The Witches Creed

                                                 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 the 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 hare with the life universal
                                                    Rejoice in the magickal ring

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

                                               When day-time and night-time are equal
                                                 When 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 at 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 magickal circle
                                                   By sword or athame of power
                                               It's compass between the two worlds lie
                                                In the 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 magick is wrought

                                                  For two are the mystical pillars,
                                                 That stand 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 sucession
                                                   The opposites each unto each
                                                Shown forth as a God and a Goddess
                                                     Of this did our ancestors

                                                 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 and 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 magick
                                                 They dwell in the deeps of the mind
                                                   Immortal and ever re-newing
                                                   With power to free or to bind

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

                                               And Do what You will be the challenge
                                                   So be in love that harms none
                                                 For this is the only commandment
                                                   By magick of old be it done!

(Doreen Valiente)

...dt. Übersetzung siehe: Sternenkreis