The Goddess
Who is the Wiccan Goddess?
She is the embodiment of the divine feminine. She is Mother Nature, the Earth-- Gaia; she is fertility and the turning of the seasons. She is the cycle of birth, life, death, and regeneration-- or rebirth; she is the Creatrix of all that is, was, and will be. Where the God is hard and unyielding; the Goddess is soft and pliant, embracing the individual and human diversity, allowing for growth and expansion.
The Wiccan Goddess is the mother of us all, even mother to the God, for all things must come from Her womb.
She is known by a thousand names in every culture, yet we may call her “Mother”.
She embraces the three stages of a woman’s life within the moon and its phases:
The waxing crescent: The Maiden…the beginning; embracing innocence, purity, strength, and determination as sinewy and strong as any physical muscle worked to heightened development. She is the female warrior, just starting down the road on this journey called life.
The full moon: The Mother…heavily pregnant with all of life’s possibilities, complete in the knowledge of herself and her desires, active in building her own road, planning her own journey, and actually moving towards her goals. The Mother will create all that which the world holds dear; whether it be children or ideas, art or magick.
The waning crescent: The Crone…wizened and cool, deliberate in her actions and words and intentions. She is calm after braving the storms of life in the knowledge that she is victorious over the dark shadows being cast at this stage. She has seen it all, risen above it all, to a pinnacle which allows her to review the world and life with one sweeping glance. She is coming to the close of her natural cycle, where she will once more reach the stage of regeneration…to begin again.
She is the embodiment of the divine feminine. She is Mother Nature, the Earth-- Gaia; she is fertility and the turning of the seasons. She is the cycle of birth, life, death, and regeneration-- or rebirth; she is the Creatrix of all that is, was, and will be. Where the God is hard and unyielding; the Goddess is soft and pliant, embracing the individual and human diversity, allowing for growth and expansion.
The Wiccan Goddess is the mother of us all, even mother to the God, for all things must come from Her womb.
She is known by a thousand names in every culture, yet we may call her “Mother”.
She embraces the three stages of a woman’s life within the moon and its phases:
The waxing crescent: The Maiden…the beginning; embracing innocence, purity, strength, and determination as sinewy and strong as any physical muscle worked to heightened development. She is the female warrior, just starting down the road on this journey called life.
The full moon: The Mother…heavily pregnant with all of life’s possibilities, complete in the knowledge of herself and her desires, active in building her own road, planning her own journey, and actually moving towards her goals. The Mother will create all that which the world holds dear; whether it be children or ideas, art or magick.
The waning crescent: The Crone…wizened and cool, deliberate in her actions and words and intentions. She is calm after braving the storms of life in the knowledge that she is victorious over the dark shadows being cast at this stage. She has seen it all, risen above it all, to a pinnacle which allows her to review the world and life with one sweeping glance. She is coming to the close of her natural cycle, where she will once more reach the stage of regeneration…to begin again.
Charge of the Goddess
Listen to the words of the Great Mother, who was of old called Astarte, Diane, Melusine, Cerridwen, Diana, Arianrhod, Brid and by many other names.
Whenever ye have need of anything, once a month, and better it be when the moon is full, you shall gather in some secret place and adore the spirit of me who is Queen of the Wise.
You shall be free from slavery, and as a sign that you be truly free, you shall be naked in your rites. Sing, feast, dance, make music and love, all in my presence, for mine is the ecstasy of the spirit, and mine also is joy on Earth, for my law is love unto all other beings. Keep pure your highest ideal; strive ever toward it; let nothing stop you or turn you aside. For mine is the cup of the wine of life, the cauldron of the spirit eternal and beyond death I give the knowledge and reunion with those that have gone before. nor do I demand sacrifice, for behold, I am the mother of all things and my love is poured upon the Earth. Hear the words of the Star Goddess, the dust of whose feet are the hosts of Heaven, whose body encircles the Universe.
I who am the beauty of the green Earth and the white Moon among the stars and the mysteries of the waters, call upon your soul to arise and come to me, for I am the soul of nature who gives life to all the universe. From me all things proceed and unto me all things must return. Let my worship be in the heart that rejoices, for behold - all acts of beauty and strength, power and compassion, honour and humility, mirth and reverance within you. And you who seek to know me, know the mystery; for if that which you seek you find now within yourself, you will never be without it. For behold, I have been with you from the beginning, and I am that which is attained at the end of desire.
Whenever ye have need of anything, once a month, and better it be when the moon is full, you shall gather in some secret place and adore the spirit of me who is Queen of the Wise.
You shall be free from slavery, and as a sign that you be truly free, you shall be naked in your rites. Sing, feast, dance, make music and love, all in my presence, for mine is the ecstasy of the spirit, and mine also is joy on Earth, for my law is love unto all other beings. Keep pure your highest ideal; strive ever toward it; let nothing stop you or turn you aside. For mine is the cup of the wine of life, the cauldron of the spirit eternal and beyond death I give the knowledge and reunion with those that have gone before. nor do I demand sacrifice, for behold, I am the mother of all things and my love is poured upon the Earth. Hear the words of the Star Goddess, the dust of whose feet are the hosts of Heaven, whose body encircles the Universe.
