Listen to the words of the Great Mother, who of old was called Artemis, Astarte, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Diana, Arienrhod, 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 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.
(2nd version)
Listen to the words of the Great Mother, who was of old also called among men Artimis: Astarte: Diane: Melusine: Aphrodite: Cerridwen: Dana: Arianrod: Bride: and by many other names.
At mine altars the youth of Lacedemon in Sparta made due sacrifice. Whenever ye have need of anything, once in the month, and better be it when the moon is full, then ye shall assemble in some secret place and adore the spirit of me who am queen of all witcheries.
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 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 idea: Strive ever toward it: Let naught stop you or turn you aside.
For mine is the secret door which opens upon the door 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 encircleth the universe.
I who am the beauty of the green earth: and the white moon amongst 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 giveth life to the universe; from me all things proceed; and unto me all things must return; and before my face, beloved of gods and men, thine inmost divine self shall 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: and therefore let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor 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 know the mystery; that if that which thou seekest thou findest not within thee, 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.
(3rd version)
Listen to the words from the Great Mother, who was of old called amongst men, Isis, Artemis, Astarte, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Diana, Arionrhod, and by many other names.
Whenever you have need of anything, once in the month and better it be when the Moon is full or new, then shall ye assemble in some secret place and adore the spirit of Me, Queen of all Witcheries.
There shall ye assemble, who have not yet won my deepest secrets and are fain to learn all sorceries. To these shall I teach that which is yet unknown.
Ye shall be free from all slavery, and as a sign that you be free, ye shall be naked in your rites.
You shall sing, feast, made music and love, all in my presence, for Mine is the ecstasy of the spirit, and mine is also joy upon earth.
My law is love unto all beings.
Mine is the Secret that opens upon the door of youth, and mine is the cup of the wine of life, the cauldron of Cerridwen, which is the Holy Grail of Immortality.
I am the Gracious Goddess who gives the gift of youth unto the heart of mankind.
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 things 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, whose body encircles the universe.
I am the beauty of the Green Earth, and the White Moon among the stars and the mystery of the Waters.
I 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 return.
Beloved of all the Gods and men, let my worship be in the heart.
Rejoice, 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 you who think to seek me, know that your seeking and yearning will avail you not, unless you know the Mystery, that 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.
I seek the Crown of Wisdom and Understanding That Might and Mercy In balance bring Beauty. Victory and glory Find their foundation In the Kingdom
(4th version,fun)
Charge of the Goddess Caffeina
Listen to the words of the Great Mother, She who of old was called among men Savarin, Nescafe, Folgers Crystals and so many other names...
Whenever ye have need of wakefulness, at least once in the day, and better it be when the sun is rising, then ye shall assemble in your kitchens and adore the essence of Me who am Queen of all Beverages. There ye shall assemble, ye who are fain to gain awakening, yet have not won open eyes, to these I will teach things that are yet unknown. And ye shall be free from coherence; and as a sign that ye be truly free, ye shall be yawning in your rites; and ye shall read the morning paper, make bacon and eggs, and drive to work, all in My praise. For Mine is the ecstasy of the awakened, and Mine also is joy on earth; for My law is sleeplessness unto all beings.
Keep clean your mug; let naught float upon its surface and so turn your stomach. For Mine is the secret door which opens upon the land of coherence, and Mine is the cup of the Elixir of Life, and the Cauldron of Caffeine, which is the Holy Grail of Insomnia. I am the Gracious Goddess, who gives the gift of wakefulness unto the mind of man. Upon awakening, I give the knowledge of the caffeine high eternal, and beyond morning, I give peace, and warmth, and tolerance of those with whom ye must interact. Nor do I demand aught of Saccharin; for Behold! I am the Mother of all Stimulants, and My love is poured out into your mug.
By: SG 1994/Xirene
(5th version)
Listen to the Words of the Great Mother, Who was of old called among men Artemis, Astarte, Diana, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Dana, Arianrhod, Isis, Bride, and by many other Names.
At My Altars the youth of most distant ages gave love, and made due sacrifice. Whenever ye have need of anything, once in the month, and better it be when the Moon is Full, then shall ye gather in some secret place and adore the Spirit of Me, Who am Queen of All Witcheries. There shall ye gather, ye who are fain to learn all Magick, yet have not yet 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 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 toward 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 the Gift of Joy unto the heart of man: on 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 encircleth the Universe.
