The Wiccan Rede is a moral code followed by practitioners of Wicca, a modern pagan witchcraft tradition. The Rede consists of a simple phrase: "An it harm none, do what ye will." This can be interpreted as "If it does not harm others, you are free to do as you wish." The Rede serves as a guiding principle for Wiccans, emphasizing the importance of considering the consequences of one's actions and promoting ethical behavior. The Wiccan Rede teachings encourage Wiccans to lead a life that is in harmony with nature and respectful of all living beings. It emphasizes the value of personal freedom while emphasizing the need to act responsibly and ethically.
“A spooky romantic comedy treat that had me sighing at one page, laughing out loud at the next. The Ex Hex is the perfect book for fall.” — New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey
When their professional competition leads to a very personal and very hot kiss, both Wells and Gwyn are determined to stay away from each other, convinced the kiss was just a magical fluke. She, her mom, and her cousin have formed a new and powerful coven; she s running a successful witchcraft shop, Something Wicked; and she s started mentoring some of the younger witches in town.
It emphasizes the value of personal freedom while emphasizing the need to act responsibly and ethically. The Rede teaches practitioners to carefully consider the potential harm that may come from their actions, whether through direct harm to others or through negative consequences for themselves and the natural world. In alignment with the Rede, Wiccans strive to live in harmony with the cycles of nature and the earth.
The Kiss Curse
I adore all kinds of witchy series, especially when they’re fun romances. So it was pretty natural that I loved The Ex Hex last year and was stoked to find out it was going to be the first in a series. All of that to say The Kiss Curse was on of my Most Anticipated releases for Fall 2022.
The Ex hex review
The Kiss Curse follows firecracker Gwyn, who is Vivi’s cousin. Now that Vivi and Rhys have solved the accidental curse put on Rhys and the Jones women’s magic now runs the town, Vivi and Rhys are off on a long overdue honeymoon. This leave Gwyn to care for the town, the store, and to deal with Rhys’ brother Wells, who has decided to make Graves Glen his new home. When he decides to open a shop up across the street from Something Wicked, a competition between the two begins. As Wells and Gwyn work to outdo each other, they’re attraction to each other becomes harder and harder to ignore, leaving both of them wondering if this relationship could be long term. At the same time Gwyn’s old college friend arrives in town, and Gwyn’s power goes on the frits. Is something or someone trying to take control of the Graves Glen again?
As I mentioned, I really enjoyed The Ex Hex. I thought it was a run light read and while the romance was more of a focus than the actual plot, I still though it had plenty of legs to stand on. The Kiss Curse was purely just a romance story, with little to no plot. All of a sudden I realized I was more than 3/4th of the way through the story, and the actual ‘mystery plot’ had been referenced twice. In total Gwyn mentions her missing powers 3 times by the time we get to 90%, maybe even 95% of the way through the story. It was a total side story. I mean there was zero development there and even when it did appear I was like ‘that’s it? what were they even trying to accomplish?’.
Shocking to no one, Wells and Gwyn to get together but even that just seemed to happen. The buildup and chemistry was low and while I really like both characters, they felt almost thrown together and there romance while cute is one I’ll probably forget fairly quickly. At least with Viv and Rhys, there was tension before they become a couple.
In terms of atmosphere this one fell flat for me as well. I thought the first one did a good job of providing the fall witchy vibes, and was really hoping for that in this book. Unfortunately this one lacks any sort of atmosphere and the Graves Glen fall events that should have been more central to the story, were barely skimmed.
I really wanted to like this book but I’m super disappointed to say the least, especially since I really liked Gwyns character in the first book. I might read a third book, but I’ll have much lower expectations for it if one does come out. If you want something to get you in the mood for spooky season, I’d recommend finding something different.
The Kiss Curse comes out September 20, 2022! Huge thank you to Avon Boosk for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my instagram @speakingof_books.
I adore all kinds of witchy series, especially when they’re fun romances. So it was pretty natural that I loved The Ex Hex last year and was stoked to find out it was going to be the first in a series. All of that to say The Kiss Curse was on of my Most Anticipated releases for Fall 2022.
They recognize the interconnectedness of all things and aim to approach their interactions with others and the natural world with love, compassion, and respect. This includes considering the well-being of animals, plants, and the environment as a whole. The Wiccan Rede also teaches the importance of personal responsibility. Wiccans are encouraged to take ownership of their actions and their impact on others. This includes acknowledging and learning from mistakes, making amends when necessary, and striving to continually grow and improve as individuals. It is important to note that the Wiccan Rede is not a set of strict rules, but rather a guideline for ethical decision-making. Each individual Wiccan has the freedom to interpret and apply the Rede in their own way, based on their own understanding and beliefs. Some may choose to focus on the literal meaning of "an it harm none" while others may interpret it more broadly to include environmental and social harm as well. In conclusion, the teachings of the Wiccan Rede emphasize the importance of ethical behavior, personal responsibility, and living in harmony with the natural world. By following the Rede, Wiccans strive to create a positive and harmonious existence for themselves, others, and the environment in which they live..
Reviews for "The Wiccan Rede and Ritual Craft: Creating Sacred Spaces"
1. John - 1 star - I did not resonate with the Wiccan rede teachings at all. The idea of "harm none" sounded great in theory, but in practice, it just felt too restrictive and impractical. Life is full of gray areas, and this teaching doesn't seem to account for that. Plus, it often led to a lot of guilt and self-doubt whenever I inadvertently caused harm to someone or something. Overall, I found these teachings to be too idealistic and unrealistic for my taste.
2. Emily - 2 stars - While I appreciate the intention behind the Wiccan rede teachings, I found them to be limiting and naïve. The "threefold law" of three times whatever you send out returns to you may sound like a great karma system, but it's not exactly how the world works. Sometimes, you have to do things that may cause harm in the short term for the greater good. This teaching doesn't allow for any flexibility or nuance, and it made me question the validity of the entire Wiccan belief system.
3. Benjamin - 2 stars - The Wiccan rede teachings didn't resonate with me because they seem to prioritize the avoidance of harm above all else. While I understand the importance of acting with kindness and compassion, I believe there are situations where causing harm is inevitable or even necessary. This teaching limits personal growth and development by discouraging individuals from taking risks or making tough decisions that may cause temporary harm but lead to greater benefits in the long run. I believe in a more balanced approach that takes into account the complexities of life.
4. Samantha - 1.5 stars - I found the Wiccan rede teachings to be overly simplistic and lacking in depth. Its black-and-white approach to morality and harm reduction fails to recognize the complexities of human nature and the world we live in. Life is not so straightforward, and sometimes, difficult choices must be made that may involve causing harm. This teaching left me feeling constrained and unable to fully explore my own beliefs and values. Overall, it didn't provide the guidance or philosophical framework I was seeking.