Because of the nature of pagan religions, multiple ideas exist which represent Her in different ways. The following are some of these:
The Triple Goddess
This way of perceiving the Goddess takes as its basis the similarity of the cycles of the moon and the fertility cycle in women. Each repeats about 28 days apart.From a new moon, when the surface is in shadow, the moon appears to grow brighter (waxes) until it is at its brightest (full), and then grows progressively darker (wanes) until it becomes a new moon again. These correspond to the maiden (waxing), mother (full) and crone (waning).
These also represent stages of female fertility (pre-pubescent, fertile and post-menopausal) and modes of being: The Maiden (Kore) is not exactly virginal or chaste, but uncommitted to any partner; the Mother (Meter) however has taken on a commitment to others and demonstrates care and nurturing; the Crone (Maia) has fulfilled these commitments and is released from them, sharing any wisdom gained along the way.
The Goddess Wheel
This division has been explored in detail in "The Goddess Within" by Jennifer and Roger Woolger. It uses selected goddesses from classical mythology to divide The Goddess into six main aspects based on function rather than passage:
Athena rules everything to do with civilisation, such as all aspects of city life and pursuits. Goddess of technology, science and the arts, and also of careers and academia.
Aphrodite rules love and eros in all aspects of sexuality, intimacy and personal relationships.
Persephone rules contact with the underworld. This covers all aspects of spirits, the psyche, archetypes, the collective unconscious.
Artemis rules nature in its untamed form, including instinct, the body rather than the head, and outdoor activities. This is in contrast to Athena, who represents nature tamed and civilised.
Demeter is a goddess of motherhood and everything connected to the reproductive functions, nurture and care. She has influence over plants, especially domesticated ones.
Hera is connected with power and leadership . The wife of Zeus (head of the Olympian gods and goddesses) she has power over marriage, partnerships, leadership and responsibility.
The Temple of Light
This schema is from "The Elements of the Goddess" by Caitlan Matthews, and the following are abridged descriptions of each aspect:
The Shaper of All Things, like the Great Mother in the previous example, this represents the common source of all aspects of the Goddess, but also the creator and maker of all things.
The Energiser represents eternal movement and instigation. When not necessarily the doer, this aspect sets in motion that which becomes, either through direct intercession or by inspiration. While the Energiser brings into life what the Shaper has formed, the Measurer sets and defines the Energiser's power, giving it limits and ordered pattern. Whereas the Shaper brings into being, and the Energiser gives power, and the Measurer delimits that power, the Protector then guards the creation.
The Measurer sets obvious limits and the Protector defends these. The Initiator however elicits response and explores hidden depths, leading (possibly) to a rebirth. If the Initiator opens doors, it is the Challenger that goes through them. The Challenger contests the limits and opposes authority. Without such effort, things become static and fixed. The function of the Deliverer is to penetrate the depths of suffering and transform it. This completes a cycle started with the Initiator and continued with the Challenger, producing rebirth.
The Weaver is a sorceress who is able to weave a pattern of life, either to contain, obscure, or guide. The Weaver is involved in teasing out new ways for life to develop. Now the Preserver appears to maintain and nourish life. The Weaver spreads her spider's web and the Preserver provides nourishment. Now the Empowerer bestows wisdom.
Women's Wheel
This final division is from "The Woman's Wheel of Life" by Elizabeth Davis and Carol Leonard. It is a modern addition to the classic triple aspect (as shown above), to represent passages and transformations in women's lives. We have the existing three aspects: Innocence (Maiden), Nurturing (Mother) and Wisdom (Crone), and also a new aspect of the Power (Matriarch).
