FOREST FLOOR

The 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 manyother names.
At her altars, the youth of Lacedaemon in Sparta made due sacrifice.
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 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 in 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 must 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,
honor 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,
you 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.

The Wiccan Rede

Bide within the Law, you must, in perfect Love and perfect Trust.
Live you must and let to live, fairly take and fairly give.

For treat the Circle thrice about to keep unwelcome spirits out.
To bind the spell well every time, let the spell be said in rhyme.

Light of eye and soft of touch, speak you little, listen much.
Honor the Old Ones in deed and name,
let love and light be our guides again.

Deosil go by the waxing moon, chanting out the joyful tune.
Widdershins go when the moon doth wane,
and the werewolf howls by the dread wolfsbane.

When the Lady’s moon is new, kiss the hand to Her times two.
When the moon rides at her peak then your heart’s desire seek.

Heed the North winds mighty gale, lock the door and trim the sail.
When the Wind blows from the East, expect the new and prepare a Feast.

When the wind comes from the South, love Will kiss you on the mouth.
When the wind whispers from the West, all hearts will find peace and rest.

Nine woods in the Cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow.
Birch in the fire goes to represent what the Lady knows.

Oak in the forest towers with might, in the light it brings the God’s
insight. Rowan is a tree of power causing life and magick to flower.

Willows at the waterside stand ready to help us to the Summerland.
Hawthorn is burned to purify and to draw faerie to your eye.

Hazel - the tree of wisdom and learning adds its strength to the bright fire burning.
White are the flowers of the Apple tree that brings us fruits of fertility.

Grapes grow upon the vine, giving us both joy and wine.
Fir does mark the evergreen to represent immortality seen.

Elder is the Lady’s tree burn it not or cursed you’ll be.
Four times the Major Sabbats mark in the light and in the dark.

When the wheel begins to turn
Let the Beltane fires burn
When the wheel has turned to Yule
Light the log the horned one rules
Heed ye flower, bush and tree
By the Lady, blessed be.
Where the rippling waters go,
Cast a stone and truth you’ll know
When ye have a true need
Hearken not to other’s greed.
With a fool no season spend
Lest ye be counted as his friend
Merry Meet and Merry Part,
Bright the cheeks and warm the heart
Mind the threefold law ye should
Three times bad and three times good
When misfortune is enow
Wear the blue star on thy brow
True in love ever be
Lest thy love be false to thee

Eight words the Wiccan Rede Fulfil
An Ye Harm None, Do as Ye Will

The Earth’s Cycle of Celebration

The Celts celebrated the earth’s cycle flow by dividing the year into eight, thus eight festivals to honour the earth mother.

Not only is there the seasonal change, beneath this is the change in the subtle energies of the earth. These energies affect us all. Therefore, by understanding the flow and direction of that energy we can move with and in harmony with it.

The eightfold subdivision of the year is represented by the solstices the 2 exact points in the year when the days are longest and shortest; the equinoxes when the day and night is of equal length - these are the 1/4 points. These are then crossed again by what are known as the cross quarters, which are the 4 great fire festivals of the earth’s celebration. These fall at the peak of the season and are used to celebrate and participate with the power of nature.

THE SOLSTICES
Solstice means “The standing of the sun”. They represent a pause. A chance to take stock of everything and decide where we want to go. The earth will move in a different cycle from this point. When the light is increasing from Winter to Summer Solstice all individuals are finding and expressing their true identities. When the light is decreasing nature and life are integrating itself into a more social way of life.

THE EQUINOXES
These are times of change and transformation. A time to release the past and move forwards. These give you a chance to see the direction in which you are going and thereby be clear about the way you are going to use this energy.


CROSS QUARTER FESTIVALS - THE FIRE FESTIVALS
The Celtic names for these festivals are Imbolc, Beltane, Lammas and Samhain. These are used to celebrate and participate in the power of nature. This is the right time to enhance and use the developing energy about manifestation through the power of all deepest wishes and positive intent. Their application during the year is of deepest and significant importance to us. These cross quarters lie in the middle of the 4 fixed signs, Aquarius, Taurus, Leo and Scorpio.

All this represents participation in an on-going cyclic process. Take the time to experience and consciously become connected to the earth’s energy.

Have an opening ceremony to welcome the nature spirits, deities, guardians, guides, angels and all unseen forces and forms. Always then have a closing ceremony to thank them for their presence.

13 Steps to Inner Control

author unknown

1. I honor the energy of *birch*, for a new beginning. I am able to change myself as I will to do. So mote it be!

2. I honor the energy of *rowan* for protection against evil enchantment. I will not hobble myself with the chains of past failures. So mote it be!

3. I honor the energy of *alder*, for the protection of my inner oracle. I will listen to the voice of the Goddess Within. So mote it be!

