question in the wiccan rede

[Bryony]

in the rede, the line -
When misfortune is anow, wear the blue star on your brow.

what is the blue star? what does it mean to wear it on one's brow?

[Mystic Wolf]

There are many different copies of the Rede around. Even more with the Internet now. Do you have a link to the particular one you are citing or is it a reference in a book somewhere?

My version of the Rede is oathbound so I need some reference as to where you are getting yours from.

[Theres]

"An it harm none, do what thou wilt".
that is 'The Wiccan Rede'.
that's all you need. the beauty is in the simplicity. so much said with so few words.
all that other stuff is just poetry, and not very good poetry at that!

[Myst]

Well some people take the entire rede as important and as an important part of their beliefs. Personally I tend to wonder why some only know or care of that specific line. That topic tends to be glossed over and ignored by most authors and websites - they hand you a copy of the rede (whether the short version, the long version, some specific version, just the 8 words, etc.) and say "here follow this", with little to no explanation why you follow that, how, exactly what happens if you don't, why you don't follow the entire rede, etc. To me it's not as easy as "hey just follow these words coz that's the way it is". I think its cool that you're going through line by line to consider what it means to you.

Maybe you'd be best to ask the people who told you to follow that rede what that part means. I'm going to dig around and see if I can find any info.

[Mystic Wolf]

I found a copy that has that verse in it.
http://annex.com/karl/occult/rede.htm


When misfortune is enow,
wear the star upon thy brow


Here is my interpretation of it as well. The brow is the accepted location of the third eye and a chakra point. So it is basically telling you to protect yourself from Misfortune by protecting your third eye. The five pointed star which is the center of our pentacle is a symbol of protection.

You can utilize this to protect you from both psychic and physical dangers by placing it on your third eye. I usually use an oil and visualize a white protective fire when I do my shielding every day. However many groups use "Blue" fire. Do some searching for shielding or psychic shielding.

AS for the entire read:
"An it harm none, do what thou wilt", is the most important part of it. However if you read the entire thing, you will see that it is a lesson on how to worship the Goddess and her Consort. It is the basis of every Book of Shadows that is in existance today. Everything else is simply supporting material.

Anyway, I hope this helps.

[Phoenix Blue]

Quoth Myst:
Well some people take the entire rede as important and as an important part of their beliefs. Personally I tend to wonder why some only know or care of that specific line.

As far as I know, that "specific line" is the Wiccan Rede. The "long version" is known as the Rede of the Wiccae--it is a poem, and the author's name escapes me at the moment, but it's certainly not the same creature.

What's the difference? Well, in my own (non-Wiccan) opinion, one can choose to disregard the "long version" in favor of the "short version," and still be considered Wiccan--there is more to the Rede of the Wiccae than what is essential to the practice, if you will.

[Myst]

Uh again, depends on who you talk to, Phoenix_Blue. I know a lot of people consider the whole poem to be the "full version" of Rede. Then you have some who consider the numbered list the Rede. Then there's different versions too.

This is an interesting site on it - http://www.pagan.drak.net/sheathomas/

[Phoenix Blue]

**Nods**

Having read through the site. . . I dunno. Seems to me the poem and the one-liner have separate histories, and that the former is an indirect derivative of the latter.

Maybe it's just the programmer in me. . . if my program can accomplish the same task in one line of code as it might in twenty-eight, I'm going to write one line. ;) It's cleaner, and it runs faster.

[Myst]

:D

[Bryony]

there are so many interpretations of it.
the eight words i learned as the Rede were : An ye harm none, do what ye will.
Now i see there are differentiations everywhere! *jaw drops* I didn't think on how scattered history becomes/became, or how large a sphere can be stretched to......
I think it might help me if I were to keep this thread open, the differences should give me enough insight to come to my own conclusion.
( to think i am only sixteen, and pondering theology etc., on top of mathematics, language arts, history, science, art, music, and i act in my ...................freetime?) *faints*

[Mystic Wolf]

There are differentiations and variations but the spirit and the meaning is the same. If we wanted to we could narrow it down to two words....



