Charge of the Goddess

Great Goddess, I call upon you by all your names, known and unknown. Be here within this sacred circle that I might feel your power and love. Hear my words, all you creatures of this world. The Goddess is the Great Mother of all! I am never alone or abandoned. She hears every secret longing of my heart, sees every step I take along my life's path. She is everywhere, in everything. Nothing and no one exist without her.
    The Goddess is the beauty of this earth and everything upon it. She reflects herself in the glowing moon, the brilliant sun, and every star in the heavens. Nothing is born without her plan and power, and all things return to her at the end of their life cycle. Although the Goddess is the gatherer Crone, she is also the Maiden of desire. All acts of love and joy and pleasure are rituals in her eyes.

    I cast my circle at each full moon in accordance with her ancient worship that I may honor her and ask for what I need. I follow her words that say I must value my freedom and strive for the highest of ideals, without being hindered or turned aside. For if I do not learn to value myself, others may lead me into slavery.

    The Goddess is the gateway to the ancient Inner Mysteries. Her secret teachings lead me through the spiritual labyrinth to the Sacred Center. All who seek her must understand her ancient words. "All your seeking and yearning will avail you nothing, unless you know the Mystery: For if what you seek you find not within, you will never find without." For behold, the Goddess has been with us from the beginning, and she will gather us to her breast at the end of all things.

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 many other 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.

2nd Version