Charge of the Goddess

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.