the cauldron of alchemy

When I shall have departed from this world,

Whenever ye have need of anything,

Once in the month, and when the moon is full,

Ye shall assemble in some desert place,

Or in a forest all together join

To adore the potent spirit of your queen,

My mother, great Diana.She who fain

Would learn all sorcery yet has not won

Its deepest secrets, them my mother will

Teach her, in truth all things as yet unknown.

And ye shall all be freed from slavery,

And so ye shall be free in everything;

And as the sign that ye are truly free,

Ye shall be naked in your rites, both men

And women also: this shall last until

The last of your oppressors shall be dead;

And ye shall make the game of Benevento,

Extinguishing the lights, and after that

Shall hold your supper thus...

Mother, darksome and divine,

Mine the scourge and mine the kiss

Five-point star of love and bliss

Here I charge ye in this sign.

Bow before my spirit bright

Aphrodite, Arianrhod,

Lover of the Horned God,

Queen of Witchery and night

Diana, Brigid, Melusine

Am I named of old by men,

Artemis and Cerridwen,

Hell's dark mistress, Heaven's Queen.

Ye who ask of me a boon,

Meet ye in some hidden shade.

Learn my dance in greenwood glade,

by the light of the full moon.

Dance about mine altar stone.

Work my holy Magistry,

Ye who are fain of sorcery,

I bring ye secrets yet unknown.

No more shall ye know slavery

Who tread my round on Sabbat night.

Come ye all naked to the rite,

In sign that ye are truly free.

Keep ye my mysteries in mirth

Heart joined to heart, and lip to lip.

Five are the points of fellowship

That bring ye ecstasy on Earth.

No other law but love I know,

By naught but love I may be known,

And all that liveth is mine own

From me they come, to me they go.

Spiral Dance by Starhawk (1979)

Listen to the words of the Great Mother,

Who of old was called Artemis, Astarte, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Diana, Arionrhod, Brigid, and by many other names:

Whenever you have need of anything, once a month, and better it be when the moon is full,

you shall assemble in some secret place and adore the spirit of Me Who is Queen of all the Wise.

You shall be free from slavery,

and as a sign that you be free you shall be naked in your rites.

Sing, feast, dance, make music and love, all in My Presence,

for Mine is the ecstasy of the spirit and Mine also is joy on earth.

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