The Charge of the Goddess

By Doreen Valiente

Whenever ye have need of anything, once in the month, and better it be when the moon is full, then shall ye gather in some secret place and adore the spirit of me, who am queen of all witches. There shall ye assemble, ye who are fain to learn all sorcery, yet have not won its deepest secrets, to these will I teach things that are yet unknown. And ye shall be free from slavery; and as a sign that ye be truly free, ye shall be naked in your rites; and ye shall dance, feast, sing, make music and love, all in my praise. For mine is the ecstacy of the spirit, and mine also is joy on Earth, for my law is love unto all things.

Keep pure your highest ideal; strive ever towards it; let naught stop you nor turn you aside. For mine is the secret door which opens upon the Land of Youth, and mine is the cup of the Wine of life and the cauldron of Cerridwen, which is the holy grail of immortality. I am the gracious Goddess who gives the gift of joy unto the heart of man. Upon Earth, I give the knowledge of the spirit eternal; and beyond death, I give peace and freedom and reunion with those who have gone before. Nor do I demand sacrifice; for behold, I am the mother of all living, and my love is poured out upon the Earth.

I who am the beauty of the green Earth, and the white Moon among the stars, and the mystery of the waters, and the desire of the heart of man call unto thy soul. Arise, and come unto me; for I am the soul of nature who gives life to the universe. From me all things proceed, and unto me all things mut return, and before my face beloved of Gods and of men, let thine innermost divine self be enfolded in the rapture of the infinite. Let my worship be within the heart that rejoiceth; for behold, all acts of love and pleasure are my rituals. And, therefore, let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honour and humility, mirth and reverence within you.

And thou who thinkest to seek for me, know that thy seeking and yearning shall avail thee not unless thou knowest the mystery: that if that which thou seekest thou findest not within thee, thou shalt never find it without thee. For behold, I have been with thee from the beginning and I am that which is attained at the end of desire.

 

(c) Diana's Bow Designs 2003