Anonymous asked this question on 4/18/2000:
I have spent quite a bit of time reading about wicca. One thing I never seem to be able to get a clear answer on is the name of the god and goddess. The god is often refered to as Pan, Cernnunos, and the Goddess Dianna, Hectate, Selene..which I presume refers to her tri fold nature.. Maiden/ Matron/ Crone I have also found she is refered to as a banishing Goddess sometimes as Shiva in her negative aspect. The God I have not found quite so clear an answer on. Can you help relieve me confusion?
mothergoddess gave this response on 4/18/2000:
MERRY MEET! AND BLESSINGS TO YOU...
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE QUESTIONS, THAT WHEN OVER ANALYZED SEEMS TO HAVE NO CLEAR ANSWER...
WHEN THE ANSWER ITSELF IS SO SIMPLISTIC THAT ONE ALMOST ALWAYS OVERLOOKS IT.
THE NAMES BY WHICH WE CALL THE GODDESS AND GOD ARE MANY AND VARIED. JUST AS THE NAME CHRISTIANS AND OTHERS CALLED THEIR GOD ARE MANY(IE: GOD, YAWEH, JEHOVAH, CHRIST, ALLAH, JESUS...ETC..). FOR US, THE PRINCIPLES ARE THE SAME, THE DIETY, THE SAME, IT IS JUST THAT CULTURES AND LANGUAGES DIFFER...
"Listen to the words of the Great Mother; she who of old was also called among man Artemis, Astarte, Athene, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Cerridwen, Dana, Arianhod, Isis and by many other names."
YOU CAN'T LOSE TOUCH OF THE FACT THAT BY WHATEVER NAME IS GIVEN TO THE GODDESS (AND GOD) THAT THE LAW AND BELIEF IS BASICALLY THE SAME...
THE COMMON TIE IS OUR LOVE AND RESPECT FOR "HER" AS OUR MOTHER.
THERE ARE MANY UNDERLYING MEANINGS BEHIND EACH NAME, AS YOU STATED (HER TRI-FOLD NATURE, THE SEASONS, WANING AND WAXING, MOTHER/SISTER/GODDESS). AND AGAIN, THESE ARE AS MANY AS THE STARS....BUT IT IS WHAT HAS MEANING TO YOU PERSONALLY THAT COUNTS...AS THIS IS A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP YOU HAVE WITH THE MOTHER. (ALTHOUGH SOMETIMES WE CHOSE TO SHARE COMMON BELIEFS AND NAMES WITH OTHERS, AS IN COVENS)
I AM SURE THIS MAY SEEM LIKE SUCH AN ELEMENTARY WAY OF LOOKING AT THIS, BUT IT IS A SIMPLE TRUTH. BY THINKING ABOUT IT TOO MUCH, WE LOSE TOUCH WITH THE SIMPLICITY OF FAITH.
SHE GIVES TO US, SO WE MUST RESPECT HER.
CONTINUE WITH YOUR READING AND LEARNING, BUT KEEP IN MIND THAT OPINIOS AND TERMINOLOGY DO DIFFER AMONG AUTHORS...IT IS THE MESSAGE THAT COUNTS, NOT NECCESSARILY THE WORDS THAT ARE USED.
MERRY PART AND MERRY MEET AGAIN, DEAR FRIEND...
WUTH LOVE,
BETHANY
The average rating for this answer is 4.9.
Anonymous rated this answer a 5.