At the center is the transformer, that which can change women's lives in empowering and creative ways. Each aspect is further divided into three archetypes:
Innocence: Daughter Maiden Blood Sister Nurturing: Lover Mother Midwife Power: Amazon Matriarch Priestess Wisdom: Sorceress Crone Dark Mother
Without going into a full description of each archetype, I can say that they were determined by the authors by extensive interviews with women and examining what was meaningful to them, and what stages of life that had undergone. In this way, old ideas, myths and cosmologies are reinvented and transformed to meet modern needs. Only time will show if the addition of the Matriarch et al will be adopted generally.
Variety and Diversity
What the above show us is that the Goddess can be interpreted in many different ways. Even if sometimes one model might contradict another, there is also a striking similarity between those presented -- they all deal in one way or another with change, creativity and cycles.Sometimes the Goddess turns up in unexpected places. As mentioned elsewhere, the Virgin Mary of the Catholic Church reflects this. Elements of Cybele and Isis can be found in her, as a holy mother, and granter of miracles and wishes.
Another representation is Sophia from the Gnostic tradition. Gnosticism was a religious movement that combined elements of Christianity and older religions.
In the Gnostic world view, there is the Godhead, Aeons, the Boundary, Sophia, and the Demiurge. The Godhead is the supreme being and appears to be masculine in nature, but also unknowable. The Aeons though seem to be like angels, individual personifications of God, and Sophia appears to be one of these. In some texts she is the mother of the Aeons and the Demiurge, just as Cybele/Rhea is "Mother of the Gods". The demiurge is a "false god" who made this world and is a fallen Aeon, the equivalent of Satan.
Gnosticism was rejected by the mainstream church, however many of the concepts obviously influenced it. That the world (and the flesh) is basically hostile and bad, that Sophia (meaning "faith-wisdom") is subordinate to a higher (and masculine?) God, and a battle between good and evil.
Sophia might be appealing to some, but I find that I have to reject or ignore her. The reasons are very simple. The world is not basically bad -- it's what we make of it. And a flawed Goddess (or a patriarchal version of one) does more harm than good.
My Pantheon
Having discussed different ways in which the Goddess can be seen, it's now time for me to list my own choice of aspects which I have in my Pantheon. I have chosen these as relating to different aspects of my life. They are:- Artemis -- Maiden, Animals, pets and the wild.
- Athena -- Maiden, Study, arts and craft.
- Cybele -- Mother, nurturing and acceptance.
- Demeter -- Mother, Plants and gardens.
- Hecate -- Crone, decisions, witchcraft and wisdom.
- Hestia -- Maiden/Mother, domesticity.
- Iris -- Maiden/Mother, Travel, emotions and communications.
- Persephone -- Maiden, The Psyche and the dead.
Prayer to the Goddess
The light of the Goddess surrounds me; the love of the Goddess enfolds me; the power of the Goddess protects me; the presence of the Goddess watches over me; where I am, the Goddess is; Thank you Goddess.Great Goddess -- Guide my life through it's twists and turns. Show me the source of all life within myself, and allow me as your daughter, to grow in all ways, to become and fulfill myself in your image.
Make the magic within me flow.
HYMN TO HER
© The Pretenders
Let me inside you, into Your room
I've heard it's lined with the things You don't show
Lay me beside You down on the floor
I've been Your lover from the womb to the tomb
I dress as Your daughter when the Moon becomes round
You'll be my Mother, when everything's goneAnd She will always carry on
Something is lost and something is found
They will keep on speaking Her name
Some things change and some stay the sameKeep beckoning to me
From behind that closed door
The Maiden, the Mother and the Crone that's grown old
I hear Your voice, coming out of that horn
I listen to You and I want some more!
I listen to You and I want some more!And She will always carry on
Something is lost and something is found
They will keep on speaking Her name
Some things change and some stay the sameLet me inside you, into Your room
I've heard it's lined with the things You don't show
Lay me beside You down on the floor
I've been Your lover from the womb to the tomb
I dress as Your daughter when the Moon becomes round
You'll be my Mother, when everything's goneAnd She will always carry on
Something is lost and something is found
They will keep on speaking Her name
Some things change and some stay the same