Commentary

This section of the Book of the Goddess has commentary on the principles of the Goddess, and correspondences between the principles and each of the nine key names of the Goddess.

This section also gives Invocations for each of the key Goddesses. A Invocation is a short passage which should be recited inwardly. Some of these Invocations are identified with a particular time of day or activity. Others are suggested for use in particular situations where the influence of the Goddess may be required. These can also be recited aloud, alone, with another person, or in a group, as desired. Thus the pronouns 'I/me' and 'we/us' are interchangeable in these Invocation, as required by context.

1. I acknowledge that there is one Goddess in essence, Creatrix of all existences; Her forms are infinite, She manifests Herself in our love, and we are all Her lovers.

The Goddess, in her form Amaterasu is the spirit of the first principle.

The Sun, the center of our solar system, symbolizes the central place of the Goddess in existence. The planets which revolve around Her are dwarfed by comparison. By acknowledging the central place of the Goddess in our lives we pass from the dark night of the patriarchy to the dawn of the Goddess. She dawns in her heart when we accept her principles. This illuminates our spirits and enables us to live in balance once more.

Ideally the ritual of acknowledgement of the Goddess should be performed in the company of others who have done so previously. There is no reason it cannot be done alone. After doing so, an informal celebration can occur. There is no particular ritual required other than the three-fold recitation of the first principle, and no documentation need be created.

When performing the ritual of the acknowledgement of the Goddess, you should select a Goddess name to use in the circle of the Goddess; this is typically a name of a historical Goddess, or a female name associated with a Goddess in some way. Both women and men do so. There is no need to disclose this name to those not on the path of the Goddess, or actually change you legal name. The Goddess name is not particularly secret. You can change this name if you want at any time. It is just a mental exercise to remind you that the Goddess is in you as in all.

The Invocation of Amaterasu (time of day: dawn): "Blessed Amaterasu, lead me into your light from the shadows. I walk in beauty. I walk in peace. I walk in balance on the path of the Goddess. Blessed be."

2. Treat all beings with reciprocity, for the Goddess lives in them as well as in us.

The Goddess in her form Kali is the spirit of the second principle.

Kali is the form of the Goddess who weighs you in the moment after you end your current incarnation. If your spirit weighs more than a pomegranate seed, you will be judged by her. If you are beset with jealousy, if you have hated others and caused them harm, or if you have not acquired knowledge, she will send you into the misty Bardos. The Bardos are tangled mazes of folded and cyclic paths, punctured with portals back into the realm of matter, and rebirth. If your spirit is purged of karmic burden, or Kali judges you ready, you will transcend reincarnation and pass over the infinite ocean of the Goddess, to dwell the Summerland.

Only Kali can judge us or others. If we judge others we must do so in her name, and take on the karma of that judgement as well as our own. By doing so we must strive for the wisdom of Kali.

Therefore, the balanced path is to treat others with reciprocity. If you do so, in awareness that the Goddess lives in them as well as in you, your intent, actions and effects will be free of Karmic accumulation.

This is the Invocation of Kali (sundown): "Blessed Kali, I promise to treat other beings with reciprocity, for the Goddess lives in them as in me. As you judge us, I ask for your wisdom to judge others. Give me the strength to be fair, calm and gentle. Blessed be."

3. Tolerate other religions and do not compel others to join the circle of the Goddess: the Goddess will draw those to Her who are ready and hear Her call.

The Goddess in her form Selene is the spirit of the third principle.

Patriarchy developed religions based on the severing of the link with Gaia. This led to the denying of the body, the split of mind and body, and mind and spirit. Only some teachings which were muttered in the darkness by acolytes who barely understood what they were saying preserved even a seed of the truth. Religion is a binding up of our threefold essences, and none of these can function without the other two, and these essences are empty without the presence of the Goddess. Selene, the triform goddess of the Waxing, the Full and the Waning moon symbolizes this triple essence.

To mystify the masses so that they would not attempt to rebuild the civilization of the Goddess, the patriarchs developed religions of their own. Many of these religions are used by those in power as spiritual weapons. To this end they promote hatred of other religions by their followers, even though the doctrines in their holy books preach love and tolerance.

