{"id":13174,"date":"2016-12-01T01:10:13","date_gmt":"2016-12-01T06:10:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/paganpages.org\/content\/?p=13835"},"modified":"2016-11-26T17:17:05","modified_gmt":"2016-11-26T22:17:05","slug":"goodgod-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/2016\/12\/01\/goodgod-2\/","title":{"rendered":"GoodGod!"},"content":{"rendered":"<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t<!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --><br \/>\t<\/style>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-family: Papyrus, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-large;\">GoodGod!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #000000; text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-family: Papyrus, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Meet the Gods: The Horned God<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-13836\" src=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/GoodGod.jpg\" alt=\"goodgod\" width=\"399\" height=\"612\" \/><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-family: Papyrus, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">(<em>PHOTO: <\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><em><span lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-family: Papyrus, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"> Holly King <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-family: Papyrus, serif;\"><em>The Holly King by Raven Willowhawk<\/em>)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><em><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Lucida Grande', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Merry meet.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Lucida Grande', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">The Horned God roams the forests \u2013 wild, loving and protecting the Goddess and her children. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Lucida Grande', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">He is the oldest of the Gods and perhaps the most common depiction of masculine divinity. Many pagans believe that the Horned God is the Lord of Death, ruling the underworld or Summerland, and is therefore the one to comfort and console the dead as they await rebirth. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Lucida Grande', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Since ancient times, the Horned God has been associated with fertility, the forest, the field and the hunt. He is known by such names as Cernunnos, Pan, Herne, Dionysus and <\/span><\/span><\/span><span lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Lucida Grande', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">the God of the Wicca<\/span><\/span><\/span><span lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Lucida Grande', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Lucida Grande', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">In some pagan traditions, <\/span><\/span><\/span><span lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Lucida Grande', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">the Horned God is seen as being comprised of <\/span><\/span><\/span><span lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Lucida Grande', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">the Oak King and the Holly King \u2013 twins, each who reigns for half the year, looses the battle between them and retreats for the next six months to nurse his wounds, reflect and gather his strength.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Lucida Grande', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">At the Winter Solstice (Yule), the Oak King conquers the Holly King, reigning until the sun is at its fullest on Summer Solstice (Litha). At that time, the Holly King returns to battle with the now old Oak King, defeating him, and ruling over the half of the year going into darkness. The Holly King represents death and darkness that have ruled since Samhain. It\u2019s a time of reflection, or recognizing lessons, and the chance for rebirth. The Horned God is born as the baby Oak King, bringing a promise of new life. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Lucida Grande', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">The traditional Yule log \u2013 which is made from oak from the previous year and adorned with evergreens symbolic of the Holly King \u2013 is burned to symbolize the birth of both the son and the sun.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Lucida Grande', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">As the wheel turns, the dueling repeats. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Lucida Grande', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">In some traditions, the exchange of power occurs on the equinoxes with their most potent points aligning with the solstices. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Lucida Grande', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">On Imbolc, the Horned God is said to lead a wild hunt <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Lucida Grande', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Both kings are portrayed as forest creatures, with the Holly King often looking like a woodsy Saint Nicholas, sometimes driving a team of eight stags. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Lucida Grande', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">One of my favorite depictions of the Holly King was done by Raven Willowhawk. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Lucida Grande', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">The Oak King is seen as the King of the Forest, often similar in appearance as the Green Man. Each exists as part of the horned God, so both have horns or <\/span><\/span><\/span><span lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Lucida Grande', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">antlers<\/span><\/span><\/span><span lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Lucida Grande', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Lucida Grande', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">In my practice, I honor the role of both the Holly King and the Oak King at both the Summer and Winter Solstices, each taking turns symbolizing death and rebirth. I have both holly and oak leaves or acorns on my altar. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"LEFT\"><em><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Helvetica, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span lang=\"en-US\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Lucida Grande', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">Merry part. And merry meet again.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>GoodGod! Meet the Gods: The Horned God (PHOTO: Holly King The Holly King by Raven Willowhawk) Merry meet. The Horned God roams the forests \u2013 wild, loving and protecting the Goddess and her children. He is the oldest of the Gods and perhaps the most common depiction of masculine divinity. Many pagans believe that the Horned God is the Lord of Death, ruling the underworld or Summerland, and is therefore the one to comfort and console the dead as they await rebirth. Since ancient times, the Horned God has been associated with fertility, the forest, the field and the hunt. He is known by such names as Cernunnos, Pan, Herne, Dionysus and the God of the Wicca. In some pagan traditions, the Horned God is seen as being comprised of the Oak King and the Holly King \u2013 twins, each who reigns for half the year, looses the battle between them and retreats for the next six months to nurse his wounds, reflect and gather his strength. At the Winter Solstice (Yule), the Oak King conquers the Holly King, reigning until the sun is at its fullest on Summer Solstice (Litha). At that time, the Holly King returns to battle with the now old Oak King, defeating him, and ruling over the half of the year going into darkness. The Holly King represents death and darkness that have ruled since Samhain. It\u2019s a time of reflection, or recognizing lessons, and the chance for rebirth. The Horned God is born as the baby Oak King, bringing a promise of new life. The traditional Yule log \u2013 which is made from oak from the previous year and adorned with evergreens symbolic of the Holly King \u2013 is burned to symbolize the birth of both the son and the sun. As the wheel turns, the dueling repeats. In some traditions, the exchange of power occurs on the equinoxes with their most potent points aligning with the solstices. On Imbolc, the Horned God is said to lead a wild hunt Both kings are portrayed as forest creatures, with the Holly King often looking like a woodsy Saint Nicholas, sometimes driving a team of eight stags. One of my favorite depictions of the Holly King was done by Raven Willowhawk. The Oak King is seen as the King of the Forest, often similar in appearance as the Green Man. Each exists as part of the horned God, so both have horns or antlers. In my practice, I honor the role of both the Holly King and the Oak King at both the Summer and Winter Solstices, each taking turns symbolizing death and rebirth. I have both holly and oak leaves or acorns on my altar. Merry part. And merry meet again.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":210,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":1,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13174","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13174","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/210"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13174"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13174\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13174"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13174"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13174"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}