I, Who am the Beauty of the Green Earth, and the White Moon amongst the Stars, and the Mystery of the Waters, and the Desire of the heart of man, I call unto thy soul: "Arise! And come unto Me!"
For I am the Soul of Nature, Who giveth Life to the Universe: from Me all things proceed, and unto Me all things must return. And before My Face, which is beloved of gods and men, thine innermost Divine Self shall 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. And therefore let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor 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 the Mystery: that if that which thou seekest thou findest not within thee, 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.
(6th version)
Hear my words and know me! I shall be called a million names by all who speak! I am Eternal Maiden! I am Great Mother! I am the Old One who holds the immortal key! I am shrouded in Mystery, but am known to every soul!
Hear my words and know me! Whenever the mon rises in the Heavens shall my children come to me. Better it be once a month when the moon is full, shall ye assemble in some secret place and adore the spirit of I. I, who am the Queen of Witches!
And under my watchful eye, my children shall be taught the mysteries of Earth and Nature, of the ways of Magick! That which is unknown shall be known, and that which is hidden shall be revealed, even the secluded soul shall be pierced with my Light. From my cauldron shall be drunk all knowledge and immortality!
Ye shall be free from slavery and ye shall dance, sing, and feast. Music shall surround you, for mine is the ecstacy of the spirit, and mine is also the joy of the Earth!
I do not demand sacrifice! For behold, I am the Mother of all living things! Create and heal! Be strong, yet gentle. Be noble, yet reverent. Bring forth and replenish.
And, as does the cycle of the Moon ever begin to wax and wane and to grow forth again, as do the seasons from one to the next flow in smooth rhythm, from sowing to reaping, to seeming death and rebirth...so will my children know their own pattern in both worlds!
And ye shall say these words...
I Will love and harm none.
I Will live, love, die and live again.
I Will meet, remember, know,and embrace once more.
For the free will of ALL, And with harm to None
As I will
It now is done. So mote it be!
(7th version)
Charge of the Dark Goddess
The Dark Goddess speaks to us, through the mouths of Lilith, Kali, Tiamet, Hecate, Nyx, the Black Madonna, Nemesis and Morgaine.
I am the Darkness behind and beneath the shadows,
I am the abscence of air that awaits at the bottom of every breathe.
I am the ending before life begins again, the decay that fetilizes the living.
I am the bottomless pit, the never-ending struggle to reclaim that which is denied.
I am the key that unlocks every door.
I am the glory of discovery, for I am that which is hidden, secluded and forbidden.
Come to me at the dark moon and see that which cannot be seen, face the terror that is yours alone.
Swim to me through the blackest oceans, to the center of your greatest fears-
The Dark God and I will keep you safe, scream to us in terror, and yours will be the power to forbear.
Think of me when you fell pleasure, and I will intensify it, until the time when I may have the greatestpleasure of meeting you at the crossroads between the worlds.
(8th version)
Charge of the Crone
I am the Queen of magick and the dark of the Moon, hidden in the deepest night.I am the myster of the Otherwolds and the fear that coils about your heart in the times of you trials.
I am the soul of nature that gives form to the universe; it is I who awaits you at the end of the spiral dance.
Most ancient among gods and mortals, let my worship be within the heart that has truly tasted life, for behold all acts of magick and art are my pleasure and my greatest ritual is love itself. Therefore let there be beauty in your strength, compassion in your wrath, power in your humility, and discipline balanced through mirth and reverence.
You who seek to remove my veil and behold my true face, know that all your uesting and effortsare for nothing, and all your lust and desires shall avail you not at all.
For unless you know my mystery, look wherever you will, it will elude you, for it is within you and nowhere else. For behold, I have ever been with you, from the very beginning,the comforting hand that nurtured you in the dawn of life, and the loving embrace that awaits you at the end of each life, for I am that which is attained at the end of the dance, and I am the womb of new beginnings, as yet unimagined and unknown
(9th version, with southern accent)
PRAISE DAH-ANNA!!!!! Praise GAWDESS! Listen to th' words of the Great Mothah, Ah say th' ONE GREAT MAMA OF THEM ALL, this MOTHAH who was of OLD called amonst men hi-sis, Arty-muss, As-Tarty, Dione Warwick, Melly-sine, Afro-dee-tay, Diana Ross, Aryan-Rod, an' bah many othuh, Ah tell yew, brothahs an' sistahs, MANY othah names! Ah say to yew, Ah tell yew straight from mah evuh-lovin' Pagan heart, whenevuh yew have need of anythin' once in th' month, but better in be when th' Moon is filled up or new, then SHAY-ULL ye assemble in some SECRET place, an' thou SHALT adore me, Queen of All Wicheries.
