Let’s Talk Witch – THE GODDESS

 THE GODDESS

One of the things that sets Paganism apart from most of the other religions in the world is our belief in not just a patriarchal male god but in a matriarchal goddess as well. Father and mother, if you will.

As a nature-based religion, it makes sense to follow the patterns that we see everywhere in nature: male and female, that is, not just one or the other or neither (unless you’re an amoeba).

The goddess we worship comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors, and we call her by various names, depending on our personal preferences or the needs of the occasion. There is even a common goddess chant that merely repeats the names of some of the most well known: Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Inanna.

As you can see by this list, our goddesses are drawn from many cultures, including Greek, Roman, Celtic, Indian, Egyptian, and Sumerian. Does anyone know where Sumeria was, by the way? I certainly don’t. Many times, the goddesses we call upon have actually outlived the culture that spawned them. Now that’s immortality.

The goddess is generally known in three forms: maiden, mother, and crone, collectively referred to as the triple goddess. She changes shape as the year changes: young in the spring, middle-aged in the late summer, old in the winter, and young again as spring returns.

Most Pagans find one or more goddesses who appeal to them in particular (or who speak to them in an especially loud voice-sometimes the goddess picks you, and not the other way around) and call on her most often. Some just say “goddess” without feeling the need to attach a name. Either way, our belief in the goddess strengthens our connection to the female in all of us (yes, guys too) and to the duality in the natural world that surrounds us.

No matter what name you call the goddess or goddesses you worship, remember to treat her with respect and a bit of caution as well. These are powerful, many-faceted deities, after all. Even the lovely Venus, goddess of love and beauty, was known for her twisted sense of humor on occasion. Ever have a bad blind date? Yup, that’s her too.

–Deborah Blake, Everyday Witch A to Z: An Amusing, Inspiring & Informative Guide to the Wonderful World of Witchcraft