Poetry Picture Challenge May 16

And just as a counter point to yesterday’s post.. and to brighten the mood a bit

 

 

The Charge of the Goddess

Doreen Valiente

Whenever ye have need of anything,

once in the month, and better it be when the moon is full,

then shall ye assemble in some secret place

and adore the spirit of me,

who am Queen of all witches.

There shall ye assemble,

ye who are fain to learn all sorcery,

yet have not won its deepest secrets;

to these will I teach ye all things that are yet unknown.

And ye shall be free from slavery;

and as a sign that ye be truly free,

ye shall be naked in your rites;

and ye shall dance, sing, feast,

make love and music,

all in my praise.

For mine is the ecstasy of spirit,

and mine also is joy on earth;

for my law is love unto all beings.

Keep pure your highest ideals;

strive ever towards them;

let nothing 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 vessel of immortality.

I am the Gracious Goddess,

who gives the gift of joy unto the heart of man.

Upon earth, I give the knowledge of 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.

I 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 the soul, arise and come unto me

call unto thy soul.

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 of men,

let thine innermost divine self be enfolded in the rapture of the

infinite.

Let my worship be within the heart that rejoiceth;

for behold,

all acts of love and pleasure are my rituals.

And therefore let there be beauty and strength,

power and compassion, honour and humility,

mirth and reverence within you.

And thou who thinkest to seek for me,

know thy seeking and yearning shall avail thee not

unless thou knowest the mystery;

that if that which thou seekest

thee findest not within thee,

thou wilt never find it without thee.

For behold,

I have been with thee from the beginning;

and I am that which is attained

at the end of desire.