The HedgeBeast Rides!

Where, in the Rede, does it say that I have to suffer fools?

I have watched my public site go from somewhere that people found a cosy place to network with each other to the playground of people who can't manage a serious thought between them on time-share. There is someone slapping a new member for using the same (publicly available and free to use and share) avatar as them and in another forum someone slapping another because they don't consider the post worthy, even though the person doing the slapping has been capable of little more than speculating on the colour of people's nightwear. I feel so cross.

I should have expected it really. I have been so busy that I have barely looked in on the forums over the last days and it seems that the moment I look away, someone decides it is time to get too big for their boots. I have written about this before, on someone else's blog. I have had another person who is very knowledgeable but can sometimes get cranky and be unkind - somehow I can forgive that more easily, because I understand the impatience that makes suffering fools such a trial. To see someone, who has contributed little knowledge and less compassion than most, to start being unkind to others, both old and new, makes me cross.

More than anything, I resent being unable to take a short time away from the site, even though work is pressing, without the atmosphere deteriorating to the sorts of bitch-fests and slanging matches that one can find so easily on other Pagan forums. No doubt, someone will pop their head over the parapet and say what a beast I'm being, but without the constant reminder to manners, it's a slippery slope.

No, there is nothing in the Rede about having to put up with this sort of annoyance, just an exhortation to not spend time with fools. Thank you Goddess for reminding me that I needed to re-read this and take it to heart!

The Wiccan Rede

Bide ye the Wiccan laws ye must,
in perfect love in perfect trust
Ye must live and let live,
fairly take and fairly give.
Cast the circle thrice about,
to keep unwelcome spirits out.
To bind the spell well every time,
let the spell be spoken in rhyme.
Soft of eye and light of touch,
speak ye little and listen much.
Deosil go by waxing moon,
chanting out the Wiccan runes.
Widdershins go by waning moon,
chanting out the baneful tune.
When the Lady's moon is new,
kiss the hand to her times two.
When the moon rides at her peak,
then the heart's desire seek.
Heed the North wind's mighty gale:
lock the door and trim the sail.
When the wind comes from the South,
love will kiss the on the mouth.
When the Moor wind blows from the West,
departed spirits have no rest.
When the wind blows from the East,
expect the new and set the feast.
Nine woods in the cauldron go,
burn them quick and burn them slow.
Elder be the Lady's tree,
burn it not or cursed ye'll be.
When the wheel begins to turn,
let the Beltane fires burn.
When the wheel has turned to Yule,
light the log and the Horned One rules.
Heed ye flower, bush and tree, by the Lady, Blessed Be.
Where the rippling waters go,
cast a stone, the truth to know.
When ye have and hold a need,
hearken not to others' greed.
With a fool no seasons spend,
or be counted as his friend.
Merry meet and merry part,
bright the cheeks and warm the heart.
Mind the Threefold Law ye should,
three times bad and three times good.
When misfortune is enow,
wear the blue star on thy brow.
True in love ye must ever be,
lest thy love be false to thee.
These words the Wiccan Rede fulfill:
An ye harm none, do what ye will.