Everything You Need to Know to Start Connecting with the God and Goddess
Perhaps the biggest difference between Wicca and other religions is the belief that individuals can do more than simply pray to a supreme, all-powerful deity and hope that things will work out to their benefit. Wiccans understand that individuals can actually co-create with the forces of nature by linking their own personal energy with the divine through ritual and magic. But what is “the divine” when it comes to Wicca? Who are the Goddess and the God, and where did they come from? Why do they have different names in different Wiccan traditions, and how do you begin to work with them in your personal practice?
Magical Deities, by best-selling author Lisa Chamberlain, answers these questions and more. Going beyond the usual brief introduction to the God and Goddess found in many beginner guides to Wicca, Lisa covers the origins of the Wiccan deities, as well as their varying manifestations among different Wiccan traditions. What’s more, she explains the difference between traditional duotheism and more eclectic polytheistic practices, both of which are found among the diversity of forms within this dynamic religion. You’ll find advice for learning to forge your own spiritual connection with the divine masculine and feminine, and introductions to sixteen ancient deities who often function as “aspects” of the God and Goddess within Wiccan practices. Finally, you’ll find ideas for honoring and working with these deities in your magical practice—and make no mistake, having the assistance of the gods and goddesses of the Universe is an enormous boon in the magic department!
Foundations in Wiccan Concepts of Divinity and Magic
For many practitioners who keep to the traditional duotheistic concept of Wicca, the ancient deities are “aspects” of the “supreme” Goddess and God and don’t have a role to play on their own. For those who fall into the category of “eclectic” Wiccans, the inclusion of ancient deities is more polytheistic. Eclectics often have personal relationships with “patron” gods and/or goddesses, who may be included in ritual practice alongside the God and Goddess. In both approaches, deities may be called upon for assistance with specific magical aims. But it’s not simply a matter of speaking a god’s or goddess’ name in your spellwork—you need to develop an understanding and personal relationship with your chosen deities. Magical Deities will help you to do just that, with valuable information including:
The history of the Wiccan Goddess and God and their evolution through various traditions
An introduction to the Triple Goddess and her three aspects: Maiden, Mother and Crone
Introductions to the Sun God, the Horned God, the Green Man, and the Holly and Oak Kings
How to represent the God and Goddess on the Wiccan altar
The mythology, cosmology, and magical practices of the ancient cultures that gave rise to Wicca
The most popular deities of the Egyptian, Roman, Greek, and Celtic pantheons
Advice for choosing deities to work with, and magical goals and methods specific to each one
The paths to connection with the God and Goddess, or to any of the deities “borrowed” from other cultures are as multiple and varied as the people who worship them. Ultimately, your intuition and your heart are your best guides along your journey. But the more you know about the gods and goddesses you seek to work with, the more authentic and astounding your connection with them has the potential to be. As you make your way deeper into the realm of Wicca, Magical Deities will be a trusted travel guide!