in most pagan women's mysteries, the emphasis is almost exclusively on the Goddess, as is right, as the Divine Feminine has been so long absent, played-down, or neglected in mainstream religions. but what of the relationship between women pagans and the Horned God? recently i've felt a calling to work with Him, especially in His guise as Hunter (which may seem odd as i am a vegetarian.)
Both the God and Goddess are seen as a balance. Both are needded since Paganism is seen as a fertility religion. Yes, it may seen odd that you, A vegetarian is having a sort of calling to him. But All animals in nature hunt look at it that way. He is also the one who provides the food for the people. You can think of it as that way as well. Like I said this is a fertility religion not strange at all to feel a calling to the horned God as well, Balance! December
When you say balance is this internal alchemy? Are you becoming the Marriage of God and Goddess within... or is it an external gratitude? Let my doubts be removed. Bright Blessings
Nature is vast and beautiful. Asexual aspects abound and one may choose to apply this fertile balance in the heart. A child, being a combination of both Mother and Father elements has, like a flower, both roots for the earth and petals for the sun. Looking into her fractal simplicity I feel awe and reverence. "Blessed Be" and thanks for sharing.
wicca has its roots in fertility religions, but i think that it's a bit of an over-simplification to say that the contemporary religion known as wicca is a fertility religion. for one thing, fertility cults (and here i am using the term to mean "small religion", not "controlling religious group") bear little relevance to the lives of most contemporary pagans - nowadays there is danger in too much fertility, uncontrolled growth & overpopulation. there is a difference between a religion that honors the source & cycle of life & a fertility cult. i think that, for men as well as women, the role of the Horned God in pagan spirituality goes way beyond sexual role model/consort/lover/son. specifically i have interests in His role as Hunter/Prey - that's what strikes me as unusual about the vegetarianism. and not all animals hunt, just the carnivores and omnivores. many forms of life are supported by plant life, rather than animal, including my own - yet, curiously, it is the Hunter who draws me, not the Green Man. i feel this has more to do with the archetype of the Hunter, rather than literal hunting. the Horned God is found within our instinctual, animal natures, our wildness, and desires. for me, i think that the Hunter has something to do with also being a seeker/tracker, but with a darker nature than the lantern-carrying Hermit of the tarot. the ones who speak to me now are Herne, Dionysius, and Pan (from whom we get the word "panic".) btw, i was asking about the relationship (or more accurately, relationships) between the Horned God and women in pagan religions in general, not just wicca. not all pagan religions are fertility-based. for example, my leanings are Gaian, more than wiccan, which has more to do with the consciousness of the awakening Earth than with fertility and male/female balance & polarity.
First Off I never said I was Wiccan. I am pagan. Many traditional pagans see male and female in all of nature. The Honed God was a representation of the hunter gatherer. Goddess nurturer creator bearer of new life. Pagans also celebrate the seasons and the harvest. Again all in nature. Nothing simplistic but not hard to understand. Nothing unusual about wanting to know more about the horned God is all I'm saying. December
my appologies. wicca, particularly traditionalist wicca, seems to emphasize the male/female polarity the strongest of most of the pagan religions i've come across. often their entire coven structure is based on it. i think for me, it goes beyond the polar complement of my femaleness - although since i'm going through a divorce right now that could be a large part of it. i think it has to do with the consciousness of the Hunter. btw, the pic in your sig above is lovely.
I'm sorry for being so hasty. The God and Goddess an be taken and viewed in so many different ways depending on what path one follows. December
Bright Blessings. I have added a poem entitled "Baphomet" to "Tapestry of Snow" in the poetry forum if you wish to read my impressions on this matter. ~*
That's what I was thinking Maybe people have issues with the God because they have residual hang ups about the Christian God.
Yes, many people I have spoken with assume that if you say "God" you mean the Christian god. Sometimes it's hard to seperate. D
working with the horned god in a coven setting is tough, as everyone has their own opinions on the god. Seems most pagans have an easy time paying homage to the goddess, but there is not enough dualism in alot of rites and festival worship. as for being vegetarian, you can always work towards the grain god aspect, or his association with grapes and wine. Similarly the green man can be included. hope i helped!
i've invoked male dieties many times... i don't think it matters, as long as you pay respect to your diety and the ritual you're conducting.
That's the great thing about paganism. You do what works for you. If the God wants to teach you, that's where you're meant to be. Go for it.
I love the Horned one (which to me would be Pan)! Be it His hunter or Green Man aspect He rocks. I always feel Him whenever the wind picks up leaves and they dance around me before wandering off. You know I was thinking that if He is calling to you in His hunter aspect, hunters do a lot of one thing-seeking. Perhaps you are in need to "hunt" up something or seeking out something thus you need that extra intensitity that comes with hunting. Just some thoughts there.
A womans spirit is inspired by the strength of the male, just as the mans spirit is inspired by the strength of the female. Why wouldnt the Divine Masculine call to you?
