The Charges of the God

The Charge of the God
Listen the the words of the Great Father, who of old was called Osiris, Adonis, Zeus, Thor, Pan, Cernunnos, Herne, Lugh and by many other names: My Law is Harmony with all things. Mine is the secret that opens the gates of life and mine is the dish of salt of the earth that is the body of Cernunnos that is the eternal circle of rebirth. I give the knowledge of life everlasting, and beyond death I give the promise of regeneration and renewal. I am the sacrifice, the father of all things, and my protection blankets the earth.

Hear the words of the dancing God, the music of whose laughter stirs the winds, whose voice calls the seasons:

I who am the Lord of the Hunt and the Power of the Light, sun among the clouds and the secret of the flame I call upon your bodies to arise and come unto me. For I am the flesh of the earth and all its beings. Through me all things must die and with me are reborn. Let my worship be in the body that sings, for behold all acts of willing sacrifice are my rituals. Let there be desire and fear, anger and weakness, joy and peace, awe and longing within you. For these too are part of the mysteries found within yourself, within me, all beginnings have endings, and all endings have beginnings.

The Charge of the God (Less Commonly-Used Version) Great God Cernunnos, return to the Earth again, Come at my call and show thyself to all, Shepherd of Goats, upon the wild hill's way, Lead thy lost flock from darkness into day, Forgotten are the way of sleep and night, Men seek for them, whose eyes have lost the light, Open the door, the door that hath no key, The door of dreams, whereby men come unto thee, Shepherd of the Goats, O answer unto me.

The Charge of the Dark God Listen to the words of the Dark God

who was of old called Iakchos, Donn, Anubis, Hades, Setesh, Hoder and by many other names:

I am the shadow in the bright day, I am the reminder of mortality at the height of living.

I am the neverending veil of Night where the Star Goddess dances.

I am the Death that must be so that Life may continue, for behold, Life is immortal because the living must die.

I am the strength that protects, that limits; I am the power that says No, and No Further, and That is Enough.

I am the things that cannot be spoken of, and I am the laughter at the edge of Death. Come with me into the warm enfolding dark; feel my caresses in the hands, in the mouth, in the body of one you love, and be transformed.

Gather in the moonless night and speak in unknown tongues; the Dark Mother and I will listen. Sing to us and cry out, and the Power will be yours to wield.

Blow me a kiss when the sky is dark and I will smile, but no kiss returns; for my kiss is the final one for all mortal flesh.