Saturday, April 9, 2011

The Green Man and Gaia

So...after finding some interesting facts on what I thought I'd consider my 'patron' deities I have noticed a new and much stronger calling out of no where. Mother Nature, Earth, Green, Life. In essence, the Green Man and all he stands for, but of course every male deity figure has to have it's female counterpart, and thus as I was reading Solitary With last night I came across a simple phrase mentioning both the Green Man and Gaia...Well, my first thoughts had been simply Green Man and Mother Nature - but what is Gaia but the Mother of the Earth as a whole, and thus much more appropriate.

I know every Wiccan/Pagan chooses and sees things differently, but I wish for your opinion. Any opinion really as this has jumped out at me and as they are not pantheon deity it's a little confusing to me right now.

5 comments:

  1. It is all a bit confusing at times, isn't it? I think part of that confusion lies in the need we seem to feel to label or name everything and sometimes you just cannot sum up certain things, particularly answers to spirituality. I will tell you honestly that I have spent a great amount of time pondering this very issue myself and I do not know if I will ever have my full and definite answer. But what soothes me most is Nature. And Nature is comprised of so many different aspects of male and female properties. I believe everything, each plant, each stone, has its own spirit and that all of the universe encompasses the many beings of the great spark that resides in all. Follow your heart and let your mind soar free. The entire universe is a balance of polarities and what you call them are not near as important as embracing their gifts and giving your love in return. Best of luck in your search, sweet Lilac SilverFox

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  2. This is what I was taught when I first started walking the Goddess Path -- the Green Man is the son and lover of the Goddess. She endures forever. As a vegetation God, He is born, grows and dies each year. He is the lover of the Goddess and She produces all plant life as a result. He is simultaneously the plant life (son) of the Goddess.

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  3. The way I see a situation like this is to break it down: do you believe that gods are archetypes or are they unique, individual personalities?

    If the latter, do you believe that these gods, who are unique, individual personalities, can also be part of a larger whole--a unifying, nearly (or completely) incomprehensibly infinite Godhead?

    Then, do you think it is then that it becomes necessary to distill this Godhead into more relatable divinities like the God and Goddess?

    If so, then would would be the difference between Pan and the God or Artemis and the Goddess? Is there a hierarchy to it?

    It's mind boggling.

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  4. Don't box yourself in by trying to force yourself to pick a deity from a specific pantheon. Gaia & the Green Man both are found in almost every pantheon in various forms. I think that if you're drawn to the Goddess & God in the forms of Gaia & the Green Man, then go with it! You may find a more specific manifestation at another time, but they may be just what you need at this moment in your life. Listen to what's being whispered (or shouted...) to you by Nature, the Goddess & God & your own self. This is the most important thing. If it works for you, go with it. If it doesn't, move on to something else. ^-^

    XOXO

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  5. You mentioned hearing a "stronger calling." so it's likely a spirit/energy is trying to connect and work with you.

    As humans we love (dare I say need) to name everything. We use names familiar to us, and that is ok because it's just the way we humans roll, but these names are created by humans, not spirit. The energy one person calls Gaia, is most likely the same energy another person calls by the same name, and also likely the same energy someone else calls Grandmother, so the energy is real, it exists and has the qualities we associate with these names, but the names themselves are created by humans.

    Perhaps you should try to communicate to the energy that has called you through meditation/trance? (of course, it goes without saying that you should protect yourself before entering non-ordinary reality) The purpose of this would be to get to know this energy so that it will be easier for you to understand and name, should you choose to work with it.

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