OGW Deity Page

Deity

Original picture by Stella of Outer Gate

The LORD and LADY of Witchcraft


Wiccans see deity as both female and male. Although there tends to be an emphasis on the goddess, there is balance between the two forms.

The emphasis on the female side of wiccan deity identification is due to the last several thousand years of male dominated religious practice by the masses of patriarchal belief.
The goddess was highly regarded in ancient (pre-christian) history. From the earliest artifacts discovered pertaining to prehistoric wo/man, the female was noted and associated with fertility. Often the depictions of the female deity were shown with large breasts and stomachs. These attributes showed that our ancient ancestors worshipped the goddess, and saw her as the nuturor and "creator" of life. From the stone age, historians have discovered that it was the woman that owned the "cave", and she and her children maintained it as the wandering hunters (male) provided sustenance as trade for temporary shelter and comfort.
As time progressed, and primative civilization evolved, religious ritual developed. Since the needs of wo/man were basic ones primarily of sustenance, the hunt for food became a more organized effort. Rituals were developed to insure the success of the hunt, and we have these depictions from history in the form of paintings on the walls of caves.


The male deity in time took on attributes of animals that various cultures were centered upon. The god grew horns and often fur as he became associated with various beasts that culture depended upon. The horned christian devil did not appear until thousands of years later, in an attempt to sway the pagan practioners into the new patriarchal religion. The female of the pagan priesthood was very powerful and mysterious; associated with the goddess who posessed the mystery of childbirth. It is very interesting that the apostoles of the New Testament admonished the churches to keep the women silent within the new order !
These balanced forms of pagan deity are termed as "aspects." There are many such deities of pagan worship. We pagans see them as representives of the great undefinable. To understand the whole picture of the great universe, we see our deities present with us on Earth, as opposed to way out there...over the rainbow ! Everything that appeals to our senses is masculine and/or feminine. This is the first step to perceiving deity. In order to do so, one must look closly; just as I have made you do with this page in over-lapping the wallpaper.

Here is a poem dedicated to the goddess SABRAUM, entitled, "Kindred Meeting"
before me lies a golden trail, through the oak and Hawthrone trees,
The limbs bow low to speak to me, and converse on the lightened breeze.
The way is straight and clear, no stones to hurt my feet,
and up ahead lies the place, where we are meant to meet.
The field is large and empty, with flowers every where.
The peace is so consuming, I wonder if I dare
I dare to break the stillness, to meet you up ahead.
and there we share our wine,and there we break our bread.
Our laughs ring through the meadow, and reach the billowed breeze,
Our happiness is shared, between ourselves and our dear trees.
The sun begins to set and Luna to take the sky.
We look at all the birds who take the wind and fly.
Now's the time to travel, once more our way is shown.
And now we are the birds and the wind has come and blown. RedHawke

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