We stand apart from the crusades and holy wars of the patriarchal religions. We say to them, if you profess belief in love and tolerance, why promote hate and intolerance in practice?

We have no need to compel others to join our circle. We do not cloak our intentions in sugary platitudes or tell the masses they are doomed forever unless they adopt our principles. Rather, we state our case honestly and let those who are ready to join us find their own way to the Goddess.

This is the Invocation of Selene (moonrise): "Blessed Selene, unite my mind, body and spirit and fill me with your presence. Through your unfailing love, give me the strength to create peace and tolerance, and show others the way to the path of the Goddess. Blessed be."

4. Worship Her by restoring balance to Her planet.

The Goddess in her form Gaia is the spirit of the fourth principle.

Life on this planet has been tossed out of balance by the patriarchy with its arbitrary division between the human world and the natural world.

This has led to technology without love, women and men set apart and men set above women, the rending of mind from body and spirit from mind, war without end, and labor without fair recompense.

Technology and Science are not inventions of the patriarchy. The understanding of nature and how to use that understanding to improve our lives was invented by the civilization of the Goddess. This was done as an act of love for the body of the Goddess we inhabit, Gaia.

Because the love of Gaia was the basis for the civilization of the Goddess, the 'original sin' of the patriarchs was to spurn this love, by declaring that the body of Gaia, our wide-hipped Mother, was theirs to ravage and plunder.

When the patriarchy seized technology and purged it of love, the first thing they did was invent warfare, so that they could take from the innocent, and accumulate wealth and power.

Unless you love what you do, your life will be empty of pleasure and you will be burdened on the path of the Goddess. This is the principle of creative love. A thing made without love is a hollow shadow.

Unless you pay fair recompense for labor, the Goddess will shun your enterprise. Labor must have voice in the counsels of the workplace. Trade which exploits one of the parties in the transaction, or which plunders Gaia's body, will lead to disaster and ruin for all involved.

Unless we love the Earth and learn to live in balance, She will scourge our civilization like She has done before and will do again. Gaia is not dependent on humanity for existence; we do not own Her and we are not her shepherd. She existed long before humans walked on the Earth. She has Her own cycles and balances, and if we continue on the path of unbalance, we are expendable.

The Invocation of Gaia (time of day: noon): "Blessed Gaia, our first and best home, Gaia of the green hills and wide plains, Gaia of the ocean depths. I walk in beauty. I walk in peace. I walk in balance on the path of the Goddess. Blessed be."

5. Eat mostly grains, vegetables and fruits, so that there will be enough food for all; when you eat thank the Goddess, the provider of all energy. It is not forbidden to eat animal flesh in moderation, but when you do so you must thank the animal that you eat as well.

The Goddess in her form Demeter is the spirit of the fifth principle.

Life depends on energy and choices we make about the source of that energy can nourish us or destroy us.

By eating primarily plants, we honor our foremothers who invented horticulture and agriculture, the great gift of the first civilization of the Goddess. As the population grew, it became necessary to increase the yield of the fields. Today, civilization depends on large scale agriculture which pollutes the earth and creates tasteless if standardized food. The way that animals are prepared as food in the current cycle of civilization does not, in general, treat the animals with respect. A new civilization of the Goddess will modify these practices.

The Goddess does not demand privation or avoidance of food. She loves elegant and simple meals alike, and delights in the sensuality of food.

Fasting is a spiritual practice which is used to sharpen awareness; it is not demanded of anyone at anytime. It must not be used without clear intention and in such a way that no lasting harm is done.

To bring this principle to your awareness, recite the Invocation of Demeter at meals: "Blessed Demeter, I invite you to join us in the enjoyment of this meal, and through your abundance may we be always be blessed with health, harmony and unfailing love. Blessed be."

6. In the circle of the Goddess create consensus while respecting diversity of opinion. On the path of the Goddess there are many paths.

The Goddess in her form Athena is the spirit of the sixth principle.

