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PREFACE
In the name of Annah the Allmaziful, the Everliving, the Bringer of Plurabilities, haloed
be her eve, her singtime sung, her rill be run, unhemmed as it is uneven! Her untitled
mamafesta memorialising the Mosthighest has gone by many names at disjointed times....
My spiritual beliefs emerged at an early age, circa 1970, influenced by Robert Graves'
The White Goddess, as well as many other religions which I was exposed to in the
California of the sixties. However, unlike many Neopagans, I didn't gravitate to Wicca,
Gardnerian or otherwise. It always seemed to be a desperate attempt to recreate a past
that never was, one that I wasn't eager to participate in. If I wanted to play Renaissance
dress-up I would have joined the Society for Creative Anachronism; however, I have no
intention of being burned at the stake, pretend or otherwise. Also, since we live an
pluralistic, secular society, in theory, there should be nothing to fear. So why perpetuate
an underground mentality?
After I researched the history of Wicca, I came to realize that it was completely synthetic,
and at its heart a forgery. Based on English ceremonial magic--Golden Dawn, Crowleys'
Thelema, Rosicrucianism, John Dee's Enochian Magic, and Kabbalah; Wicca was
stitched together from whole cloth by Gerald Gardiner circa 1948, and from deeply
patriarchal sources at that. There are living Pagan traditions that go back further than the
nineteenth century, such as Afro-Caribbean religions like Vodun and Santeria. But trust
me, Wicca is not one of them. So why not make a more palatable synthesis?
I don't think that the Goddess is displeased by Wicca; she must be laughing, though, at all
of the silly things that people do to try to contact her. The Goddess is all around us. She's
right here. In you, your mother, your daughter, your sister, your girlfriend. She is in you
and me. She's right there. She loves you.
Magic happens when you are in love with the Goddess. It doesn't require circles, candles,
special wands/knives/pentacles. Unbidden, magical, seeming coincidental things will
start to happen. You can use rituals, shamanistic methods such as
drums/ethenogens/chanting/prayer/power lunch, but if you are truly in love with the
Goddess, they are, on one level at least, superfluous. That's not to say that rituals, altars,
ceremonies should be spurned, however:--the Goddess loves play, song, dance and
beautiful arrangements of found objects and texts. The point is, you can make up your
own rituals, create your own ceremonies, dream up new names for the Goddess and see if
they stick. There is no single 'right' or 'proper' way to give homage to the Goddess; as her
diversity of form is manifest, so we shouldn't have to worship her in one way only. What
is written in this book is just one possible synthesis.
I believe that to worship the Goddess you shouldn't have to wait 'a year and a day' to join
a coven, or go to Wicca post-graduate school just to start your own group. If you
sincerely affirm her reality, that is sufficient.
The Book of the Goddess is obviously a pastiche of other religious texts. I sincerely hope
that nobody will interpret this as mockery, but as respect. I want a 'monotheaistic'
Goddess-based religion, and to do so, one must go to the great monotheistic religions. I
want a religion which doesn't negate its predecessors, but incorporates the best of them.
In this Book you'll find echoes and outright plagiarism of Buddhist, Christian, Taoist,
Jewish, Sikh, Hindu, Islamic, and even some Pagan texts. After all, the patriarchal
religions started out by appropriating the myths and traditions that preceded them; it's
time to return the favor.
According to Marija Gimbutas, the Neolithic culture of 6500-3500 BCE which emerged
after the last Ice Age was a peaceful agrarian society which worshipped only a Mother
Goddess, with no images of a Father god. It was an epoch of peace and sexual equality.
Technology was used to improve life rather than oppress and degrade people, or destroy
the Earth. Time was regarded as cyclic and regenerative rather than culminating in an
apocalypse where unbelievers are consigned to eternal torture. This is the inspiration for
this synthesis. May the summer-time come again.
2. Treat all beings with reciprocity, for the Goddess lives in them as well as in us.
3. Tolerate other religions and do not compel others to join the circle of the Goddess: the
Goddess will draw those to Her who are ready and hear Her call.
6. In the circle of the Goddess create consensus while respecting diversity of opinion. On
the path of the Goddess there are many paths.
7. In your home create a sacred space for the Goddess to please Her. Meditate on the
Goddess three times a day, at rising, at noon and at sundown.
8. Sexuality is Her sacrament; enjoy this gift and bless those who you share it with love
and affection. Remember that overcoming jealousy is the cause of cessation of the cycle
of rebirth.
9. Announce the religion of the Goddess to the world through good works, honest words
and selfless acts of beauty and love.
To set out on the path of the Goddess, you need only recite the first principle three times,
and say three times 'blessed be'. The Goddess will enter your heart and you will feel her
love, and when that happens you are in the circle of the Goddess.
GENESIS
In the beginning the Goddess dreamed within the undifferentiated plenum.
The plenum was of multifold dimensions
It seethed with fractal bubbles which linked all scales of reality.
And she moved within and upon the face of the quantum foam,
In wholeness, in a timeless place.
The matrix of the Goddess was empty
And all universes were united all in her embrace.
There was no past and no future, no up or down.
The laws and the form of the microscopic was identical to the macroscopic.
As Above, so was Below;
There was no division into Goddess and not-Goddess.
There was only one plenum and the one Goddess
Was as the water flowing in the depths of the ocean.
And the Deuterostomia begat the Chordata. And the Chordata had backbones, and the
Goddess saw that that was good. And they were the parents of the fish, the amphibians,
the reptiles, the birds and the mammals. And that was the Cambrian age
And the Chordata begat the Craniata. And among the Chordata were the Agnathan fish,
the first Vertebrata. And that was the Ordovician Age.
The Vertebrata begat the Gnathostomata, the jawed, and that was the Middle Devonian
Age.
And the Gnathostomata begat the Teleostomi. And the Teleostomi begat the
Osteichthyes. the And the Osteichthyes begat the Sarcopterygii. And the Sarcopterygii
begat the Terrestrial Vertebrates. And that was the Upper Devonian. And life emerged
onto land, the ancestors of the mammals, reptiles, birds and amphibians.
And the Terrestrial Vertebrates begat the Tetrapoda. The Tetrapoda had four feet. And
that was the Mississippian Age. The Tetrapoda were the ancestors of all reptiles, the
whales, the amphibians, and the mammals.
And the Reptiliomorpha begat the Amniota, the egg-bearers. And that was the origin of
the Reptiles and Mammals alike.
--ALP
I.
II.
III.
IV.
