Charge of the Goddess (or God)

[Anonymous]

I want to write my own Charge of the Goddess, but I'm not much of a poet, so it's been fairly hard going.  I persevere though!  Would anyone like to share their own versions, provided of course that no one finds my request too personal?

Blessed be,

Briar

[Blayze]

Hi Briar,

I love writing my own invokations and charges as it enables me to make them specific to particular rituals such as Full Moons or Sabbats. I do use the Charge Of The Goddess though, and my experiences with that have contibuted to the knowledge of how to write my own. Without experiencing The Charge at full ‘power’ so to speak, I don’t think I would understand how the rhythm and voice change when it is used to channel deity / energy, rather than just being spoken. The Charge works so well as it has a particular set of rhythms and pauses as well as strong symbolism. When you have learnt the piece so that it can be spoken automatically, the intent then shines through.

Anyone who has ever performed the Charge Of TheGoddess properly will know the feeling of “other” speaking through them. Different tones in the voice, different inflections and dynamics occur. When writing your own Charge, it is this result that you seek.

A Charge is basically a statement in poetic form of what a particular deity or godform/aspect represents. Although a Charge generally deals with surface symbolism that reveals a mystery as it is spoken, it should also ideally contain some of the experiences that the writer has had with that deity. This enables a sharing of mystery and experience and also gives the deity a form to speak through, i.e. if you understand what the Charge means, then it is much easier to let go of yourself and allow deity to speak through you. (I’m sure that deity can speak through someone without their permission, but generally we are looking for a willing possession).

As a Charge is always spoken with power behind it, it is usually preceeded by an invokation, and hopefully one with a shared symbolism. I usually write the invokation first as it allows me to work out which particular deity or aspect I will be calling on and to research or meditate on the symbolism. Once the symbols of the invokation are in place and the aspect (if that is what is being called upon) is in place, then the Charge is a response to that and builds upon the mystery and imagery of the invokation.

It is important to note here that if you are working with specific deities, i.e separate entities, you may wish to call upon them in a particular aspect appropriate to the ritual. A goddess who can make the way clear for you, may also be a goddess of destruction and this may be the aspect she uses. It is a very good idea to know when to be specific.

Most of the invokations and charges that I write are half-channeled. I write down a  particular set of symbols and a pattern will form. I will glimpse the mystery and that becomes the focus. The words of the invokation or charge then begin to flow. Don’t forget that a charge works on more than one level, the words and energies can tap into stories, mythologies and the collective unconscious of those present. Therefore, try to use language that evokes the senses, it should be descriptive yet simple. It also does not need to rhyme.

I highly recommend the ritual poetry / charges / invokations of Vivianne Crowley a a good place to start investigating the different forms. Her Earth Mysteries book contains many examples, many of which moved me to tears.

Anyhow, here is a selection of invokations and charges that I have written. I and other in my circle have used all of these with success. I have laid them out here in pairs so you can see the connections between them.


SPRING MAIDEN INVOKATION

From the bower of the green earth we call thee
Maiden of the spring stars,
Virgin moon and reflected sun,
The power of growth is within thee.

Virgin queen we call forth thy dance
Upon the green hills and fields,
Flowers bloom beneath thy feet
And thy crown is woven of blossoms, wild and free.

Thou art the cauldron of rebirth whose waters
Quench the thirst that lies between winter and summer,
Shimmering between night and day.

Maiden we call to thee,
Let the saps rise and the buds unfurl.
Maiden of spring we invoke thee!


CHARGE OF THE SPRING MAIDEN

I am she who graces the wild woods.
I make life renew within the land.
Fertile fields are my domain,
And all who look upon my face are reborn.
My voice is the gentle wind.
I teach the leaves my song and they
Sing of peace and new life.

I am the memory of pure white snow
Graced with shoots of green.
My birth was gentle and yours may be also.

Maiden am I!, virgin am I!
Remember me when passions overwhelm.

Darkness and light are met within me.
I am the threshold unknown,
The mystery of fertility yet untested.
I am the gateway to the beginning,
And i stand guard at the time of endings.

I am spring, I am power, I am goddess!

INVOKATION TO THE GOD

Beloved is the hunter who rules the wood
The wood is a land without end
Without end is the bounty of tree and stag
Majestic is thy realm
Thy realm entwines the secret glade as the vine reaches to the skies
The skies are warmed by thy radiant face
Thy power undimmed by the velvet cloak of night

By the last light of the sun
We call to thee O Horned one of forest and glade
We call to thee from crowned hills and sacred vales
Lord of the Hunt, Protector of Game
Warrior, King and lover of the Queen of night
We call to thee
Shining one, Radiant one
We invoke thee!

