CHARGE OF THE GODDESS

Now listen to the words of the Great Mother, who was of old also called among men Artemis, Astarte, Athene, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Dana, Arianrhod, Isis,

Bride, and by many other names. At her alters, the youth of Lacedaemon in Sparta 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 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 things that are as 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 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 ideal;

strive ever towards it, let naught 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 wine of 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 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 is the dust of whose feet are the hosts of heaven,

whose body encircles the universe. I who am the beauty of the green earth and the white moon upon the mysteries of the waters, I call upon your soul to arise and come unto me.

For I am the soul of nature that gives life to the universe. From me all things proceed and

unto me they return. Let My worship be in the heart that rejoices, for behold,

all acts of love and pleasure are My rituals. Let there be beauty and strength,

power and compassion, honour and humility, mirth and reverence within you. And you

who seek to know me, know that the seeking and yearning will avail you not, unless you

know the Mystery: for if that which you seek.

and find not within yourself, you will never find it without. For behold, I have been with

you from the beginning, and I am that which is attained at the end of desire.