Charge of Aradia - Definition and Overview

The Charge of Aradia is a witch's incantation that makes a spiritual pact with the Aradia, a symbol of heritage and the title for the first witch, often regarded as the Christ-like figure for witches, wiccans and pagans. There are several versions of the Charge, but the most commonly accepted one is thus:

When I shall have departed from this world,
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.