CHARGE OF THE SUN GOD

I am He who rides the dawn wave
to break on the Western Shore.

I am the Spear, the flight of  birds
I am the Sword, the scent of  battle
I am the Shield, guardian of fertile earth.

My blood is the golden tide that awakens the Land
My heart the red rending of sacrifice to come.

I give green gift to the leaves of the trees
Yet shroud my face lest they fall too soon,
For Might and Mercy are within me
And Honour is my domain

I am the budding horns of kid and kine
I run with hooves of burnished bronze
Across fields that ripen at my touch

I am Lord of Forest and Field
My chariot, the endless sky
I am the core of men and the sum of all
And I stand in the rays of the Sun.


INVOKATION TO THE GODDESS

Beloved is the mistress of the velvet night
The velvet night is bejewelled with stars
The stars are the pearls of the ocean deep
The ocean deep is thy hidden realm
Thy hidden realm is full of the bounties of mystery and spirit
Spirit is called by the tides
The tides are the silvered rays of thy glorious face
Turning darkness into light

By the rising of the silvered moon
We call to thee Lady of the rivers and streams
We call to thee from endless oceans and sacred pools
Lady of the tides, of the cycles of life
Mother, Queen and lover of the lord of the sun
We call to thee
Silvered one, flowing one
We Invoke thee!

CHARGE OF THE MOON GODDESS

I am She who rides the night skies
I am She who sings in the tides
I am She who bathes the hills
In silver, shining bright.

Hold up a mirror to see my face
Gaze upon still waters
Chant my names
And I will heed your call

I am the Maiden of the stolen glance
I am the Mother of the sacred dance
I am the Crone who knows the secrets you hide in the dark.
I am the giver of blessings to those who look beyond my bright face
For I am the Moon, and I am always with thee.


WINTER GODDESS INVOKATION

From the darkness of night's embrace
We call to thee
Lady of the Hidden Flame

We call to thee from barren hills as yet
Unwarmed by thy child's newborn face
We call to thee
Nurturer of the Sun
Keeper of the Cycle of Life
We call to thee
Kindler of the flame between the Worlds

Queen of the Longest Night
We invoke thee from the depths of thy mournful love
Return the light to our lives
We invoke thee.


INVOKATION TO THE CRONE AT SAMHAIN

O Lady Of Mourning we call to Thee
By the Cauldron of Hidden Sight
O Lady of Keening we call to Thee
By the Wings of Endless Flight
O Lady of Wisdom we call to Thee
By the Cave as dark as Night

Cailleach, Crone, Beloved Guardian of the Ford
Night Mother, Lover and Wise One
We ask for your aid in parting the Veil
We invoke thee.

(then the Crone calls the Lord Of The Underworld)

INVOKATION TO LORD OF THE UNDERWORLD

Beloved, come dance through the Veil of Night
Come dance in my embrace.
Beloved, come lead the spirits home,
Let me look upon thy face.

Lord of the Otherworld, my King, my Love
Come to me on Samhain Night
I call thee Beloved, between the Worlds
Bring to the Dark, your Light.


SPRING GODDESS INVOKATION

By bud of leaf and bud of flower
By running stream & lovers bower
Goddess of Spring, of Maidens Call
We invoke thee

By sacred well and sacred flame
By soverign stone and field of grain
Goddess of Spring, Queen of May
We invoke thee

By scent of spring that carries our prayer
By fertile fields and snow white mare
Goddess of Spring of Hawthorns Bloom
We invoke thee

By Greenwood paths & scented leaves
Come ride as Queen, on Summers eve
Descend we pray into thy servant here
Goddess of Spring we invoke thee.


I hope these help you,

Bright blessings
Blayze

[Zenon]

wow blayze! those are very good.

You said that as you wrote your ritual poetry, much of it was channeled, and I can relate to that. I am writing a series of my own rituals related to my patron deities and as I write the lines just flow out onto the paper... I rarely write poetry, I don't like most of the poetry I write but I am liking what I've written for ritual.

I could say that writing your own is a wonderful way of expressing your devotion to deity.  More than a prayer or an offering, I think it brings you closer to them, at a different, more dynamic level.

[Anonymous]

and here was me thinking Branwens didnt allow swapping of spells, invocations or anything of the like!

[Zenon]

oh my  

[Lark]

and here was me thinking Branwens didnt allow swapping of spells, invocations or anything of the like!

