The Goddess is central to Wicca and sometimes is the main or sole focus of Wiccan ritual, regarded as giving birth to the world, all people, and creatures, as well as the sun, stars, and moon. Her God/son/consort is considered to be her first creation. So male Wiccans, being part of her creation, possess the Goddess spark and have the Goddess power within them.
Indeed, in modern Wicca, the magickal charge or sacred words of the Goddess—which are attributed to Doreen Valiente, the High Priestess of Gerald Gardner, the founder of Wicca—say: From Me all things proceed, and unto Me all things must return. Let thine innermost divine self be enfolded in the rapture of the infinite.
The Mother of All describes the all-encompassing cosmic force from which all life comes, containing male and female; dark and light; the potential for good and evil; creation and its alter ego, destruction; life and death; and lastly rebirth and renewal.
The first Mother Goddess fertility stone statuettes date back to more than 20,000 years ago, in areas stretching from the Pyrenees to Siberia. The original fertility mothers, who used to invoke the fecundity of humankind and the herds, were pregnant and at first featureless with prominent breasts and hips.
Fertility rituals remained at the heart of the relationship between humans and Mother Earth as they turned to farming, for it was believed that the fertility of the land, the animals, and people were inextricably linked. Making love in the fields at the time of planting was believed to awaken the fertility of the land and the people.
The God also changed from the Horned God to the hunter, still the chief god in Wicca; the god of vegetation; the protector and avenger to farmer, warrior, priest, or king; and grain-sacrifice god.
THE SACRED MARRIAGE
The separated God and Goddess powers are at the roots of Wicca as they have been in magick since Neolithic times. Some covens and magical practitioners use sex magick between committed couples in private with the moment of mutual orgasm acting as the trigger for the release of magick power. However, the sacred marriage is usually, as I described in the previous chapter, symbolized by plunging an athame or ritual knife, which signifies the male generative power, into the receptive chalice of blessed water and wine, or the waters of the womb. I have written more about the Sacred Marriage in the next chapter on the God in Wicca.
ASSUMING GODDESS POWERS MAGICKALLY, STRENGTHENING THE GODDESS WITHIN
In Ancient Egypt, it was believed that speaking as though you were a deity would amplify the higher deity power within yourself, because we all contain the spark of the Goddess creation and are a part of her. The charge or sacred words of the Goddess have become a part of Wiccan tradition.
THE CHARGE OF THE GODDESS
In modern magick, calling down the Goddess power has been incorporated in a formal ceremony called the charge of the Goddess. This is often performed on the night of the full moon, at the esbat, as part of Drawing Down the Moon. It is said to induce a trance whereby the Goddess can speak through you. Indeed, it can form part of any ritual or private meditation, whether you are working alone, as part of a group, or in a formal coven.
Creating Your Own Goddess Charge
The charge of the Goddess acts as the vehicle for the Goddess power so that you speak inspired words as though you are the Goddess. You may find that even carefully learned or crafted words change as you link with the Goddess power psychically, so your personal charge will evolve over time.
In the tradition of Gerald Gardner, Doreen Valiente, a very gifted witch, worked to create a beautiful charge of the Goddess for use in a coven. There are also other versions of the charges online. The original charge was spoken through the form of the Moon Goddess Diana and recorded in the book Aradia, or the Gospel of the Witches. It is said that anthropologist Charles Leland was given the original manuscript from an Italian witch named Maddalena in the late 1890s.
However, I do believe that it can be helpful even if you are practicing formal coven witchcraft to create your own private or joint coven version of the Charge of the Goddess.
Initially, work around the basic framework I suggest on the following pages or an online version. Make sure to keep a recorder running.
Listen to the recording afterward but do not attempt to rewrite it word for word. Rather use the words as personal or group inspiration with one person as a scribe.
Keep your charge relatively short so you can memorize it fairly easily. Now you can make it part of your personal Goddess rituals and recite it during full moons.
Stage 1: The Mother in All Her Aspects
This opening section refers to the Mother of All, the single generative creative force that contains male and female, darkness and light, creation and destruction, and birth and rebirth.
I am the Great Mother who has been known in many forms and by many names in countless ages, yet I am and always will be one and the same, your protective and loving Mother. I created you and so I am within you and you in me so do not fear, but love and respect me and so revere yourself.
Stage 2: The Goddess Defines Herself in Your Life as the Female Queen of the Earth and Heavens
Continue speaking as if you were the Goddess. This is a section where you can add the names of any goddesses listed in this chapter, online, or in books. The form of Ancient Egyptian Isis—a predominant Wiccan Goddess—is often called the Goddess of 10,000 names; a reminder that all Goddesses (and Gods) are aspects of one energy.
