The Treguendas are as follows:
(as cited by Raven Grimassi in Ways of the Strega; Italian Witchcraft: Its Lore, Magick, and Spells, p.26)
Although the phrase Goddess Religion has become a type of buzzword for Pagan beliefs of late, I do not see Strega as being a Goddess Religion in the stricter sense which the phrase might be used. This is because Goddess and God are given equal time in the rites of Aridian Strega. The God takes prominence during the dark half of the year, while the Goddess is formost during the lighter half. To call a practice a 'Goddess Religion' would indicate to me that the Goddess is given the most prominence throughout the practice (thus creating an imbalance in polarity), and this is not the case with Aridian Strega. The Goddess and God having equal times/periods of rule during the year ensures the polarity balance between male and female energies.
This balance of gender polarity in the religion, effects day to day life as well. If each woman and man are seen as the manifestation of the Goddess and God in microcosm on this plane and in this world, then the practice of the rites of Treguenda wherein the Goddess and God are given equal time should bring about a greater awareness of gender equality and the importance of each gender and polarity in balance in the greater scheme of things.
The idea of mankind as seperate from the world has been cultivated and developed over many many years, imo, by those who worship money and follow the religion of capitalism. However, it is only a concept, and an incorrect one at that. Mankind is not seperate from the earth. Anything that adversely effects the earth also effects all of its inhabitants. The winds are the interconnecting force of all that exists on this planet's surface. It touches everything that is not beneath the surface of the land or the sea.
At times during the observation of the wheel of the year, the God is symbolicly slain. The slain king represents the ending of an aspect of year that is passing or has passed. At Winter Soltice, it is the death of darkness and of the waning of the year. At Summer Solstice, likewise, the waxing year and increase of light dies. It is the ever turning wheel; the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
By acting out these events, the spokes of the wheel, through symbolic correspondence we make them a part of our subconscious; of our deep selves. Each and every one of them should be observed, because to omit even one weakens the connection we seek to form with the energies and patterns of Nature. As a matter of personal opinion, I do not think it is appropriate to value or favor any one treguenda above the others. Each is an essential part of the wheel's turning.
Copyright Jan 2001, Lioness_of_Mystery.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.