not sure if this is the right place to post this, i'm hoping for the best.... i used to hear a lot about the "godess" some years ago, was spending time with folks that were very much into it (tarot-readers, witches, psychics, making ceremonies, woman circles etc....) this was 10 yrs ago, it was new to me, i just absorbed, was totally uncritical. but WHO is this godess??? I mean nowadays i am into naturespirits, trees, animals and forces in nature and the universe. what does she represent this godess? fertility, womanhood? i have heard many saying that women in general are actually BETTER than men, they have more sex energies, can come many times, they are peacefull and smarter and more intuitive and in touch with nature and ....the godess! but please! here we all agree that God, the christian one, is totally outdated and patriarcal, a woman hater and a nature destroyer and a fashist. i agree, totally. BUT! dont you see that the godess is THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN?! she is ruling with her fertility.... people think that women in general are better than men? i don't agree! just some example of typical negative sides of women, in general> -they gossip, talk behind your back and can be very manipulative: people say that it is a sign of her intelligence. i dont know, for me intelligence is about something higher and more evolved. -they can be SO JEALOUS, please sont deny this, jealousy between women is quite a big thing. sisterhood is great when it's there, but there are so many examples of poisenous relations -they can fake it more than men: haha, i totally agree! they can fake their bodies, (with clothes, and other trix), their faces (with make-up, hair obsession etc) and they can pretend that they like you, even if they dont! because, actually they might need something from you and..... just play a game and pretend..... ok, this is also seen as a sign of high intelligence, sure, to be calculating requires a mindgame, BUT, for what sake? usually they do it for their own sake, it's an ego trip. BOTH men and women have fallen for the ego trip. but in different ways. -women are more in touch with nature?? haha what a fucking JOKE! i have been with many psychic guys (and they were real men, trust me), who could feel/know stuff that are normally attributed to witches, and who really were one with nature. and i know many women, who are so clinical, and afraid of dirt, nature and who have stopped feeling..... they are just robots. My point is> it is not about gender, it is about the spirit (s)..... and the individual.... so for me, there is no godess any more, i have many other spirit helpers....
'The Goddess' is just a loose terminology most pagans say when rfeerring to the female deity present in the majority of pagan and neo-pagan beliefs. For every tradition, there is a seperate version of 'The Goddess', and you'll find as many Goddesses out there as you find pantheons and traditions. Sadly, many froo-froo new ager happy-rainbow-puppy-sunshine pagans tend not to put much thought into the depths of their belief, and so a few books out there are written as if 'The Goddess' is who you worship...just some faceless, formless, apparently feminine divine. She also gets more notice because a lot of those same froo froo new ager types prefer a much more feminine-flavoured tradition. The Goddess is Diana, she is Hecate, she is Athena, and she is all the rest. Take your pick, or see her in a new, unique way. As far as your post goes - don't presume everyone here hates Christianity just because of our own beliefs. I like plenty of Christians, and their core beliefs. I don't see their version of 'God' to be much worse than any other. Also, way to stereotype women. Women are no more manipulative, jealous, fake, or anything else than men. These are personality traits.
When it comes to gender in divinity, it's just symbolism. If you are talking about creation or nurturing, it is easier to visualize a female deity since we are all born from women, but even the mother doen't necessarily know who the father is. That is not to say women are inherently better nurturers or parents than men. We are speaking of basic symbols. This is similar to when someone says to visualize a "wise man", most people picture an older man. This does not mean older people are necessarily wise, nor does it mean all wise people are older. There is no gender in divinity. Gender is a consequence of incarnation and is necessary for reproduction. Since divinity are literally corporeal, then there can be no true gender.
Well...I can only speak for myself...I personally feel Goddess is the Earth herself & or Nature. I hope it is known that men and women can both be witches? I also I feel that diety is within all beings, be they human or other. It sounds like you need to search a little more for your self. Peace, Clove
^ well, Clove, for me the earth has so many different aspects..... not only a godess. It's our stereotypical learning, and it it normal to talk about "father sky" and "mother earth".... and i have to say, for me the air/sky can be feminine also, and the earth can have male aspects. we are so strapped in DUALISTIC thinking (black and white.... man and woman, day and night) and we have stopped to view the world as it is: rich, complicated (in an interresting way), full of different shades and colours and aspects..... start to view the universe in colors, not only in black and white....! peace
I guess I can clearify....I work with the celtic cosmology~ that as I understand it & feel the Earth is made of Three Realms of the Land, Sea, & Sky. So I am not just giving a sex to the Land. I work in 3's, attept to think & feel for the threes or more in everything. So no I am not "strapped in DUALISTIC thinking. " Plus I do not work with the four Element system because I feel that it is to limiting and does not represent Nature/ Earth/ nor spiritual beings/world in a balance way. The Goddess to me is both female, male, & other... maybe I should have put this in my first reply. The title itself has both god & goddess within. Through science we know that all animals, anyway, start off female and then in the process of becoming possibly switch to male if the right chemicals are there. I feel & know that the physical/natural world reflects truth about spiritual and energic reality and truths about diety. If we truely believe & feel that we are all part of deity how can we not include this knowledge or at least see how & if it fits in. "it is: rich, complicated (in an interresting way), full of different shades and colours and aspects..... start to view the universe in colors, not only in black and white....! " I fully agree, but I am not one who does not view or explore this. Perhaps you could consider that thoe there are many who are not comfortable yet with this comlpex and intence view of the world and reality. There are more than you think who may, but feel that it is not right to force others into confronting these areas let. As a pagan part of the appeal to our paths is that we do not act like those Christians that try to force a person to accept their god and their views. Also the more complex & intence areas of the path & world view is yet another level of spiritual growth not every one can handle safely. Just think about a newbie diving into the more intence and deeper workings with no basic knowledge, skills, and guidance this could be a break down waiting to happen. This may just take longer for others who have not experience the the more changling and sometimes distressing sides of life early in life. For those who explore this level (so to speak) many are healling and have become strong enogh to face that which many would rather be left in the shadows and not phocus upon. Also this is usually and area that the crone or sage embrance with much life experence behind them. Sorry this is so long but for a time this was a sore piont for me as well. So I simpithise. Hoping for open mindedness, Clove
Wow clove, what you said made a lot of sense. I am very much a part of the celtic cosmology as well. I have some cherokee beliefs, but it is in my blood as well and is a strong part of my life. I started out at the young age of 15 tuned into Wicca, so the 4 elements became engraved into my head just as the 10 commandments once were, I am trying to venture out of those chains and embrace the 3 realms(I know they are in know way equals, but you know what I mean) I have been making my transition into a celtic reconstruction path over the past 2 years/ I need some more reading on them, every book I look for always mixes the 4 elements in with Celtic cosmology and I know it doesnt belong there. If you have any links, pm me with them please about the 3 realms or anything relating to that. Thanks, your post really opened my mind up to some new posibilities in the way I perceive the world, I love it when things do that.
