Taliesin

    Classic text - The Witches Creed

    Tuesday, August 21, 2007, 12:39 AM EST [General]

    Today's classic Wiccan text is The Witches Creed.  While I have seen it around the internet without attribution, be assured that this is by Doreen Valiente.  My coven has used this in circle, and, unbelievably, the first two or three lines were abused by whoever wrote the pilot to Charmed.  Enjoy!

    Hear now the words of the witches,
    The secrets we hid in the night,
    When dark was our destiny’s pathway,
    That now we bring forth into light.

    Mysterious water and fire,
    The earth and the wide-ranging air,
    By hidden quintessence we know them,
    And will and keep silent and dare.

    The birth and rebirth of all nature,
    The passing of winter and spring,
    We share with the life universal,
    Rejoice in the magical ring.

    Four times in the year the Great Sabbat
    Returns, and witches are seen
    At Lammas, and Candlemas dancing,
    On May Eve and old Hallowe’en.

    When day-time and night-time are equal,
    When the sun is at greatest and least,
    The four Lesser Sabbats are summoned,
    Again witches gather in feast.

    Thirteen silver moons in a year are,
    Thirteen is the coven's array.
    Thirteen times as Esbat make merry,
    For each golden year and a day.

    The power was passed down the ages,
    Each time between woman and man,
    Each century unto the other,
    Ere time and the ages began.

    When drawn is the magical circle,
    By sword or athame or power,
    Its compass between the two worlds lie,
    In Land of the Shades for that hour.

    This world has no right then to know it,
    And world beyond will tell naught,
    The oldest of Gods are invoked there,
    The Great Work of magic is wrought.

    For two are the mystical pillars,
    That stand to at the gate of the shrine,
    And two are the powers of nature,
    The forms and the forces divine.

    The dark and the light in succession,
    The opposites each unto each,
    Shown forth as a God and a Goddess,
    Of this did our ancestors teach.

    By night he’s the wild wind’s rider,
    The Horn’d One, the Lord of the shades,
    By day he’s the King of the Woodlands,
    The dweller in green forest glades.

    She is youthful or old as she pleases,
    She sails the torn clouds in her barque,
    The bright silver lady of midnight,
    The crone who weaves spells in the dark.

    The master and mistress of magic,
    They dwell in the deeps of the mind,
    Immortal and ever-renewing,
    With power to free or to bind.

    So drink the good wine to the Old Gods,
    And dance and make love in their praise,
    Til Elphame's fair land shall receive us,
    In peace at the end of our days.

    An Do What You Will be the challenge,
    So be it in Love that harms none,
    For this is the only commandment,
    By Magick of old, be it done.

    Eight words the Witches’ Creed fulfill:
    If it harms none, do what you will.

    Blessed Be,
    Taliesin



    4.3 (2 Ratings)

    Beautiful. Thank you.
    Blessings,

    MoonSong
    August 21, 2007
    12:44 AM EST

    I have read this an find it really lovely. Is there a difference between this and what people call the Wiccan Rede?(not wiccan, so I don't know)

    Herbalpagan
    August 21, 2007
    06:26 AM EST

    This is beautiful.
    Thank you
    Eileen

    EileenDalla
    August 21, 2007
    09:20 AM EST

    Lovely; thank you.

    Danielle
    August 21, 2007
    10:46 AM EST

    Thank you this is really beautiful. And i never noticed that about charmed haha.

    Salix Alba Grimalkin
    August 21, 2007
    12:37 PM EST
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