<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=us-ascii"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div style="margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;" class="">The Charge of the Goddess</div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 19px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">Now listen to the words of the Great Mother,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">who was of old also called among men Artemis, </div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">Astarte, Athene, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, </div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">Cerridwen, Dana, Arianrhod, Isis, Bride, </div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">and by many other names. </div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">At her altars, the youth of Lacedaemon in Sparta made due sacrifice.</div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 19px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 19px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">Whenever ye have need of any thing,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">once in the month,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">and better it be when the moon is full,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">then shall ye assemble in some secret place, and adore the spirit of me,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">who am Queen of all witches.</div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 19px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 19px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">There shall ye assemble, ye who are fain to learn all sorcery,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">yet have not won its deepest secrets;</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">to these will I teach things that are as yet unknown.</div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 19px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 19px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">And ye shall be free from slavery;</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">and as a sign that ye be really free,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">ye shall be naked in your rites;</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">and ye shall dance, sing, feast, make music and love, all in my praise.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">For mine is the ecstasy of the spirit,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">and mine also is joy on earth;</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">for my law is love unto all beings.</div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 19px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 19px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">Keep pure your highest ideal;</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">strive ever towards it, let naught stop you or turn you aside;</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">for mine is the secret door which opens upon the land of youth,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">and mine is the cup of wine of life,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">and the cauldron of Cerridwen, </div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">which is the Holy Grail of immortality.</div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 19px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 19px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">I am the gracious Goddess,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">who gives the gift of joy unto the heart of man.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">Upon earth, I give the knowledge of the spirit eternal;</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">and beyond death, I give peace, and freedom,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">and reunion with those who have gone before.</div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 19px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 19px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">Nor do I demand sacrifice;</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">for behold, I am the Mother of all living,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">and my love is poured out upon the earth.</div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 19px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 19px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">Hear ye the words of the Star Goddess; </div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">she in the dust of whose feet are the hosts of heaven, </div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">whose body encircles the universe.</div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 19px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 19px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">I who am the beauty</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">of the green earth and the white moon upon</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">the mysteries of the waters,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">I call upon your soul to arise and come unto me.</div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 19px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 19px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">For I am the soul of nature</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">that gives life to the universe.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">From me all things proceed and unto me</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">they must return.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">Let My worship be in the</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">heart that rejoices, for behold,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">all acts of love and pleasure</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">are My rituals.</div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 19px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 19px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">Let there be beauty and strength,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">power and compassion,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">honor and humility,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">mirth and reverence within you.</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">And you who seek to know me,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">know that the seeking and yearning</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">will avail you not,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">unless you know the Mystery:</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">for if that which you seek,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">you find not within yourself,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">you will never find it without.</div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 19px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 19px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">For behold,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">I have been with you from the beginning,</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">and I am that which is attained</div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class="">at the end of desire</div><div style="margin: 0px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Times; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 19px;" class=""><br class=""></div><p style="margin: 0px 0px 16px; line-height: normal;" class="">- <i class="">Traditional by Doreen Valiente, as adapted by Starhawk</i></p></body></html>