Damiana's Wiccan Grove - Important Literature

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The Rede of the Wiccae	Charge of the Goddess	Charge of the God
Before Time Was	Song of the Goddess	The Witches Creed
Witches Creed of Chivalry

The Rede of the Wiccae

Bide ye wiccan laws you must, in perfect love and perfect trust.
Live ye must and let to live, fairly take and fairly give.

Form the circle thrice about to keep unwelcome spirits out.
To bind your spell will every time, let the spell be spake in rhyme.
Soft of eye and light of touch, speak ye little, listen much.
Deosil go by the waxing moon, chanting out ye baleful tune.
When ye Lady's moon is new, kiss your hand to her times two.
When ye moon rides at her peak, then your heart's desire seek.
Heed the north winds mighty gale, lock the door and trim the sail
When the wind blows from the south, love will kiss thee on the mouth.
When the wind blows from the east, expect the new and set the feast.
When the wind blows from the west, Bardic words be at their best!
Nine woods in the cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow.
Elder be ye Lady's tree, burn it not or cursed ye'll be.
When the wheel begins to turn, soon ye Beltane fires will burn.
When the wheel hath turned to Yule, light the log the Horned One rules.
Heed ye flower, bush and tree, by the Lady blessed be.
Where the rippling waters go, cast a stone the truth ye'll know.
When ye have and hold a need, harken not to others greed.
With a fool no season spend, or be counted as his friend.
Merry meet and merry part,bright the cheeks and warm the heart
Mind ye threefold law ye should, three times bad and three times good.
When misfortune is enow, wear the star upon thy brow.
True in love ye ever be, lest thy love be false to thee.
Bide ye wiccan laws you must, in perfect love and perfect trust.
These eight words the rede fulfill; An it harm none, do what ye will.

There are many different writings on the Wiccan Rede but this is just my favorite one.

Let's go back to the central idea of the rede where it says "An it Harm None, Do what ye will". Notice how it doesn't have "Do what ye will" at first. This means that we must take into consideration about what we are doing and make sure it hurts absolutely nothing in any way whatsoever. After you have thought through what you are doing and you're sure it harms none, then I believe you may go on with what you set out to do.

It is very important that we harm none, for remember, whatever we do comes back to us three-fold or three times (or 10, or 20, etc) stronger than what we put out. Whatever energy you send out in the universe is sure to come back as karma, be it good or bad, in this incarnation or the next.

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The Charge of the Goddess

Hear ye the words of the Star Goddess; she in the dust of
whose feet are the hosts of heaven, and whose body encircles
the universe: "I who am the beauty of the green earth, the white
moon among the stars, and the mystery of the waters call unto thy soul; Arise, and come unto me.

I am the soul of nature who gives life to the universe. From Me all things proceed, and unto Me all things must return. Before My face, beloved of gods and of men, let thine innermost divineself be enfolded in the rapture of the infinite.

Let My worship be within the heart that rejoices, 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.

To thou who thinkest to seek Me, know that thy seeking and yearning shall avail thee not unless thou knowest the Mystery. If that which thou seekest thou findest not within thee, thou wilt never find it without.

For behold, I have been with thee from the beginning; and I am
that which is attained at the end of desire."

- from Doreen Valiente's "Charge of the Goddess"

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The Charge of the God

I am the radiant King of the Heavens, flooding the Earth with
warmth and encouraging the hidden seed of creation to burst
forth into manifestation. I lift my shining spear to light the lives of
all beings and daily pour forth my golden rays upon the Earth,
putting to flight the powers of darkness.

I am the spirit of all beasts wild and free. I run with the stag and
soar as a sacred falcon against the shimmering sky. The ancient
woods and wild places emanate my powers, the birds of the air
sing of my sanctity.

I am the harvest, offering up grain and fruits beneath the sickle
of time so that all may be nourished. For without planting there
can be no harvest; without winter there can be no spring.

I am the thousand named Sun of creation, know that by all
names I am the same. The spirit of the horned stag in the wild,
the endless harvest. See in the yearly cycle of festivals my birth,
death and rebirth and know that such is the destiny of all creation.

I am the spark of life, the radiant Sun, the giver of peace and
rest. I send my rays of blessings to warm the hearts and
strengthen the minds of all.

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Before Time Was

Before time was, there was The One;
The One was all, and all was The One.

And the vast expanse known as the universe was The One, all wise, all pervading, all powerful, eternally changing.

And space moved. The One molded energy into twin forms, equal but opposite, fashioning the Goddess and God from The One and of The One.

The Goddess and God stretched and gave thanks to The One, but darkness surrounded them. They were alone, solitary save for The One.

So they formed energy into gases and gases into suns and planets and moons; They sprinkled the universe with whirling globes and so all was given shape by the hands of the Goddess and God.

Light arose and the sky was illuminated by a billion suns. The Goddess and God, satisfied by their works, rejoiced and loved, and were one.

From their union sprang the seeds of all life, and the human race so that we might achieve incarnation upon the Earth.

The Goddess chose the Moon as her symbol, and the God the Sun as his to remind the inhabitants of Earth of their creators.

All are born, live, die and are reborn beneath the Moon and Sun; All things come to pass thereunder, and all occurs with the blessings of The One, the Goddess and God, as has been the way of existence since before time was.

Author Unknown

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Song of the Goddess

I am the Great Mother, worshipped by all creation and existent prior to their consciousness. I am the primal female force, boundless and eternal.

