Rule of Three (Wiccan)

The Rule of Three (also threefold law or law of return) is a tenet of the Neopagan religion of Wicca. It claims that whatever energy a person puts out into the world, be it positive or negative, will be returned to that person three times. [http://199.236.86.124/ethics/3fl-1.shtml John J. Coughlin] states that " . . . there is a literal reward or punishment tied to one's actions, particularly when it comes to working magic," and that "there are many Wiccans, experienced and new alike, who view the Law of Return as an over-elaboration on the Wiccan Rede." The Rule of Three has been compared by [http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usca&c=words&id=3801 Karl Lembke] to other ethics of reciprocity, such as the concept of karma in Dharmic religions and the Christian edict, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" ( The first published reference to the Rule of Three as a general ethical principle may be from Raymond Buckland, in a 1968 article for "Beyond" magazine. [cite journal|last=Buckland|first=Raymond|authorlink=Raymond Buckland|year=1968|month=October|title=I Live With a Witch|journal=Beyond" magazine"]

Belief in the Rule of Three is not universal among Wiccans, some of whom believe that it is a modern innovation based on Christian morality. [Spiro, Guy (September 2001). [http://www.lightworks.com/monthlyAspectarian/2001/September/conversation2.htm "A Conversation With Phyllis Curott"] , "The Monthly Aspectarian".] [Lembke, Karl (2002), [http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usca&c=words&id=3801 "The Threefold Law"] . Retrieved 8 December 2006.]

The Rule of Three appears in an expanded form as a poem of 26 couplets titled "Rede of the Wiccae", published by Gwen Thompson in 1975 in "Green Egg" vol. 8, no. 69 [ [http://wicca.timerift.net/laws/credo.shtml The Rede of the Wiccae] . Retrieved 8 December 2006.] and attributed to her grandmother Adriana Porter. [Theitic (2001). [http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usri&c=trads&id=9085 The New England Covens of Traditionalist Witches] . At The Witches' Voice. Retrieved 2008-04-07.] [ [http://www.nectw.org/ladygwynne.html Lady Gwynne] , the New England Covens of Traditionalist Witches website. Retrieved 2008-04-07.]

Notes

External links

*Wren (200), [http://www.witchvox.com/basics/three.html "The Law of Three"] . Retrieved 8 December 2006.
*Coughlin, John J. (2001) [http://www.waningmoon.com/ethics/3fl.shtml "The Three-Fold Law"] : Part of "The Evolution of Pagan Ethics". Retrieved 8 December 2006.