Commentary on the Charge of the Goddess 40: Textual Analysis of the Verse Version

In analysing the text of the verse Charge, a new layer of influence becomes apparent, compared to Ye Bok of ye Art Magic version: material used as direct quotation in the first version, which has now been edited further to fit the verse version. In this version there are some echoes of the direct quotation from Crowley in the BAM version, such as the ‘ecstasy on earth’ passage. I have decided not to treat these as editing of direct quotation in the BAM version in this analysis, because I do not think enough of the context is retained to make them easily recognisable to a person who knew the original Crowley source but not the BAM Charge.  Another example would be the lines ‘from me they come, to me they go,’ which could be a reference to the lines from the Golden Dawn Neophyte ritual later used in the last version of the Charge, but without knowing whether that was consciously used as the source, it is only possible to say that these lines contain the same idea. Once again, because this sort of decision has had to be made, this analysis of the text cannot claim to be the final word.

Material editing direct quotation from Aradia in BAM

Ye who ask of me a boon, Meet ye in some hidden shade, By the light of the full moon. Queen of witchery and night. Ye who are fain of sorcery, I bring ye secrets yet unknown. No more shall ye know slavery, Come ye all naked to the rite, In sign that ye are truly free. (57 words)

Passages editing material from BAM with no known source

Aphrodite, Arianrhod, Diana, Brigid, Melusine, Am I named of old by men; Artemis and Cerridwen, (15 words)

Passages editing direct quotation from Crowley: Law of Liberty in BAM

No other law but love I know, (7 words)

Passages not in BAM, with no known source

Mother darksome and divine, Mine the scourge and mine the kiss. Five-point star of life and bliss, Here I charge ye in this sign. Bow before my spirit bright, Lover of the Hornèd God, Hell’s dark mistress, Heaven’s Queen. Lead my dance in greenwood glade, Dance about mine altar stone, Work my hold magistry Who tread my round the Sabbat night. Keep ye my mysteries in mirth, Heart joined to heart and lip to lip. Five are the points of fellowship That bring ye ecstasy on earth. By naught but love may I be known; And all that liveth is my own, From me they come, to me they go. (110 words)

First, to compare the proportion of material reused from BAM, and material apparently new for this version of the Charge:

Total words	189 words
Material from BAM Charge	79 words (41.8%)
Material not found in BAM Charge	110 words (58.2%)

So the verse Charge is more than a rewrite of the earlier version: in fact without the Aradia references, or if you didn’t know they came from Aradia, it reads as a superb example of Valiente’s poetry.

Next to compare the sources of material reused from BAM:

Total material reused from BAM	79 words
Passages reusing material quoting Aradia	57 words (72.15%)
Passages reusing material quoting Crowley: Law of Liberty	7 words (8.86%)
Passages reusing material with no known source	15 words (18.99%)

Valiente succeeded in her aim of ridding the ritual of Wicca from references to ‘Crowleyanity’, while retaining references to Aradia.

And finally to compare the sources of material reused from BAM as a proportion of the whole verse Charge:

Total words	189 words
Passages reusing material quoting Aradia	57 words (30.15%)
Passages reusing material quoting Crowley	7 words (3.7%)
Passages reusing material with no known source	15 words (7.94%)