Blessed be Maria,
The Goddess of the Ocean;
Blue-mantled, foam crested;
She brings rains to the dry lands;
Her song is sung by the whales of the deep.
She nurtured life in its infancy;
As she watches over childbirth;
V.
VI.
VII.
Blessed be Demeter,
Bringer of seasons and giver of good gifts,
We eat of your divine foods:
Grains, Fruits, Vegetables;
We praise your bounty at every meal;
You sustain our bodies and gladden our soul.
IX.
Blessed be Kali,
Goddess of the Underworld;
Skull-wreathed, terrible Goddess
Death, destroyer of Universes;
She who sits at the gate of rebirth;
She who weighs our heart in the scales;
If it weighs less than a pomegranate seed;
She will send you on to the summerland;
If it is heavier, you will wander in the Bardos;
To find rebirth and find love once more.
--ALP
Oh Goddess,
You Yourself are the Creator. Everything that happens is by Your Doing.
There is no one except You.
With each and every breath, I dwell upon You; I shall never forget You.
The more the Goddess dwells within the mind,
The more the lover of the Goddess drinks in the Ambrosial Nectar.
Mind and body are Yours; You are my Mistress.
Please rid me of my hate, my jealousy, and my ignorance, and let me merge with You.
Everyone belongs to the One who rules the Universe.
The lover of the Goddess practices good deeds, and the truth is revealed in the heart.
True is the reputation of the true, within whom truth abides.
Those who meet the True Goddess are not separated again;
They come to dwell in the home of the self deep within.
O mind, don't cry out that you are hungry, always hungry; stop complaining.
The One who created the infinite species of beings gives sustenance to all.
The Fearless Goddess is forever Merciful; She takes care of all.
O lover of the Goddess, She understands, and finds the Door of Liberation.
Those who keep the Goddess enshrined within their hearts are said to be blessed.
Placing mind and body in offering before the Goddess,
They conquer and eradicate jealousy from within.
Blessed and acclaimed is that lover of the Goddess, who shall never be defeated.
Those who receive Her Grace find Her;
Without Her Grace, She cannot be found.
In the Grove of the Goddess, peace is found,
Meditating on Her nine billion names night and day.
The truthful ones are not stained by hate.
Meditating on the Goddess, their minds remain pure;
The lovers of the Goddess shed their ego; attuned to her orgasm, they find peace.
The One Goddess is the Giver of all; She Herself bestows all blessings.
No one else has any say in this; She gives just as She pleases.
O mind, vibrate and meditate forever on the Goddess; seek the Protection of Her Grove.
The Mistress of the Universe is the Treasure of Excellence; Her limits cannot be found.
She is not obtained by mouthing mere words, but by rooting out jealousy from within.
By Goddess' Grace, one remains blended with the True Name of the Creatrix;
This mind is very powerful; we cannot escape it just by trying.
In the love of duality, people suffer in pain, condemned to terrible punishment.
O mind, give up the love of duality.
The Goddess dwells within you; serving the Goddess, you shall find peace.
Engrossed in jealousy, the world perishes.
It dies and is re-born; it continues coming and going in reincarnation.
The self-willed do not recognize the Goddess;
They forfeit their honor, and depart in disgrace.
The True Queen has written Her Order, which no one can erase.
The self-willed do not obtain the Grove of the Goddess' Presence.
The false are plundered by falsehood.
Engrossed in egotism, the world perishes.
Without the Goddess, there is utter darkness.
In emotional attachment to one lover, they have forgotten the Great Giver, the Giver of
Peace.
Those who serve the True Goddess are saved;
They keep the True Goddess enshrined in their hearts.
By Her Grace, we find the Queen, and reflect on the True Word of the Goddess.
The desires of the mind are fulfilled, when one is filled to overflowing with Her orgasm.
One who fears, loves, and is devoted to the Dear Goddess day and night,
Sees Her always close at hand.
Doubt runs far away from the bodies of those,
Whose minds remain forever attuned to the True Word of the Goddess.
The Immaculate Mistress is found. She is True; She is the Ocean of Excellence.
Those who remain awake and aware are saved, while those who sleep are plundered.
They do not recognize the True Word of the Goddess, and like a dream, their lives fade
away.
Like guests in a deserted house, they leave just exactly as they have come.
II.
III.
IV.
My mother was the one who told me that the girl arose;
She put her hands into the wood ashes;
She threw up the wood ashes into the sky.
She said to the wood ashes:
"The wood ashes which are here,
They must altogether become the Milky Way.
They must white lie along in the sky,
That the stars may stand outside of the Milky Way,
While the Milky Way is the Milky Way,
While it used to be wood ashes."
They (the ashes) altogether become the Milky Way.
The Milky Way must go round with the stars;
While the Milky Way feels that,
The Milky Way lies going round;
While the stars sail along; therefore,
The Milky Way, lying, goes along with the stars.
The Milky Way, when the Milky Way stands upon the earth,
The Milky Way turns across in front,
While the Milky Way means to wait,
While the Milky Way feels that the Stars are turning back;
While the Stars feel that the Sun is the one who has turned back;
She is upon his path; the Stars turn back;
While they go to fetch the daybreak;
That they may lie nicely,
While the Milky Way lies nicely.
The Stars shall also stand nicely around.
V.
AMATERASU
I.
--ALP
II.
III.
This light is come, amid all lights the fairest; born is the brilliant, far-extending
brightness.
Night, hath yielded up a birth-place for the Morning.
The Fair, the Bright is come with her offspring; to her the Dark One hath resigned her
dwelling.
Akin, immortal, following each other, changing their colors both the heavens move
onward.
Common, unending is the Sisters' pathway; taught by the Goddess, alternately they travel.
Fair-formed, of different hues and yet one-minded, Night and Dawn clash not, neither do
they travel.
Bright leader of glad sounds, our eyes behold her; splendid in hue she hath unclosed the
portals.
She, stirring up the world, hath shown us riches: Dawn hath awakened every living
creature.
Rich Dawn, she sets afoot the coiled-up sleeper, one for enjoyment, one for wealth or
worship,
Those who saw little for extended vision. All living creatures hath the Dawn awakened.
One to high sway, one to exalted glory, one to pursue her gain, and one her labor:
All to regard their different vocations, all moving creatures hath the Dawn awakened.
We see her there, the Child of Heaven apparent, the young Maid, flushing in her shining
raiment.
You sovereign Lady of all earthly treasure, flush on us here, auspicious Dawn, this
morning.
