The Charge of the Goddess
This poem, which I'm sure
you've seen on every other Pagan page, was crafted by
Doreen Valiente.
Listen to the words
of the Great Mother, who of old was called Artemis, Astarte,
Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Diana, Arienrhod,
Brigid, and by many other names.
Whenever you have
need of anything, once in the month, and better it be
when the moon is full, you shall assemble in some secret place
and
adore the spirit of Me who is Queen of all Witches.
There shall you
assemble, who have not yet won my deepest secrets and
are fain to learn all sorceries. To these shall I teach that
which is yet unknown.
You shall be free from slavery, and as a sign that you be free you shall be naked in your rites.
Sing, feast, dance,
make music and love, all in My presence, for Mine is
the ecstasy of the spirit and Mine also is joy on earth.
For My law is love unto all beings.
Mine is the secret
that opens upon the door of youth, and Mine is
the cup of wine of life that is the Cauldron of Cerridwen that is
the holy grail of immortality.
I am the Gracious Goddess who gives the gift of youth unto the heart of mankind.
I give the
knowledge of the spirit eternal and beyond death I give
peace and freedom and reunion with those that have gone before.
Nor do I demand
aught of sacrifice, for behold, I am the
mother of all things and My love is poured upon the earth.
Hear the words of
the Star Goddess, the dust of whose feet
are the hosts of heaven, whose body encircles the universe:
I who am the beauty
of the green earth and the white
moon among the stars and the mysteries of the waters,
I call upon your
soul to arise and come unto Me. For I am the
soul of nature that gives life to the universe. From Me all
things
proceed and unto Me they must return.
Let My worship be
in the heart that rejoices, for behold -- all acts of
love and pleasure are My rituals. Let there be beauty and
strength,
power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence
within you.
And you who seek to
know Me, know that your seeking and yearning
will avail you not, unless you know the Mystery: for if that
which you seek,
you find not within yourself, you will never find it without.
For behold, I have
been with you from the beginning,
and I am that which is attained at the end of desire.
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site only. © 2003 Kathleen Garber. Unless otherwise stated, the
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contained in this site is mine. That is © 1997 Kathleen Garber.
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