Charge of the Goddess: Explained

When I first read the “Charge of the Goddess” and the interpretation in the book Family Wicca by Ashleen O’Gaea, I knew I was home! I knew this was where I belonged and what I believed.

By definition a charge is a divine command that we are obligated by. The Charge encourages us to walk in the light of the Goddess and by her will. By her will meaning, in harmony with nature. Respecting the creatures that we share this Earth with, as well as our elders.

The Charge of the Goddess

by Doreen Valiente

Listen to the Words of the Great Mother, Who was of old called among men Artemis, Astarte, Diana, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Dana, Arianrhod, Isis, Bride, and by many other Names.

This first paragraph lets us understand that all Goddesses are aspects of The Goddess. It does not matter what names we use, or what culture those names come from they are all The Goddess. Also, if you look deeper at the goddesses mentioned here you will see that they are a balancing of aspects, Maiden, Mother, Crone; as well as forces such as life and death, intellect and passion, love and war. There is diversity here.

At My Altars the youth of Lacedemon gave love, and made due sacrifice. Whenever ye have need of anything, once in the month, and better it be when the Moon is Full, then shall ye gather in some secret place and adore the Spirit of Me, Who am Queen of All Witcheries. There shall ye gather, ye who are fain to learn all Magick, yet have not yet won its deepest secrets: to these will I teach things that are yet unknown.

The Goddess encourages us to know our needs. These being our “real” needs, not the things society tells us we need. To truly know our “real” needs we must use our brains and our hearts. This is sometimes much easier said than done.

The Goddess tells us that we should take a least once a month to worship her. She suggests that we do so at the full moon, but any phase of the moon will work depending on our needs. The most important thing here is that we do this at least once a month.

We should meet in secret places so that our worship is not as display for others, but between us, and those we trust with perfect love and trust, and the Goddess. Here there is also the implication that we must the inner work, before we can do the outer work.

The Goddess who we show our adoration, and she teaches us magic. This also means that we must show her respect and not make demands. I would also like to note that adore, also means love. True love must go both ways. Because it is a relationship built on Love, there is no need for fear.

The magic she teaches is it to be used to fulfill the needs we came to the circle with. When we gather not only does she teach us how magic works; but this is also where we learn that it does indeed work.

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 My Praise. For Mine is the Ecstasy of the Spirit, and Mine also is Joy on Earth, for My Law is Love unto all beings.

There are many forms of slavery that we may find ourselves in, but to free ourselves from slavery we must first free our minds to think for ourselves and be open to continually learning, growing, and changing our minds. Always questioning.

Many take the “naked in your rites” to mean skyclad or naked under your robes at least. Naked to me means emotional nakedness. Taking off all the masks that we wear in public, throughout our lives. I also believe that when we are all stripped down to our naked souls, we find that we are all equal. Especially in the eyes of the Goddess.

Here we also find that the things that bring us JOY are what the Goddess wants as part of her rituals. She does not want or need stoic seriousness. She wants us to worship and live in JOY and love and the pursuit thereof. These things have become vital parts of most rituals. We sing, chant, make music, and dance to raise energy. “Cakes and ale” are our feast. The blessing of the ale is symbolic of the Great Rite.

I also like to see this as that any time we are doing the things that bring us love and joy we are worshiping the Goddess. In fact, she tells us that her spirit and realm are that of Ecstasy; so, when we are ecstatic, we are invoking and manifesting the spirit of the Goddess.

Love is her LAW period. Which means we must strive to live in love. (Not fear),

Keep pure your Highest Ideal; strive ever toward it; let naught stop you or turn you aside. For Mine is the Secret Door which opens upon the Land of Youth; and Mine is the Cup of the Wine of Life, and the Cauldron of Cerridwen, which is the Holy Grail of Immortality.

Here she tells us again to think for ourselves. She tells us to always strive for OUR highest ideal. Not hers. Not someone we think knows better. Our own! Not to allow anyone to persuade us to turn away from or distract us from that ideal. She also teaches us here that the seeking of our highest ideal and living in Love with keep us ever youthful.

With Cauldron of Cerridwen she is telling us that we do not need to fear death, because death is not an end. It is the beginning on the next cycle of reincarnation.

I am the Gracious Goddess, Who gives the Gift of Joy unto the heart of man: on 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 sacrifice, for behold: I am the Mother of All Living, and My Love is poured out upon the Earth.

Again she tells us that we have no need to fear death that we will have an afterlife where we will be reunited those we love.

The Goddess tells us she has no need or desire for sacrifice. Some take this to mean that the cycles of life and death are already enough. “No death that is not in the service of life - is either required or accepted.” (this is quoted directing from Family Wicca).

I also believe there is a difference in making an offering of gratitude and a sacrifice. I believe the Goddess greatly appreciates our freely given offerings of gratitude.

She also reminds us that not only does she love us, but she loves all of life on this Earth and we should too.

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.

The Star Goddess is the Great Cosmic Goddess, of which all God/desses are just an aspect or part of the all that is SHE. She encompasses the universe and therefore we are part of her. She is the Goddess of the gods their selves. The great creatrix of the universe has something to tell us so we had better listen up.

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!”

The Goddess of Creation identifies herself with both the Earth and the Moon, as well as the waters. These are all things that go through natural cycles, The seasons of the Earth, the phases of the moon, the tides of the waters. These are also the cradles of life. Without which we would not be. There is an ebb and flow to them. Life and death.

We must learn to accept the lessons of these cycles. Appreciate the beauty in the changing cycles of the world around us. To also find the sacredness in nature and the world around us.

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. And before My Face, which is beloved of gods and men, thine innermost Divine Self shall be enfolded in the Rapture of the Infinite.

Here she reminds us that at our core we are divine as well. She reminds us again to appreciate the infinite beauty and mystery in the Earth, Moon, and waters. Also, that our spirituality is experiential. That you cannot fully appreciate it unless you have experienced it.

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, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you.

The Goddess again reminds us that to worship her we must do so with joy. That the most sacred acts we can do to worship her are to be done as acts of love and pleasure.

Here to are sets of virtues that we should strive to embody and that they do not contradict each other. We must strive to have both and balance them.

And thou who thinkest to seek for Me, 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, thou wilt never find it without thee.

Here we are profoundly told that we need not seek outside validation. We must do the inner work for ourselves. Or with a teacher that will guide you to seek within. She reminds us that our inner world is just as important as the outer world and that the changes we make within us will indeed change OUR outer world. Our perspective and that we must be the change we seek. This is the “As above, So below.”

For behold, I have been with thee from the beginning; and I am That which is attained at the end of Desire.

The Goddess leaves us with the reminder that she is always with us. She is what we have always been seeking and she has always been with us. We just need to be open to realizing that. I find this as a great comfort.