She first of endless morns to come hereafter, follows the path of morns that have
departed.
Dawn, at her rising, urges forth the living; who is dead she wakes not from her slumber.
As you, Dawn, hast caused Fire to be kindled, and with the Sun's eye hast revealed
creation.
And hast awakened women to offer worship, you hast performed, for the Goddess a noble
service.
How long a time, and they shall be together,--Dawns that have shone and Dawns to shine
hereafter?
She yearns for former Dawns with eager longing, and goes forth gladly shining with the
others.
Gone are the women who in the days before us looked on the rising of the earlier
Morning.
We, we the living, now behold her brightness and they come nigh who shall hereafter see
her.
Foe-chaser, born of Law, the Law's protectress, joy-giver, waker of all pleasant voices,
Auspicious, bringing food for the Goddesses' enjoyment, shine on us here, most bright, O
Dawn, this morning.
From days eternal hath Dawn shone, the Goddess, and shows this light to-day, endowed
with riches.
So will she shine on days to come immortal she moves on in her own strength,
undecaying.
In the sky's borders hath she shone in splendor: the Goddess hath thrown off the veil of
darkness.
Awakening the world with purple horses, on her well-harnessed chariot Dawn
approaches.
Bringing all life-sustaining blessings with her, showing herself she sends forth brilliant
luster.
Last of the countless mornings that have vanished, first of bright morns to come hath
Dawn arisen.
Arise! the breath, the life, again hath reached us: darkness hath passed away and light
approaches.
She for the Sun hath left a path to travel we have arrived where women prolong
existence.
Singing the praises of refulgent Mornings with his hymn's web the priestess, the poetess
rises.
Shine then to-day, rich Maid, on she who lauds thee, shine down on us the gift of life and
offspring.
Dawns giving daughters to women, shining upon the woman who brings offerings,--
Mother of Goddesses, shine forth exalted.
Rise up, bestowing praise on our devotion all-bounteous,
Whatever splendid wealth the Dawns bring with them to bless the woman who offers
praise and worship.
IV.
Fain to bring light to homes of women the noble and active Goddess hath emerged from
darkness.
She before all the living world hath wakened, the Lofty One who wins and gathers
treasure.
Revived and ever young on high she glances. Dawn hath come first to our morning
worship.
If, Dawn, thou Goddess nobly born, thou give fortune this day to all the race of mortals,
May the Goddess declare before the Sun that we are sinless.
Showing her wonted form each day that passes, spreading the light she visits each
dwelling.
Eager for conquest, with bright sheen she comes. Her portion is the best of goodly
treasures.
First among all sing forth, O joyous Morning.
Let our glad hymns and holy thoughts rise upward, for the flames brightly burning have
ascended.
The far-refulgent Mornings make apparent the lovely treasures which the darkness
covered.
The one departs and the other comes: unlike in hue day's, halves march on successive.
One hides the gloom of the surrounding Parents. Dawn on her shining chariot is
resplendent.
She who has knowledge of the first day's nature is born refulgent white from out the
darkness.
The Maiden breaks not the law of Order, day by day coming to the place appointed.
In pride of beauty like a maid thou go, O Goddess, to the lovers who longs to pleasure
thee,
And smiling youthful, as you shines brightly, before your adoring lovers.
Fair as a lover embellished by her sister you show forth your form that all may see it.
Blessed art thou O Dawn. Shine yet more widely. No other Dawns have reached what
thou attain.
In constant operation with the sunbeams,
The Dawns depart and come again and again assuming their wonted forms that promise
happy fortune.
Obedient to the rein of Law Eternal give us each thought that more and more shall bless
us.
Shine thou on us to-day, Dawn, swift to listen. With us be pleasure who worship.
V.
VI.
KALI
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
SELENE
I.
IV.
V.
Lovely Goddess of the bow!
Lovely Goddess of the arrows!
Of all hounds and of all hunting
Thou who wakest in starry heaven
When the sun is sunk in slumber
Thou with moon upon they forehead,
Who the chase by night preferrest
Unto hunting in the daylight,
With thy nymphs unto the music
Of the horn--thyself the huntress,
And most powerful: I pray thee
Think, although but for an instant,
Upon us who pray unto thee!
VI.
VI.
VII.
In name of the Holy Spirit of the Goddess,
In name of the Mother of the Grove of peace,
In name of Persephone who took death off us,
Oh! in name of the Three who shield us in every need,
If well thou hast found us tonight,
Seven times better may thou leave us without harm,
Thou bright white Moon of the seasons,
Bright white Moon of the seasons.
VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.
GAIA
I.
Hail to the Earth mother, who caused the yellow flowers to blossom, who scattered the
seeds of the cactus, as she came forth from Paradise.
Hail to the Earth mother, who poured forth flowers in abundance, who scattered the seeds
of the cactus, as she came forth from Paradise.
Hail to the Earth mother, who caused the yellow flowers to blossom, she who scattered
the seeds of the cactus, as she came forth from Paradise.
Hail to the Earth mother, who poured forth white flowers in abundance, who scattered the
seeds of the cactus, as she came forth from Paradise.
Hail to the goddess who shines in the thorn bush like a bright butterfly.
Ho! she is our mother, goddess of the earth, she supplies food in the desert to the wild
beasts, and causes them to live.
Thus, thus, you see her to be an ever-fresh model of liberality toward all flesh.
And as you see the goddess of the earth do to the wild beasts, so also does she toward the
green herbs and the fishes.
II.
This many are the days
Since our moon mother,
Yonder in the west
Appeared still small.
When she became fully grown
Seeking yonder along the river courses
The ones who are our mothers,
Female willow,
Four times cutting the straight young shoots,
To my house
I brought my road.
This day,
With my warm human hands
I took hold of them.
I gave my offerings human form.
With the striped cloud tail
Of the one who is my grandmother,
With the striped cloud wings
And massed cloud tails
Of all the birds of summer,
With these four times I gave my offerings human form.
With the flesh of the one who is my mother,
Cotton woman,
Even a poorly made cotton thread,
Four times encircling them and tying it about their bodies,
I gave the offerings human form
With the flesh of the one who is our mother,
Four times covering them with flesh,
I gave my offerings human form.
In a short time the offerings were ready.
Taking the offerings,
I made my road go forth.
Yonder with prayers
We took our road.
Thinking, "Let it be here,"
Our earth mother
We passed upon her road.
There on your earth mother,
There where you are waiting your offerings
We have passed you on your roads.
