a witches' motto may have derived from Valiente's Rede assuming the wording in the lecture was not altered at a later date prior to its compilation and publishing in 1984 - long after the Rede's widespread dissemination.

I learned this mid 90's. I had talked with a crone who was visiting us.  She was 88 years old. I had never met anyone that nice again in my life. She was a friendof my Grandmother that would go with her on her adventures to say the least. She was this little 4 foot thing with her giant hat and huge purse and a ton of amber jewerly. She told me she hadto wear that much amber on both sides so she wouldnot fall over. She was fun. I asked about all of this in rede. She was not wiccan but watched. I said what was it like without the rede? I told her My wiccan friend said that it was made to stop chaos. She founfd this funny and said.: "A student will be as the teacher. If you give the student a example they will learn from it.

No amount of words can change the example."

The key she said she found when she had went to India.

She spoke with a guru who told her it is not always what we teach them is what they remember. They remember who the teacher is when they are lost. This stayed with me.

She also said, she showed how ethics work.

She said to me. "Common sense is the rule as you said. The reason we have rules is not everyone has common sense."

She also told me.: You do what you have to. If someone does not have ethics don't teach them. You will learn but don't give up and showing them what light is forthem to have ethics. You can feel a persons heart. She also told me. At that time I could not grasp what she was trying to tell me. I wrote in my journey.

ONE OF MY TEACHERS MAKES A EXAMPLE OUT OF ME IN WHAT NOT TO DO! LOL

Below is a quick timeline for various sources, inspirations, or appearances of the Rede or related events. .
Note: First Publication dates given for all books unless otherwise noted.

Date Source Quote/Notes
1534 Francois Rabelais' novel Gargantua "DO AS THOU WILT because men that are free, of gentle birth, well bred and at home in civilized company possess a natural instinct that inclines them to virtue and saves them from vice. This instinct they name their honor."
(Crowley's Inspiration)

1901 Pierre Louÿs's The Adventures of King Pausole (English version in 1919) I. Do no wrong to thy neighbor.
II. Observing this, do as thou pleasest.
(Gardner's Inspiration)

1904 Crowley's The Book of the Law "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law."
(Possible influence on Gardner and others familiar with O.T.O. or Crowley)

1946 (various sources) Adriana Porter, who is said to have written the version of the Rede printed in 1975 in Green Egg, dies.

1952-1953 Doreen Valiente's The Rebirth of Witchcraft Doreen Valiente meets (1952) and is initiated (1953) by Gardner. (If Valiente did not write Rede, any sources could possibly predate this time.)
1956 Gerald Gardner's The Meaning of Witchcraft "[Witches] are inclined to the morality of the legendary Good King Pausol, "Do what you like so long as you harm no one".
(This is the first book on "modern" witchcraft to site the ethics of witchcraft.)
1957-1961 The Old Laws, Gerald Gardner's Gardnerian (public) Book of Shadows: (Section D.1 ) "And for long we have obeyed this law, 'Harm none'"
(Reflect general consensus that Witches did not tend to have a desire to cause harm.)

1964 (various sources) Gerald Gardner dies.

1964 Doreen Valiente Speech "Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfil, An' it harm none, do what ye will."
(First time Rede as we know it today mentioned publicly?)
1964 Pentagram newsletter published by Gerard Noel in UK "Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfil,
An' it harm none, do what ye will."

1965 Justine Glass' Witchcraft, The Sixth Sense "The Wiccan Rede (i.e. Counsel or advice of the Wise Ones) is: 'An ye harm no one, do what ye will.'"
Note wording is different.
(First book I have found to mention the Rede)

circa 1965-66 The Waxing Moon newsletter published by Joseph B. Wilson in USA Joseph Wilson clearly remembers reprinting Valiente's words in The Waxing Moon but he could not give an exact date as sadly his archive had been lost several years ago.

1969 and 1971 Hanz Holzer's The Truth About Witchcraft Mentioned Doreen

Valiente's 1964 Speech and quotes the Rede.
"Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfil, An' it harm none, do what ye will."
(Although this book is now out of print and lost popularity as Wicca became more publicly known, this was the first book to give insight into the various types of modern witches at a time when this information was not widely available, and peaked much interest in the public.)

