*~* The Charge of the Goddess *~*
*~* Writings *~*
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Book of Shadows The Charge of the Goddess was written by Doreen Valiente, a friend of Gerald Gardener.

Listen to the words of the Great Mother;
As she who of old was called among humanity
Artemis, Astarte, Athene, Dione,
Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Dana,
Arianrhod, Isis, Brede and by many other names:

Whenever you have need of any thing, once in the month, and better it be when the moon is full, then shall you assemble in some secret place and adore the spirit of me, who am Queen of all witches.
There shall you assemble, you who are fain to learn all sorcery, yet have not won its deepest secrets; to these will I teach things that are yet unknown.
And you shall be free from slavery and as a sign that you be really free, you shall be naked in your rites; and you shall dance, sing, make music and love, all in my praise.
For mine is the extasy 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 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 until the heart of man (kind).
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 you 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 desire of the heart of humankind, call unto your 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 women and men, let your innermost divine self be enfolded in the rapture of the infinite.
Let my celebration be within the heart that rejoices; for behold, all acts of love and pleasure and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence with you.
And you who thinks to seek for me, know your seeking and yearning will not avail you unless you know the mystery; that if that which you seek you find not within you, then you will never find it without you.
For behold, I have been with you from the beginning; and I am that which is attained at the end of desire.

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