So if I'm understanding this correctly, the relationship with the Goddess and God aren't like mainstream religions. It's more like a partnership than a master-servant relationship because everything, whether considered good or bad, originates from the deities so they have no desire to do 'good' or 'evil'. Everything is simply a part of the natural cycle., life and death. So first off am I even close to the mark with that?
Secondly, as everything is a part of the Goddess and God, as they are a part of every thing in nature, do they intervene on our behalf or are we considered simply another part of nature that must find our own way, but we can still call upon them to assist us in finding that path?
I know these must seem rather confusing and basic questions but for every answer I find in Cunningham's book there seem to be a dozen more that raise their head. I really appreciate any input from you Wiccans out there. Thanks for any replies you give.
2007-12-17 06:54:18 · 9 answers · asked by russj 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
prariecrow - Thanks for the answer. And I agree about it making more sense than other religions I've looked at. I'm also finding that though it seems a very simple path at first glance, even the simplest things have much wider and deeper ramifications when you look at it closely. Thanks for your help. :)
2007-12-17 07:08:55 · update #1
wyvern1313, amleecdt, Endora (IJMNA), baronvonstrudel and ultraviolet1127 - Thank you all for your answers. They did indeed help me and made sense of some of the things I was reading. Your answers are greatly appreciated. Thank you, again. :)
2007-12-17 07:17:19 · update #2
Yes, we're not the "subjects" or children of the Lady and Lord. They're above us, but it's not like we're trying desperately to please them, or having to apologize for everything we do that's "bad" all the time, and they don't deal out karma like punishment. Karma results from our own choices and our own actions, since all energy is connected, so if we send out negative energy it's only a matter of time before it comes back to hit us (and has usually snowballed by the time it does). They don't sit up there watching us and saying, "Oh, Billy lied to his parents" and put a little checkmark on a running tab of all the things we do wrong. There are dark and light aspects in both Goddess and God, and therefore in all of nature and all of us. They have no need or desire to do "good" or "evil" because that's not their purpose.
I've always felt that they aren't going to swoop down and intervene on our behalf, because the whole point to living is to learn lessons that will help us advance in our spiritual growth. If they were always popping up to save us from ourselves, how could we possibly learn anything? They'd be like all the overzealous parents that are getting so much press, who hover over their children through high school and college and constantly swoop in to "protect" their kids, when all they're doing is preventing their kids from experiencing life and learning from their own mistakes. We can ask them for assistance in finding our path, and we can ask them for assistance in anything we need, like if we're hunting for a job or having trouble finding that "special someone," but that doesn't mean they'll always help us. Sometimes where we are is where we're supposed to be, because we haven't learned whatever they're trying to teach us yet, so helping us move forward would be premature.
Hopefully I answered your questions.
)O(
2007-12-17 07:05:04 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 0⤋
I have been practicing for 20 years, I started when I was very young, and I feel your pain. My family was just like yours, they dont think fondly of this paticular religion. many things I did, when I was but a teenager was to hide my books and research material in a decorative traveling trunk, no one thought the wiser and the trunk was locked. Nor did I draw any attention that would have made my parents or other family members look into my stuff. As for your many questions, they would be best researched through various books and online. get a general idea through those before you seek someone out, because most books are written in a general context or they point out the different view points on a patular subject, for example they might say a red candle would be used to attract love, yet there are some that believe it could attract wealth and power, (that was a example off the top of my head please do not take that to heart i was just thinking about needing to buy some candles). just like the christian religion, there are many variations to the wiccan religion, and though this person believes in it this way another person might not, so it is best to perpare yourself with the general knowledge and that my friend you need books. like I said in the begining you can always find a place to store your stuff so no one is the wiser. and to give you a little hope on that my VERY religious family has accepted my choice of religion and actually ask me questions about it.
2016-05-24 09:23:05 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For the first paragraph...I think that sounds about right. I don't think a master-servant relationship would make much sense since the God and Goddess reside inside the individual as well.
For your second question/point, I tend towards being another part of nature that must find our own way with assistance from the God and Goddess. I think that if we could call on them to intervene for us when we came across something that we didn't like or want to deal with, it wouldn't fit with the perception of them being equally good and bad. If we wanted to only deal with good things in life, then it would be like asking them to suppress their natural "bad" half.
I hope that made sense.
2007-12-17 07:06:52 · answer #3 · answered by ultraviolet1127 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I think you're pretty close to spot on there... except,,, there is no good or evil, just life... conscience. An it harm non, do as ye will... if it doesn't hurt anyone, INCLUDING yourself, and in emotional reasoning, then it may be ok... follow your conscience. Just remember, you have to answer for your own wrongdoings, there isn't any 'devil' that you can blame it on... ;)
Yes, your relationship with the Goddess and God are slightly more like a partnership, you can call on them for assistance, as well as the elements (water, air, fire, earth - some believe that these are actually different facets of the goddess and god as well) and spirits to help you with guidance. One thing to recognize, is that since you are part of that circle of life, part of nature, is that the goddess and god are in you as well... that's part of why meditation works so well to help yourself find your answer.
Just keep in mind, no matter how long you practice being wiccan or a witch, you will never know everything. there are no such things as basic questions, especially when every answer will cause another question. :)
If you need anything, let me know. :) Blessed Be.
)O(
2007-12-17 07:05:05 · answer #4 · answered by Silver Thunderbird 6 · 9⤊ 0⤋
Yes on the first paragraph.
I know of many Wiccans that pray for help from their gods, so clearly many believe that the gods can intervene on our behalf. I find they help guide me to answers - I would call that an intervention, even though I do the actual doing. But there is a definite emphasis in Wicca to find your own solutions (possibly with help) rather than just trusting in God to deliver us.
I like Cunningham's book a lot, but no one book is going to have all of the answers. I like to think of books as a guide rather than the goal...they give you tools to pursue a deeper spirituality, but we shouldn't expect spirituality to be helpfully spelled out in easy-to-read instructions.
2007-12-18 07:53:24 · answer #5 · answered by Nightwind 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Re: the relationship with the Goddess and the God, you're pretty much right on the money, at least as I was taught.
You're right on with the second point as well, in guessing that we are simply another part of nature with no special rights or privileges, but that They can be called upon for assistance. :-)
To me, Wicca makes more sense than just about any other religion I've encountered, except possibly Buddhism.
2007-12-17 07:00:02 · answer #6 · answered by prairiecrow 7 · 12⤊ 0⤋
Oh don't worry this is not a beginners question- it's very advanced, and if you're asking these sorts of questions as a beginner then I think you'll make a fine Wiccan.
From my experience, you have to interpret these things for yourself. Exactly who the god and goddess are and what they represent varies from Wiccan to Wiccan. Some believe they are representations of all deities, some believe they are all around us like the "force" or something, some believe they are creators, some believe they are stewards... it varies. Believe what you feel to be right.
2007-12-17 07:06:19 · answer #7 · answered by xx. 6 · 6⤊ 0⤋
The Goddess and God are blank figureheads, meant to be filled in with personal deities or spirit guides--they are more like a recommendation than anything else--"We suggest that you have a goddess and god, but it's hardly a requirement and we shall refer to them as goddess and god to eliminate confusion"
2007-12-17 07:05:28 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
The deities intervene in everything, for good and ill.
2007-12-17 07:01:18 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