I who am the beauty of the green Earth and the white Moon among the stars and the mysteries of the waters, call upon your soul to arise and come to me, for I am the soul of nature who gives life to all the universe. From me all things proceed and unto me all things must return. Let my worship be in the heart that rejoices, for behold - all acts of beauty and strength, power and compassion, honour and humility, mirth and reverance within you. And you who seek to know me, know the mystery; for if that which you seek you find now within yourself, you will never be without it. For behold, I have been with you from the beginning, and I am that which is attained at the end of desire.
The Descent of the Goddess
Our Lady would solve all mysteries, even the mystery of Death. And so she journeyed to the Underworld in her boat, upon the Sacred River of Descent. Then it came to pass that she entered before the first of the seven gates to the Underworld. And the Guardian challenged her demanding one of her Garments for passage, for nothing may be received except that something is given in return. And at each of the gates the Goddess was required to pay the price of passage, for the guardians spoke to her “Strip off your garments, and set aside your jewels, for nothing may you bring with you into this our realm.”
So she surrendered her jewels and her clothing to the Guardians, and was bound, as all living must be who seek to enter the realm of Death and the Mighty Ones. At the first gate she gave over her scepter, at the second her crown, at the third her necklace, at the fourth her ring, at the fifth her girdle, at the sixth her sandals, and at the seventh her gown. She stood naked and was presented before Death, and such was her beauty that Death himself knelt as she entered. He laid his crown and his sword at her feet saying: “Blessed be thy feet, that have brought you down this path.” Then he arose and said “ Abide with me; but let me place my cold hand on your heart.”
She replied: “I love thee not. Why do you cause all things that I love and take delight in, to fade and die?”
“My Lady,” replied Death, “it is age and fate, against which you speak. I am helpless for age causes all things to wither; but when men die at the end of time, I give them rest and peace, and strength. For a time they dwell with the moon, and the spirits of the moon; then may they return to the realm of the living. But you are so lovely and I ask you to return not, but abide with me here!”
But she answered: “No, for I do not love you.” Then said Death: “If you refuse to embrace me, then you must kneel to death’s scourge.” The Goddess answered him: “If it is to be, then it is fate, and better so!” So she knelt in submission before the hand of Death, and he scourged her with so tender a hand that she cried out “I know your pain, and the pain of love.”
Death raised her to her feet and said, “Blessed are you my Queen and my Lady” and gave her the Five Kisses of Initiation, saying: “Only thus may you attain to joy and knowledge.”
And he taught her all of his Mysteries, and he gave her the necklace, which is the circle of rebirth. And she taught him her mysteries of the sacred cup, which is the cauldron of rebirth. They loved and were joined in union with each other, and for a time the Goddess lived in the realm of Death.
For there are three mysteries in the life of Man which are Sex, Birth and Death and love controls them all For to fulfill love you must return again at the same time and place as those who loved before. And you must meet, recognize, remember and love them again. But to be reborn you must die and be made ready for a new body. And to die you must be born; and without love you may not be born amongst your own.
But our Goddess is inclined to favor love, and joy and happiness. She guards and cherishes her hidden children in this life and the next. In death she reveals the way to her communion, and in life she teaches them the magic of the mystery of the Circle (which is set between the worlds of men and of the gods).
So she surrendered her jewels and her clothing to the Guardians, and was bound, as all living must be who seek to enter the realm of Death and the Mighty Ones. At the first gate she gave over her scepter, at the second her crown, at the third her necklace, at the fourth her ring, at the fifth her girdle, at the sixth her sandals, and at the seventh her gown. She stood naked and was presented before Death, and such was her beauty that Death himself knelt as she entered. He laid his crown and his sword at her feet saying: “Blessed be thy feet, that have brought you down this path.” Then he arose and said “ Abide with me; but let me place my cold hand on your heart.”
She replied: “I love thee not. Why do you cause all things that I love and take delight in, to fade and die?”
“My Lady,” replied Death, “it is age and fate, against which you speak. I am helpless for age causes all things to wither; but when men die at the end of time, I give them rest and peace, and strength. For a time they dwell with the moon, and the spirits of the moon; then may they return to the realm of the living. But you are so lovely and I ask you to return not, but abide with me here!”
But she answered: “No, for I do not love you.” Then said Death: “If you refuse to embrace me, then you must kneel to death’s scourge.” The Goddess answered him: “If it is to be, then it is fate, and better so!” So she knelt in submission before the hand of Death, and he scourged her with so tender a hand that she cried out “I know your pain, and the pain of love.”
Death raised her to her feet and said, “Blessed are you my Queen and my Lady” and gave her the Five Kisses of Initiation, saying: “Only thus may you attain to joy and knowledge.”
And he taught her all of his Mysteries, and he gave her the necklace, which is the circle of rebirth. And she taught him her mysteries of the sacred cup, which is the cauldron of rebirth. They loved and were joined in union with each other, and for a time the Goddess lived in the realm of Death.
For there are three mysteries in the life of Man which are Sex, Birth and Death and love controls them all For to fulfill love you must return again at the same time and place as those who loved before. And you must meet, recognize, remember and love them again. But to be reborn you must die and be made ready for a new body. And to die you must be born; and without love you may not be born amongst your own.
But our Goddess is inclined to favor love, and joy and happiness. She guards and cherishes her hidden children in this life and the next. In death she reveals the way to her communion, and in life she teaches them the magic of the mystery of the Circle (which is set between the worlds of men and of the gods).