Class Two: About the Goddess and God
God Concept
- Everything in life is balanced. This is why we have both male and female in most everything.
- The Goddess is generally represented by the Moon and the God is generally represented by the Sun.
- Earth begins around Yule, warms up at Spring, gets hot in Summer, and cools off again in the Fall.
- The Solstices are the longest and shortest days of the year.
- The equinoxes are the days of the year that are equal.
- Our seasons seem to be off because our calendar is off.
- The God has influence over the Earth since he is Solar----without the God the Goddess could not produce.
- Born at Yule as the Young Stag, the God matures and impregnates the Goddess at Beltaine, is at his peak at Litha, and dies at Samhain.
God Archetype
- God is only seen throughout the year, being born at Yule and dying at Samhain.
- Black is the most common color association.
- You don't necessarly have to have a patron God or Goddess or a set path to follow to call on any God or Goddess.
3 Aspects of the God
Divine Child
The divine child is seen from Yule to about Ostara. He is most commonly represented by the color white.
Father
The father is represented as an older gentleman (seen about 30's or 40's or is already a father). He is seen from spring to Lughnassadh. The most common color association is red.
Wise Sage
The wise sage is seen around August to Samhain. The color association is most commonly black.
God Archetypes
Horned God
He is considered the oldest representation of the God archetype. He is also known as the king or keeper of the beasts. He is sometimes also called the Stag King, who is seen with large antlers or horns that represent unbridled energy and masculinity. Horned Gods were very primative and not much is known about them. An example of this is Cerunnos. He is depicted on the side of a cauldron called Gildshup Cauldron and seen as holding a serpent, which is a representation of the cycle of life. As time and concepts within pantheons change, the horns grew smaller and disappeared.
Green Man or Earth God
He is equally as old, if not older, than the Horned God. His face is primarily made of leaves and vines but most recently with grapes or vegetables. An example is Bacchus, the Greek God of Wine. Another name for Bacchus is Dionysses. These Gods represent the sun that helps to insure vegetation grows.
Hero
In most mythology there is a hero. He is a God who is considered a saviour of a situation. An example is Hercules. Heros have strength and compassion and is always there to save the day.
Sun and Moon Gods
Most Gods are Sun Gods but there are some Lunar Gods. An example of a Dark God is Hades, the Greek God of the Underworld. Another example of a Dark God is Anubis, the keeper of the Underworld.
Father Gods/Wise Sage
The word sage means old man. The color representation is red or black. The Father God, which is generally paired with the Mother Goddess, is seen from May to Lughnassadh. The Oak King is a representation of the Father God through the Wise Sage.
Warrior Gods
These are usually Sky or Mountain Gods. They are most commonly seen in Celtic and Nordic aspects of Wicca. They can be seen in traditions with War Gods, who are gods with large egos. An example of a war god is Thor, the Norse God of Thunder and War. The warrior gods are depicted with large builds and attractive qualities.
Goddess Concept
Monotheism vs. Polytheism
Monotheism is the belief in a single Divine aspect and does not believe that anything else goes with it. Examples are Christianity, Judaism, Catholicism, and Muslim.
Polytheism is the belief in many Gods. Examples are Hindu and Wicca.
What is the Goddess Concept
The pre-Judeo Christian people revered the Earth and the Sun and associated it with the nurturing aspect of a mother, since the Earth and Sun brought forth food to live as did a mother. They thought of the Goddess being associated with the mother because the mother brought food and was the source of all life.
The Moon
Also known as an aspect of the Goddess.
Moon Phases
The Waxing Moon is the time between the New and the Full moons. This is the time when the moon is growing. It’s growing is associated with fertility, virginity, newness, spring, and growth. The color correspondence is white. This is also know as the Maiden aspect of the Goddess.
The Full Moon is the time when the moon is at its peak. This is the time that magick makes its turn and time to make things happen with your magick. The power of the full moon is at its strongest on the day before, the day of, and the day after the full moon. The full moon is associated with summer. The color correspondence is red, which represents the color of menstrual flow and for Women's Mysteries. The full moon is known as the mother aspect of the Goddess.
