The Charge of the God

Daniel Webster Christensen

Listen to the words of the Horned God, the guardian of all things wild and free, the keeper of the gates of death; he whose call all must answer:

I am the fire within your heart, the yearning of your soul; the hunter of knowledge and the seeker of the Holy Quest. I, the consort and mate of her we adore, say this to you: You who dare to find me, know that I am the untamed wind, the fury of the storm. Call unto me in the forest wild and on hilltop bare and seek me in the dankness, bright. Look in the wild places, I am there. Look at the smallest seed pushing up concrete, I am there. Look into your heart, I am there. Seek me with pride and humility, but seek me best with love and strength, for this is my path, and my fury is saved for the weak and the fearful. Keep this ever full in your mind: it is better to fall upon my sword and die than to live with fear in your heart.

Hear now the words of He who is the radiance of the Sun and the taste of salt upon your tongue. He whose bones grace your every meal.

Heed my call, beloved ones. Come unto me and learn the secrets of love and sacrifice. I was born on the longest night and fated to die by the next midwinter, but I know I shall rise again; for mine is the grain at harvest. On swift night wings, it is I who lay you at the Mother's feet to be reborn. I take you in, I take you down, and there you learn the Mystery. Scourge and flame, blade and blood, these are mine, and gifts to thee.

Every jewel has a thousand facets, hear now the charge of They who are more than a sum of their parts.

I who have been called Hermes, Odin, Mithra, Osiris, Shiva and Coyote speak to thee in thy quest. I am the embodiment of all you are or could be. Trickster and tyrant. Scholar and warrior. Vagabond and family man. My names and guises number the grains of sand on the beach and the bones in your body. You must choose, for you cannot follow all of me. Where you decide fates how you live and how you die. Until that day, my children, come dance and sing; come live and laugh, for behold: this is my worship. Hear my summons and we shall stand untouched by sword or scythe. We shall be the Oak and the Holly. We will stand tall and guard Her Earth as She sleeps.