THE CHARGE OF THE GODDESS
Hear the words of the
Great Mother,
who of old was called
Artemis, Astarte, Dione,
Melusine,
Aphrodite, Cerridwen,
diana,
Arionrhod, Brigid,
and by many other names:
"Whenever you have
need of anything,
once in the month,
and better it be when
the moon is full,
you shall assemble
in some secret place
and adore the spirit
of Me,
who is Queen of all
the Wise.
"You shall be free
from slavery,
and as a sign that
you be free,
you shall be naked
in your rites.
"Sing, feast, dance,
make music and love,
all in My presence,
for Mine is the ecstasy
of the spirit
and Mine also is joy
on earth.
For My law is love
unto all beings.
"Mine is the secret
that opens
upon the door of youth,
and Mine is the cup
of wine of life
that is the Cauldron
of Cerridwen
that is the holy grail
of immortality.
"I give the knowledge
of the spirit eternal
and beyond death,
I give peace and freedom
and reunion
with those that have
gone before.
Nor do I demand aught
of sacrifice,
for behold,
I am the mother of
all things,
and My love is poured
out
upon the earth."
Hear the words of the
Star Goddess,
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
among the stars
and 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 your 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."
