by David Duncan

Created on: July 22, 2009   Last Updated: July 23, 2009

I was introduced to the concept of the Goddess and the God, also referred to as the Lady and the Lord, by joining my wife and daughter in studying the path of Wicca. One of the first books I read on Wicca is a book by D.J. Conway, entitled, "Wicca, The Complete Craft" (The Crossing Press, 2001). The following passage from Conway's book embodies what I feel is the most important meaning of the Goddess in my life:

"..Witches feel that they are following the path of the Goddess by helping others, animals, and even the earth itself to heal" (Conway, pg. 39).

Healing: a continuing process of caretaking and mending. Growing up in a family with strong, loving, giving parents and grandparents, I learned the value of caring about nature and other humans. At the time, I never considered any of my household chores like caring for the pets, taking out the trash, or helping tend the garden as helping others, animals, or the earth to heal itself. Now, years later, I see that I was young boy who was a witch in the making just performing simple acts of kindness that could very well have been helping in a healing process. At the very least, my chores were helping to keep balance, health, and order in the family and our surroundings.

Though I was brought up in a Christian home, to believe in One Almighty God, I have embraced the concept shared by Wiccans that the Goddess and the God can take the form of many deities representing them. "In other words, regardless of the cultural pantheon, all goddesses are traceable to the original Goddess and all gods to the original God" (Conway, pg. 57). I take comfort in the fact that by taking the polytheistic view held by witches and pagans, I can hold true to my word to respect the faith of others, not imposing my faith on them. In particular, I am able to respect the Christian views of many of our friends and other family members and keep our bonds.

Putting aside the theological differences in our views of the ultimate God or Goddesses, I still share one belief with Christian family and friends. Like their belief in One Almighty God, I believe that all life begins and ends with the Goddess looking over. In noted New Age author Scott Cunningham's book, "Wicca, A Guide For The Solitary Practitioner (Llewellyn Publications, 2004)," he recounts a devotional based on an invocation by his first teacher and priestess, Morgan, called, "Song of the Goddess." Below, is the last stanza of Morgan's devotional that speaks directly to the omni-presence of the Goddess:

"Worship me as the Crone, tender of the unbroken cycle of death and rebirth. I am the wheel, the shadow of the moon. I rule the tides of women and men and give release and renewal to weary souls. Though the darkness of death is my domain, the joy of birth is my gift" (Cunningham, pg. 124).

The teachings of the Goddess reflect all the morals I was taught as a child. Often, it is not easy to hold fast to acts of unselfishness in order to be right and helpful. Still, as witches, we are taught to do what we want as long as it doesn't harm others, which includes protecting ourselves and our loved ones against harm and evil without causing destruction in the process. That being said, I look to the great power offered by the Goddess, with the help of her co-creator, the God, to guide me to make honest, open, and wise decisions for daily living.

Learn more about this author, David Duncan.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.