The Charge of the Goddess (Prose edition)

This version of "The Charge of the Goddess" is the most well known version, of which many variants have sprung up from. This verison of the charge, whichis well beloved by almost all denominations and traditions of pagans and witches, was written by Doreen Valiente, who initally wrote it as a poem, but made the prose version when some witches were having trouble pronouncing the names of some of the goddesses mentioned.

The Prose Charge draws influence from both Aradia: Gospel of the Witches and the works of Aliester Crowley, with the first ever published version of the Charge being found within Aradia: Gospel of the Witches.

According to Jason Mankey, a Gardnerian High Priest (whose blog on Patheos, Raise The Horns, I highly reccomend), The Charge initially served two purposes: To explain the Witchcraft Religion to new initiates, and as a subsitute for The Goddess herself during the ritual of Drawing Down the Moon, should it not go as planned.

The Charge of the Goddess itself, in my opinion, captures the very essence of just WHO the Goddess of the Witches is. The Prose Charge, as written by Doreen Valiente, is as follows:

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.

"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."

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.

"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."