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Wicca Books
Wicca Magical Deities: A Guide to the Wiccan God and Goddess, and Choosing a Deity to Work Magic With
Everything You Need to Know to Start Connecting with the God and Goddess Perhaps the biggest difference between Wicca and other religions is the belief that individuals can do more than simply pray to a supreme, all-powerful deity and hope that things will work out to their benefit. Wiccans understand that individuals can actually co-create with the forces of nature by linking their own personal energy with the divine through ritual and magic. But what is “the divine” when it comes to Wicca? Who are the Goddess and the God, and where did they come from? Why do they have different names in different Wiccan traditions, and how do you begin to work with them in your personal practice? Magical Deities, by best-selling author Lisa Chamberlain, answers these questions and more. Going beyond the usual brief introduction to the God and Goddess found in many beginner guides to Wicca, Lisa covers the origins of the Wiccan deities, as well as their varying manifestations among different Wiccan traditions. What’s more, she explains the difference between traditional duotheism and more eclectic polytheistic practices, both of which are found among the diversity of forms within this dynamic religion. You’ll find advice for learning to forge your own spiritual connection with the divine masculine and feminine, and introductions to sixteen ancient deities who often function as “aspects” of the God and Goddess within Wiccan practices. Finally, you’ll find ideas for honoring and working with these deities in your magical practice—and make no mistake, having the assistance of the gods and goddesses of the Universe is an enormous boon in the magic department! Foundations in Wiccan Concepts of Divinity and Magic For many practitioners who keep to the traditional duotheistic concept of Wicca, the ancient deities are “aspects” of the “supreme” Goddess and God and don’t have a role to play on their own. For those who fall into the category of “eclectic” Wiccans, the inclusion of ancient deities is more polytheistic. Eclectics often have personal relationships with “patron” gods and/or goddesses, who may be included in ritual practice alongside the God and Goddess. In both approaches, deities may be called upon for assistance with specific magical aims. But it’s not simply a matter of speaking a god’s or goddess’ name in your spellwork—you need to develop an understanding and personal relationship with your chosen deities. Magical Deities will help you to do just that, with valuable information The history of the Wiccan Goddess and God and their evolution through various traditions An introduction to the Triple Goddess and her three Maiden, Mother and Crone Introductions to the Sun God, the Horned God, the Green Man, and the Holly and Oak Kings How to represent the God and Goddess on the Wiccan altar The mythology, cosmology, and magical practices of the ancient cultures that gave rise to Wicca The most popular deities of the Egyptian, Roman, Greek, and Celtic pantheons Advice for choosing deities to work with, and magical goals and methods specific to each one The paths to connection with the God and Goddess, or to any of the deities “borrowed” from other cultures are as multiple and varied as the people who worship them.
126 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 29, 2016
839 people are currently reading
875 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Chamberlain
80 books274 followersLisa dispels all the common misconceptions about this diverse religion, giving her readers the perfect foundations for taking their first steps on their Wiccan journey.
Unlike other Wicca guides, Lisa's books provide information that's found across many Wiccan traditions, rather than coming from just one person's perspective. In fact, she writes the kinds of books she wishes had been available when she was just starting out in the Craft all those years ago.
When not writing or experimenting with spellwork, Lisa loves to read, play piano, and spend time surrounded by nature.
Unlike other Wicca guides, Lisa's books provide information that's found across many Wiccan traditions, rather than coming from just one person's perspective. In fact, she writes the kinds of books she wishes had been available when she was just starting out in the Craft all those years ago.
When not writing or experimenting with spellwork, Lisa loves to read, play piano, and spend time surrounded by nature.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
July 18, 2019
Interesting and informative. While I don't share the same beliefs about many aspects, I am always interested to learn about different beliefs and many other topics!
November 12, 2020
In this book author tells us about a few main deities of Greeks-Romans, Egyptians and Celts. I was very happy to find Bastet since she is my main deity I work with. Also I could learn about Celtic Gods that I never knew of. Celtic Gods were something I wanted to know more of and here I had a chance. I recommend this book to everybody who are looking for a deity to worship or simply want to read a short stories and few Gods.
June 16, 2018
A Great Starting Point
A really easy to read, quick guide to the most popular Egyptian, Greek, and Celtic gods and goddesses. Get this if you're curious and don't know where to start, plus it's on Kindle Unlimited!
