The Charge of the Goddess by Doreen Valiente
Listen
to the words of the Great Mother, who was of old also called Artemis;
Astarte; Diana; Melusine; Aphrodite; Cerridwen; Dana; Arianrhod; Isis;
Bride; and by many other names.
Whenever ye have need of anything,
once in a month, and better it be when the Moon be full, then ye shall
assemble in some secret place and adore the spirit of me, who am Queen
of all Witcheries.
There shall ye assemble, ye who are fain to
learn all sorcery, yet have not yet 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 are 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 toward 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. 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; whose body encircleth 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 heart’s desire, call unto
thy soul. Arise and come unto me.
For I am the Soul of Nature, who
giveth life to the universe; from me all things proceed, and unto me
must all things return; and before my face, beloved of gods and mortals,
thine inmost divine self shall be unfolded in the rapture of infinite
joy.
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 thy seeking and yearning shall avail thee not, unless thou
know this mystery: that if that which thou seekest thou findest not
within thee, thou wilt 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.
Today's Head covering.