Charge of the Goddess

Original by Doreen Valiente.
There have been many versions of this charge, but the ideals remain the same..

Listen to the words of the Great Mother, who was of old also called Artemis, Astarte, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Ceridwen, Diana, Arionrhod, Brigid, 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 the Witcheries. There shall ye assemble, ye who ar fain to learn all sorcery, yet have not won its deepest secrets; to these will I teach things that are yet unknown. Ane 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 nought 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 Ceridwen 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 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 sacrifice, for behold, I am the Mother of all living, and my love is poured out upon the earth."

"I who am the beauty of the green earth and the white moon among the stars and the mysteries of the waters, and the desire of the heart of man, call upon thy soul, arise and come unto me; for I am the soul of Nature who givith 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 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."