THE WITCHES CREED
Generally credited to Doreen Valiente Hear now the word of the Witches, the secrets we hid in the night, When dark was our destinys pathway, That now we bring forth in the light. Mysterious Water and Fire, The Earth and the wide-ranging Air, By hidden Quintessence we know Them, and we will keep silent and dare. The birth and rebirth of all Nature, the passing of Winter and Spring, We share with the life Universal, rejoice in the Magical Ring Four times in the year the Great Sabbat, returns, and the Witches are seen, At Lammas and Candelas dancing, on May Eve and old Halloween When daytime and nighttime are equal, when sun is at greatest and least, The four lesser Sabbats are summoned, again Witches gather in feast. Thirteen silver moons in a year are, thirteen is the Covens array, Thirteen times at Esbat make merry, for each golden year and a day. The power has passed down the ages, each time between woman and man Each century unto the other, ere times and the ages began. When drawn is the Magickal circle, by sword or athame of power, Its compass between two worlds lies, in the land of shades of that hour. Our world has no right to know it, and the world beyond will tell naught, The oldest of Gods are invoked there, the great work of Magic is wrought. For two are the mystical pillars, that stand at the gate of the shrine, And two are the powers of Nature, the forms and the forces divine. And do what thou wilt be the challenge, so be it in love that harms none, For this is the only commandment, By Magick of old be it done. Eight words the Witches Rede fulfill: If it Harms none, Do what Thou Will! |
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CHARGE OF THE GODDESSWhenever ye have need of me, once in the month, and
better it be when the moon is full, then shall ye assemble in some secret place and adore
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 I will teach things that are yet
unknown. And ye shall be free from slavery; and as a sign that ye are truly free, ye shall
be naked in your rites. And ye shall dance, sing, feast, make music and love, all in my
presence. For mine is the ecstasy of the spirit, and mine is also joy on Earth.
Keep pure your highest ideal; Strive ever towards it; Let naught stop you or turn you aside. For 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 unutterable. Nor do I demand aught in sacrifice. For behold, I am the mother of all living, and my love is poured out upon the Earth. From me all things proceed, and to me all things must return. Let my worship be within the heart that rejoiceth; for behold, all acts of love and pleasure are my rituals. Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor 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 this mystery: That if that which thou seekest thou findest not within thee, then 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. From the Gardnerian Book of Shadows,
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