The Waning Moon is the time between the full and new moons. This is the time when the moon is descending. At this time things dissolve. This is a time to break habits. This moon is also known as the Dianic Bow Esbat and is associated with the Crone aspect of the Goddess. There is no particular color associated with it, but most use red or black.
The New Moon is the time when the moon is completely dark and cannot be seen. This is a time to reflect, time for protection, time to let things go, and for removing things or obstacles in ones path. This is also an aspect of the Crone. The color correspondence is black.
Goddess Archetype
- An archetype stems from Jungian meaning a basic idea or pattern in a collective unconsciousness within which things of the same class or idea are represented.
- When referring to the God and Goddess archetypes we are referring to certain dominate characteristics.
- There are different archetypes associated with Deities.
- The Goddess is seen in the lunar cycle and is constantly changing. This is also happening during the changing of the seasons.
Most Common Archetypes
Maiden/Virgin
These are sometimes seen in duality and are interchangable. This aspect of the Goddess is seen in the Waxing Moon. The Goddess in this stage is seen as young, beautiful, vibrant, playful and mischeivious. She is also seen as a daughter: an example is Bast, who is the daughter of Isis. Normally Bast has a cat head to represent her playfulness and she is also associated with the Maiden aspect of Isis. A Goddess at this stage is the lover and companion for the God. This archetype is represented by the color white, which stand for fertility and newness. Also this archetype is most often associated with late winter through early summer (February-May), which is a time of growing and newness.
Earth Mother
This archetype is generally seen as a larger woman who is robust and very feminine. The Goddess is also usually very pregnant as this archetype. Sometimes the Goddess is a representation of Earth by being in a blue or green color. Also, this archetype is often dipicted without arms and has only a head and a pubic V, which symbolizes fertility. An example of this is Venus of Willendorf, who is the oldest Goddess statue ever found depicting ancient fertility religions. These Goddesses are considered to be mommy bears. The oldest Deity concept in Pagan societies is the Mother Goddess. This archetype is also represented by the color red and is seen in the Full Moon. This aspect is also found in early summer to early fall (June-August). This is the time when the Goddess is ripe with child, which is also seen as the Earth grows. An example of this is Isis, who is a Mother Goddess that represents love and compassion.
Wise Crone/Healer/Magician
The wise crone is the waning aspect of the moon. The word crone comes from the word old hag. An example of a crone Goddess would be Hecate, who is the Goddess of Justice. The crone is the very essence of knowledge and is mostly represented by an old woman. The crone is the key to understanding rebirth and is usually seen with a cauldron. The crone is seen between early autumn through late winter (August-January). Cerridwen is an example of the Crone with the Cauldron of Rebirth. The crone aspect of Isis is Sekhmet, who is usually dipicted with a lioness head and is the Goddess of anger, fear, and destruction. Healers and magicians can be Goddesses known by only by name. Bridgit is a Maiden, Mother and Crone, she is everything all encompassed into one Goddess. The healer Yemaya is an African Goddess of emotional release and of healing. Kwan Yin is a Chinese Goddess of love, compassion, and hope.
Artisan
These are Goddesses that contribute artistic aspects and concepts. The muses are the 9 daughters of Zeus who contributed artistic guidance to mortals and Gods and Goddesses and are seen as lesser Goddesses. Most Fire Goddesses are associated with fire and music and writing. In Celtic traditions, Bridgit was responsible for creating whistling.
Moon and Sun Goddesses
Most of the Goddesses are represented by the moon or lunar cycle. Most Egyptian Goddesses are associated with solar cycles. The Fire Goddesses are usually worshiped as lunar Goddesses, but this is up to the individual to decide how they view them.
Warrior Goddesses
The warrior Goddess is also know as protectress and are Goddesses you can see in every pantheon. These Goddesses are strong, cunning, athletic and are huntresses and guardians. Morgana is a warrioress and Artemis is a huntress. These Goddesses are called on by men who are going to hunt or fight.
Love and Fertility Goddesses
These Goddesses are represented by promiscuousness. They are displayed as voluptuous and are considered sexually stimulating and incredably fertile. An example of this is Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess known for sleeping with everybody else but her husband. These Goddesses are called upon for issues with the heart and conception.
HOMEWORK:
Write a one page paper on a God of your choice.
Write a one page paper on a Goddess of your choice.
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