The Rule of Three, also known as the Threefold Rule or Law of Return is a concept in Wicca which states that whatever energy one puts out into the universe, will be returned to them times three. Contrary to popular belief, this “rule” is not practiced by all Pagans.

The Rule of Three is almost exclusively used by followers of Wicca. However, not all Wiccans believe in it. In the last few years there have been an increasing number of Wiccans turning their back on this “law,” believing that it doesn’t make scientific or metaphysical sense.

You will find that the majority of Wiccans do follow the Rule of Three, as well as the Wiccan Rede. The idea is that whatever energy you send out through action or especially through magick, will return even greater. So, if you cast a positive spell, three times as much good will come to you. On the other hand, if you cast a malicious spell, then three times as much suffering will befall you. While many Wiccans see this as an absolute truth, there are some, as I mentioned, who don’t believe it, and see it only as a cautionary tale to keep people from using “dark” magick without truly thinking about the consequences first.

Overall, most Pagans do believe in some rule regarding the movement of energy, but it can vary from an equal return, to an opposite return, to as much as a tenfold return. It depends entirely on the particular tradition.

*Disclaimer: I no longer practice Paganism, but I’ve left these Pagan Myths articles active because I believe they’re still valuable in helping people to understand Paganism and reduce negative stereotypes.*

Briana Blair

Briana Blair is an author and artisan. She has published more then 30 books and thousands of articles across multiple sites. After practicing Paganism and witchcraft for 25 years, she's now on a journey as an atheist and skeptic. She's eclectic, unpredictable, and always evolving. Facebook - Twitter