An' there SHAY-ULL ye assemble, oh mah brothahs an' sistahs of th' Pagan path, ye who ain't yet won mah deepest secrets an' who want to learn awll Man magick tricks, PRAISE DAH-ANNA!!! To these shay-ull Ah teach that which yew ain't discovered yet. Yew SHAY-ULL be free from awll slavery, an' as a SAGHN, a holy SAGHN from th' GAWDESS herself, ye shay-ull be NAKED in your rites, yew shay-ull CAST OFF THOSE clothes which are an ABOMINATION to the GAWDESS, for SHE WHAY-ULL NOT BE MOCKED, an' she SHAY-ULL KNOW whether thou hidest beahnd loincloth or not! She shay-ull KNOW if yew hidest behahnd your Maidenforms or not! Yew SHAY-ULL sing, feast, make music, love, slam-dance in th' mosh pit, an' crank up thy electric guitar to top decibel, for th' Lady thy GAWDESS thus DECREES it, for Ah WANT YEW TO HAVE A GOOD TAHM!!! Yew shay-ull do these thangs AWLL in Mah presence, for MINE is th' ectasy of th' spirit, an' MINE is also JOY upon earth, BLESSED BE!! PRAISE DAH-ANNA!!! (Various cries of "PRAISE DAH-ANNA!" from the audience and a few scattered "So mote it be's" as some audience members, overcome with emotion, fall down and draw down the moon)
Ah SAY to yew, awll ye PAGANS an' WITCHES an' MYSTICTS an' OCCULTISTS an' NEW AGERS an' TRANCE CHANNELERS an' ALIEN ABDUCTEES an' CRYSTAL HEALERS an' HERBALISTS an ELVIS INCARNATORS, mah LAW is LOVE unto awll BEIN'S! (an' that includes those really ugley creepy-crawly six-legged bgu-eyed thingamajigs that crawl out of yer air mattress an' tent when yew pull them out of th' attic every spring!) MINE is th' SECRET that opens up th' evuh-lovin' DOOR OF YOUTH, an' MINE is th' CUP of th' WAHN of LAHF, th' CAULDRON of Carry-dwin, which Ah tell yew is th' HOLY GRAIL OF IMMORTALITY! Ah am th' Gracious Gawdess who hath given th' gift of youth unto th' heart of awll mankind, an' yew won't even have to but that expensive Oil of Olay stuff to attain it! Ah give KNOWLEDE of th' SPIRIT ETERNAL, an' beyond DEATH, ah give peace & freedom & reuniion with those who have gone before, an' Ah do tell yew, in DEATH, Ah shay-ull even give yew a reliable postal service that delivers th' mail on tahm an' supermarkets where yew shay-ull NOT have to stand in LAHN!! Nor do Ah deman aught of sacrifice, for beHOLD, Ah am th'MOTHAH of AWLL BEIN'S, an' mah LOVE is poured out upon th' EARTH!
Ah say, rais UP, awll yew Pagans, an' HEAR ye th' words of th' Star Gawdess. She, in th' DUST of whose feet are th' HOST of HEAVEN, whose body encircles this her Universe!
Ah am th' BEAUTY of th' GREEN EARTH, an' th' WHAHT MOON among th' stars an' the mystery of th' WATERS. Ah CALL unto your soul, brothahs and sistahs of th' Craft! Ah call, Arise an' come UNTO me. For Ah am th' SOUL OF NATURE who give LAHF to this here UNIVERSE, for from me AWLL things proceed an' unto Me awll things RETURN! Let me repeat that once more, brothahs an' sistahs, so there be NO MISTAKE what Ah mean! Yew awll come from th' Gawdess, an' to Me yew shay-ull return!