Athena symbolizes power and the exercise of wisdom and justice. She is a warrior Goddess, but her warcraft is not exercised in the name of oppression; she comes to liberate. She dispenses mercy and enforces peace where the patriarchy has created ruin. Instead of war for war's sake, Her violence is only unleashed as a final resort. And then she uses stealth, knowledge, and skill to overcome her enemies.

In the civilization of the Goddess, female did not dominate male, but led by consensus; it was not just a topsy-turvy version of patriarchy. In the patriarchy, males govern all by force, mystification and oppression. A new civilization of the Goddess will be based on complete sexual equality, and restore leadership by consensus, not hierarchy.

By living by these principles within the circle of the Goddess, we build the foundation for a new society. As a stone cast into the water sends out concentric waves, one act of reconciliation can be a powerful source of inspiration.

One being, or any group of finite beings, can not claim to have final answers to all questions, and the path of the Goddess is multifold, just as the multiverse is. This is one of the key distinctions between the religion of the Goddess and those of the patriarchy.

The Invocation of Athena (when you must resolve a conflict): "Blessed Athena. Give us the wisdom to listen to and hear other's opinions. Help us find the common ground so that all may be free of this dispute. Blessed be."

7. In your home create a sacred space for the Goddess to please Her. Meditate on the Goddess three times a day, at rising, at noon and at sundown.

The Goddess in her form Maria is the spirit of the seventh principle.

Maria is the Goddess of the Ocean. This includes both the literal ocean, and the ocean of the love of the Goddess which surrounds us, unseen by most. By creating sacred space you can bathe in this ocean. Sacred space can be created anywhere, since the Goddess lives in all space and time, all matter and energy.

A sacred space can be an physical altar. This is a personal area in your home or workplace to remind you of the Goddess. Your altar can have symbolic objects such as images of historical Goddesses, shells, feathers, rocks, dried pomegranates, vials of earth, seawater, or other natural objects. You can place pictures of loved ones or objects which remind you of them such as toys, scraps of clothing, and so on. You can burn incense, ring bells or blow horns. Essentially your altar and the way you worship before it can be anything that symbolizes the Goddess to you.

There is another kind of sacred space, which is created in your spirit. This is created during the meditation on the Goddess.

First recite the Invocation of the one Goddess.

Our Mother, creator of heaven;
Blessed be your name.
Your springtime come,
Your singtime sung,
On Earth, as it is in Heaven.
"Do what you love, shall be the whole of the law,
And harm no one, lest ye be harmed threefold;"
And lead us to knowledge, and deliver us from jealousy:
For yours is the wisdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.
Blessed be. Blessed be. Blessed be.

To create a spiritual sacred space of the Goddess, close your eyes and visualize a limitless, calm ocean surrounding you in every direction.

Calm your mind and attempt to free it from thoughts. Focus on your breathing. Visualize each thought, emotion, fear or concern as a boat sailing away on an ocean.

When you are calm, feel the love of the Goddess enter you and fill you; this pleases her and she will love you in return.

There is no need for a particular pose or posture. You can perform the meditation standing, sitting, laying down, whatever makes you feel comfortable.

This should be done three times daily.

Afterwards, inwardly recite the appropriate Invocation for that time of day.

The Invocation of Maria (before sleep): "Blessed Maria. Queen of grace, Mother of mercy. Bestow upon us protection from all evil, this and every night. Blessed be."

8. Sexuality is Her sacrament; enjoy this gift and bless those who you share it with love and affection. Remember that overcoming jealousy is the cause of cessation of the cycle of rebirth.

The Goddess in her form Aphrodite is the spirit of the eighth principle.

Any act of sex which is done with pleasure and love is beloved by the Goddess. Pleasure is the striving of the body to merge with the inner beauty of the Goddess. Love is the emotion which draws two or more people to experience pleasure together.

Jealousy is the cause of rebirth. You should at all times strive to eliminate jealousy in word, thought and deed. This does not imply infidelity. You must be honest with your lover or lovers. Likewise, you cannot own their hearts. If they decide to break off with you, do not hold onto them in your heart, as this also makes your spirit heavy. The Goddess loves all of us and in her enfolding love we are all together in infinity.

