Aradia or The Gospel of the Witches
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
This is the name of a book written by Charles G. Leland, written at the turn of the last century. It reads like prose, as a story yet has acted as a source for modern wicca. It certainly inspired Gerald Gardner, the man responsible for the branch of Wicca known as Gardnerian. And although it is chiefly the story of Italian Wicca and witchcraft, it is still influential and stimulating reading for those taking their first few steps in the Craft.
It tells the story of Diana, "Queen of all the witches", and goddess of the moon who seduces ehr brother Lucifer, the god of the sun and gives birth to Aradia, whom she sends to earth to bring the 'Gospel of the Witches'. It many passages which are both lyrically and spiritually beasutiful, for example, the Charge of Aradia:
"Whenever ye have need of anything,
Once in the month, and when the moon is full,
Ye shall assemble in some desert place,
Or in a forest all together join
To adore the potent spirit of your queen,
My mother, great Diana. She who fain
Would learn all sorcery yet has not won
Its deepest secrets, then my mother will
Teach her, in truth all things as yet unknown.
And ye shall all be freed from slavery,
And so ye shall be free in everything;
And as the sign that ye are truly free,
Ye shall be naked in your rites, both men
And women also."
It also contains specific ritualistic details in matter of consecrating food and wine, invocations and spells.
Although this book is of most interest to the Craft community, I would recommend its reading to any other interested parties, as it is a truely beautiful work.
It tells the story of Diana, "Queen of all the witches", and goddess of the moon who seduces ehr brother Lucifer, the god of the sun and gives birth to Aradia, whom she sends to earth to bring the 'Gospel of the Witches'. It many passages which are both lyrically and spiritually beasutiful, for example, the Charge of Aradia:
"Whenever ye have need of anything,
Once in the month, and when the moon is full,
Ye shall assemble in some desert place,
Or in a forest all together join
To adore the potent spirit of your queen,
My mother, great Diana. She who fain
Would learn all sorcery yet has not won
Its deepest secrets, then my mother will
Teach her, in truth all things as yet unknown.
And ye shall all be freed from slavery,
And so ye shall be free in everything;
And as the sign that ye are truly free,
Ye shall be naked in your rites, both men
And women also."
It also contains specific ritualistic details in matter of consecrating food and wine, invocations and spells.
Although this book is of most interest to the Craft community, I would recommend its reading to any other interested parties, as it is a truely beautiful work.
