The Charge of the Goddess

The Charge of the Goddess is a piece of text which is generally regarded as being the Goddess's message to her people.  There are many versions of The Charge of the Goddess (the most famous being Doreen Valiente's, upon which the others are based).  

  

There are many uses for the Charge of the Goddess - you could incorporate it into your rituals (said at the beginning in order to 'set the mood') or as a Daily Devotion.  If you find a 'Charge' which really inspires you, you could use it specifically for this purpose, frame it to hang above your altar, embroider it onto your altar cloth, carry a copy in your purse, etc.

  

No one Charge is any more valid than another and you could use any that you wish .... or write your own.  Perhaps you feel that the Goddess would have said something differently, or that this Charge has something missing, then add it!  When I dedicated to my Patron Deities (Hecate and Cernunnos) I wrote a whole new Charge dedicated to each of them (they also interlink and are mentioned in each others).  These new Charges are now the ones that I always use.  Below you will find a one of the many versions of the Charge of the Goddess.

  

The Charge of the Goddess

  

         Listen to the words of the great Mother, who of old was also called among many Aphrodite, Astarte, Athena, Dione, Melusine,Cerridwen, Diana, Arianhod, Isis, Brigit, Hecate, and by many other names: Whenever you have need of anything, once in the month, and better it be when the moon is full, then ye shall assemble in some secret place and speak unto to me, who am Queen of the wise.  There ye shall assemble, ye who are fain to learn all sorcery, yet have not yet won it's deepest secrets: To these will I 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 shall dance, sing, feast make music and love, all in my praise.  For mine is the ecstacy 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 nought stop you or turn you aside.  For Mine is the secret door which opens to the land of youth, and Mine is the cup of the wine of life, and the Cauldron of Cerridwen, which is the grail of Immortality. I am the gracious Goddess, who give the gift of joy unto the hearts 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 the living, and my love is poured upon Our Earth.  

          Hear ye thee 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 desire of the hearts 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 shall return; and before my face, beloved of Gods and man, 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.  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 Me, know thy seeking and yearning shall avail thee not, unless thou knowest the Mystery; that if that which thou seekest thou findest not in thyself, then 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.