59 lines
3.3 KiB
Plaintext
59 lines
3.3 KiB
Plaintext
ab:charge1.txt 16jan90
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The Charge (prose version)
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HP stands to HPS's left; both face Coven.
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HP: "Listen to the words of the Great Mother; she who of old was also
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called among men Artemis, Astarte, Athene, Dione, Melusine,
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Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Cybele, Arianrhod, Isis, Dana, Bride and by
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many other names. At her altars the youth of Lacedaemon in Sparta
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made due sacrifice."
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HPS: "Whenever ye have need of anything, once in the month, and better it
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be when the moon is full, then shall ye assemble in some secret
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place and adore the spirit of me, who am Queen of all the
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witcheries. There shall ye assemble, ye who are fain to learn all
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sorcery, yet have not won its deepest secrets; to these will I
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teach things that are yet unknown. And ye shall be free from
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slavery; and as a sign that ye be really free, ye shall be naked in
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your rites; and ye shall dance, sing, feast, make music and love,
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all in my praise. For mine is the ecstasy of the spirit, and mine
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also is joy on earth; for my law is love unto all beings. Keep pure
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your highest ideal; strive ever towards it; let naught stop you or
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turn you aside.
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For mine is the secret door which opens upon the Land of Youth, and
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mine is the cup of the wine of life, and the Cauldron of Cerridwen,
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which is the Holy Grail of immortality. I am the Gracious Goddess,
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who gives the gift of joy unto the heart of man. Upon earth, I give
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the knowledge of the spirit eternal; and beyond death, I give peace
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and freedom and reunion with those who have gone before. Nor do I
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demand aught in sacrifice; for behold, I am the Mother of all
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living, and my love is poured out upon the earth."
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HP: "Hear ye the words of the Star Goddess; she in the dust of whose feet
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are the hosts of heaven, and whose body encircles the Universe."
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HPS: "I who am the beauty of the green earth, and the white Moon among
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the stars, and the mystery of the waters, and the desire of the
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heart of man, call unto thy soul. Arise, and come unto me.
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For I am the soul of nature, who gives life to the universe.
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From me all things proceed, and unto me all things must return; and
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before my face, beloved of Gods and of men, let thine innermost
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divine self be enfolded in the rapture of the infinite.
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Let my worship be within the heart that rejoiceth; for behold,
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all acts of love and pleasure are my rituals. And therefore
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let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion,
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honour and humility, mirth and reverence within you.
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And thou who thinkest to seek for me, know thy seeking and yearning
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shall avail thee not unless thou knowest the mystery;
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that if that which thou seekest thee findest not within thee,
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thou wilt never find it without thee. For behold, I have been
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with thee from the beginning; and I am that which is attained
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at the end of desire."
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----------
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-Lots of published sources
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eg. Janet and Stewart Farrar's "The Witches' Way"
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