Pagan in Focus: Doreen Valiente

Wicca is a nature religion which worship a God and a Goddess and one of the fastest growing religion in the world. The growth of Wicca or modern witchcraft is mostly attributed to its founder, Gerald Gardner. There are a lot of Wiccan personalities who are making their name in the Pagan Community but no woman has ever influenced Wicca so much than Doreen Edith Dominy Valiente. 

Doreen was an influential member of Gardner's Bricket Wood Coven and was responsible of writing much of the foundation of the Gardnerian Wiccan Tradition. She was born January 4, 1922 and started her magickal life as a ceremonial magician. She was then initiated by Gerald Gardner and became his High Priestess. She was also the writers of The Witches Rune and the Charge of the Goddess which were present in the Gardnerian Book of Shadows. 

Doreen left Gardner's coven and was initiated into different covens and traditions including Robert Cochrane's Clan of Tubal Cain. Doreen was one of the most active and stalwart defender of the Wiccan religion and believed in her later years that Wicca can be practiced by anyone and would not require any initiation by an existing Wiccan, which prompted researchers to look into the religion's earlier history.

Doreen was a poet and a writer and has contributed to some works when she was still alive. She was also very active in the Pagan community and has corresponded with some of the prolific Wiccan personalities like Janet and Stewart Farrar, Aidan Kelly and Starhawk. She was active in doing lectures in the Center for Pagan Studies until her death on September 1, 1999 due to pancreatic cancer. 

Doreen is one of the movers of Wicca and is in my opinion the "Mother of Wicca" opposite Gardner. Her works on the earlier Wiccan religious texts and structure served as her legacy, and all are still being used in rites today. Her Witches' Chant is still one of the poems that is both beautiful and a powerful reminder of the power of the Goddess and the Elements. These are some of her beautiful poems that are published from her website- www.doreenvaliente.com

The Witches' Chant

Darksome night and shining Moon,
Hell’s dark mistress Heaven’s Queen
Harken to the Witches’ rune,
Diana, Lilith, Melusine!
Queen of witchdom and of night,
Work my will by magic rite.
Earth and water, air and fire,
Conjured by the witch’s blade,
Move you unto my desire,
Aid ye as the charm is made!
Queen of witchdom and of night,
Work my will by magic rite.

In the earth and air and sea,
By the light of moon or sun,
As I pray, so mote it be.
Chant the spell, and be it done!
Queen of witchdom and of night,
Work my will by magic rite.

© Copyright Doreen Valiente Foundation

The Witch's Rune

Darksome night and shining moon
East and South, West and North
Hearken to the Witches' Rune
For here I come to call thee forth.

Earth and Water, Air and Fire
Wand and Pentacle and Sword
Work ye unto my desire
Hearken ye unto my word.

Cord and Censer, Scourge and Knife
Powers of the Witches' blade
Waken all ye unto life.
Come ye as the spell is made.

Queen of Heaven, Queen of Hell
Horned Hunter of the Night
Lend thy power unto my spell
Work my will by magick rite.

By all the powers of Land and Sea
By all the might of Moon and Sun
As I will, so mote it be.
Chant the spell and be it done.

© Copyright The Doreen Valiente Foundation

An Ode to Doreen

by Bane (FWS,AP)

A Lady with Raven's Hair

who craft our chants with utmost care

A Priestess who danced under the moon 

and joined the Gods just way too soon

A Poet who praised the Lady and the Lord

and showed us all her gift for words.

A Witch who act what she say 

and showed us all the Wiccan Way

Be well old soul, now fly away

Your light will shine, your words will stay

By hoof and horn, by seed and grain

Merry Meet, Merry Part and Merry Meet again

- images from the Internet-