“And if you wish to know Me, know that your seeking and yearning will avail you not, unless you know this mystery: if that which you seek, you find not within yourself, you will never find it without.”—from the Charge of the Goddess by Doreen Valiente
This profound part of the Charge has always been a favorite of mine as I find it empowering as it signifies two lessons that I have found important and changing. The first lesson, which isn’t the point of this post, is that you possess the power to change your life. If you aren’t able to find that part of yourself which is capable of so much potential (which includes performing magick) then you will not find an external source either as YOU hold the power. You are capable of change. You are capable of magick. Empowering, right? It’s always important to remember that you must sincerely desire change otherwise it won’t manifest. Thus, the first lesson pertains to our ability to use magick and bring about any desired change in our lives.
The second lesson, and the one I focus mostly on, deals with our connection to the God and Goddess. Before you can truly begin to communicate with Them and understand Them in all Their aspects, it’s crucial to keep in mind that They are also a part of you. You are a part of the Gods and They are a part of you. Recall me saying empowering? This doesn’t mean you are a God incarnate or anything but that we all possess a spark of the Divine within. Our spirits are from the same Divine Source that we are trying to connect. It’s not necessarily learning about a new Deity but instead remembering Them. We’ve always been a part of Them and They’ve always been a part of us. It’s as the saying goes, “Thou art God. Thou art Goddess.”
Now before I begin to receive a bunch of comments from people who are able to connect with the Divine without ever having giving thought to any of this or without looking within for Them, do know it is possible, and does happen. You don’t have to acknowledge Them within yourself, however I assure you that once you do then your connection will only grow stronger and more confident. We are able to feel Their presence while gazing at the moon, sitting beneath the sun, or listening to the wind blow through the tree leaves but it can be difficult to solely connect to an external source. This was one of my biggest problems with the Abrahamic religions—I have experience with two out of the three, so do know I am not only speaking from one experience but many different ones—that God was external from us. It was hard to talk to a Deity who was above us but never within our reach. I think this is something that draws some people to Paganism. Our Gods are always around us but to have a whole and complete understanding of Them, it’s also beneficial to find them within. What a thought that we contain pieces of Them within. If that’s not a confidence booster then I don’t know what is!
This thought came back to me today as I’ve noticed I have been feeling very uninspired as of late. As I was thinking of this, the moon peaked out behind the clouds which reminded me that She was always there and listening. I wasn’t alone, even if I felt like it. As soon as the moon had appeared, it disappeared once more behind some clouds which had left me thinking about how it goes in and out. In and out. Within and without. So I started to focus on the Goddess within myself and instantly felt that spark rekindle. Next time you have a hard time connection, or if you just want to see if you (or your connection) feels different, give it a try! I’d love to hear your thoughts, any feedback, and especially your own experiences with this.
Brightest of Blessings,
The Autumn Witch
*If you've read my previous blog then this post may seem familiar but I personally find it something quite powerful and beautiful. We tend to forget our own inner divinity and when we become uninspired or feel lost, we flounder for an outside connection, when we should, in truth, be connecting with our own inner spark, our spirit, as well as the divine spark within all of us.*
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