When the moon is full or at any time of the day or night, in any season, and whenever you are in need of my help, wisdom, or comfort, find a quiet place and call me into your life to reawaken my presence within you. I am not only your Mother, but also your sister, friend, daughter, and grandmother.
Bring me your hopes with the growing moon and share your dreams as the moon is full, and I will help you make them happen. Let me carry away your sorrows and fears, as the moon dies each month. For I am with you in your youth and your age, whenever you call.
I am in the moon as she passes through the sky, in the brilliant sun chariot of noon, in the fertile earth and the mighty waters and in the stars. You likewise are the moon, sun, fertile earth, the waters, the stars, the four winds, and the life-giving rain, and, like them, and like me, are you eternal.
Stage 3: The Gifts of the Goddess
This section focuses on the gifts the Goddess brings.
I come to you in love as a gentle mother. I can be fierce in defense of you, my young, yet demanding always the greatest good and the purest of words, thoughts, and deeds from you, my precious children. As I give life, so in death all return to me to be transformed, renewed, and born again. I was with you in the beginning and will be with you in the end, holding your hand as you move into renewed light.
Stage 4: The Responsibilities and Blessings of Seeking a Connection with the Goddess
This section talks about continuing the Goddess connection through awakening and developing your own spark, core, or divinity.
If you always work magickally with honor, love, and humility, and for the highest good, you carry within you my power and blessings to heal others. So build what is of lasting worth and spread light and goodness throughout the earth. For what you give willingly to those in need, I will restore to you three times three and more, through all time, forevermore.
We are of the circle, and we are the circle. May the circle, cast in my name, live forever in your hearts and in your lives, without beginning and without ending, like my love.
Blessed be.
MOON GODDESS POWER
Though in more formal rituals Drawing Down the Moon is based around the Charge of the Goddess, this simplified version can be used effectively alone, with friends or in your coven during a full moon.
You could begin with a circle-casting and the charge spoken by one person while others softly sway and absorb the words and the wisdom spoken by the High Priestess or ritual leader. Once the charge is completed, it can be followed with inspired words by everyone.
You will need water in a cauldron or a large clear glass bowl and silver bells on a small hoop or string for each person.
Set the bowl or cauldron in front of you as you face the moon or in the center of a group of people or a coven.
Hold bells in your receptive hand.
Stand in full moonlight looking up at the moon. For your first time drawing down the moon, try it when the moon is shining brightly. When you are more experienced, you can visualize the brilliant moon rays even if it is very cloudy. You can also use silver candles around the bowl.
If more than one person is present, stand in a circle with enough space between you to spin around separately.
Raise your arms wide and high, palms uppermost and slightly curved (some people hold them flat).
Call the Moon Mother with a chant, such as: Draw down the Moon, draw down the power, Mother Great Mother, at this hour. Draw down the Moon, draw down the power, Selene (Sell-ee-nee), Diana, Isis, Hecate, (Hekartay or Heck-at-ay), Cerridwen, Mothers of the Moon. Come to me. Fill me with light and life, Mothers of the Moon.
Dance around the water, chanting and spiraling in moonwise, widdershins, or counter-clockwise circles as you go, moving your bells rhythmically.
When you are spinning fast, stop and turn around in small moonwise circles, still chanting. This works whether you are alone or with others.
Circle your arms as you move in front of you, over and around your body, chanting faster and moving faster until you become dizzy.
With a final call of Come within me. Be with me, Mothers of the Moon, sink to the ground, look up, and the physical moon will come rushing toward you. This is purely psychological, but it is the most effective psychic method I know for bringing together the experience on all levels.
If alone, you may spontaneously speak or sing aloud or hear words channeled from the Moon Mother.
In a formal coven, the High Priestess may initially channel the Moon Goddess energy.
Use the absorbed rush of power to direct a wish or send healing by pointing with both hands and fingers outstretched in the direction from which fulfillment will come or toward the direction that healing will be sent.
When you are ready, gaze into your bowl of water into which the moon is shining and images will enter your mind. If it is a cloudy night, light tiny silver candles around the bowl.
If working with others, each of you should draw close to the water in a tight circle, kneeling or sitting. You can pass the bowl around the group and each person can speak a few words or describe images as the Moon Mother speaks to you.
Unless the weather is bad remain in the moonlight, singing, dreaming, or working with your tarot cards. You can also create an inspired moon chant in your Book of Shadows.
Leave the water out overnight in the moonlight, which can then be used for healing and anointing, and in other rituals as the Water element or as a blessing in the month ahead.
In the next chapter, we will explore the role of the God in Wicca and his charge, and base a ritual around the sacred union of God and Goddess power.