8 -The Charges of the Goddess and the God

Lesson 8

Sacred Words, Spoken Across the Veil
The Bones of the Craft – Lesson Eight

“Some truths are too old to be spoken plainly. They must be sung, or whispered, or woven into spell and story.”
— The Crone

✨ What Is a Charge?

A Charge is a declaration—a spiritual address delivered by the Divine to the seeker. It is not scripture in the way of rigid commandment. Rather, it is an invitation, spoken from spirit to soul.

In Wicca, there are two that have become central to ritual practice:

• The Charge of the Goddess
   
• The Charge of the God
   

They are often read aloud during ritual to call in presence, to anchor the sacred, and to remind the witch of her place in the great weaving of all things.

🌕 The Charge of the Goddess

First penned in the mid-20th century by Doreen Valiente, and revised from earlier fragments by Gerald Gardner and Aleister Crowley, the Charge of the Goddess is voiced by the Great Mother Herself.

She speaks to the witch as both guide and mirror, saying:

“Whenever you have need of anything,
once in the month, and better it be when the moon is full,
then shall you assemble in some secret place…
to learn the mysteries of the Craft.”

She reminds us:

• The Goddess lives within us
   
• Joy is a sacred act
   
• All acts of love and pleasure are Her rituals
   
• She gives freedom, not control
   
• She is found in the dance, in silence, in laughter, in sorrow
   

These words are meant to awaken the witch—not into obedience, but into remembrance.

🌞 The Charge of the God

The Charge of the God is less universal in wording—many traditions craft their own. Often, He speaks of:

• Strength without tyranny
   
• Protection with compassion
   
• The sacredness of fire, sun, will, and action
   
• Honoring cycles of life and death
   
• Walking with integrity and purpose
   

An excerpt from a traditional version reads:

“I am the flame that burns in every heart;
the spark of courage in the warrior’s soul.”

His voice is not stern—it is warm, wise, and steady. Where the Goddess stirs the soul into feeling, the God calls it into doing.

📖 Why They Matter

The Charges are not commandments. They are love letters from the Divine.

They help:

• Set the tone for ritual
   
• Anchor the presence of deity
   
• Call the seeker into a deeper state of spiritual awareness
   
• Remind us of our birthright: joy, freedom, responsibility, connection
   

You may choose to use traditional versions, adapt your own, or write one from scratch—perhaps as a devotional poem to your chosen deity.

The Divine speaks in many voices. These Charges are simply two of the clearest echoes we have.

🌑 A Ritual for Listening

In sacred space, light two candles—one for the God, one for the Goddess.

Read one or both Charges aloud. Then sit in silence. Ask:

“What would they say to me, if I could truly hear?”

Write what comes.

It may not be poetic. It may not rhyme. But it will be true.

🕯️ Crone’s Whisper:

“The Goddess sings. The God drums. The witch dances in between.”