Paganistan: Notes from the Secret Commonwealth
In Which One Midwest Man-in-Black Confers, Converses & Otherwise Hob-Nobs with his Fellow Hob-Men (& -Women) Concerning the Sundry Ways of the Famed but Ill-Starred Tribe of Witches.
The Charge Before the Charge
Ænes in mónað, and betra hwonne full sé móna...
The Gidden’s Banns
Whenever ye have need of anything,
once in the month, and better it be when the moon is full,
then shall ye gather in some dernly stead
to give good worship to me, who am Queen of all Witcheries.
There foregather, ye who are fain to dwimmery,
yet have not won its deepest derns:
to these shall I teach such things as are yet unknown.
Ye shall be free from thralldom;
and in token that ye be truly free,
ye shall be naked in your yieldings.
And ye shall dance, sing, feast, make glee, and love,
all in my worthing. For mine is the drunkenness of the soul;
mine also is earthly mirth, for my law
is love unto all beings.
Mine is the dernly door that opens upon Elfhame;
and mine is the vat of the ale of life,
the well of Wyrd, which is the kettle of all fruitfulness.
On earth I give knowledge of life everlasting,
and beyond death: frith, freedom, and friendship
with those who have gone before. Nor do I ask
aught in offering, for behold:
I am the Mother of All Living,
and my love is poured out upon the earth.
Doreen Valiente, based on Charles G. Leland
Anglish rendering by Steven Posch and “Granny” Ro Nicburn
With a tip of the pointy black to Thraicie Hawkner,
founder of the feast
© 2006
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