Posted by Rev. Shelli Schwengler
September 19, 2009 -
1,086 views
Charge of the Goddess
Listen to the words of the great Mother, she who of old was also called among men Artemis, Astarte, Athene, Dione, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Cybele, Isis and by many other names. At her altars the youth of old made due sacrifice.
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 the Witcheries. There shall ye assemble, ye who are fain to learn all sorcery, yet have not won its deepest secrets; to these will I reveal things that are yet unknown. And ye shall be free from slavery; and as a sign that ye be really free, ye may 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 is also 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 onto the Land of Youth and mine is the cup of the wine 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 aught in 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 desires 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 intimate. 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, and mirth and reverence within you. And know thou who thinkest to seek for me, thy seeking and yearning shall avail thee not unless thou knowest the mystery; that if that which thou seekest thee 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.
