June the Tenth

Hear the words of the Star Goddess,

the dust of whose feet are the hosts of heaven,
whose body encircles the universe:

I who am the beauty of the green earth and the white moon
among the stars and the mysteries of the waters,
I call upon your soul to arise and come unto me.
For 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 your 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 there with you from the beginning,
and I am that which is attained at the end of desire.

charge of the goddess - doreen valiente - adapted by starhawk

June The Tenth

O GOD, in whom is neither near nor far, through Thee we yearn for those who belong to us, and who are not here with us. We would fain be near them to shield them from harm and to touch them with the tenderness of love. We cast our cares for them on Thee in this evening hour, and pray Thee to do better for them than we could do. May no distance have power to wean their hearts from us, and no sloth of ours cause us to lag behind the even pace of growth. In due time restore them to us, and gladden our souls with their sweet sight.
We remember too the loved ones into whose dear eyes we cannot look again. O God, in whom are both the living and the dead, Thou art still their life and light as Thou art ours. Wherever they be, lay Thy hand tenderly upon them, and grant that some day we may meet again, and hear once more their broken words of love - Amen.

- WALTER RAUSCHENBUSCH