We don't allow spell swaps, I think that has been made quite clear.

A discussion, and some examples of invocations is not the same as swapping spells.

-Lark-

[Blayze]

Hi Lark,

If we get some more examples of invokations etc, should this thread be moved to Crones and Sages?

Cheers
Blayze

[Blayze]

Hi Keuch,

Thank you. Yes I think you can tell when it works, all of the elements within the piece suddenly come together. I look back on some of the stuff that I have written, and even though I have the drafts I can't work out how I got from point A to point B

These pieces work for me, and they work within the styles of rituals that our group performs. They may not be to anyone else's taste or symbolic view. There are many invokations and charges that I know, but I can't use them in non-initiate or public rituals, and so I decided that if I want to have invokations and charges in these rituals, I would just have to write my own.

Bright blessings
Blayze

[Lark]

Hi Lark,

If we get some more examples of invokations etc, should this thread be moved to Crones and Sages?

Cheers
Blayze

Absolutely!

-Lark-

[Zenon]

this one is not an invocation but a short blessing that I wrote:


Great Diana,
Lovely goddess, spirit of the wilderness
She who's voice is of the wind
She who's glory shines unbound
May your light lead us to your mysteries
And bless us with your strength and wisdom
to live with respect to the eternal spirits

[Lark]

This is an invocation/prayer that I wrote for Sekhmet.

Sekhmet, Beloved of Ra, Great Lady at the Place and Beginning of Time, Mother of the Gods, hear my prayer to you.

Sekhmet, One Before Whom Evil Trembles, Overcomer of All Enemies, Victorious One in Battles, be with me as I walk in the light of Ra.  Let Your shield be over me, and let your arrows keep me safe.

Sekhmet, Lady of Transformations, Opener of Ways, Beloved Teacher, open my heart and my mind to the beauty of Your path.  Let my soul be purified in Your sacred fires.
 

Sekhmet, Lady of the Waters of Life, Shining One, Lady of Intoxications, grant me renewal and richness of life.  Let Your sacred waters fill me with the power of creation.

Sekhmet, Pre-eminent One in the Boat of Millions of Years, Mother of the Dead, Guide and Protectress from the Perils of the Underworld, be with me as my soul walks the path of the dead.  Shelter me with Your wings and give me rebirth.

Sekhmet, Sublime One, Beautiful Eye that Giveth Life to the Two Lands,  Shining of Countenance, I bring you gifts of incense and wine in your honor.


-Lark-

[Blayze]

That is lovely.

[Blayze]

Ahh Lark,

Beautiful as always... and a lady who knows about stating the aspects of a deity

Thanks for moving the thread.

Blayze

[Lark]

Briar,

You have launched a fascinating topic.  And it got me thinking and writing.  The Goddess Sekhmet is currently making herself known in my life, so this is written to Her.

Charge of Sekhmet

Listen to the words of the Sekhmet; She who of old was also called  Beloved of Ra,  Lady of Transformations, Opener of Ways, Shining One, and four thousand other names.

When you have need, come unto my temples and walk amongst the sacred columns.  There shall I teach you the Mysteries and the ways of all magic.  There shall I give unto you that which is hidden from those who do not seek in truth.  I am the Way and I am the Key to the secret door.  My paths are perilous and those who tread them do so in dread and joy.  For I am the Creator and the Destroyer.  I am the Weigher of Souls and I know all that lies in your heart.  I will ask of you sacrifice, I shall demand of you truth, I shall strip you of all weakness and pretense.  And I shall give unto you immortality.

Hear ye the words of Sekhmet; before whose wrath even the Gods tremble, whose light is the blazing sun, and whose arrows lay waste the foes of Pharaoh.

I who am the black earth, the Sun in its glory, and the miracle of the waters; I who bring passion and desire in the heart of man; I do call unto you.  Arise and come to me.  For I am the floods that bring life from the desert, and I am She who bears your soul to Ma’at at life’s ending.  I gave birth to the oldest Gods, and I was there when mankind was formed from the mud of the Nile.   Let my worship be in the heart that trembles before me, for I am the Overcomer of All Enemies and my ways are open only to the pure in heart and the strong of spirit.  Know that I am with you always, from your coming  in until your going forth.  And lo, I shall be beside you in the Boat of Millions of Years as your soul reaches the undying lands and joins me forever.

-Lark-

[Blayze]

Hey Lark,

I felt that just reading it. Because you used the same format and rhythm as The Charge Of Goddess I instantly sank into that mode and let the new words and images wash over me.

Thank you.

Blayze