I always loved Catala's version of the Charge of the Goddess, and I am overjoyed to have it in my possession once again.
~ Ravenna Angelline, Web Mistress
The Goddess is the Universal Mother. She is the source of fertility, endless wisdom and loving caresses. As the Wicca know Her, She is often of three aspects: the Maiden, the Mother and the Crone, symbolized in the waxing, full, and waning of the Moon. She is at once the unploughed field, the full harvest and the dormant, frost-covered Earth. She gives birth to abundance. But as life is Her gift, She lends it with the promise of death. This is not darkness and oblivion, but rest from the toils of physical existence. It is human existence between incarnations.
Since the Goddess is nature, all nature, She is both the Temptress and the Crone; the tornado and the fresh spring rain; the cradle and the grave.
But though She is possessed of both natures, the Wicca revere Her as the giver of fertility, love and abundance, though they acknowledge Her darker side as well. We see Her in the Moon, the soundless, ever-moving sea, and in the green growth of the first spring. She is the embodiment of fertility and love.
Many symbols are used in Wicca to honor Her, such as the cauldron, cup, labrys, five-petaled flowers, the mirror, necklace, seashell, pearl, silver, emerald... to name a few. AS She has dominion over the Earth, sea and Moon, Her creatures are varied and numerous. A few include the rabbit, the bear, the owl, the cat, dog, bat, goose, cow, dolphin, lion, horse, wren, scorpion, spider and bee. All are sacred to the Goddess.
The Goddess has been depicted as huntress running with Her hounds; a celestial deity striding across the sky with stardust falling from Her heels; the eternal Mother heavy with child; the weaver of our lives and deaths; a Crone walking by waning moonlight seeking out the weak and forlorn, and as many other beings. But no matter how we envision Her, She is omnipresent, changeless, eternal.
Listen to the words of the Great Goddess, who in ancient times was named Artemis, Diana, Astarte, Ishtar, Aphrodite, Venus, Cerridwen, the Morrigu, Freyja, the White Lady, and by many other names.
"Whenever you have need of My aid, assemble in a secret place at least once a month, especially at the Full Moon. Know that My laws and love shall make you free, for no man can prevent your worship of Me in your mind and heart. Listen well when you come into My presence, and I shall teach you of deep mysteries, ancient and powerful. I require no sacrifices or pain of your bodies, for I am Mother of all things, the Creatress who made you out of My love, and the One who endures through time.
I am the One who is the beauty of the Earth, the green of growing things. I am the White Moon whose light is full among the stars, soft upon the Earth. From Me all things are born, to Me all things, in their season return. Let My joyous worship be in your hearts, for all acts of love and pleasure are My rituals. You see Me in the love of man and woman, the love of parent and child, the love of humans to all My creations. When you create with your hands, I am there. I blow the breath of life into the seeds you plant, whether of plant or child. Always I stand beside you, whispering soft words of wisdom and guidance.
All seekers of the Mysteries must come to Me, for I am the True Source, the Keeper of the Cauldron. All who seek to know Me, know this. All your seeking and yearning will avail you nothing unless you know the Mystery: for if what you seek you find not within, you will never find it without. For behold, I have been with you from the beginning, and I will gather you to My breast at the end of your earthly existence."
Listen to the words of the Great Mother; She who of old was also
called among men Artemis, Astarte, Athena, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Dana,
Arianrhod, Isis, and by many other names:
"Whenever ye have need of anything, once in the month, and better it be
when the Moon is full, then shall ye assemble 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 shall be really free,
ye shall be naked in your rites; and ye shall dance, sing, feast, make music and
love, all in My praise. For Mine is the ecstasy of the spirit, and Mine also is
joy on earth; for My law is love unto all beings.
Keep pure your highest ideal; strive ever towards it; let naught stop you or
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."
Hear ye the words of the Star Goddess; She in the dust of whose feet are the
hosts of heaven, and whose body encircles the universe:
"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 must 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 rejoices; for behold all acts of love
and pleasure are My rituals. And therefore let there be beauty and strength,
power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you.
And thou thinkest to seek for Me, know thy seeking and yearning shall avail thee
not, unless thou knowest the mystery; that if that which thou seekest thou
findest not within thee, then 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."