Women and men were divided by the patriarchy on the basis of gender; these distinct roles were enforced so that the domination of men over women could take place. The patriarchs dictated that marriage would be a mirror of their hierarchical world, with men set over women. Eventually this was followed to its logical conclusion and love between persons of the same gender was oppressed. Furthermore, fixed gender roles were enforced. Males who acted like females or females who acted like males were ridiculed, beset with difficulties and if recalcitrant, murdered. A new civilization of the Goddess will have none of this.

Keeping aware of the civil legality of a particular expression of love, lovers of the Goddess will engage in sexuality without exploitation and with transparency. If civil laws are broken, the intent of the Goddess must be not broken. The Goddess does not want this gift to be wasted or stolen; it must be given in freedom and total mutual trust.

The Invocation of Aphrodite: "Blessed Aphrodite, gladden our bodies with your embrace. We honor your gifts of love and pleasure, and will not be jealous of your other lovers. Blessed be."

9. Announce the religion of the Goddess to the world through good works, honest words and selfless acts of beauty and love.

The Goddess in her form Eris is the spirit of the ninth principle.

Eris is the Goddess of Chaos, but Chaos also engenders infinite beauty. Simple rules create chaotic systems which give rise to staggering amounts of complexity. Simple acts of kindness can create the context for other acts of kindness. Honesty in the face of a society built on lies can lay the basis for social change. One selfless act of love, like stepping in front of a tank, can elevate the consciousness of the entire world. Eris challenges fear, terror, war and violence by acts of beauty and love.

Good works include charity, but surpass the narrowest sense of the word of giving money and forgetting about it. Charity by itself is an empty gesture. True charity means attempting to build a society where the abundance can be shared without depriving anyone. This does not exclude giving money, time or energy to shelter, or give food for the needy, or sponsor socially beneficial programs. Rather it means that a society with hungry people, people without health care, people without housing, is an indicted society. By the power of Eris, we can create a just society where the abundance of the Goddess is shared by all.

This will necessarily be a difficult and chaotic transition. Eris will guide us through it.

The Goddess Eris helps those caught in the wake of Chaos to take the correct path and emerge unharmed. To sort the path out, she give us foresight into the future. When you need guidance in a time of chaos, call on her to give you vision.

The Invocation of Eris should be used when chaos, violence, or fear strikes you: "Blessed Eris. Take me to your place of stillness in the chaos around me so that I can see the path before me. I shall not fear. This will pass over me, and around me, and through me. I will be free; I will live in peace. Blessed be."

THE GODDESS PRAYER

Most high, omnipotent, good Goddess,
Praise, glory and honor and benediction all, are Thine.
To Thee alone do they belong, most High,
And all beings join hands in the circle of Thy love.

Praise be to Thee, my Goddess, with all Thy creatures,
Especially to my worshipful Sister Sun,
Which lights up the day, and through her dost Thou brightness give;
And beautiful is she and radiant with splendor great;
Of Thee, most High, the very image.

Praised be my Goddess, for Sister Moon and for the stars,
In heaven Thou hast formed them clear and precious and fair.

Praised be my Goddess for Sister Atmosphere
And for the rain and air and clouds and fair and every kind of weather,
By which Thou givest to Thy creatures nourishment.
Praised be my Goddess for Sister Water,
Which is greatly helpful and humble and precious and pure.

Praised be my Goddess for Sister Fire,
By which Thou lightest up the dark.
And fair is she and Gay and mighty and strong.

Praised be my Goddess for our sister, Mother Earth,
Which sustains and keeps us
And brings forth diverse fruits with grass and flowers bright.

Praised be my Goddess for those who for Thy love forgive
And weakness bear and tribulation.
Blessed those who shall in peace endure,
For by Thee, most High, shall they be crowned.
Praised be my Goddess for our Sister Kali, the bodily death,
From which no being can flee.
Pity be on them who die unloved by the Goddess;
Blessed art those who find enlightenment in Thy most holy embrace,
For they will find the way home to Thy Summerland.

Praise ye and bless ye O Goddess, and give Her thanks,
And let all beings enjoy the nectar of Her ecstasy.