Circa 1970/71 Alex Sander's lecture on the Book of Shadows "the motto of Wicca: 'An it harm none - do what ye will."(This could have influenced early Alexandrians and possibly others)

1971 Stewart Farrar's What Witches Do The last chapter of the book (excluding the appendices) ends as follows:
"So I end as the Book of Shadows begins:
Eight words the Wiccan rede fulfill:
An it harm none, do what you will."

1973 Doreen Valiente's An ABC of Witchcraft Past and Present "[Witches'] morality can be summed up in one sentence, 'Do what you will, so long as it harms none.'"

1973 Dr. Leo Louis Martello, Witchcraft: The Old Religion "Witch credo 'And ye harm none do what thou wilt'"
(Mentions the "credo" was published in a student newspaper, The Villanovan, in

1972)
1975 Lady Gwen Thompson, Green Egg magazine, Vol. III. No. 69 (Ostara 1975) Last line of her Rede Of The Wiccae:
"26. Eight words ye Wiccan Rede fulfill - An' it harm none, Do what ye will."
(This was the most visible appearance of the Rede to date.)

1978 Doreen Valiente’s Witchcraft for Tomorrow "Eight Words the Wiccan Rede fulfil: An it harm none, do what ye will. This can be expressed in more modern English as follows: Eight words the Witches' Creed fulfil: If it harms none, do what you will."
Longer poem, the Witches' Creed also introduced.
(First book by a well established Witch to print the Rede?)

Chances are Doreen Valiente, who had edited much of Gardner's work, came up with the Rede using Gardner's material. I am doubtful, however, that Gardner actually wrote the Rede himself. Although "harm none" is mentioned several times in the Craft Laws released by Gardner around 1961, the only reason given is that any harm could be blamed on witches and thus encourage further witch hunts.

But when one of our oppressors die, or even be sick, ever is the cry, "This be Witches Malice," and the hunt is up again. And though they slay ten of their people to one of ours, still they care not; they have many thousands, while we are few indeed. So it is Aredan that none shall use the Art in any way to do ill to any, however much they have injured us. And for long we have obeyed this law, "Harm none" and now times many believe we exist not. So it be Aredan that this law shall still continue to help us in our plight. No one, however great an injury or injustice they receive, may use the Art in any to do ill or harm any.

The conection makes no sense and Gerald never had it as they claim.

If there had been a standard ethical stance in the Craft why were there no specifics in the public contents of the Gardnerian Book of Shadows? I doubt it was withheld due to secrecy given that an entire section is dedicated to the importance of working skyclad, a much more risqué topic to make public than a simple ethical statement.

However, the version of the Rede by Adriana Porter - if Thomson's claim is true - would have had to have been written before Porter's death in 1946. Although I could find no mention of it prior to its 1975 debut in Green Egg, that does not discount the possibility that it was in private circulation much earlier and that such a copy had inspired Valiente's 1964 speech.

Sadly, Gardner, Valiente, Porter and Thomson have all passed on leaving these questions largely unanswerable. Despite the fuzzy history of the Wiccan Rede, one thing is certain; as Wicca became more readily available, the Rede took a prominent - and needed - place in Wiccan literature. As more and more solitaries and non-traditionalists began to practice the Craft without formal initiations, the Rede ensured that the essence of Wiccan ethics was fostered and a core belief in a very open and flexible religion was established.

Today much emphasis is placed on the Rede, Karma and the Three-fold law, sometimes to the point of fundamentalism. Perhaps coming from predominantly Christian backgrounds we needed the comforting structure of the moral rules we were used (conditioned?) to, or perhaps our constant battle with the public to reclaim the term "witch" from its negative stereotype forced us to begin to over emphasize our morality in hopes of placating those who would subdue us. Going back to the King Pausole reference in The Meaning of Witchcraft, Gardner stated that witches were inclined to a morality of harm none, not that they were bound to it. Today the Rede is often elevated to the status of law.

HAVE HONOR AND HONOR WILL PROTECT YOU. :) What you put in is what you get out.

Many, Many such things are now lost.

You have to make up your mind.

I hope this history lesson was enjoyied.