The Charge
of the Goddess

unique book

10.25 x 7 inches

36 pages

2003

Nine folios sewn on grosgrain ribbon tapes with bead and charm spine decoration; cover made from 300# watercolor paper built up with Japanese tissue and painted with acrylic interference colors; calligraphy in gouache on acrylic painted paste paper pages.

Listen
to the words of the Great Mother
who of old was called
Artemis
Astarte
Mary
Isis
Demeter
Aphrodite
Cerridwen
Inanna
Diana
Brighid
Hecate
and by many other names.
I am the beauty of the green earth
and the white moon among the stars
and the mystery of the waters.
I am the soul of nature
that gives life to the universe.
From me all things proceed
and unto me they must return.
Let my worship be
in the heart that rejoices,
for behold, all acts of love and pleasure are my rituals.
Let there be beauty and strength,
power and compassion,
honor and humility,
mirth and reverence within you.
And you who seek to know me,
know that seeking and yearning will avail you not
unless you know the mystery.
For if that which you seek, you find 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.

Blessed be.

Excerpted from The Charge of the Goddess, as written by Doreen Valiente, in the mid-20th century, in England.

Artist's collection