There where you are all gathered together in beauty
Now that you are to receive your offerings,
You are gathered together.
This day I give you offerings.
By means of your supernatural wisdom
You will clothe yourself with the offerings.
Wherever you abide permanently,
At the place of the first beginning,
Touching one another with your offerings,
You will bend down to talk together.
From where you abide permanently,
Your little wind-blown cloud,
Your thin wisps of cloud,
Your hanging stripes of cloud,
Your massed up clouds, replete with living waters,
You will send forth to stay with us.
They will come out standing on all sides.
With your fine rain caressing the earth,
With your weapons, the lightning,
With your rumbling thunder,
Your great crashes of thunder,
With your fine rain caressing the earth,
Your heavy rain caressing the earth,
With your great pile of waters here
With these You will pass us on our roads.
In order that you may come to us thus
I have given you offerings. My mothers,
When you have taken your offerings,
With your waters,
Your seeds,
Your riches,
Your power,
Your strong spirit,
Will all your good fortune whereof you are possessed,
Me you will bless.
This day, my mothers,
I have given you offerings.
The source of our water of life.
The source of our flesh,
Flesh of the white corn
I give to you.
Taking your offerings,
With your waters,
Your seeds,
Your riches,
Your long life,
Your old age,
With all your good fortune
You will bless us.
This is all.
III.
I will sing of well-founded Earth, mother of all, globe of our birth.
She feeds all creatures, all that go upon the goodly land,
And all that are in the paths of the seas, and all that fly:
All these are fed of her store.
Through you, O queen, women are blessed in their children and blessed in their harvests,
And to you it belongs to give means of life to mortal women and to take it away.
Happy is the woman whom you delight to honor!
She has all things abundantly: her fruitful land is laden with corn,
Her pastures are covered with cattle, and her house is filled with good things.
Such women rule orderly in their cities:
Great riches and wealth follow them:
Their daughters exult with ever-fresh delight,
Their daughters in flower-laden bands play
They skip merrily over the soft flowers of the field.
Thus is it with those whom you honor
O holy goddess, bountiful spirit.
IV.
DEMETER
I.
I sing of rich-haired Demeter, lady of the glorious fruits,
Of her and her trim-ankled daughter Persephone
First of all to travel the roads of the Bardos to the land of death and back.
But the wide-pathed earth yawned there and Kali, with her immortal horses
sprang out upon her, the Daughter of the Creatrix, She who has many names,
She is the destroyer of worlds, eater of universes.
Kali caught her up reluctant on her golden car and bare her away lamenting.
Then Persephone cried out shrilly with her voice, calling upon her mother,
Demeter, who is most high and excellent.
But no one, either of the deathless goddesses or of mortal women, heard her voice,
nor yet the olive-trees bearing rich fruit: only tender-hearted Hecate,
Bright-coiffed, the daughter of Gaia, heard the girl from her cave.
And so long as she, the goddess, yet beheld earth and starry heaven
And the strong-flowing sea where fishes shoal, and the rays of the sun,
And still hoped to see her dear mother and the tribes of the eternal gods,
So long hope calmed her great heart for all her trouble
And the heights of the mountains and the depths of the sea
Rang with her immortal voice: and her queenly mother heard her.
Bitter pain seized her heart, and she rent the covering upon her divine hair
With her dear hands: her dark cloak she cast down from both her shoulders and sped,
Like a wild-bird, over the firm land and yielding sea, seeking her child.
But no one could tell her the truth, neither goddess nor mortal woman;
And of the birds of omen none came with true news for her.
Then for nine days queenly Demeter wandered over the earth
With flaming torches in her hands, so grieved that she never tasted
Ambrosia and the sweet draught of nectar, nor sprinkled her body with water.
But when the tenth enlightening dawn had come,
Hecate, with a torch in her hands, met her, and spoke to her and told her news:
But grief yet more terrible and savage came into the heart of Demeter,
And thereafter she was so angered with the dark-clouded Kali
That she avoided the gathering of the Goddesses,
And went to the towns and rich fields of women,
Disfiguring her form a long while.
And no deep-bosomed women knew her when they saw her,
Until she came to the fragrant town of Eleusis, in ocean-girded Crete.
Vexed in her dear heart, she sat near the wayside by the Maiden Well,
From which the women of the place were used to draw water,
In a shady place over which grew an olive shrub.
And she was shrouded in the form of an elder woman
Who is cut off from childbearing and the gifts of garland-loving Aphrodite,
There the daughters of Eleusis, saw her,
As they coming for easy-drawn water,
To carry it in pitchers of bronze to their dear mother's house:
Four were they and like goddesses in the flower of their girlhood,
Callidice and Cleisidice and lovely Demo and Callithoe
Who was the eldest of them all.
They knew her not,--for the goddesses are not easily discerned by mortals
But startling near by her spoke winged words:
"Old mother, whence are you of folk born long ago?
Why are you gone away from the city and do not draw near the houses?
For there in the shady halls are women of just such age as you,
And others younger; and they would welcome you both by word and by deed."
Thus they said. And she, Demeter, queen among goddesses answered them saying:
"Hail, dear children, whosoever you are of woman-kind.
I will tell you my story; for it is not unseemly that I should tell you truly what you ask.
Doso is my name, for my stately mother gave it me.
And now I am come from Crete over the sea's wide back,
Not willingly; but pirates brought me thence by force of strength against my liking.
Afterwards they put in with their swift craft,
And these the women landed on the shore in full throng
And they began to make ready a meal by the stern-cables of the ship.
But my heart craved not pleasant food,
And I fled secretly across the dark country and escaped my captors,
That they should not take me across the sea against my will.
And so I wandered and am come here:
And I know not at all what land this is or what people are in it.
But may all those who dwell on high give you birth of children
When and where you desire,
So you take pity on me, maidens,
And show me this clearly that I may learn, dear children,
To the house of what woman I may go,
To work for them cheerfully at such tasks
As belong to a woman of my age.
Well could I nurse a new born child, holding her in my arms,
Or keep house, or teach, or any other profession requiring the wisdom of age."
Soon they came to the house and went through the portico
To where their queenly mother sat by a pillar of the close-fitted roof,
Holding her daughter, a tender scion, in her bosom.
And the girls ran to her.
But the goddess walked to the threshold:
And her head reached the roof and she filled the doorway with a heavenly radiance.
Then awe and reverence and pale fear took hold of Metaneira,
And she rose up from her couch before Demeter, and bade her be seated.
