/The Charge of the Goddess…
The Charge of the Goddess was written by Doreen Valiente, a pioneer of the British Witchcraft movement of the 1950’s. It is a beautiful piece of poetry that originated in the Gardnerian Book of Shadows, and has since become a cornerstone of what it means to be a Witch, to revere the feminine side of divinity, and to recognize onself as part of the divine.
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 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.