The Charge of the Goddess
Widely attributed to Doreen Valiente, the original source seems to be much older, and can be found in The Gospel of Aradia by Charles Leland.
The Charge of the Goddess (Doreen Valiente)
High Priest: High Priestess: High Priest: High Priestess:
"Listen to the words of the Great Mother; She who of old was also called among men:
Artemis, Astarte, Athena,Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Dana, Arianrhod, Isis, Bride, and by many other names."
"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 is Queen of all Witches. There ye shall assemble,
ye 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 ye shall be free from slavery. And as a sign that ye be truly free, ye shall be naked in your rites.
And ye shall sing, dance, 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 the wine of life, and the Cauldron of Cerridwen, which is the Holy Grail of immortality. I am the
gracious Goddess Who gives joy unto the heart of man. Upon earth, I give 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
aught of 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 host 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 man, call unto thy 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 man, let thine innermost divine self be enfolded in the rapture of the infinite. Let My worship
be within the heart that rejoiceth; for behold, all acts of love and pleasure are My rituals; therefore, let there
be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you. And thou
who thinkest to see Me, know that thy seeking and yearning shall avail thee not unless thou knowest the mystery; that
if that which thou seekest thou findest not within thee, thou wilt never find it without. For behold, I have been
with theefFrom the beginning, and I am that which is attained at the end of desire."