But Demeter, bringer of seasons and giver of perfect gifts,
Would not sit upon the bright couch,
But stayed silent with lovely eyes cast down until careful Iambe
Placed a jointed seat for her and threw over it a silvery fleece.
Then she sat down and held her veil in her hands before her face.
A long time she sat upon the stool without speaking because of her sorrow,
And greeted no one by word or by sign, but rested, never smiling,
And tasting neither food nor drinks because she pined with longing
For her deep-bosomed daughter Persephone, until careful Iambe--
Who pleased her moods in aftertime also--
Moved the holy lady with many a quip and jest to smile and laugh and cheer her heart.
Then Metaneira filled a cup with sweet wine and offered it to her;
And Metaneira mixed the draught and gave it to the goddess as she bade.
So the great queen Demeter received it to observe the sacrament.
When she had so spoken, she took the child in her fragrant bosom
With her divine hands: and her mother was glad in her heart.
So the goddess nursed in the palace the daughter whom well-girded Metaneira bare.
And the child grew like some immortal being,
Not fed with food nor nourished at the breast:
For by day rich-crowned Demeter would anoint her with ambrosia
As if she were the offspring of a goddess and breathe sweetly upon her
As she held her in her bosom.
But at night she would hide her like a brand in the heart of the fire,
Unknown to her dear parents.
And it wrought great wonder in these that she grew beyond her age;
For she was like the goddess face to face.
And she would have made her deathless and unaging,
Had not well-girded Metaneira in her heedlessness
Kept watch by night from her sweet-smelling chamber and spied.
But she wailed and smote her two hips, because she feared for her daughter
And was greatly distraught in her heart; so she lamented and uttered winged words:
"My daughter, the strange woman buries you deep in fire
And works grief and bitter sorrow for me."
When she had so said, the goddess changed her stature and her looks,
Thrusting old age away from her:
Beauty spread round about her
And a lovely fragrance was wafted from her sweet-smelling robes,
And from the divine body of the goddess a light shone afar,
While golden tresses spread down over her shoulders,
So that the strong house was filled with brightness as with lightning.
And so she went out from the palace.
All night long they sought to appease the glorious goddess, quaking with fear.
But, as soon as dawn began to show, they started the labor that
Lovely-crowned goddess Demeter charged them.
So countless people to came an assembly
And they raised a goodly temple for rich-haired Demeter
And an altar upon the rising hillock.
As for the child, she grew like an immortal being.
Now when they had finished building and had drawn back from their toil,
They went every one to their house.
But golden-haired Demeter sat there apart from all the blessed gods and stayed,
Wasting with yearning for her deep-bosomed daughter.
Then she caused a most dreadful and cruel year for humanity
Over the all-nourishing earth:
When she said this, wise Persephone was filled with joy and hastily sprang up for
gladness.
But Kali on her part secretly gave her a sweet pomegranate seed to eat,
Taking care for herself that she might not remain continually with grave, dark-robed
Demeter.
Then Kali the destroyer openly got ready her deathless horses beneath the golden
chariots.
And she mounted on the chariot and Athena took reins in her hands
And drove forth from the hall of the judgement, the horses speeding readily.
Swiftly they traversed their long course,
And neither the sea nor river-waters
Nor grassy glens nor mountain-peaks
Checked the career of the immortal horses,
But they clave the deep air above them as they went.
And Athena brought them to the place where rich-crowned Demeter
Was staying and checked them before her fragrant temple.
So did they then, with hearts at one, greatly cheer each the other's soul
And spirit with many an embrace: their hearts had relief from their griefs
While each took and gave back joyousness.
"Come for far-seeing Amaterasu the Sky-Mother calls you to join us in the Grove of the
Goddess,
And has promised to give you what rights you please
And has agreed that for a third part of the circling year
Your daughter shall go down to darkness and gloom,
But for the two parts shall be with you and the other deathless gods:
So has she declared it shall be and has bowed her head in token.
But come, my lover, obey, and be not too
Angry unrelentingly with the skull-wreathed Kali;
But rather increase forthwith for women the fruit that gives them life."
So spoke Rhea.
And rich-crowned Demeter did not refuse but straightway made
Fruit to spring up from the rich lands,
So that the whole wide earth was laden with leaves and flowers.
Then she went, and she showed the conduct of her rites
And taught women all her mysteries,--
Awful mysteries which no one may in any way transgress or pry into or utter,
For deep awe of the goddess checks the voice.
Happy is she among women upon earth who has seen these mysteries;
but she who is uninitiated and who has no part in them,
Never has lot of like good things once she is dead,
Down in the darkness and gloom.
ATHENA
I.
II.
III.
IV.
MARIA
I.
II.
III.
O Goddess Maria,
In my deeds,
In my words,
In my wishes,
In my reason,
And in the fulfilling of my desires,
In my sleep,
In my dreams,
In my repose,
In my thoughts,
In my heart and soul always,
May the blessed Maria dwell.
Oh! in my heart and soul always!
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
On the feast day of Maria the fragrant,
Mother of the Shepherd of the flocks,
I cut me a handful of the new corn,
I dried it gently in the sun,
I rubbed it sharply from the husk
With mine own palms.
I ground it in a quern on Friday,
I baked it on a fan of sheepskin,
I toasted it to a fire of rowan,
And I shared it round my people.
I went sunways round my dwelling,
In name of the Maria Mother,
Who promised to preserve me,
Who did preserve me,
And who will preserve me,
In peace, in flocks,
In righteousness of heart,
In labor, in love,
In wisdom, in mercy,
For the sake of Thy Passion.
Thou Mother of grace
Who till the day of my death
Wilt never forsake me!
Oh, till the day of my death
Wilt never forsake me!
IX.
A Invocation of protection
X.
O Mary Mother,
Goddess of the all encompassing Oceans,
Never was known
One who was placed
Beneath thy generous care,
Who asked thy mercy,
Who asked thy shielding,
Who asked thy succor
With truthful heart,
Who found not thy solace,
Who found not thy peace,
Who found not the succor
For which she sought.
That gives unto me
The hope excelling
That my kind desires
May find sanctuary with thee.
