The Charge of the Goddess

 

 

Whenever ye have need of any thing, 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 She, who is 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

She teach things that are yet unknown. And ye shall be free from

slavery; and as a sign that ye be really free, ye shall be naked

in your rites; and ye shall dance, sing, feast, make music and

love, all in Her praise. For Hers is the ecstasy of the spirit,

and Hers also is joy on earth; for Her law is love unto all

beings. Keep pure your highest ideal; strive ever towards it; let

naught stop you or turn you aside. For Hers is the secret door

which opens upon the land of youth and Hers is the cup of wine of

life, and the cauldron of Cerridwen, which is the Holy Grail of

immortality. She is the gracious goddess, who gives the gift of

joy unto the heart of man. Upon earth, She gave the knowledge of

the spirit eternal; and beyond death, She gives peace and

freedom, and reunion with those who have gone before. Nor does

She demand sacrifice, for behold, She is the mother of all

living, and Her love is poured out upon the earth.

 

She who is 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, calls unto thy soul. Arise, and come unto Her.

For She is the soul of nature, who gives life to the universe.

from Her all things proceed, and unto Her all things must return;

and before Her face, beloved of gods and men, let thine innermost

divine self be enfolded in the rapture of the infinite. Let Her

worship be within the heart that rejoiceth; for behold, all acts

of love and pleasure are Her rituals. And therefore let there be

beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility,

mirth and reverence within you. And thou who thinkest to seek

Her, know thy seeking and yearning shall avail thee not unless

thou knowest the mystery; that if that which thou seekest thou

findest not within thee, then thou wilt never find it without

thee. For behold, She has been with thee from the beginning; and

She is that which is attained at the end of desire.