Ah, the 3-Fold-Law, aka “The Wiccan Rede.”
Nothing sends an otherwise pleasant discussion among modern witches skidding into a toxic cesspool of indignant self-righteousness like this widely despised “rule” of spellcraft.
It usually goes something like this.
Poor Rita, just read her first book on witchcraft ever. She dares to sit down with her very first coven, and meekly protests when Miranda mentions her plans to curse her ex-boyfriend or whatever.
Rita: But . . .what about the Rule of Three? Won’t it come back to you and something bad will happen to you?
Everyone Else (eyes rolling, in united, haughty, exasperated voices): OMG RITA! Don’t be so judgy! Not everyone believes in the 3-fold-law. Geeeeez!
Well, today, I’m here to defend poor Rita. So sit down, my gentle crones, we need to talk.
Contents
What is the 3-Fold-Law?
The 3-Fold-Law, or the Rule of 3, is a spiritual doctrine. It asserts that any energy you put out into the universe returns to you times 3.
You already know the 3-Fold-Law, of course. Even if you’ve never read a single book about witchcraft in the entirety of your life.
Everyone knows this rule. Because everyone has some version of it in their cultures. Do any of these sound familiar?
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
“What goes around, comes around.”
“Knock it off, Brenda. You wouldn’t like it if your little brother licked your ice cream, would you?”
Wait . . . why would anyone object to this?
This is where it gets sticky.
A lot of people outside the Craft (and I, suspect, even within it, albeit secretly) wonder why the hell anyone would object to a spiritual principle that guides practitioners to be mindful that their actions have consequences?
Well . . . that’s complicated.
People are tired of being confused with Wiccans.
Contrary to popular belief, the 3-Fold-Law is not exclusive to Wicca.
Although many people who object to the 3-Fold-Law seem to be oblivious to this point.
Certainly, however, a number of other occult and new age traditions regard the Law of Three as a tenet of their faith.
Nonetheless, because it’s so closely associated with Wicca, practitioners from other traditions regard them as inextricably entangled and, therefore, want to disassociate themselves from it.
It makes them defensive.
Generally, people tend to trot out the 3-Fold-Law when confronted with a practice, spell, or belief that runs contrary to it.
For example, some people regard cursing as justified in certain circumstances.
(And before you judge them, remember that even the law justifies murder in some circumstances).
So, for example, if someone is stalking your daughter, many spell crafters feel justified in cursing the offender if it serves as a counteraction to this offense—-much as the law might justify you punching someone in the face if they charge at you unprovoked.
Not ideal, and perhaps best avoided, but (as they see it, anyway) sometimes necessary.
Naturally, it’s understandable that a practitioner working under this philosophy of the Craft might feel attacked when the aforementioned Rita naively busts out her 3-Fold-Law rhetoric.
It’s contrary to the laws of classical physics.
To me, this one is the most interesting argument against the 3-Fold-Law—-although I find it somewhat contradictory.
Some people (particularly those with a more rational bent on the Craft) see the 3-Fold-Law as a fundamental contradiction to the laws of physics.
Particularly Newton’s law: “Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.”
Their contention is not that the universe doesn’t respond in kind to negative or positive energy, but that it responds proportionally. In other words, not at a multiple of 3, which would require the creation of energy, violating yet another principle of physics that you may remember from your high school sciences:
“Matter can neither be created nor destroyed.”
Personally, my feeling is that spiritual practices are inherently irrational and there is little value in trying to view them through that lens, but that’s a whole other topic.
Why it’s kind of ridiculous to argue about this.
Look. It’s time to give the Ritas of the world a break.
After all, we don’t give Buddhists or Hindus a bunch of shit when they try to explain their understanding of karma.
Most of us (the ones that are socialized enough to present ourselves to a diverse public outside our own like-minded covens, anyway) recognize that they are simply sharing their perspective.
You can take it, or you can leave it.
If you really feel compelled to (and frankly, I rarely do), you can gently explain that you don’t quite see things that way and maybe, just maybe, take the opportunity to clear up a misconception about the Craft.
But let’s not make Rita feel stupid for simply repeating one version of what might arguably be the single oldest and most universal spiritual tenet in the history of humanity.
Sources & References
Claims Based on Documented Sources
- 3-Fold Law (Rule of 3) as spiritual doctrine: Documented in Wiccan theology and practice
- 3-Fold Law asserting energy returns times three: Documented in Wiccan and contemporary pagan traditions
- Golden Rule (“Do unto others”): Documented across world religions and philosophical traditions
- “What goes around comes around”: Documented in universal cultural wisdom
- 3-Fold Law association with Wicca: Documented in contemporary witchcraft literature
- 3-Fold Law in multiple occult and new age traditions: Documented in various spiritual traditions
- Cursing as justified self-defense in certain circumstances: Documented in contemporary witchcraft discourse and law (self-defense doctrine)
- Newton’s Law of Motion (equal and opposite reaction): Documented in classical physics
- Conservation of energy principle: Documented in classical physics
- Buddhist and Hindu understanding of karma: Documented in Buddhist and Hindu religious traditions
- Mindfulness concepts: Documented in contemplative and spiritual practices
Claims Based on Personal Practice & Experience
- 20+ years observation within modern pagan community regarding 3-Fold Law debate (Lumina Indigo)
- Direct experience with witchcraft community dynamics around this doctrine (Lumina Indigo)
- Personal observation of defensive reactions to 3-Fold Law teachings (Lumina Indigo)
- Understanding of community concerns about Wiccan associations (Lumina Indigo)
- Professional tarot reading and divination experience (Lumina Indigo)
- Professional spell casting review and editorial expertise (Tina Caro)
Recommended Reading
- Wiccan texts on the 3-Fold Law and the Wiccan Rede
- Contemporary witchcraft philosophy and ethics discussions
- Buddhist and Hindu texts on karma
- Comparative religious studies on universal ethical principles
- Works on witchcraft community discourse and debates
About the Author
Written by Lumina Indigo (Moody Moons), founder in 2012, specializing in in-depth research on modern spirituality. With 20+ years of pagan community experience, Lumina is a professional tarot reader and kitchen witch. Reviewed by Tina Caro.
Note
This article presents a perspective defending the 3-Fold Law based on observation of modern pagan community dynamics and philosophical considerations. The author argues that the 3-Fold Law (or Rule of 3) represents one of humanity’s oldest universal spiritual tenets—similar to karma in Buddhism and Hinduism or the Golden Rule across cultures. The piece addresses three common objections: practitioners’ efforts to disassociate from Wiccan traditions, defensive reactions to ethical discussions, and physics-based arguments about energy. The author’s central argument is that respectful discussion of the 3-Fold Law deserves space in the witchcraft community without dismissing practitioners new to the tradition. This article invites dialogue rather than gatekeeping, emphasizing that different practitioners may hold different ethical frameworks. The 3-Fold Law represents one valid approach to magical ethics among many possible perspectives.
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