My heart is content
To kneel at thy bedside,
My heart is content
In thy favor and hearing;
To come into thy presence,
Beauteous one of smiles,
To come into thy presence,
Beauteous one of women;
To come into thy presence,
Queen of all species,
To come into thy presence,
Queen-maiden of the worlds;
To come into thy presence,
O flower-garland of branches,
To come into thy presence,
Bright garland of the heavens;
To come into thy presence,
O river of seed,
To come into thy presence,
O vessel of peace;
To come into thy presence,
O fountain of healing,
To come into thy presence,
O well-spring of grace;
To come into thy presence,
Thou dwelling of meekness,
To come into thy presence,
Thou home of peace;
To come into thy presence,
Thou jewel of the clouds,
To come into thy presence,
Thou jewel of the stars;
To come into thy presence,
O Mother of black sorrow,
To come into thy presence,
O Mother of the Goddess of glory;
To come into thy presence,
Thou Virgin of the lowly,
To come into thy presence,
Thou Mother of Universes;
With lament and with sorrow,
With prayer and supplication,
With grief and with weeping,
With invoking and entreaty;
That thou may have me spared
Shame and disgrace,
That thou may have me spared
Flattery and scorn;
That thou may have me spared
Misery and mourning,
That thou may have me spared
Anguish eternal;
That thou may help my soul
On the highway of the Queen,
That thou may help my soul
On the roadway of peace;
That thou may help my soul
In the doorway of mercy,
That thou may help my soul
In the place of justice.
Since thou art the star of ocean,
Pilot me at sea;
Since thou art the star of earth,
Guide thou me on shore.
Since thou art the star of night,
Lighten me in the darkness;
Since thou art the sun of day,
Encompass me on land.
Since thou art the star of Devas,
Watch over me on earth;
Since thou art the star of paradise,
Companion me to heaven.
May thou shield me by night,
May thou shield me by day,
May thou shield me by day and night,
O bright and gracious Queen of heaven.
Grant me my prayer of love,
Grant me my entreaty for shielding,
Grant me my supplication of pain
Count me not as naught, O my Goddess,
Count me not as naught, O my Sister,
Count me not as naught, O kind Spirit,
And abandon me not to eternal loss.
XII.
XIII.
APHRODITE
I.
I will sing of stately Aphrodite, gold-crowned and beautiful,
Whose dominion is the realm of love and beauty.
The moist breath of the western wind wafted
Her over the waves of the loud-moaning sea in soft foam,
And there the gold-filleted Graces welcomed her joyously.
They clothed her with heavenly garments:
On her head they put a fine, well-wrought crown of gold,
And in her pierced ears they hung ornaments of amber and precious gold,
And adorned her with golden necklaces over her soft neck and snow-white breasts,
Jewels which the gold-filleted Graces wear themselves whenever they go
To their Mothers' grove to join the lovely dances of the Devas.
And when they had fully decked her, they brought her to the Devas,
Who welcomed her when She saw her, taking Her by their hands.
Each one of them prayed that she might lead her home to be her girlfriend,
So greatly were they amazed at the beauty of violet-crowned Aphrodite.
Hail, sweetly-winning, coy-eyed Goddess of Love!
II.
III.
IV.
V.
O Aphrodite!
In honor of thee I will hold this feast,
Feast and drain the goblet deep,
We, will dance and wildly leap,
And if thou grant the grace which I require,
Then when the dance is wildest, all the lamps
Shall be extinguished and we'll freely love!
ERIS
I.
Blessed are the generous in love: for theirs is the Love of the Goddess.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the poor: for they shall inherit the Earth.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after the knowledge: for they shall be enlightened.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall be loved by the Goddess.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the avatars of the Goddess.
Blessed are they who are persecuted: for theirs will be the Goddesses' justice.
Blessed are you of the Goddess when the ignorant shall revile you,
And persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for the Goddesses
sake.
I, the Creatrix, speak through my beloved Gaia to those who come after:
"Rejoice, I say, and be exceeding glad: for I will take you into My arms:
For the Patriarchs burned and persecuted the Witches who came before you:
And these I gathered to My arms and freed from the cycle of rebirth."
Women are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has lost its taste,
What with shall our food be salted?
It is thenceforth good for nothing,
But to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot;
The Patriarchs would wish women to be invisible.
But in women are the light of the world.
A tree that grows on a hill cannot be hid.
Neither do women light a hearth fire, and hide it;
As it gives light to all that are in the house.
Let your light so shine before humanity,
That they may see your good works, and glorify your Queen, the Goddess.
You have heard it said that it is unholy for woman to lay with woman,
Or man to lay with man,
But I say to you that the Goddesses' love knows no gender.
You have heard that it has been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
But I say to you, resist chaos with all of the passion of the Goddess:
Create peace in the sacred places of the Earth;
Revenge begats revenge; whosoever breaks the cycle of revenge is beloved of the
Goddess.
Find common ground with your adversary quickly,
For whosoever shall create consensus is the beloved of the Goddess.
Love those who love you, but what is exceptional about that?
Be you therefore not jealous, even as your Creatrix is not jealous;
This is exceptional.
Rebirth after rebirth, Her children suffer;
This ring of suffering is sundered if you can extinguish jealousy in your heart;
This is the noble truth of the Goddess;
It is as light as a feather, but as difficult to lift as a mountain.
Live simply on the Earth and do not compel others to worship the Goddess;
For all will find their own path to Her Grove;
There are many paths to the Grove of the Goddess.
At that moment the Sun set and the full Moon rose;
And silence fell on the marketplace;
Gaia was consumed by the flames;
She died at the hands of the patriarchs;
May the burning times not come again;
May we be blessed by Her tolerance and wisdom.
Commentary
This section of the Book of the Goddess has commentary on the principles of the
Goddess, and correspondences between the principles and each of the nine key names of
the Goddess.
This section also gives Invocations for each of the key Goddesses. A Invocation is a short
passage which should be recited inwardly. Some of these Invocations are identified with
a particular time of day or activity. Others are suggested for use in particular situations
where the influence of the Goddess may be required. These can also be recited aloud,
alone, with another person, or in a group, as desired. Thus the pronouns 'I/me' and 'we/us'
are interchangeable in these Invocation, as required by context.
1. I acknowledge that there is one Goddess in essence, Creatrix of all existences; Her
forms are infinite, She manifests Herself in our love, and we are all Her
lovers.
The Goddess, in her form Amaterasu is the spirit of the first principle.
The Sun, the center of our solar system, symbolizes the central place of the Goddess in
existence. The planets which revolve around Her are dwarfed by comparison. By
acknowledging the central place of the Goddess in our lives we pass from the dark night
of the patriarchy to the dawn of the Goddess. She dawns in her heart when we accept her
principles. This illuminates our spirits and enables us to live in balance once more.