Harm None

[Myst]

Uh I think it's a little more complicated then that. I'm actually waiting for amberlaine to wander in and see this thread and chime in :)

[Magestya]

Just a personal opinion... I think its good that you are reading through the rede for what it truly is. It holds information on each holiday and the 'wiccan' way of life. I personally follow a different path, but have looked into each verse of the rede. Pull what you need from it, its a great learning tool... not to mention very beautiful.

Blessings
Magestya

[Myst]

I agree, Magestya.

I'm all for for learning stuff :D

[Twilight Garden]

Originally posted by Mystic Wolf
I found a copy that has that verse in it.
http://annex.com/karl/occult/rede.htm

Here is my interpretation of it as well. The brow is the accepted location of the third eye and a chakra point. So it is basically telling you to protect yourself from Misfortune by protecting your third eye. The five pointed star which is the center of our pentacle is a symbol of protection.

You can utilize this to protect you from both psychic and physical dangers by placing it on your third eye.That would also be my interpretation. ;) I think it could also means to remain aware. Aware=less vulnerable=protected.

[Phoenix Blue]

Quoth Mystic Wolf:
There are differentiations and variations but the spirit and the meaning is the same. If we wanted to we could narrow it down to two words....

Well, no, I don't really agree with this either. There's a difference between eight words and two; and here's the crux of it:

"Harm none" is Jainist. It means, harm nothing or no one, under any circumstances. "An it harm none, do what ye will," means you may act without consequence when your action will harm no one--the caveat here is that you are not prohibited from causing harm, but you must accept responsibility for any harm that may result from your action.

And everything outside the eight words. . . is gravy. It's educational, and it's beautiful; but I don't see it as critical or central to the Wiccan faith.

[Myst]

snarf.

I'm trying to post the link to amberlaine's article on this and now the site's down *sigh*

[Kismet_Cate]

I'm Bryony's little sister. Really. Sometimes I may prefer not to be, but that's just how it is... LoL
I'd been thinking a lot about the rede lately and I 'd been having rather bad luck, too. So, I said to myself, I'll ask my sister! I asked her about this particular part of the rede, and she didn't know, and wondered about it, too. I asked her about it later, and she said she'd posted it here.
So, here I am, and right about now I'm thinking to myself, "how could one little question open up such a can of worms?" LoL
In a way, you're all right. There are many different interpritations of the rede. Especially the "long version." It is, after all, pretty much gravy! LoL The only thing we really need is "An it harm none, do what ye will." But, still, I take into consideration the "long version." Especially when I'm definatly experiencing "misfortune."
And now that I think of it, the third eye theory really does make the most sense. :) I'll make sure to take all your opinions into consideration.
Thanx Guyz.
b.b.,
Cate

[Bryony]

;) I think that I have reached a semi-conclusion. The blue star is however u would interpret it to be, and Blue- Myst- I have discovered anything can be dragged out, thankyou. :P
The star, third eye, or, as I am starting to think- the soul (the eyes are the windows to the soul). And, my lil sis is standing over my shoulder telling me to hurry it up.

Bye!

[Keron]

From what i read (again, uncertain which source), the blue star does refer to the five-pointed star. In a strange coincidence, there IS a blue star somewhere in the... um was it andromeda galaxy or something? called the witch blue star. Or something like that. argh... i'm so vague i frustrate myself.

[Myst]

Yeah next time we'll just give a simple answer to a complex question rather then discussing it, Bryony. Discussion, bad! Simple answer, good! :lol: :rotfl: :D

[HallsOfAvalon]

Wow! Great topic.


I must agree with the theroy the blue star being the third eye..... but I think it is more like alot of Arabic countries wearing a little thingie on there head.

I never follow anything with blind faith. I must sit and think about everything.... Therefore, I do my best to follow what is thought in the "long" version of the Rede...... But, I always follow "An ye harm none, do as though wilt!"

My reason for this. I believe if your truly harming nothing or anyone. How could you go wrong?

But to what degree does everyone take it. I wont kill even a small ant in my house (if I can avoid it). I take it pretty far. Not quite to the vegen stance, but I wish I was sometimes.