Beloved of awll th' gawds an' men, le MAH worship be in your heart. Rejoice, Craft brethren, for beHOLD, awll acts of love an' pleasure are mah rituals, which means GO FOTH AN' GET AID!!! Ah don't care HOW yew do it, whethah yew do it with yo' WIFE or WIVES, or yp' HUSBAND or HUSBANDS, or your BOYFRIEND or GIRLFRIENDS, or whethah yew favuh yo' OWN GENDAH or not, Ah DO NOT CARE how yew do it, Ah do not even care if yew do it with yo'eggbeatah or blendah, awll Ah ask is that yew BE RESPONSIBLE an' not hurt anyone in th' process, and don't fuh-get to wrap yo' willie, fo' DO WHAT THOU WILT shay-ull be th' whole of th' law, an' those who DO NOT KEEP MAH LAW shay-ull be REINCARNATED until they get it RAGHT! Therefore, let there be BEAUTY an' STRENGHT--POWER an' COMPASSION--HONAH an' UMILITY--MIRTH an' REV'RUNCE within yew. An' yew who think to seek me, know that your seekin' an' yearnin' will NOT AVAIL YEW, unless yew KNOW TH' MYSTERY, that if THAT WHICH YEW SEEK yew fahnd not with yo'self, yew will NEVAH fahnd it WITHOUT! For beHOLD, Ah have been with yew from th' BEGINNIN', an' Ah am THAT which is attained at th' END OF TH' DESIRE! SO MOTE IT BE!!!!!!
(10th version)
Behold! I am she who is the great Mother, known to all who worship me by names both spoken and unspoken. I am she who brings love, and warmth, and the breath of Life. Breathe deep and be holy.
Bring to me your troubles, your desires. Assemble before where and when you may, better still before the full moon, bringing love, light and a desire to do good, for I am the Mother of All, and shall turn none who has need of me away.
Gaze upon the moon and you gaze upon my face, for I am the Bringer of light, the keeper of justice, the catalyst of the cycles and she who is vengeance. Know me by the face you show me, for as you are to me, I shall be to you.
Strive, for you are vested with the powers of infinite growth.
Be free, for all enslaved need merely look upon me, hold out a hand and be unhindered.
Harm none, for all is your brother, all is your sister. Think, and know the purpose of each creature and plant. Destroy nothing in service to me, Create to honor me!
You who have need of inner peace, find it reflected within.
You who have need of outer strength, find it in my service.
You who have need of healing, if it is needed, it shall come.
You who have need of forgiveness, find it first within and then shall I aid you.
You who has fear, look upon the light of the moon and know you are never alone.
You who have been harmed, look upon me and know that vengeance shall be thrice the harm you have received.
For great and eternal is my love, and greater that for my children who have looked into my face. As I was in the beginning, shall I be in the end, and none of my children need fear death, for when time is come, it is to my bosom you are clasped, that your heart beat with mine, clothed in love.
(11th version)
The Charge of the Moon Goddess
Behold, I am she who shines above, Selene, Luna, Moon. I bring light and love to all who attend. Attend my words, for they are the words of elder and youth, the words formed on the very breath with which the first mother kissed her child. Listen, and be one.
Harm none I have told you, and well you have done in holding by it, but I charge you further to Harm not, not yourself, nor the air, nor that which you can live without harming. Behold, before the all mother all things are equal, and all things have purpose. Know harm, know purpose. Why cut down a tree when you could tread on the grass, why tread on the grass when you could walk on the sand? Why pick the finest apple on the branch when fresh windfall is delivered into your lap?
For I am the mother of all, she who breathes purpose into each creature's mouth as they are born. Behold, I am the breath of life, and I can be the agent of death, for purpose is two sided, and those that destroy in the name of creation shall be punished as they punish. I am She who is the hand of death, and I take from the dying their purpose that they pass within unbound into the realms of shadow. I am the light within Shadow. Respect those that went before but do not try to remake the past. All is a cycle, and we are within the infancy of the great life that is the life of the Wicca. Thousands of years will pass, Wicca will grow and change and falter and stumble, but the last breath is the first breath, and at its darkest moment Wicca will be born anew once more. Grow! I charge you, do not age behind walls against the world, you are the children of the Moon, Shine!
Learn! I charge you, do not sit on what you know in the hopes that it will hatch like an egg. Reap, but sow and reap again. Create!
Love! As I love, without secrets or threats, do what is right, for no love is evil. Do no evil in love, and love all as you love yourself, for we do not harm what we truly love save when harm is unstoppable. Harm none!
Be! Let the shackles fall, you are free and you can do all! As the being grows, so the Will shines! As you learn, so your Will creates, as you love, your Will cannot harm. As you Be, so you Are!
I am you, we are one, your breath carries the same purpose as mine, if hidden to you! Breathe and know that creation is yours! Love all, Know purpose and Harm none, Live life full of wonder, joy, and know that light is always there, even if hidden within the shadows.
Book of Shadows © 2001, Dana (Huntress of the Dark)