The Charge of the Goddess
Beloved art thou as thou passeth over me. When thou riseth, thou sendest forth light from thy beautiful eyes. Beloved art thou, pleasant art thou, thy beauties seize and carry away my heart.
-- Hymn to the Moon, from the Egyptian Book of the Dead
Listen to the words of the Great Mother, who of old was called Artemis, Astarte, Dione, Sophia, Tonantzin, Shekinah, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Danu, Mary, Inanna, T'ien Hou, Shakti, Arionrhod, Fuchi, Yemaja, White Buffalo Woman, Brigid, Diana, and by many other names: Whenever you have need of anything, once in the month, and better it be when the moon is full, you shall assemble in some secret place and adore the spirit of Me who is Queen of all the Wise. There shall you assemble, you who would learn all Wisdom, yet have not won its deepest secrets; to you will I teach things that are yet unknown. You shall be free from slavery. Sing, feast, dance, make music and love, all in My presence. For Mine is the ecstasy of the spirit and Mine also is joy on earth. My law is love unto all beings. Keep pure your highest ideals; strive ever towards them; let nothing stop you or turn you aside. Mine is the secret door that opens upon the land of youth, and Mine is the cup of the wine of life that is the holy grail of immortality. I am the gracious Goddess, who gives the gift of joy unto the hearts of mankind. I give the 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 things and My love is poured out upon the earth. Hear the words of the Star Goddess, in the dust of whose feet are the hosts of heaven, whose body encircles the universe: I am the beauty of the green earth, the white moon among the stars, the mysteries of the waters, and the desire of the heart of man. 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. Before My face, beloved of the Gods, let your innermost divine self be enfolded in the rapture of the infinite. 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 your 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. (Starhawk, 1989, p. 90,91, adapted)
Starhawk. (1989). Spiral dance: A rebirth of the ancient religion of the Goddess. San Francisco: Harper.
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