Moon Two: Introduction to the Goddess and the God: The Duality Principle
Presentation of the Goddess/God assignments (was done at the last full moon).
The Rise of the Goddess:
The great rise of the popularity of Wicca grew from the Women’s Liberation movement of the late 20th century in response to centuries of male dominated religions that marginalized women, even to the point of demonizing and vilifying them. As women reclaimed their power in the civic and secular sphere, through gaining voting rights and equality, they also found that they modern popular religions didn’t support or serve their needs. Women chose to turn toward religions and spiritual pathways that recognize the value of the female role in creation and nature. Wicca is a perfect example of that. Without the female, there is no creation. There is no birth, or abundance. As the 20th century drew to a close and Wicca became one of the fastest growing religions in NA/Europe, the Goddess gained strength and in many cases began to overshadow the God.
The Triple Goddess: The Triple Goddess is a common archetype in the practice of Wicca and Paganism. Many religions observe a trinity as a sacred symbol, and in Wicca, we divide the basic aspects of the Goddess into the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone. These symbolize the main chapters of life through which women live, and allow us to see the strengths and gifts of these phases. We observe the cyclic nature of all things in many aspects of Wicca, from the lifetime of a person, to the Wheel of the Year. The Maiden is a young woman, she who has not yet borne children. She is Spring, fresh, and full of promise. The Mother is at her most abundant as she becomes ripe and bears fruit. She is Summer, and the early harvests of autumn. The Crone is the wise one. She who has lived through the early stages and learned many of the lessons of life. She is the late fall as the leaves turn to brown, and the winter as we turn within to gain personal knowledge.
The God:
However, it’s the principle of Duality that allows for the magic of creation. In Wicca, we are constantly striving for a place of true balance and for an understanding of the complexity of the way all things are interconnected. If we honor the female, we must also equally honor the male. Both are required for balance. The God in Wicca represents the SPARK of all life, and is often represented as a majestic Stag. He is born at the Winter Solstice, and throughout the Wheel of the Year, he becomes the Oak King, only to die again in the fall to be reborn again. This Birth, Death, and Rebirth cycle of the God can be found in numerous religions around the world, from the most obvious (Christianity) to ancient traditions like the story of Isis and Osiris.
Duality: It can be helpful to consider that each of us has both male and female energy within us. In today’s world, gender issues can be sensitive and delicate as our society works toward greater tolerance and acceptance of both gender choices and sexuality. Sometimes the terminology of Wicca can seem to be “old fashioned” or insensitive to these issues. Thus, thinking of duality in terms of sun/moon, night/day, or yin/yang can be useful. Neither the male or the female energy is superior to the other, but it is their “balanced” state that makes for the best position of wellness.
Its important to note, especially this time of increased sensitivity, that the LANGUAGE we use is just that. it’s just words that we use to describe energies that are found in all of us. We are all multi-dimensional, with endless facets of our own personalities. There are times when I am a fierce warrior, scary and intimidating, yet there are other times where I am extremely maternal, loving, and safe. Times when I’m strong, brave and adventurous, and others where I’m tired, fearful, or anxious. Wicca teaches us to recognize these energies, and to use the Gods and Goddesses, as well as the four elements (earth , air, fire, and water) to balance ourselves so we can find greater health, wellness, and be more meaningful to the people in our lives.
Pantheons:
A pantheon is a mythical “catalog” of gods and goddesses. For example, we might have the Greek Pantheon, with Athena and Apollo, Hera and Zeus. Or a Norse Pantheon with Freya and Odin, Loki and Thor. These mythic stories and archetypes embody “facets” of the Goddess and the God. They give us a glimpse into on small aspect of the deities, and through them, we gain a better understanding of and relationship to divinity. Modern Wiccas often draw inspiration from a pantheon that resonates with them, either through their ethnic heritage, or for some other personal reason. As a Wicca, ALL pantheons are open to you to embrace, as long as you remember that these are merely “aspects” of divinity. For example, if you are feeling the need to be a warrior at work in order to defend your position and your rights, you might call on the energy of Athena, goddess of War and Wisdom.
Ethics:
Lastly, I just want to remind each of you that the basic rule of Wicca is “And it harm none, do as you will”. With this simple statement, we are recognizing that every person has his/her own path and that we are not in a place to judge them in any way. Wicca is a religion of true tolerance and inclusion for those who seek to know the path. While the philosophical topic of ‘gender’ may arise often due to our recognition of both the God and the Goddess principles, we hold no judgement toward individuals who have every right to choose to identify in whatever way they choose. In fact, we celebrate those who are brave enough to step out of the norm to claim their true identities. Each of us has our own path, and Wicca teaches us that we honor the Gods best by being the best version of ourselves, and by respecting others’ diversity and individuality.
Moon Two: Part 2 - Altars
By now, each of you has most likely created your own altar and begun the fun and fulfilling, never-ending quest for the magical tools and items to adorn your sacred space. For this Moon cycle, consider what you can place on your altar to signify the duality principle of Male/Female, God/Goddess, Yin/Yang. Some people simplify this by using a black and white taper in their candlesticks, but you need to go beyond this. For example, I often use seasonal flowers or fruits (apples, pumpkins, pomegranates, etc) to signify the Goddess, and I have a piece of Antler that I use to signify the God. What other things can you use? The choices are endless, but you do need to include both energies on the altar, so that you can daily remind yourself to honor both energies within yourself, and in the world around you.