Dramoor's Garden

(I found this lovely poem from a group I'm in.  Thought I'd share it with you.)

I AM A WITCH! By Raindancerdf

When I stand up for myself and my beliefs, they call me a witch.
When I stand up for those I love, they call me a witch.
When I speak my mind, think my own thoughts, or do things my own way, they call me a witch.

Being a witch entails raising my children to be strong people
Who have a solid sense of personal and social responsibility,
Who are not afraid to stand up for what they believe in
And, who love and respect themselves for the beautiful beings they are.

Being a witch means that I am free to be the wonderful creature I am,
With all my own intricacies, contradictions, quirks and beauty.
Being a witch means I won't compromise what's in my heart.
It means I live my life MY way. It means I won't allow anyone to step on me.

When I refuse to tolerate injustice and speak up against it, I am defined as a witch.
The same thing happens when I take time for myself instead of being everyone else's maid or when I act a little selfish.

I am proud to be a witch! It means I have the courage and strength to allow myself to be who I truly am and won't become anyone else's idea of what they think I "should" be.

I am outspoken, opinionated and determined.
By Goddess, I want what I want and there is nothing wrong with that!

So, try to stomp on me, try to douse my inner flame, try to squash every ounce of beauty I hold within me. You won't succeed.

And if that makes me a witch, so be it. I embrace the title and am proud to bear it. I love this, I can call myself a witch now and not feel bad about it!

LADY OF THE MOON, EARTH MOTHER, SISTER OF POWER


The Goddess speaks:

     I am the Great Mother, worshipped by all creation and existent prior to
their consciousness. I am the primal female force, boundless and eternal.

     I am the chaste Goddess of the Moon, the Lady of all magic. The winds and
moving leaves sing My name. I wear the crescent Moon upon My brow and My feet
rest among the starry heavens. I am a field untouched by the plow. Rejoice in Me
and know the fullness of youth.

     I am the blessed Mother, the gracious Lady of the harvest. I am clothed
with the deep, cool wonder of the Earth and the gold of the fields heavy with
grain. By Me the tides of the Earth are ruled; all things come to fruition
according to My season. I am refuge and healing I am the life-giving Mother,
wondrously fertile.

     Worship Me as the Crone, tender of the unbroken cycle of death and rebirth.
I am the wheel, the shadow of the Moon. I rule the tides of women and men and
give release and renewal to weary soul. Though the darkness of death is My
domain, the joy of birth of My gift.

     I am the Goddess of the Moon, the Earth, the Seas. My names and strengths
are manifold. I pour forth magic and power, peace and wisdom. I am the eternal
Maiden, Mother of all, and Crone of darkness and I send you My blessings of
limitless love.

The Wiccan Rede

The Wiccan Rede is the rule governing Wiccan behavior. It permits Wiccans to engage in any carefully considered action, as long as it harms nobody, including themselves. The Rede is reinforced by the Threefold Law. This is the belief that any harm or good that a Wiccan does to someone else comes back to hurt or benefit them -- magnified three times over.

Hear now the word of the Witches, the secrets we hid in the night,
When dark was our destinys pathway, That now we bring forth in the light.

Mysterious Water and Fire, The Earth and the wide-ranging Air,
By hidden Quintessence we know Them, and we will 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 the Witches are seen,
At Lammas and Candelas dancing, on May Eve and old Halloween

When daytime and nighttime 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 Covens array,
Thirteen times at Esbat make merry, for each golden year and a day.

The power has passed down the ages, each time between woman and man
Each century unto the other, ere times and the ages began.

When drawn is the Magickal circle, by sword or athame of power,
Its compass between two worlds lies, in the land of shades of that hour.

Our world has no right to know it, and the 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 at the gate of the shrine,
And two are the powers of Nature, the forms and the forces divine.

And do what thou wilt 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 Rede fulfill:
If it Harms none, Do what Thou Will!