Origins of "Charge of the Goddess"  

"Charge of the Goddess"!  How many times have you read the original, or a version?  Have you ever really thought about what the "Charge of the Goddess" has to say?  Do you know how it originated?
 
Let’s talk about the origins!  Doreen Valiente wrote the "Charge" as we know it today.  The original text may be found in  "What Witches Do" By Steward Farrar on pages 172-173.
 
"The Rebirth of Witchcraft" by Doreen Valiente, published by Phoenix Publishing Inc., gives an account of how the Charge of the Goddess came to be written (pages 60-62).

The Farrar’s states in their book, "Eight Sabbats For Witches", that it was Gerald Gardner who adapted the first version.  I e-mailed the Farrar’s to try to obtain more information and they informed me that in a letter they received from Doreen in 1978 that the first Gardnerian Charge was named "Leviter Vestris" and was written entirely by Gerald Gardner.  The "Leviter Vestris" was a fusion of the writings of Charles G. Leland, a translation of the Tuscan witche’s rituals Italian verse "Maddalena’s" found in his book "Aradia; Gospel of the Witches", which was published in 1890, and the works of Alister Crowley’s essay entitled "The Law of Liberty".   But it is knowledge that Gardner and Valiente worked closely together and Valiente does state that she was influenced by the same verse.  The verse is as follows:
 

When I shall have departed from this world, Whenever ye have need of anything, Once in the month, and when the moon is full, Ye shall assemble in some desert place, Or in a forest all together join To adore the potent spirit of your queen,  My mother, great Diana.  She who fain Would learn all sorcery yet has not won Its deepest secrets, then my mother will Teach her, in truth all things as yet unknown. And ye shall all be freed from slavery, And so ye shall be free in everything; And as the sign that ye are truly free, Ye shall be naked in your rites, both men And women also:  this shall last until The last of your oppressors shall be dead; And ye shall make the game of Benevento Extinguishing the lights, and after that Shall hold your supper thus:

This verse is found in the first chapter of Charles G. Leland’s book "How Diana Gave Birth To Aradia (Herodius)".   Aradia was the daughter of the united brother and sister, Lucifer and Diana.  Aradia, with all her knowledge of the ways of Witchcraft came to the mortal world to liberate the people and teach them about the art of magick.  When Aradia left the mortal world to return to her homeland she instructed her students how to connect with her.

The first version of the Charge written by Doreen Valiente was done in verse, and may be found in her book "The Rebirth of Witchcraft" is as follows:
 

Mother darksome and divine, Mine the scourge and mine the kiss. Five-point star of love and bliss, Here I charge ye in this sign. Bow before my spirit bright, Aphrodite, Arianhrod, Lover of the Horned God, Queen of witchery and night. Diana, Brigid, Melusine, As I am named of old by men; Artemis and Cerridwen, Hell's dark mistress, Heaven's Queen. Ye who ask of me a boon, Meet me in some hidden shade, Lead my dance in greenwood glade, By the light of the full moon. Dance about mine altar stone, Work my holy magistry (sic) Ye who are fain of sorcery  I bring ye secrets yet unknown. No more shall ye know slavery, Who tread my round the Sabbat night. Come ye all naked to the rite, In sign that ye are truly free. Keep ye my mysteries in mirth, Heart joined to heart and lip to lip. Five are the points of fellowship, That bring ye ecstasy on earth. No other law but love I know, By naught but love may I be known; And all that liveth is my own, From me they come, to me they go.

Doreen mentions people had problems pronouncing the Goddess-names and didn’t understand the word "magistry" so she drafted the prose version of "The Charge of The Goddess" as we know it today.

The Charge is a beautiful representation of the Goddess and is an important part of our heritage that should never be forgotten.

Lady Dilana

©August, 1997.  First appearing in the Lammas Issue Vol. 1 of the Minnesota Pagan Press

© 2001 Mother (page layout only)