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The Charge of the Goddess: Text, History & Full Moon Ritual Use
The Charge of the Goddess is one of the most revered and central litanies in modern Witchcraft and Wicca. Traditionally recited during Full Moon gatherings (Esbats) by the High Priestess, this sacred text serves as a direct address from the Divine Feminine to her practitioners. It offers guidance, spiritual liberation, and a reminder of the divine spark within every individual.
History and Origins of the Charge
While variations of the Charge exist across different traditions, the version most widely recognized today was written in the mid-20th century by Doreen Valiente and Gerald Gardner. Valiente drew inspiration from older texts, including Charles Godfrey Leland’s Aradia, or the Gospel of the Witches (1899) and Aleister Crowley’s writings, refining them into poetic prose that emphasizes love, nature, and personal freedom.
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The Full Text of The Charge of the Goddess
Below is the traditional prose text of the Charge, used to invoke the presence and wisdom of the Goddess during sacred rites:
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 She, who is Queen of all witches.
There shall ye assemble, ye who are fain to learn all sorcery, yet have not won its deepest secrets; to these will She 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 Her praise. For Hers is the ecstasy of the spirit, and Hers also is joy on earth; for Her law is love unto all beings.
Keep pure your highest ideal; strive ever towards it; let naught stop you or turn you aside. For Hers is the secret door which opens upon the door of youth, and Hers is the cup of the wine of life, and the Cauldron of Cerridwen, which is the Holy Grail of immortality. She is the gracious Goddess, who gives the gift of joy unto the heart of man upon earth.
She who is 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, calls unto thy soul. Arise, and come unto Her. For She is the soul of nature, who gives life to the universe; from Her all things proceed, and unto Her all things must return; and before Her face, beloved of gods and men, let thine innermost divine self be enfolded in the rapture of the infinite.
Let Her worship be within the heart that rejoiceth; for behold, all acts of love and pleasure are Her rituals. And therefore let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you.
And thou who thinkest to seek Her, 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, then thou wilt never find it without thee. For behold, She has been with thee from the beginning; and She is that which is attained at the end of desire.
How to Incorporate the Charge into Full Moon Rituals
Reciting the Charge of the Goddess during ritual work elevates spiritual focus and establishes a deep connection with the Divine Feminine.
Step 1: Cast the Circle & Drawing Down the Moon
Begin by cleansing your space and casting a protective circle. During a Full Moon Esbat, perform the rite of Drawing Down the Moon, inviting the energy of the Goddess into the ritual space or into the practitioner.
Step 2: Recite with Intent
Read or chant the Charge slowly, allowing the meaning of each passage to resonate. Focus on the core teachings:
- The Law of Love: “Her law is love unto all beings.”
- Joy and Pleasure: “All acts of love and pleasure are Her rituals.”
- Divine Immanence: “If that which thou seekest thou findest not within thee, then thou wilt never find it without thee.”
Step 3: Meditation and Spellwork
Following the recitation, sit in quiet meditation or proceed into main spellwork, such as manifestation, healing, or divination.
| Category | Associated Attributes |
| Lunar Phases | Full Moon, Waxing Crescent, Dark Moon |
| Sacred Symbols | Cauldron, Chalice, Crescent Moon, Star, Triple Moon |
| Element | Water & Earth |
| Key Virtues | Beauty, Strength, Power, Compassion, Honor, Humility, Mirth, Reverence |
| Traditional Offerings | Fresh flowers, spring water, wine, honey, silver coins |
Key Spiritual Themes and Symbolism
The Charge of the Goddess is rich with esoteric symbolism that forms the bedrock of modern Wiccan and Neopagan philosophy. Understanding these core concepts enhances both solitary study and group ritual work.
1. Divine Immanence
Unlike traditions that view deity as distant or detached, the Charge emphasizes divine immanence—the concept that the Goddess lives within the earth, nature, and the human soul. The famous line, “If that which thou seekest thou findest not within thee, then thou wilt never find it without thee,” reminds practitioners that divine consciousness begins with self-discovery.
2. The Sacredness of Joy and Pleasure
A defining feature of the litany is the declaration: “All acts of love and pleasure are Her rituals.” This explicitly rejects spiritual guilt or body shame, framing physical existence, joy, celebration, and human connection as naturally sacred expressions of creation.
3. Sacred Archetypes and Mythological Symbols
The text weaves together ancient pagan symbols from multiple mythologies:
- The Cauldron of Cerridwen: Represents rebirth, wisdom, transformation, and spiritual renewal.
- The Mystery of the Waters: Symbolic of the subconscious mind, emotional depth, and intuition.
- The White Moon Among the Stars: Represents illumination in darkness, guidance, and the cycles of cosmic time.
Prose vs. Verse: Variations of the Charge
While the prose version written by Doreen Valiente is the most widely recited, several notable variations exist throughout modern tradition:
- The Poetic Verse Version: In the late 1950s, Valiente expanded the Charge into rhyming verse to make it easier to memorize and chant aloud during rituals (“Listen to the words of the Great Mother, who of old was called Artemis, Astarte, Dione…”).
- Charles Godfrey Leland’s Aradia (1899): The earliest precursor to the Charge, recorded by Leland as part of Tuscan folklore traditions, emphasizing liberation from oppression.
- Reclaiming Tradition Adaptations: Modern feminist and inclusive traditions often modify language in the Charge to reflect gender-neutral or non-binary aspects of divine energy, honoring the Goddess as an all-encompassing cosmic force.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Charge of the Goddess
Who wrote the Charge of the Goddess?
The modern Charge of the Goddess was primarily written and refined by Doreen Valiente in the 1950s for Gerald Gardner’s Wiccan coven. She drew inspiration from Charles Godfrey Leland’s Aradia, or the Gospel of the Witches (1899) and traditional European folklore.
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Can solitary practitioners recite the Charge of the Goddess?
Yes. While traditionally recited by a High Priestess in coven settings, solitary witches frequently read or chant the Charge during personal Full Moon Esbats, self-dedications, or quiet meditation.
Is Drawing Down the Moon required before reciting the Charge?
No. While the Charge is traditionally spoken immediately after Drawing Down the Moon (a rite where Goddess energy is invoked into a priestess or practitioner), it can also stand alone as an inspiring invocation, meditation text, or daily affirmation.
