Diane, the efficacy of magic is being discussed in this thread; Does Magic Exist?
I’m working on a specific response to your questions and plan on posting there. Give me a bit of time, I need to hob-nob with my fellow wizards 
I appreciate your upcoming response. but it does beg one more question. I apologize if it sounds sarcastic, it isn’t meant to be. The questions I asked seem to be pretty simple and straight forward. Why does there have to be a lot of thought and time put into the answers?
Nothing simple is.
hi.
sneeze here, with a non-related-to-the-whole-magic-existence-bad-feelings question.
in a lot of these recent pagan/wiccan/magic type threads, i noticed that a lot of people say that they believe in a/the “goddess.” does that mean that the spirit being believed in is a girl spirit, as opposed to the “god” of christianity? or is it just kind of a way to refer to the spirit in general while making sure it isn’t confused with the christian god?
and if it IS specifically female, why? does it have to do with mother earth?
does the “goddess” look like a girl (like “god” is supposed to have a white beard like a guy), or no?
does it have anything to do with paganism and these assorted religions being related to feminism, and is kind of a “take that” approach to the paternalism of the male “god” of christianity?
i think those are all the questions i have for now. i dont mean any offense by anything, so if i phrased something incorrectly, apolpgies all around.
Hi Sneeze. I’ll try to field your questions with my perspective. It’s a matter of separating diety into male and female aspects. It’s kind of like finding your feminine side if you are male, or your masculine side if you are female. Think of it like this: You have a problem and you aren’t sure how to handle it. You think to yourself “How would Mom handle this?” because you know this problem is your mom’s area of expertise. I personally would never ask “Dad, do you ever feel…not so fresh?”
The female aspect looks like whatever you want it to. She could be the nurturing visage of Demeter with flowing auburn hair, a crown of flowers, and perpetually pregnant. Or She could be the strong warrior Athena, whose sword assures balanced justice. Or she could have no form at all, just the “feeling” of feminimity.
Back in the 60’s the Goddess was a way of expressing feminism. A kind of backlash against the paternalistic, iron fisted Christian views.
At least that is my take on it.
I have a really interesting explanation of what “magick” is if anyone is interested. And it doesn’t even involve paranormal stuff!
**They Call Me Sneeze
in a lot of these recent pagan/wiccan/magic type threads, i noticed that a lot of people say that they believe in a/the “goddess.” does that mean that the spirit being believed in is a girl spirit, as opposed to the “god” of christianity? or is it just kind of a way to refer to the spirit in general while making sure it isn’t confused with the christian god?**
Yes, people refer to the Goddess specifically as a female deity, especially in contrast to a male deity and often in direct contrast to the J/C/I god that mainstream society acknowledges. Many women are draw to modern Paganism specifically because of the idea of a powerful, equal female version of deity. Wiccans view female deity as the 3 faces of the Goddess, the Maid, Mother and Crone. That is, a female as a young, virginal women; a female as mature, who’s bore children and is knowledgable about the world and finally as a women past child-bearing times yet full of wisdom and knowledge. Many women feel empowered by these images of deity that closely follows their own lives. Contrast this with the only female deity image in Christianity, Mother Mary, who is seen as both a virgin and a mother.
and if it IS specifically female, why? does it have to do with mother earth?
Yes, Pagans generally view the earth as female and in a metaphorical sense, she is our mother. In a very real sense we are “from the earth” since directly and indirectly our bodies literally come from the earth thru the food we eat and we return to her when we die.
does the “goddess” look like a girl (like “god” is supposed to have a white beard like a guy), or no?
Deity manifests itself in many ways to us. As I said above, you can see female deity as either the Maid, Mother or Crone. In the same way, you can view the God as Youth, Warrior/Father and Shaman.
does it have anything to do with paganism and these assorted religions being related to feminism, and is kind of a “take that” approach to the paternalism of the male “god” of christianity?
Lots of people have left Christianity for Paganism because they were drawn by a balanced view of Deity, that is has both female and male aspects and those aspects are equal; neither have ascendency over the other, they’re in dynamic balance, both parts being necessary for the whole. I won’t say that people have a “take that!” attitude toward Christianity, not revengeful (except for a few folks who harbor hatred for their old faith). It’s more of a “Christianity no longer fullfils my spiritual needs; here’s something that does.”
**Atropos wrote:
I have a really interesting explanation of what “magick” is if anyone is interested. And it doesn’t even involve paranormal stuff!**
If you do, please take it to the “Does Magic Exist” thread or the Pit thread, okay? Thanks!
It may help to remember that some Pagans are monotheists, and some are polytheists, and there are a few pantheists running around as well. I believe there is one Deity, but that it has many aspects–male, female, warrior, scholar, guide, etc. The aspect the Deity takes in its interaction with me depends on what I can cope with, what I need, what will best allow me to deepen my relationship with the Divine–and there is some of “This is a Mom problem” as well. But I also believe that the Deity is in and of everything–humans, animals, trees, plants, rocks, the whole ball of wax, so it may be argued that I’m a pantheist. I know several Pagans who believe in two distinct Deities–usually male and female, but in one case, evil and good.
There is a specific branch of Wicca that is feminist in its nature–Dianic Wicca. My understanding is that is was an outgrowth of the feminist movement, and was often confined to only women practitioners. Again, different covens may allow male members, or allow men to participate is some but not all rituals. In my experience, it runs the gamut from being aggressively anti-male to be aggressively pro-female, while not denying the male.
Here’s a site about Pagan Deism that might help. Enjoy!