This is pretty much the most sacred of my holidays, so allow me to wax spiritual for a bit. I share this on my blog at this time of year, because I truly believe that even if you’re not pagan at all - if you’re Christian or Muslim or Jewish or whatever -  you’ll find something in this that resonates with you. Something that makes you feel like The Great Mother and the God you worship are the same thing, that in reality every Deity by every name is in fact the same one, way down at the base of it.

The Charge of the Goddess

Hear now the words of the Great Mother —who was of old called Isis, Brighid, Inanna, Yemaja , Oshun, Nokomis, Freya, and many other names, both known and unknown.

Whenever you have need of something, once in the month, and better be it when the Moon is full, then you shall assemble in some secret place, you who are fain to learn the mystery, yet have not won it’s deepest secrets, you shall I teach the things that are as yet unknown…

And you shall dance, sing, feast, make music and love, all in my praise for mine is the ecstasy of the spirit and mine also is the joy upon the Earth. For my law is love unto all beings.

I am the Gracious Goddess who gives the gift of joy unto the heart of humans. Nor do I demand aught in sacrifice, for behold, I am the Mother of All Things and my love is poured out upon the Earth.

I am the beauty of the Green Earth, and the White Moon among the stars, and the mysteries of the waters and the desire of the heart of humanity.

I call upon your soul: Arise and come to me, for I am the Soul of Nature who gives life to the universe. From me all things proceed and to me all things must return, and before my face, beloved of the gods and of humanity.

Let thine innermost self be enfolded in the rapture of the infinite. Let my worship be within the heart that rejoices, for behold-All acts of love and pleasure are my rituals.

Therefore, let there be beauty and strength, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you.

And you who think to seek for Me, know that your seeking shall avail you not, unless you know the Mystery: for that which you seek, if you find it not within yourself, you will never find it without.

For behold, I have been with you from the beginning and I am that which is attained at the end of desire.

The original of this is attributed to Doreen Valiente, but this is an adapted version I found in one of my books. I THINK it was in ’21st Century Wicca: A Young Witch’s Guide to Living the Magical Life’, by Jennifer Hunter