Pagan Gods & Goddesses
Throughout history, in different times and places, the human connection with the divine has been similiar. Although the cultures may have differed, the deities our ancestors worshipped had much in common across many pantheons. The themes of fertility, the sun, protection and many others can be found among the gods and goddesses of both ancient Greece and Egypt as well as in Ireland and India. These similarities remind us that even though our lives in modern times may be very different from our ancenstors, our experience of divinity is connected to all times and cultures.
Many Pagans prefer to work within one pantheon in their rituals and magic, while others like to mix pantheons and work with whatever god or goddess speaks most to them. It is important that whatever deity or deities you choose to call upon to aid you, you must grow to know them through the study of their myths and legends. You will find in your practice of Wicca that the use of certain symbols, herbs and images will enhance your connection to the deities. As an example, if you choose to work with the Welsh goddess Rhiannon, you will learn that horses are her sacred animal. For rituals invoking her, you might place a horse statue or picture on your altar to enhance your connection with her. However, if you are working with the Egyptian goddess Hathor, a sacred cow would be more appropriate.
The following list is a small sample of some of the more commonly worshipped gods and goddesses in Wicca. It is by no means a thorough list, as there are literally hundreds if not thousands of deities found throughout the world's history and much knowledge of them has been lost to the passage of time. You may find yourself drawn to a particular god or goddess for reasons you can't explain. If so, this should be thought of as an invitation to you by that deity to learn of them and develop a personal relationship with them. By honoring them in this way, the gods and goddesses will look favorably on your magic and will be present with you in your rituals when invited to your sacred circle.
(Because the ancient Greek and Roman deities so closley mirrored each other, the names of the Roman counterpart are listed in parenthesis following the Greek names.)
Greek Gods
Zeus (Jupiter)-the ruler of the Greek gods and of Mount Olympus; god of the sky, thunder and rain; father of Hercules and Athena; married to Hera (Juno)
Dionysus (Bacchus)-god of wine, ecstasy and virility; associated with the bull
Pan (Faunas)-god of nature, wilderness and fertility; depicted with the legs of a goat and horns
Eros (Cupid)-god of love; son of Aphrodite
Greek Goddesses
Artemis (Diana)-goddess of the moon, hunting and protectress of animals; virgin goddess presiding over childbirth and all things feminine
Athena (Minerva)-virgin goddess of wisdom and justice; known as a warrior goddess and parton of science and learning; often shown with an owl
Aphrodite (Venus)-goddess of love, beauty and desire; born of the sea; known to enchant anyone she wished with her beauty
Demeter (Ceres)-goddess of agriculture and a bountiful harvest; made the crops grow; when she mourns for her daughter Persephone, the earth is thrown into winter.
Persephone (Proserpina)-queen of the underworld; youthful daughter of Demeter who was taken to rule in Hades for half the year
Hera (Juno)-goddess of marriage and motherhood; ruled Olympus with her husband Zeus; known to be very jealous of his affairs
Hestia (Vesta)-goddess of home and hearth; associated with fire
Circe-goddess of sorcery; said to be able to put people under her spell with her enchanting voice
Gaia-Mother Earth Goddess; honored at ancient Delphi; guardian of ecology
Hekate-moon goddess of magic; patroness of witchcraft; ensures prosperity and good fortune when honored
Egyptian Gods
Ra-supreme creator and sun god; associated with the falcon and depicted with a solar disc above his head
Osiris-king of the dead and eternal life; husband of Isis; god of fertility and nature
Thoth-god of wisdom; patron of scribes and writing; associated with the moon and lunar cycles
Horus-sun god; associated with the falcon; the Eye of Horus brought protection from evil; son of Isis and Osiris
Egyptian Goddesses
Isis-great mother goddess; wife of Osiris; goddess of healing and magic; often seen with wings
Maat-goddess of truth and justice; usually adorned with feathers
Bastet-cat goddess of pleasure, joy, love and sexuality; divine protector
Hathor-protective goddess of agriculture, children and animals; associated with a sacred cow; also protects women financially and in business
Nut-mother goddess of earth and air; ruled heavenly bodies along with Ra
Hindu Gods
Shiva-destructive god who creates through first destroying
Vishnu-god of goodness and compassion; known as "the preserver"
Hindu Goddesses
Kali-goddess of revenge; known as a fierce protector of women and children and much feared
Lakshmi-goddess of wealth, fertility and good fortune
Polynesian Goddesses
Pele-fire goddess associated with volcanoes; known to have a bad temper and quickly punish those who have done wrong
Celtic Gods
Lugh-sun god of Ireland; patron of skills in weaponry; medicine; poetry and building; god of light; important deity of Wiccan Sabbat Lughnasadh
Cernunnos-horned god of nature; lord of animals; associated with hunting, the harvest and agriculture
Celtic Goddesses
Brigit-goddess of fire, poetry, inspiration and smithcraft; fertility and healing goddess; important deity of Wiccan Sabbat Imbolc
Ceridwen-Welsh mother goddess of divine knowledge; associated with rebirth; renewal and initiation
Danu-ancient Irish earth mother goddess; her offspring were the Tuatha De Danaan; life-giving force found in rivers, streams and wells
Rhiannon (Epona)- Welsh goddess who brings dreams; called Epona in Ireland; associated with abundance and fertility
Norse Gods
Thor-god of thunder; symbolized by Thor's Hammer; brought good fortune to infants and brides; strongest of the gods
Odin-father god who ruled the earth, sky, wind and battle; creator god; gained knowledge of the runes by hanging from the tree Yggdrasil
Tyr-sky god; son of Odin; concerned with justice and strategy
Balder-god of light and wisdom; associated with mercy and purity; adept at magic; son of Odin
Freyr-fertility god of the harvest; ruler of the sun and rain; brother to Freya
Norse Goddesses
Freya-goddess of sensuality; also associated with death and war; sister to Freyr
Frigg-earth mother goddess of love and marriage; patron of women who wished to become mothers; brought fertility
Japanese Goddesses
Quan Yin-goddess of mercy; protective goddess during childbirth; healer of children and travelers
(You may encounter many different spellings of the Pagan gods and goddesses, such as Brigit, Brigid, Brighid, or Quan Yin and Kwan Yin. Bastet is also at times referred to as Bast. Just as some of the Wiccan Sabbats may have different spellings, such as Beltane/Beltaine or Imbolc/Imbolg, this is due to their being handed down through many cultures over many years.)