The Wiccan Rede
Wiccans follow a basic law called the Wiccan Rede. The idea of the law is that you can do whatever you want, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone - including yourself.
Since the Wiccan Rede is the spine of Wicca, every action you take must adhere to it. The basis of the rule is ethics. Ethics must be taken into consideration in every decision, most especially when it comes to writing and casting spells. Spells must never manipulate someone to make them think or feel a certain way, and they must never cause psychological or physical damage.
A common misconception is that one can cast a love spell at will to cause someone to love you involuntarily. This is a violation of the Wiccan Rede and is, in fact, often considered black magick. It manipulates the will of the individual being targeted. There are intricacies to love magick... you can cast a spell to draw a willing person to you, but you cannot cast a spell to force a specific person to love you.
Since we've been leading up to it, here it is- the Wiccan Rede. Make sure you understand it thoroughly before continuing. It's an essential piece of information to help understand all aspects of The Craft- why we do certain things and not others.
Bide ye Wiccan laws ye must,
in perfect love and perfect trust.
Live ye must and let to live,
fairly take and fairly give.
Form the circle thrice about,
to keep unwelcome spirits out.
To bind the spell well every time,
let the spell be spake in rhyme.
Soft of eye and light of touch,
speak ye little, listen much.
Deosil go by the waxing Moon,
sing and dance the Wiccan rune.
Widdershins go by the waning Moon,
chanting out a baleful 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 thee on the mouth.
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 you'll be.
When the wheel begins to turn,
soon the Beltane fires will burn.
When the wheel has turned to Yule,
light the log the Horned One rules.
Heed ye flower, bush, and tree,
by the Lady blessed be.
Where the rippling waters flow,
cast a stone and the truth you'll know.
When you have a hold and a need,
hearken not to other's greed.
With a fool no season spend,
nor 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 the mistfortune is anow,
wear the star upon thy brow.
True in love you must ever be,
lest thy love be false to thee.
These eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill,
An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will
Comments on the Wiccan Rede borrowed from Spirit Online