Return
To Index Gardnerian Book Of Shadows
(1957)
The Prose Charge
THE CHARGE, to be read while
the initiate stands, properly prepared before the Circle.
[Magus]: Listen to the words
of the Great mother, who was of old also called among men,
Artemis, Astarte, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Diana,
Arianrhod, Bride, and by many other names.
[High Priestess]: "At mine
Altars the youth of Lacedaemon in Sparta made due sacrifice.
Whenever ye have need of anything, once in the 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 Witcheries. There ye shall assemble, ye who are fain
to learn all sorcery, yet who 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 that ye be really
fre e, ye shall 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 is also joy on
earth. For my Law is Love unto all beings. "Keep pure your
highest ideals. Strive ever towards it. Let naught stop you
or turn you aside. "For mine is the secret which opens upon
the door 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 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
aught in sacrifice, for behold, I am the Mother of all things,
and my love is poured out upon earth."
[Magus]: Hear ye the words
of the Star Goddess, She in the dust of whose feet are the
hosts of Heaven, whose body encircleth the universe.
[High Priestess]: "I who am
the beauty of the green earth; and the White Moon amongst
the Stars; and the mystery of the Waters; and the desire of
the heart of man. I call unto thy soul: arise and come unto
me. "For I am the Soul of nature who giveth life to the Universe;
'From me all things proceed; and unto me, all things must
return.' Beloved of the Gods and men, thine inmost divine
self shall be enfolded in the raptures 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 me, know that thy seeking and yearning shall
avail thee not unless thou know the mystery, that if that
which thou seekest thou 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."
Next:
Cakes and Wine
|