When performing the ritual of the acknowledgement of the Goddess, you should select a
Goddess name to use in the circle of the Goddess; this is typically a name of a historical
Goddess, or a female name associated with a Goddess in some way. Both women and
men do so. There is no need to disclose this name to those not on the path of the Goddess,
or actually change you legal name. The Goddess name is not particularly secret. You can
change this name if you want at any time. It is just a mental exercise to remind you that
the Goddess is in you as in all.
The Invocation of Amaterasu (time of day: dawn): "Blessed Amaterasu, lead me into
your light from the shadows. I walk in beauty. I walk in peace. I walk in balance on the
path of the Goddess. Blessed be."
2. Treat all beings with reciprocity, for the Goddess lives in them as well as in us.
The Goddess in her form Kali is the spirit of the second principle.
Kali is the form of the Goddess who weighs you in the moment after you end your
current incarnation. If your spirit weighs more than a pomegranate seed, you will be
judged by her. If you are beset with jealousy, if you have hated others and caused them
harm, or if you have not acquired knowledge, she will send you into the misty Bardos.
The Bardos are tangled mazes of folded and cyclic paths, punctured with portals back
into the realm of matter, and rebirth. If your spirit is purged of karmic burden, or Kali
judges you ready, you will transcend reincarnation and pass over the infinite ocean of the
Goddess, to dwell the Summerland.
Only Kali can judge us or others. If we judge others we must do so in her name, and take
on the karma of that judgement as well as our own. By doing so we must strive for the
wisdom of Kali.
Therefore, the balanced path is to treat others with reciprocity. If you do so, in awareness
that the Goddess lives in them as well as in you, your intent, actions and effects will be
free of Karmic accumulation.
This is the Invocation of Kali (sundown): "Blessed Kali, I promise to treat other beings
with reciprocity, for the Goddess lives in them as in me. As you judge us, I ask for your
wisdom to judge others. Give me the strength to be fair, calm and gentle. Blessed be."
3. Tolerate other religions and do not compel others to join the circle of the
Goddess: the Goddess will draw those to Her who are ready and hear Her
call.
The Goddess in her form Selene is the spirit of the third principle.
Patriarchy developed religions based on the severing of the link with Gaia. This led to the
denying of the body, the split of mind and body, and mind and spirit. Only some
teachings which were muttered in the darkness by acolytes who barely understood what
they were saying preserved even a seed of the truth. Religion is a binding up of our
threefold essences, and none of these can function without the other two, and these
essences are empty without the presence of the Goddess. Selene, the triform goddess of
the Waxing, the Full and the Waning moon symbolizes this triple essence.
To mystify the masses so that they would not attempt to rebuild the civilization of the
Goddess, the patriarchs developed religions of their own. Many of these religions are
used by those in power as spiritual weapons. To this end they promote hatred of other
religions by their followers, even though the doctrines in their holy books preach love
and tolerance.
We stand apart from the crusades and holy wars of the patriarchal religions. We say to
them, if you profess belief in love and tolerance, why promote hate and intolerance in
practice?
We have no need to compel others to join our circle. We do not cloak our intentions in
sugary platitudes or tell the masses they are doomed forever unless they adopt our
principles. Rather, we state our case honestly and let those who are ready to join us find
their own way to the Goddess.
This is the Invocation of Selene (moonrise): "Blessed Selene, unite my mind, body and
spirit and fill me with your presence. Through your unfailing love, give me the strength
to create peace and tolerance, and show others the way to the path of the Goddess.
Blessed be."
The Goddess in her form Gaia is the spirit of the fourth principle.
Life on this planet has been tossed out of balance by the patriarchy with its arbitrary
division between the human world and the natural world.
This has led to technology without love, women and men set apart and men set above
women, the rending of mind from body and spirit from mind, war without end, and labor
without fair recompense.
Technology and Science are not inventions of the patriarchy. The understanding of nature
and how to use that understanding to improve our lives was invented by the civilization
of the Goddess. This was done as an act of love for the body of the Goddess we inhabit,
Gaia.
Because the love of Gaia was the basis for the civilization of the Goddess, the 'original
sin' of the patriarchs was to spurn this love, by declaring that the body of Gaia, our wide-
hipped Mother, was theirs to ravage and plunder.
When the patriarchy seized technology and purged it of love, the first thing they did was
invent warfare, so that they could take from the innocent, and accumulate wealth and
power.
Unless you love what you do, your life will be empty of pleasure and you will be
burdened on the path of the Goddess. This is the principle of creative love. A thing made
without love is a hollow shadow.
Unless you pay fair recompense for labor, the Goddess will shun your enterprise. Labor
must have voice in the counsels of the workplace. Trade which exploits one of the parties
in the transaction, or which plunders Gaia's body, will lead to disaster and ruin for all
involved.
Unless we love the Earth and learn to live in balance, She will scourge our civilization
like She has done before and will do again. Gaia is not dependent on humanity for
existence; we do not own Her and we are not her shepherd. She existed long before
humans walked on the Earth. She has Her own cycles and balances, and if we continue on
the path of unbalance, we are expendable.
The Invocation of Gaia (time of day: noon): "Blessed Gaia, our first and best home, Gaia
of the green hills and wide plains, Gaia of the ocean depths. I walk in beauty. I walk in
peace. I walk in balance on the path of the Goddess. Blessed be."
5. Eat mostly grains, vegetables and fruits, so that there will be enough food for all;
when you eat thank the Goddess, the provider of all energy. It is not
forbidden to eat animal flesh in moderation, but when you do so you must
thank the animal that you eat as well.
The Goddess in her form Demeter is the spirit of the fifth principle.
Life depends on energy and choices we make about the source of that energy can nourish
us or destroy us.
By eating primarily plants, we honor our foremothers who invented horticulture and
agriculture, the great gift of the first civilization of the Goddess. As the population grew,
it became necessary to increase the yield of the fields. Today, civilization depends on
large scale agriculture which pollutes the earth and creates tasteless if standardized food.
The way that animals are prepared as food in the current cycle of civilization does not, in
general, treat the animals with respect. A new civilization of the Goddess will modify
these practices.
The Goddess does not demand privation or avoidance of food. She loves elegant and
simple meals alike, and delights in the sensuality of food.
To bring this principle to your awareness, recite the Invocation of Demeter at meals:
"Blessed Demeter, I invite you to join us in the enjoyment of this meal, and through your
abundance may we be always be blessed with health, harmony and unfailing love.
Blessed be."
6. In the circle of the Goddess create consensus while respecting diversity of opinion.
On the path of the Goddess there are many paths.
