CHARGE OF THE HORNED GOD
Listen to the words of the Horned God, the guardian of all things wild and free, and keeper of the Gates of Death, whose call all must answer:
"I am the fire within our heart...the yearning of your Soul. I am the Hunter of Knowledge and the Seeker of the Holy Quest; I who stand in the darkness of light; I am He whom you have called Death. I the Consort and Mate of Her we adore, call forth to thee."
"Heed My call beloved ones, come unto Me and learn the secrets of death and peace. I am the corn at harvest and the fruit on the trees. I am He who leads you home. Scourge and Flame, Blade and Blood these are Mine and gifts to thee."
"Call unto Me in the forest wild and on hilltop bare and seek Me in the Darkness Bright. I who have been called; Pan, Herne, Cernunnos, and Hades, speak to thee in thy search. Come dance and sing; come live and smile, for behold; this is My worship."
"You are My children and I am thy Father. On swift night wings it is I who lay you at the Mother's feet to be reborn and to return again. Thou who thinks to seek Me, know that I am the untamed wind, the fury of storm and passion in your Soul. Seek Me with pride and humility, but seek Me best with love and strength. For this is My path, and I love not the weak and fearful. Hear my call on long Winter nights and we shall stand together guarding Her Earth as She sleeps."
CHARGE OF THE GODDESS
Listen to the word of the Great Mother, she who of old was also called among men Artemis, Astarte, Athene, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Danu, Arianrhod, Isis, Bride and by many other names.
"Whenever ye have need of me, 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 it's deepest secrets; to these I will teach things that are yet unknown. And ye shall be free from slavery; and as a sign that ye are truly free ye shall be naked in your rites; and ye shall dance, sing, feast, make music and love all in my presence. For mine is the ecstasy of the spirit, and mine is also joy on Earth."
"Keep pure your highest ideal, strive, ever towards it; let naught stop you or turn you aside; for 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 unutterable. Nor do I demand aught in sacrifice, for behold, I am the mother of all living, and my love is poured out upon the Earth. From me all things proceed and to me all things must return."
"Let my worship be in the
heart that rejoiceth; 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 thou who thinkest to seek for me, know thy
seeking and yearning shall avail thee not unless thou knowest this mystery; that
if that which thou seekest thou findest not within thee, 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."
From an Alexandrian Book of Shadows
