The Charge of the Goddess
The first draft of this book included a thorough history of the Charge of the Goddess, from Leland’s Aradia in 1899 all the way through to Doreen Valiente’s prose version written just over fifty years later. During the editing process of this book, I decided to drop my extended look at the Charge in order to shorten the page count and because much of that information is already online. For readers interested in the history of the Charge, that material can be found online by searching for “Charge of the Goddess History Mankey.”
Though Valiente’s original Charge is by far the most popular and well-known version, hundreds (if not thousands) of Witches over the years have adapted it to suit their own needs. The version of the Charge of the Goddess included here comes from my wife Ari’s Book of Shadows and is the one we use in ritual. It’s not a big departure from Valiente’s version, but it does update some of the language, removing words such as thinketh and seekest. (Ari finds those words hard to pronounce.)
The Charge itself is traditionally divided into two sections, each one introduced by a narrator. The narrator can be anyone in the coven, though typically that role is filled by whoever is leading the ritual with the High Priestess. Many covens omit the narrator lines all together or have the High Priestess reciting the Charge read them. In our practice I tend to introduce the Charge (“Listen to the words of the Great Mother …”), while we skip the “Hear ye the words of the Star Goddess” narration. Do what works best for you and your coven.
The Charge of the Goddess
by Doreen Valiente
(as Adapted by Ari and Jason Mankey)
Narrator: “Listen to the words of the Great Mother, who was of old also called Artemis, Astarte, Diana, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Dana, Arianrhod, Isis, Bride, and by many other names.”
Whenever ye have need of anything, once in a month and better it be when the moon is full, then ye shall assemble in some secret place and adore the spirit of me who am Queen of all the Wise. There shall ye assemble, ye who are fain to learn all sorcery, but have not won its deepest secrets; to these will I teach things that are yet unknown. And ye shall be free from slavery, and as a sign ye be free, you may 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; and strive ever toward it; let naught 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 the wine of life, and the Cauldron of Cerridwen which is the holy grail of immortality.
I am the gracious Goddess, who gives the gift of joy unto the heart of man. Upon the earth, I give the knowledge of the spirit eternal; and beyond death, I give peace, and freedom, and reunion with those who 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.
Narrator: “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.” 237
I who am the beauty of the green earth, and the White Moon among the stars, and the mystery of the waters, and the desire of the heart of man, call unto thy soul to arise and come unto me. For I am the soul of nature who gives 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, let thine innermost divine self 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.
And therefore let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you. And thou who thinks to seek for me, know thy seeking and yearning shall avail thee not unless thou knowest the mystery; for if that which you seek, you find not within thee, 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.
237. My wife and I look at this line as optional in our practice.