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The Charge of the Goddess
by: Stewart Farrar
Whenever you have need of
anything, once in the month and better it be when the moon is full, then
shall you 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
all things that are as yet unknown. And ye shall be free from slavery;
and as a sign that ye be truly free, you 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 ideals; strive ever
towards them, let nothing 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 Vessel 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 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
rejoiceth; for behold, all acts of love and pleasure are my rituals.
Therefore, let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor
and humility, mirth and reverence within you. And thou who thinketh to
seek for me, know thy seeking and yearning shall avail thee not unless
thou knoweth the mystery; that if that which 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.
Keep strong and stay true to your
spirit. Always and forever.
David River |