The Goddess in her form Athena is the spirit of the sixth principle.
Athena symbolizes power and the exercise of wisdom and justice. She is a warrior
Goddess, but her warcraft is not exercised in the name of oppression; she comes to
liberate. She dispenses mercy and enforces peace where the patriarchy has created ruin.
Instead of war for war's sake, Her violence is only unleashed as a final resort. And then
she uses stealth, knowledge, and skill to overcome her enemies.
In the civilization of the Goddess, female did not dominate male, but led by consensus; it
was not just a topsy-turvy version of patriarchy. In the patriarchy, males govern all by
force, mystification and oppression. A new civilization of the Goddess will be based on
complete sexual equality, and restore leadership by consensus, not hierarchy.
By living by these principles within the circle of the Goddess, we build the foundation for
a new society. As a stone cast into the water sends out concentric waves, one act of
reconciliation can be a powerful source of inspiration.
One being, or any group of finite beings, can not claim to have final answers to all
questions, and the path of the Goddess is multifold, just as the multiverse is. This is one
of the key distinctions between the religion of the Goddess and those of the patriarchy.
The Invocation of Athena (when you must resolve a conflict): "Blessed Athena. Give us
the wisdom to listen to and hear other's opinions. Help us find the common ground so that
all may be free of this dispute. Blessed be."
7. In your home create a sacred space for the Goddess to please Her. Meditate on
the Goddess three times a day, at rising, at noon and at sundown.
The Goddess in her form Maria is the spirit of the seventh principle.
Maria is the Goddess of the Ocean. This includes both the literal ocean, and the ocean of
the love of the Goddess which surrounds us, unseen by most. By creating sacred space
you can bathe in this ocean. Sacred space can be created anywhere, since the Goddess
lives in all space and time, all matter and energy.
A sacred space can be an physical altar. This is a personal area in your home or
workplace to remind you of the Goddess. Your altar can have symbolic objects such as
images of historical Goddesses, shells, feathers, rocks, dried pomegranates, vials of earth,
seawater, or other natural objects. You can place pictures of loved ones or objects which
remind you of them such as toys, scraps of clothing, and so on. You can burn incense,
ring bells or blow horns. Essentially your altar and the way you worship before it can be
anything that symbolizes the Goddess to you.
There is another kind of sacred space, which is created in your spirit. This is created
during the meditation on the Goddess.
To create a spiritual sacred space of the Goddess, close your eyes and visualize a
limitless, calm ocean surrounding you in every direction.
Calm your mind and attempt to free it from thoughts. Focus on your breathing. Visualize
each thought, emotion, fear or concern as a boat sailing away on an ocean.
When you are calm, feel the love of the Goddess enter you and fill you; this pleases her
and she will love you in return.
There is no need for a particular pose or posture. You can perform the meditation
standing, sitting, laying down, whatever makes you feel comfortable.
Afterwards, inwardly recite the appropriate Invocation for that time of day.
The Invocation of Maria (before sleep): "Blessed Maria. Queen of grace, Mother of
mercy. Bestow upon us protection from all evil, this and every night. Blessed be."
8. Sexuality is Her sacrament; enjoy this gift and bless those who you share it with
love and affection. Remember that overcoming jealousy is the cause of
cessation of the cycle of rebirth.
The Goddess in her form Aphrodite is the spirit of the eighth principle.
Any act of sex which is done with pleasure and love is beloved by the Goddess. Pleasure
is the striving of the body to merge with the inner beauty of the Goddess. Love is the
emotion which draws two or more people to experience pleasure together.
Jealousy is the cause of rebirth. You should at all times strive to eliminate jealousy in
word, thought and deed. This does not imply infidelity. You must be honest with your
lover or lovers. Likewise, you cannot own their hearts. If they decide to break off with
you, do not hold onto them in your heart, as this also makes your spirit heavy. The
Goddess loves all of us and in her enfolding love we are all together in infinity.
Women and men were divided by the patriarchy on the basis of gender; these distinct
roles were enforced so that the domination of men over women could take place. The
patriarchs dictated that marriage would be a mirror of their hierarchical world, with men
set over women. Eventually this was followed to its logical conclusion and love between
persons of the same gender was oppressed. Furthermore, fixed gender roles were
enforced. Males who acted like females or females who acted like males were ridiculed,
beset with difficulties and if recalcitrant, murdered. A new civilization of the Goddess
will have none of this.
Keeping aware of the civil legality of a particular expression of love, lovers of the
Goddess will engage in sexuality without exploitation and with transparency. If civil laws
are broken, the intent of the Goddess must be not broken. The Goddess does not want this
gift to be wasted or stolen; it must be given in freedom and total mutual trust.
The Invocation of Aphrodite: "Blessed Aphrodite, gladden our bodies with your embrace.
We honor your gifts of love and pleasure, and will not be jealous of your other lovers.
Blessed be."
9. Announce the religion of the Goddess to the world through good works, honest
words and selfless acts of beauty and love.
The Goddess in her form Eris is the spirit of the ninth principle.
Eris is the Goddess of Chaos, but Chaos also engenders infinite beauty. Simple rules
create chaotic systems which give rise to staggering amounts of complexity. Simple acts
of kindness can create the context for other acts of kindness. Honesty in the face of a
society built on lies can lay the basis for social change. One selfless act of love, like
stepping in front of a tank, can elevate the consciousness of the entire world. Eris
challenges fear, terror, war and violence by acts of beauty and love.
Good works include charity, but surpass the narrowest sense of the word of giving money
and forgetting about it. Charity by itself is an empty gesture. True charity means
attempting to build a society where the abundance can be shared without depriving
anyone. This does not exclude giving money, time or energy to shelter, or give food for
the needy, or sponsor socially beneficial programs. Rather it means that a society with
hungry people, people without health care, people without housing, is an indicted society.
By the power of Eris, we can create a just society where the abundance of the Goddess is
shared by all.
This will necessarily be a difficult and chaotic transition. Eris will guide us through it.
The Goddess Eris helps those caught in the wake of Chaos to take the correct path and
emerge unharmed. To sort the path out, she give us foresight into the future. When you
need guidance in a time of chaos, call on her to give you vision.
The Invocation of Eris should be used when chaos, violence, or fear strikes you: "Blessed
Eris. Take me to your place of stillness in the chaos around me so that I can see the path
before me. I shall not fear. This will pass over me, and around me, and through me. I will
be free; I will live in peace. Blessed be."