Almost all religions are
structures based upon reverence of Deity. We as Wiccans
acknowledge a supreme divine power - unknowable, ultimate, omnipotent.
From this power sprang the entire Universe. This concept has all
but disappeared, because of our difficulty comprehending and relating to
it. As such, we link to this force through our Deities.
Taking into account the principles and balance of Nature, this power was
personified into a Goddess and a God. All Deity in the world, from
Amaterasu to Zeus, exist with the archetypal Goddess and God.
They are aspects of them - every goddess is resident within the concept
of the Goddess, and every god within the God.
Human beings have celebrated the Goddess and God from time immemorial,
from rituals to the Sun and Moon, to structured celebration of named
gods. Wicca is no different - celebrating the Goddess and God
through Nature's cycles. We needn't wait for ritual, however, to
experience their presence. We can see them everyday in the rising
of the sun, the shape of a freshly-opened blossom, the leaves of a
towering oak, or the babble of a small creek.
Many Wiccans choose specific aspects of the Goddess and God to worship,
such as Diana, Artemis, Hecate, Cerridwen, Inanna, Isis, Osiris, Pan,
Lugh, Odin, Apollo, or Cernunnos. The list goes on. Others
choose not to name the Deity at all, preferring the lack of limitations
that they pose. These specific aspects can be called forth when
casting a spell. For example, if casting a wealth-related spell,
you could invoke Jupiter, or perhaps Aphrodite for a love-related spell.
The Goddess and God have often been referred to as the "Nameless
Ones," since they have been given so many names in the past.
They appear however we wish them to, be it the Goddess in a flowing
silver robe or as a young maiden, or the God as a mighty stag, or a
Satyr. Within them is every deity that has ever existed, and there
is also a part of us in them, as they are the creators of all existence.
Because of this, we can contact and communicate with them.
Neither the Goddess nor God is superior to the other. In Wicca
there are no gender boundaries; the sexes are equal to each other.
This pertains to the balance of Nature. Some Wiccans choose to
acknowledge only the Goddess; this to me is a lack of balance, and I
can't make sense of it, let alone how they would celebrate their Sabbats
(Yule and Beltane are real puzzlers). In keeping with
balance, following is a more detailed description of both the Goddess
and God.
Since many people believe that no
religion is right but their own, some have been so bold as to say that
by worshipping a Goddess and God, that we are in league with the Devil,
and are worshipping evil. Well, first of all we don't believe in
the Devil. He is a Christian creation, and they're more than
welcome to keep him. However, we do not focus on only light or
dark. We celebrate both light and dark sides of deity.
Without death, there would be no new life, and without the dark of
night, there would be no beautiful sunrise.
If you wish to begin communing
with the Goddess, you should start simple. Go outside during a
full moon and face it. Feel the light touching you, its energy
mixing with yours. Call to the Goddess; use a chant if you like.
Visualize her in any way you wish, and open your heart to her energy.
To commune with the God, stand
before the sun in the morning and bask in the light. Feel yourself
become energized as the Sun's light fills you with life. Call out
to the God in any way you like. Visualize him in any way you wish,
and open yourself to his energy.
Wiccans may not like to use the
term "worship" when referring to the Goddess and God.
They are equal, to each other and to us. All of us contain a part
of the Goddess and God. Think of it not as worship of a higher
being, but as working together with them to help better your life and
your understanding of that around you.
