Chants and Ballads

The Witches Chant

Darksome night and shining Moon,

Hearken to the witches' rune.

East then south, west then north,

Hear! Come! I call Thee forth!

By all the powers of land and sea,

Be obedient unto me.

Wand and Pentacle and Swaord,

Hearken ye unto my word.

Cords and Censer, Scourge and Knife,

Waken all ye into life.

Powers of the witch's Blade,

Come ye as the charge is made.

Queen of Heaven, Queen of Hell,

Send your aid unto the spell.

Horned Hunter of the night,

Work my will by magic rite.

By all the powers of land and sea,

As I do say, "so mote it be."

By all the might of moon and sun,

As I do will, it shall be done. 

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The Witches' Round

Anon

Nowadays used to raise the Cone of Power, this old dance may be used alone or in full coven. It is better if the Drawing Down of the Moon has gone before, for then the Gods shall fuse with the energies raised in the ecstacy of the dance and thereby accomplish your will.

All join hands to form a ring about the HPS. Heads turned left and eyes tightly shut, will a flowing river of power about the circle, moving from one through the next, from man to woman and woman to man, about the circle without beginning or end, gathering strength as it goes.

When the circle is set thus, in motionless intensity, the HPS begins to clap to the rhythym of the heart-beat. And upon this signal all open their eyes and step widdershins; slowly at first but with a quickening step as the HPS quickens the beat of her clap, until three rounds are complete. And this must be accomplished smoothly and without awkwardness.

Now change direction and dance deosil to the Witches' Rune or some other tune; slowly at first, but faster and ever faster until, the Power being at its peak, the HPS shall release it crying: "Down !", whereupon all shall fall to the ground to sit in a circle facing in. Thus also was the Cone of Power raised of yore.

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The Witch's Ballad

Doreen Valiente

Oh, I have been beyond the town, 

Where nightshade black and mandrake grow, 

And I have heard and I have seen 

What righteous folk would fear to know!

For I have heard, at still midnight, 

Upon the hilltop far, forlorn, 

With note that echoed through the dark, 

The winding of the heathen horn. 

And I have seen the fire aglow, 

And glinting from the magic sword, 

And with the inner eye beheld 

The Horned One, the Sabbat's lord. 

We drank the wine, and broke the bread, 

And ate it in the Old One's name. 

We linked our hands to make the ring, 

And laughed and leaped the Sabbat game.

Oh, little do the townsfolk reck, 

When dull they lie within their bed! 

Beyond the streets, beneath the stars, 

A merry round the witches tread! 

And round and round the circle spun, 

Until the gates swung wide ajar, 

That bar the boundaries of earth 

>From faery realms that shine afar.

Oh, I have been and I have seen 

In magic worlds of Otherwhere. 

For all this world may praise or blame, 

For ban or blessing nought I care. 

For I have been beyond the town, 

Where meadowsweet and roses grow, 

And there such music did I hear 

As worldly-righteous never know.