The Story Of The Goddess And God
The wheel of the year is the story of life and creation, be it the creation of the universe, the world, or another year. It's the story of the Goddess as Maiden, Mother, and Crone.
It's the story of the God as God of Light and God of Shadow, for the waxing and waning year. The God is Son, Lover, King, and protector.
The Story of the Goddess and God vary from tradition to tradition, coven to coven. Here is one version, but its not the only one. As you practice and learn, the Gods will reveal their own stories to you. Here is the story.
At the winter solstice, Yule, the Goddess. the Great Mother of the universe, gives birth to the God, as the child of golden sunlight. From his birth, the world begins to grow warmer and the days grow longer.
Through Imbolc, the Mother nurses the Son as he grows into power. The Goddess returns to the world, from the Underworld, at the vernal equinox, and, with her power, resurrects the land after winter.
She returns as the Maiden of the Spring. The God grows into power and starts manifesting his power on Earth, as the growing world, transforming his mantle from Solar Child to Green Child.
At Beltane he reaches young adulthood. Both Goddess and God are in their green prime. The young lovers consummate their union. There is joy throughout the land.
By summer solstice, Litha, The God has grown into role of King of the Land, and the Goddess manifests as Queen. The King has reached the peak of his power and is challenged by his own shadow, the Dark King and the Horned God of the waning year. The shadow arises from the Underworld and defeats the God of Light.
At Lammas, the first harvest, the defeated God, both solar and green, is sacrificed for the good of his people. to feed his people as the grain harvest. He is cut as the grain is cut and sent to the Underworld. The Horned God begins his rein as father and protector during the winter months.
The festival of Mabon is his journey to the Underworld, and the Goddess grows older, missing her King and following him into the Underworld. As she withdraws her power the lands begins to turn color and wither.
At Samhain the Horned God rules the year, and Goddess, in her grief, opens the gateway between the worlds to be with her partner and husband in the Underworld.
By the next solstice, she realizes that the essence of the God is within her womb. He battles his small shadow and is victorious,being born into the world of the Sun once again. The Horned God of Shadow returns to the Underworld, awaiting the next duel. The cycle begins again.
References: The Outer Temple of Witchcraft, Circles, Spells and Rituals
By: Christopher Penczak