Several years ago a good friend and fellow Priestess suggested a training exercise in which one should re-write the Charge of the Goddess to suit their particular views of Divinity. It is also an excellent way to come to a better understanding of any Patron Deities that one might work with. Give it a try!
Here is the original Charge as written by Doreen Valiente
"Whenever ye have need of any thing, 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 She, who is 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 She teach things that are yet unknown. And ye shall be free from slavery; and as a sign that ye be really free, ye shall be naked in your rites; and ye shall dance, sing, feast, make music and love, all in Her praise. For Hers is the ecstasy of the spirit, and Hers also is joy on earth; for Her law is love unto all beings. Keep pure your highest ideal; strive ever towards it; let naught stop you or turn you aside. For Hers is the secret door which opens upon the land of youth and Hers is the cup of wine of life, and the cauldron of Cerridwen, which is the Holy Grail of immortality. She is the gracious goddess, who gives the gift of joy unto the heart of man. Upon earth, She gave the knowledge of the spirit eternal; and beyond death, She gives peace and freedom, and reunion with those who have gone before. Nor does She demand sacrifice, for behold, She is the mother of all living, and Her love is poured out upon the earth.
She who is 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, calls unto thy soul. Arise, and come unto Her. For She is the soul of nature, who gives life to the universe. from Her all things proceed, and unto Her all things must return; and before Her face, beloved of gods and men, let thine innermost divine self be enfolded in the rapture of the infinite. Let Her worship be within the heart that rejoiceth; for behold, all acts of love and pleasure are Her rituals. And therefore let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you. And thou who thinkest to seek Her, know thy seeking and yearning shall avail thee not unless thou knowest the mystery; that if that which thou seekest thou findest not within thee, then thou wilt never find it without thee. For behold, She has been with thee from the beginning; and She is that which is attained at the end of desire."
And here as an example is the Charge of Sekhmet that I wrote. Sekhmet being my Patron Goddess.
"Listen to the words of the Sekhmet; She who of old was also called Beloved of Ra, Lady of Transformations, Opener of Ways, Shining One, and four thousand other names.
When you have need, come unto my temples and walk amongst the sacred columns. There shall I teach you the Mysteries and the ways of all magic. There shall I give unto you that which is hidden from those who do not seek in truth. I am the Way and I am the Key to the secret door. My paths are perilous and those who tread them do so in dread and joy. For I am the Creator and the Destroyer. I am the Weigher of Souls and I know all that lies in your heart. I will ask of you sacrifice, I shall demand of you truth, I shall strip you of all weakness and pretense. And I shall give unto you immortality.
Hear ye the words of Sekhmet; before whose wrath even the Gods tremble, whose light is the blazing sun, and whose arrows lay waste the foes of Pharaoh.
I who am the black earth, the Sun in its glory, and the miracle of the waters; I who bring passion and desire in the heart of man; I do call unto you. Arise and come to me. For I am the floods that bring life from the desert, and I am She who bears your soul to Ma’at at life’s ending. I gave birth to the oldest Gods, and I was there when mankind was formed from the mud of the Nile. Let my worship be in the heart that trembles before me, for I am the Overcomer of All Enemies and my ways are open only to the pure in heart and the strong of spirit. Know that I am with you always, from your coming in until your going forth. And lo, I shall be beside you in the Boat of Millions of Years as your soul reaches the undying lands and joins me forever."
Give it a try with the Goddesses that you work with or for that matter with the Gods. I think you'll find it a powerful exercise that brings you into a closer relationship with your Deities.
-Lark-
Re-Writing the Charge
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