Guises of the Goddess

This is a simple picspam-type entry, but I hope it can still move people and be thought-provoking. I'll be posting more of these types of entries in the coming weeks, through the end of July.

But before I begin, to the other US citizens I have following me...

Maiden, Mother, Crone

Last night Hetshepsit and I got into a discussion about this particular Deity model. I'll start with a quote from her:

I honestly do not have a maternal instinct and the Pagan community can sometimes have a lot of emphasis on "first you're a Maiden, then you HAVE to be a Mother, then you HAVE to be a Crone."

My response was rather impassioned, but I've tweaked and added to it for your enjoyment and enlightenment.

Bella Strega Aradia

Found out something interesting recently; "ara" in Italian means altar, and "dia" is the feminine form of "dio," which means god, so dia = goddess. So, in essence, "Aradia" means "altar to the Goddess." The specific Goddess, in this case, presumably being Diana, Aradia's mother. Hmm......

Also, as folks may or may not be aware, Italian Witchcraft has a long history of familial intermarriage - this is because it was believed that Witchcraft was carried in the blood, and so to keep the magick strong, Italian Witches would often marry and reproduce with relatives. I figured out today that this must stem from Aradia's parents, Diana and Lucifer, being siblings and giving the world Aradia, who taught Witchcraft to the Italian people.

Behind the cut are the lyrics to two songs by the British Pagan Goth band Inkubus Sukkubus. One is called "Aradia," posted here for obvious reasons, and the second is "Lord of the Flame," just because.

Ritual Matters

Ritual Purpose, Etiquette and Progression

Purpose

The reason for performing ritual usually falls under three categories:
- to perform Magick or spellwork
- to honor and connect with the Divine
- to enact spiritual beliefs in a physical and visual way

What's in a Name? A rose by any other name...

Names and Naming Yourself

What and Why
A common practice of many Pagans is to choose a name to go by specifically within ritual. These can be called Magickal names, Circle names (as many Pagan rituals are held within an energy circle), Witch names, Craft names, or ritual names, depending on who you talk to (I personally use "Circle names" most of the time). Some choose to keep the name their parents gave them, but others feel that their legal name doesn't reflect who they truly are or who they are or wish to be within the confines of sacred space, since they did not select the name themselves and/or were given it before finding their Pagan identity. There are some paths wherein a teacher chooses the names for their students at one time or another, but to be so bold as to make a blanket statement about the Pagan community at large, the majority of teachers are more than accepting of one's personal choice of name.

November Full Moon

Full Moon in Taurus, Nov. 2, 2009 c.e.

See this chart for a list of Moon Names from various cultural and religious traditions.

Here are some informational links:
- Starweaver's Full Moon Magic
- Full Moon in Taurus from Astrology.About.com
- Full Moon in Taurus from CaliforniaPsychics.com

And listen to this: Wytches Chant by Inkubus Sukkubus. This is a haunting rendition of the traditional Goddess chant, appropriate since She's at Her strongest at this time.

Last thought for today, something I didn't realize before but that also makes perfect sense; at the Full Moon, its sign is always opposite to that of the Sun's. Not only is this astronomically logical, it is spiritually symbolic, the God and Goddess embodying opposing (though not necessarily antagonistic) forces. This
Full Moon seems especially poignant, since we just passed Samhain - the Goddess is at Her peak while the God has reached His very depths. Something to think about for Esbats this months.

Theology

Wiccan Deity Construct

The main Wiccan view of Deity is that of the Union of the Horned God with the Great Mother Goddess, and this Union is related to the ritual celebrations throughout the year. The God is born at Yule, grows in strength till Midsummer, declines during the Fall months, then dies at Samhain to be reborn again. He lives and dies for the sake of the people and the land, growing with the seedlings and dying with the harvest. The Goddess is both Mother and Wife to Him, depending on the moment in the cycle. This is not, however, an incestuous relationship, but part of the Mystery of the Divine Union. The Goddess is specifically honored during Moon rituals, called Esbats, with the Full Moon seen as the height of Her power.