4. I honor the energy of *willow*, for the lunar rhythms within me as a woman. I will recognize and heed my own body's cycles. So mote it be!

5. I honor the energy of *ash*, the magician's staff. I will recognize that "as above, so below," I play a part in the larger scheme of things. I will link my inner and outer worlds. So mote it be!

6. I honor the energy of *hawthorn* for cleansing and restraint. I will choose what I place within my body, and empty myself of all that violates my personal well-being. So mote it be!

7. I honor the energy of *oak*, the doorway to the mysteries. I will call upon the strength of the Horned One when I feel in need of protection. So mote it be!

8. I honor the energy of *holly*, spear of the warrior. I will not remain passive and victimized, but will choose to fight for my own freedom. So mote it be!

9. I honor the energy of *hazel*, the tree of wisdom. I will heed my own inner intuitions, and will be wise and informed in my choices. So mote it be!

10. I honor the energy of *vine*, the tree of conviviality and celebration. I will love myself and will celebrate life, not seeing the choices I make as deprivations but gifts. So mote it be!

11. I honor the energy of *ivy*, the spiral to center. I will do all that I do because of my own inner desires. I will listen to myself, and will remain balanced and centered while I do this work. So mote it be!

12. I honor the energy of *reed*, the tool of the hunt. I will take direct action when necessary to protect myself, including the "killing" of old patterns, friendships and associations which harm me. So mote it be!

13. I honor the energy of *elder* which sees the end from the beginning. Throughout many lifetimes I have been here. I have the knowledge that I have changed myself again and again. I will start from where I am now, and continue to persist in my path. I will succeed. So mote it be!

As you see, the pagan focus is not to surrender responsibility for oneself to a higher power, but to take responsibility and make choices appropriate to a Goddess (that's YOU...) Feel free to change this as you wish.

THE PROCLAMATION OF BRIGIT

I am Brigit,
Holy Lady of Lingering Light,
shod with sandals of the Sun,
warming the frozen earth beneath
as heralding Maiden of melting snow.

I wait impatiently to sprinkle
flowering garlands
upon the landscapes of Winter's sleep,
draping naked trees
in mantles of glistening green!

But the time has not yet come,
for My brightness is still in the distance
beyond the frigid winds
and final frosts
of the Ancient Crone's departure.

The hour of My reign approaches,
but for now,
let this radiant candle
be to thee a sign of hope;
a symbol of assurance
that I shall come,
and the Gatekeeperes of the Seasons
shall not deny Me entrance!

Come now, ye wise women,
and be warmed
by the glowing gift of My intuitive knowledge!

Come now, ye wordsmiths,
and be ignited
by the sparks of My inscriptions
upon Thy heart!

Come now, ye weldcrafters,
and be aflame
from the fanning bellows of My creative forge!

Draw near unto Me,
ye who seek
for dawn beyond the dark,
and light thy candles
from the eternal fire of Kildare,
sharing in My spirit
as Keepers of Light,
My Children of the Flame!

+ + +

Hail O Queen of Waxing Light,
Whose sacred flame forewarns the night
of shortening shadows
and seed-stirring earth;
Herald Divine of Life's rebirth!

The Ten Commandments of Mother Earth

I. Thou shalt love and honour the Earth for it blesses thy life and governs thy survival.
II. Thou shalt keep each day sacred to the Earth and celebrate the turning of its seasons.
III. Thou shalt not hold thyself above other living things nor drive them to extinction.
IV. Thou shalt give thanks for thy food, to the creatures and plants that nourish thee.
V. Thou shalt educate thy offspring for multitudes of people are a blessing unto the Earth when we live in harmony.
VI. Thou shall not kill, nor waste Earth's riches upon weapons of war.
VII. Thou shalt not pursue profit at the Earth's expense but strive to restore its damaged majesty.
VIII. Thou shalt not hide from thyself or others the consequences of thy actions upon the Earth.
IX. Thou shalt not steal from future generations by impoverishing or poisoning the Earth.
X. Thou shalt consume material goods in moderation so all may share the Earth's bounty.

The Precepts of Merlin

First: Labour diligently to acquire knowledge, for it is power.
Second: When in authority, decide reasonably, for thine authority may cease.
Third: Bear with fortitude the ills of life, remembering that no mortal sorrow is perpetual.
Fourth: Love virtue for it bringeth peace.
Fifth: Abhor vice for it bringeth evil upon all.
Sixth: Obey those in authority in all just things, that virtue may be exalted.
Seventh: Cultivate the social virtues, so shalt thou be beloved by all men.

Links to My Favourate sites

Rowan Oak

Cheryl Turtlemoon

New Millennium Flower Essences

The realm of the MOON

On the Wings of a Dragonfly

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