The Myth of the Goddess

[pensive]

The name of this topic is one of the names Gerald Gardner gave for the piece I'm about to quote. When he wrote his non-fiction books about Wicca, he included this myth, indicating that it was quite central to the "witch cult" he had been initiated into. I thought it might be interesting to take a look at.

Now G. had never loved, but she would solve all mysteries, even the mystery of Death, and so she journeyed to the nether lands. The guardians of the portals challenged her. "Strip off thy garments, lay aside thy jewels, for nought may ye bring with you into this our land." So she laid down her garments and her jewels and was bound as are all who enter the realms of Death, the mighty one. [Original footnote: See Note 2(page 159). This concerns the practice of binding after death.]
Such was her beauty that Death himself knelt and kissed her feet, saying: "Blessed be thy feet that have brought thee in these ways. Abide with me, but let me place my cold hand on thy heart." And she replied: "I love thee not. Why doest thou cause all things that I love and take delight in to fade and die?" "Lady," replied Death, "'tis age and fate, against which I am helpless. Age causes all things to wither; but when men die at the end of time, I give them rest and peace and strength so that may return. But you, you are lovely. Return not; abide with me." But she answered: "I love thee not." Then said Death: "As you receive not my hand on your heart, you must receive Death's scourge." "It is fate, better so," she said, and she knelt. Death scourged her and she cried: "I know the pangs of love." And Death said: "Blessed be," and gave her the fivefold kiss, saying: "Thus only may you attain to joy and knowledge."

And he taught her all the mysteries, and they loved and were one; and he taught her all the magics. For there are three great events in the life of man -- love, death and resurrection in the new body -- and magic controls them all. To fulfil love you must return again at the same time and place as the loved ones, and you must remember and love her or him again. But to be reborn you must die and be made ready for a new body; to die you must be born; without love you may not be born, and this is all the magic.

Personally, I think there are some extremely interesting ideas woven into this short narrative.

 

[Isis-Astoroth]

I'm confused as to what the point of this thread is.

 

[pensive]

I'm confused as to what the point of this thread is.

Sorry, that's probably due in part to my desire to leave the "direction" of the thread as open as possible.

Since I've been here, there have been various discussions about Wicca in some shape or another. However, most have focused on "beliefs" (which given my understanding of Wicca, doesn't make a lot of sense) and what one "does" to practice Wicca (which makes a bit more sense). However, I've never seen anyone touch upon the mythology and symbolism of Wicca -- that stuff which "binds it all together," so to speak. So I thought it might be interesting to post a myth that one author (and why not start with the original author on the subject? ) considered central to Wicca and see how people respond to it. Perhaps they'd find some imagery in it they found curious. And maybe that would lead to more discussions and/or questions.

(I'd also note that this myth also touches on some of the "weirder" practices touched upon lightly in other threads. As such, it might be interesting to consider those practices and their meanings in light of how they are depicted in the myth.)

Hopefully, that clears up my intent in starting the thread while still leaving it pretty open-endend.

 

[morningstar2651]

Interesting...I'll think on this story tonight and give you my thoughts soon.