Assist me to erect the ancient altar,
at which in days past all worshipped;
The great altar of all things.
For in times of old, woman was the altar.
Thus was the altar made and placed,
and the sacred place was the point
within the center of the circle.
As we have of old been taught that the point within the
center is the origin of all things.
Therefore we should adore it;
Therefore whom we adore we also invoke.
O Circle of Stars,
Whereof our Father is but the younger brother,
Marvel beyond imagination, soul of infinite space,
Before whom time is ashamed,
the mind bewildered, and the understanding dark,
Not unto thee may we attain unless thine image be love.
Therefore, by seed and root, and stem and bud,
and leaf and flower and fruit do we invoke thee.
O Queen of Space, O Jewel of Light,
Continuous One of the heavens;
Let it be ever thus
that men speak not of thee as One, but as None;
and let them not speak of thee at all,
since thou art continuous.
For thou art the point within the Circle, which we adore;
the point of life, without which we would not be.
And in this way truly are erected the holy twin pillars,
in beauty and in strength were they erected
to the wonder and glory of all men.
Altar of mysteries manifold,
the sacred circle's secret point
thus do I sign thee as of old
with kisses of my lips anoint.
Open for me the secret way,
the patway of intelligence,
beyond the gates of night and day,
beyond the bounds of time and sense.
behold the mystery aright,
the five true points of fellowship,
here where the Lance and Grail unite
and feet, and knees, and breast, and lip.
- Stewart and Janet Farrar, The Witches' Way
Long ago, a woman's body was used as an altar in religious services, which is what the first verses refer to. The Holy Twin pillars are two different elements; they refer to the Goddess and the God, as well as opposites; the negative and the positive, the feminine and masculine, the receptive and the active.
Wiccan Mysteries, Raven Grimassi