[Bryony]

HEy! i did not mean discussion was bad!
i've seen more views this way, and learned more about how i view other's opinions and my own! THANKYOU all for discussing this. *bows low*
It has been educational, and, fun. :)

;);););););););););););)

[GoddessViviane]

Originally posted by Bryony
( to think i am only sixteen, and pondering theology etc., on top of mathematics, language arts, history, science, art, music, and i act in my ...................freetime?) *faints*

Hey, I totally understand, I to am a teen...and I understand what its like to ponder such deep thoughts. Its not likely for our age group. (most of the teen conversations are about shoes, hair, and boys) *which I have to admit, i do take part in some ;)*
~Cyneburghleah
P.s. But me on ur Buddy List if u want.

[sgail]

in the rede, the line -
When misfortune is anow, wear the blue star on your brow.

what is the blue star? what does it mean to wear it on one's brow?

I'm new here, but my reason for jumping into this was this very question.

In my original teaching, I was told that the "blue star" was representative of the faith itself. Anyone, I was told, can be a Wiccan and live by the rule of Three in good times, and practice the fair and honest life of the faith when things go your way. It takes a bit more when times are hard, or something "misfortunate" happens. That is when your true spirit comes to light. Things are hard, even awful, but at that point the true Wiccan embraces their faith and trusts and prays knowing things will get better. We understand that all things move in cycles, and that we can not always control things around us. Sometimes it's all we can do to survive them and learn from them. In those moments the blue star of faith needs to be in the forefront of our minds, unlike some "faiths" we are all aware of who preach and evangelize to every one they meet until something bad happens, and then chuck it all out the window. These folks talk a mighty good game in good times, but misfortune reveals their faith for what it is.. A show. I was taught that this little unobtrusive line in the Rede speaks volumes to what we should be, in good times and in bad, and should be a major point to us when considering that others knowing of our faith will say..."What are you going to do now? Who's gonna help you now?"

Those of us with a bit of time know the answer to that. In us, the blue star will always shine as brightly in adversity as in good times.
:RuNew: :RuNew:

[Olwenmsmind]

I take that line to mean that in times of misfortune we should alwasy be strong and have faith for better healing times.

[tensen]

For the person that meantioned the start system...
What you are thinking about is:
The Pleidaese, which is a series of 7 stars. (Called the 7 sisters)
If you want to do more research on that particular topic... they are in the sign of the Taurus.

[DebLipp]

The long poem is one person's interpretation of the Rede, and that poem has gotten some distribution.

But here's the thing. Not only is believing in and following the long poem NOT a requirement to be a Wiccan, but following the 8 word Rede is also NOT a requirement.

Just 'cause someone says you have to doesn't mean you do!

[Lumina]

That is very good. I think that I say "An ye harm none, do as ye will" to my self everyday. A blue star on the forehead is probably talking about your third eye. Keep it open, honest, clear, and true.

[Morgandria]

I was taught that the "blue star" spoken of in The Rede of the Wiccae is in fact a seven-pointed star, or maiden-star. This "blue star" is also the symbol used by Blue Star Wicca, which lends credence to the claim, in my mind.

[tensen]

I was taught that the "blue star" spoken of in The Rede of the Wiccae is in fact a seven-pointed star, or maiden-star. This "blue star" is also the symbol used by Blue Star Wicca, which lends credence to the claim, in my mind.


Well yes and no. I means that the originators of the tradition chose to interpret it as so. Not necessarily that it is true. Well, at least I chose to interpret it that they did. I'm not an initiate of that tradition, so I don't know for sure, either.

[Septegram]

Well yes and no. I means that the originators of the tradition chose to interpret it as so. Not necessarily that it is true. Well, at least I chose to interpret it that they did. I'm not an initiate of that tradition, so I don't know for sure, either.

I am an initiate of that Tradition, and isn't that convenient? :) :graduate: . We don't make any claims that our blue star is the one mentioned in the Rede (in fact, I believe my copy of the Rede says "When misfortune is enow/Wear the star upon thy brow.").

There's lots of symbolism in the seven-pointed star, but we know when our Trad started and it ain't ancient {grin}. It doesn't even predate Valiente: it was started in the 1970s.

I have to admit, I'm always amazed when someone makes reference to our Trad, since we're not exactly large or loud, especially compared to something like the Alexandrians or ADF.

[Morgandria]

:D I was fortunate enough to spend Imbolg with a Blue Star coven once. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and wished greatly that I was close enough to the coven to actually study with it - I was very interested in the tradition.

The HP of that particular coven told me about the blue star...that's the only reason I said it.

-M.