Listen to the words of the Great Mother I who of old was also called
among men Artemis, Astarte, Athene, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite,
Cerridwen, Cybele, Arianrhod, Isis, Dana, Bride and by many other names.
At mine altars the youth of Lacedaemon in Sparta 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 assemble in some secret place
and adore the spirit of me, who am Queen of all the witcheries.
There shall ye assemble, ye who are fain to learn all sorcery, yet
have not won its deepest secrets; to these will I 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 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.
Keep pure your highest ideal, strive ever towards 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.
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 and freedom and reunion with those who have gone
before.
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.
Hear ye the words of the Star Goddess She in the dust of whose feet
are the hosts of heaven, and whose body encircles the Universe.
I who am 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, call unto thy soul. Arise, and come unto me.
For I am the soul of nature, who gives life to the universe. From me
all things proceed, and unto me all things must return; and before my
face, beloved of Gods and of men, let thine innermost divine self be
enfolded in the rapture of the infinite.
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, honour and humility, mirth
and reverence within thee.
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 thee findest not within thee, 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.
So mote it be!
---Wynn Manners (Email : [email protected])