I am the chaste Goddess of the Moon, the Lady of all magic. The winds and moving leaves sing my name. I wear the crescent Moon upon my brow and my feet rest among the starry heavens, I am mysteries yet unsolved, a path newly set upon. I am a field untouched by the plow. Rejoice in me and know the fullness of youth.

I am the blessed Mother, the gracious Lady of the harvest. I am clothed with the deep, cool wonder of the Earth and the gold of the fields heavy with grain. By me the tides of the Earth are ruled; all things come to fruition according to my season. I am refuge and healing. I am the life giving Mother, wondrously fertile.

I am the Crone, tender of the unbroken cycle of death and rebirth. I am the wheel, the shadow of the Moon. I rule the tides of the oceans and of women and men, I give release and renewal to weary souls.

I am the Goddess of the Moon, the Earth, the Seas. My names are many, yet know that by all names I am the same. I pour forth insight, peace, wisdom and understanding. I am the eternal Maiden, Mother of all, and Crone of reckoning, and I send you blessings of limitless love.

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The Witches Creed

Hear now the words of the witches,
The secrets we hid in the night,
When dark was our destiny's pathway,
That now we bring forth into light.

Mysterious water and fire,
The earth and the wide-ranging air,
By hidden quintessence we know them,
And will and keep silent and dare.

The birth and rebirth of all nature,
The passing of winter and spring,
We share with the life universal,
Rejoice in the magical ring.

Four times in the year the Great Sabbat
Returns, and the witches are seen
At Lammas and Candlemas dancing,
On May Eve and old Hallowe'en.

When day-time and night-time are equal,
When sun is at greatest and least,
The four Lesser Sabbats are summoned,
And Witches gather in feast.

Thirteen silver moons in a year are,
Thirteen is the coven's array.
Thirteen times at Esbat make merry,
For each golden year and a day.

The power that was passed down the age,
Each time between woman and man,
Each century unto the other,
Ere time and the ages began.

When drawn is the magical circle,
By sword or athame of power,
Its compass between two worlds lies,
In land of the shades for that hour.

This world has no right then to know it.
And world of beyond will tell naught.
The oldest of Gods are invoked there,
The Great Work of magic is wrought.

For the two are mystical pillars,
That stand at the gate of the shrine,
And two are the powers of nature,
The forms and the forces divine.

The dark and the light in succession,
The opposites each unto each,
Shown forth as a God and a Goddess:
Of this our ancestors teach.

By night he's the wild winds rider,
The Horn'd One, the Lord of the Shades.
By day he's the King of the Woodland,
The dweller in green forest glades.

She is youthful or old as she pleases,
She sails the torn clouds in her barque,
The bright silver lady of midnight,
The crone who weaves spells in the dark.

The master and mistress of magic,
That dwell in the deeps of the mind,
Immortal and ever-renewing,
With power to free or to bind.

So drink the good wine to the Old Gods,
And Dance and make love in their praise,
Till Elphame's fair land shall receive us
In peace at the end of our days.

And Do What You Will be the challenge,
So be it Love that harms none,
For this is the only commandment.
By Magic of old, be it done!

From Doreen Valiente's, "Witchcraft For Tomorrow"

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Witches Creed of Chivalry

Insofar as the Craft of the Wise is the most ancient and most
honorable creed of humankind, it behooves all who are Witches
to act in ways that give respect to the Old Gods, to their sisters
and brothers of the Craft, and to themselves.

Therefore, be it noted that:

1. Chivalry is a high code of honour which is of most ancient
Celtic Pagan origin, and must be lived by all who follow the Old ways.

2. It must be kenned that thoughts and intent put forth on this Middle-Earth will wax strong in other worlds beyond, and return... bringing into creation, on this world, that which had been sent forth. Thus one should exercise discipline, for "as ye sow, so shall ye reap."

3. It is only by preparing our minds to be as Gods that we can ultimately attain godhead.

4. "This above all...to thine own self be true...."

5. A Witch's word must have the validity of a signed and witnessed oath. Thus, give thy word sparingly, but adhere to it like iron.

6. Refrain from speaking ill of others, for not all truths of the matter may be known.

7. Pass not unverified words about another, for hearsay is, in large part, a thing of falsehoods.

8. Be thou honest with others, and have them known that honesty is likewise expected of them.

9. The fury of the moment plays folly with the truth; to keep one's head is a virtue.

10. Contemplate always the consequences of thine acts upon others. Strive not to harm another.

11. Though there may be differences between those of the Old Ways, diverse covens and circles may well have diverse views. These views, even if they are different than yours, should always be given respect. When a coven, circle, clan, or grove is visited or joined, one should discern quietly their practices, and abide thereby.

12. Dignity, a gracious manner, and a good humour are much to be admired.

13. As a Witch, thou hast power, and thy powers wax strongly as wisdom increases. Therefore exercise discretion in the use thereof.

14. Courage and honour endure forever. Their echoes remain when the mountains have crumbled to dust.

15. Pledge friendship and fealty to those who so warrant. Strengthen others of the Brethren and they shall strengthen thee.

16. Thou shalt not reveal the secrets of another Witch or another Coven. Others have laboured long and hard for them, and cherish them as treasures.

17. Those who follow the mysteries should be above reproach in the eyes of the world, and should always seek to make this so.

18. The laws of the land should be obeyed whenever possible and within reason, for in the main they have been chosen with wisdom for the well-being of all.

19. Have pride in thyself, and seek perfection in body and in mind. For the Lady hath said, "How canst thou honour another unless thou give honour to thyself firstly?"

20. Those who seek the Mysteries should consider themselves as select of the Gods, for it is they who lead the race of humankind to the highest of thrones and beyond to the very stars.

Author Unknown

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