PAGAN
GODS & GODDESSES
CERRIDWYNN'S CAIRN
The Gods and Goddesses of ancient days were fascinating. The stories keep children at rapt attention for hours on end. What of mythology? Why is it important. This was unclear to me until I began to take a college course in Ancient Mythology. The professor explained that no matter where you travel in the world, no matter how backward the native dwellers you will find similar mythology all over the world wherever there are men and women. Some mythology, of course, reflects actual events. The arc in the Christian Bible (or something that appears to display these characteristics) has been discovered buried in the side of a mountain. However, most mythology is a sort of parable or meaningful story. These stories are meaningful because they are part of the deep subconsious of all humankind. They are part of our race memory. The stories of brother killing brother out of jealousy, the stories of the brothers killing the cruel patriarch is also a prevalent tale; these stories are a part of us. They, like the ancient gods and goddesses are reflections of all that we are and all that we have been. In fact, they reflect also, all that we can become. Yes, they are important.
Sir John George Fraser in his volume(s) The Golden Bough spent the majority of his lifetime cataloging these enthralling stories and interpreting them.
The goddesses worshipped by Pagans are numerous. Different traditions worship different deities. The particular occasion may dictate the suitablity of the holy presence. Hecate, the goddess of the dead is frightening when conjured, but She has her place in the pantheon.
Likewise, her sister Diana, has Her time and season. Like Artemis, She is usually called on to bless the hunt or to assist in the daily struggles of all women. Diana is much less frightening in Her manifestation but She is just as strong as Her alterego,Hecate.
Another popular goddess is Isis (properly pronounced ee'-sis). She has many followers in California (the sunny state in which I reside). Isis was the first Pagan goddess to discourage human sacrifice. Those who came before Her exacted payment in human life. Isis was and is a deification of those more advanced traits in humankind such as love, self-sacrifice and tolerance. Esteemed virtues in a human or a god.
Pagans understand by and large, that it is not so much the pantheon of gods and goddess you choose to worship, but that you understand the concept of the gods and goddesses as a projection of man and womankind's divine nature. The myths which surround the old gods and goddesses are buried deep within our race memory. They are rooted in our souls so deeply they cannot be separated from us. Nor would we wish them to be.
One of the first assignments I received from the Witch who taught me (oh so many eons ago) was to write a moon myth. After this I was to write a whole complement of personal mythology. I did not understand this assignment at the time. I felt a little lost. But now I do understand. The myths lie dormant, for the most part, hidden within our deep selves, waiting to be called upon. Pagans realize this and call upon the divine spark each time we conjure a god or goddess from within ourselves. The more we cultivate and fan this spark, the hotter it burns. We are capable of so much. We can give so much to the Earth which mothered us and the fellow travelers who are so direly in need of direction. Witches do not proseletyze. But we can help others who have not yet found their paths along the road. May the Goddess Love and Protect you!
More later!
CERRIDWYNN'S CAIRN |
The Gods and Goddesses of ancient days were fascinating. The stories keep children at rapt attention for hours on end. What of mythology? Why is it important. This was unclear to me until I began to take a college course in Ancient Mythology. The professor explained that no matter where you travel in the world, no matter how backward the native dwellers you will find similar mythology all over the world wherever there are men and women. Some mythology, of course, reflects actual events. The arc in the Christian Bible (or something that appears to display these characteristics) has been discovered buried in the side of a mountain. However, most mythology is a sort of parable or meaningful story. These stories are meaningful because they are part of the deep subconsious of all humankind. They are part of our race memory. The stories of brother killing brother out of jealousy, the stories of the brothers killing the cruel patriarch is also a prevalent tale; these stories are a part of us. They, like the ancient gods and goddesses are reflections of all that we are and all that we have been. In fact, they reflect also, all that we can become. Yes, they are important. Sir John George Fraser in his volume(s) The Golden Bough spent the majority of his lifetime cataloging these enthralling stories and interpreting them.
The goddesses worshipped by Pagans are numerous. Different traditions worship different deities. The particular occasion may dictate the suitablity of the holy presence. Hecate, the goddess of the dead is frightening when conjured, but She has her place in the pantheon.
Likewise, her sister Diana, has Her time and season. Like Artemis, She is usually called on to bless the hunt or to assist in the daily struggles of all women. Diana is much less frightening in Her manifestation but She is just as strong as Her alterego,Hecate. Another popular goddess is Isis (properly pronounced ee'-sis). She has many followers in California (the sunny state in which I reside). Isis was the first Pagan goddess to discourage human sacrifice. Those who came before Her exacted payment in human life. Isis was and is a deification of those more advanced traits in humankind such as love, self-sacrifice and tolerance. Esteemed virtues in a human or a god.
Pagans understand by and large, that it is not so much the pantheon of gods and goddess you choose to worship, but that you understand the concept of the gods and goddesses as a projection of man and womankind's divine nature. The myths which surround the old gods and goddesses are buried deep within our race memory. They are rooted in our souls so deeply they cannot be separated from us. Nor would we wish them to be.
One of the first assignments I received from the Witch who taught me (oh so many eons ago) was to write a moon myth. After this I was to write a whole complement of personal mythology. I did not understand this assignment at the time. I felt a little lost. But now I do understand. The myths lie dormant, for the most part, hidden within our deep selves, waiting to be called upon. Pagans realize this and call upon the divine spark each time we conjure a god or goddess from within ourselves. The more we cultivate and fan this spark, the hotter it burns. We are capable of so much. We can give so much to the Earth which mothered us and the fellow travelers who are so direly in need of direction. Witches do not proseletyze. But we can help others who have not yet found their paths along the road. May the Goddess Love and Protect you! More later!