A really easy to read, quick guide to the most popular Egyptian, Greek, and Celtic gods and goddesses. Get this if you're curious and don't know where to start, plus it's on Kindle Unlimited!
April 22, 2020
Great for a beginning understanding of the god and goddess!
April 23, 2021
I really liked this! It's a pretty brief overview, so it's definitely targeted to beginners. However, I learned a lot of interesting historical information! Its focus is on contextualizing the deities in their culture and time period, which is an approach I see less often (or at least less rigorously historical) and I appreciated it.
Chamberlain makes the point several times that throughout history people have adopted, coopted, altered, and combined the gods and goddesses of other cultures they came into contact with, addressing one of the modern concerns about "appropriation" in Wicca.
I appreciated her perspective on the question of addressing gods and goddesses outside of your inherited spiritual practices or regions. I would definitely pick up more of Chamberlain's books if I come across them.
Chamberlain makes the point several times that throughout history people have adopted, coopted, altered, and combined the gods and goddesses of other cultures they came into contact with, addressing one of the modern concerns about "appropriation" in Wicca.
It may seem odd to some to "borrow" a deity from another religion to worship in a Wiccan context. However, as we will see in the following overviews of the ancient cultures they are borrowed from, the adoption of deities from another religion isn't at all a new practice.
Throughout the history of human society, people have merged and adopted deities from those they can into contact with, blending aspects of their own religion with that of the new one. This can be seen today in Ireland and Latin American, for example, where pagan gods have been made into Christian saints.
I appreciated her perspective on the question of addressing gods and goddesses outside of your inherited spiritual practices or regions. I would definitely pick up more of Chamberlain's books if I come across them.
March 24, 2021
The book starts off with a general discussion of Wicca and how it has no central scripture, no set place for worship and how an individual has power within themselves and does not have to depend on a deity to grant him or her the power to do things.
It also notes that modern-day Wicca did not really start till around the middle 1950's. (Almost every single thing about any kind of Wicca-related worship before that time was destroyed during the Witch hunts.)
The book gives brief discussions of major and minor Wiccan deities, male and female, and how some of their names changed over time and place. It also discusses covens and how the Wiccan approach is that males and females are equal and that there is no single way to worship.
It discusses the wheel of the year, the Mother-Maiden-Crone aspect of women and other things such as Dianic Witchcraft, the Oak King, the Holly King, images and symbolic offerings and how the related gods and goddesses can be found in ancient Europe, Egypt, Greece, Rome and India.
It notes there is some controversy about 'cultural appropriation' of deities from other areas. (My own view of this is that if you do whatever it is you do with proper respect and knowledge then I think it will be all right. If you think about it there would be no gods or goddesses anyone in America could worship otherwise since the only ones that have been here all along have been Native American deities. All other people are either immigrants or descended from immigrants who brought their own beliefs with them. )
It also notes that modern-day Wicca did not really start till around the middle 1950's. (Almost every single thing about any kind of Wicca-related worship before that time was destroyed during the Witch hunts.)
The book gives brief discussions of major and minor Wiccan deities, male and female, and how some of their names changed over time and place. It also discusses covens and how the Wiccan approach is that males and females are equal and that there is no single way to worship.
It discusses the wheel of the year, the Mother-Maiden-Crone aspect of women and other things such as Dianic Witchcraft, the Oak King, the Holly King, images and symbolic offerings and how the related gods and goddesses can be found in ancient Europe, Egypt, Greece, Rome and India.
It notes there is some controversy about 'cultural appropriation' of deities from other areas. (My own view of this is that if you do whatever it is you do with proper respect and knowledge then I think it will be all right. If you think about it there would be no gods or goddesses anyone in America could worship otherwise since the only ones that have been here all along have been Native American deities. All other people are either immigrants or descended from immigrants who brought their own beliefs with them. )
May 9, 2022
Very good basic overview.
A quick and easy read but very informative with no unnecessary waffling, Lisa covers several of the more popular deities such as Hecate, Pan, Diana & Cernunnos among others and describes the attributes of each god/goddess and the relationships between them and us and where these deities fit in the bigger World view with their correlations to other polytheistic religions such as those practiced in Egypt, Greece and Rome.
She also details the best ways to commune with our chosen god or goddess with ideas on candle colours, herbs and ritual offerings among others.
Very useful for those just beginning on their path but also those further advanced but needing a reminder of little details we tend to forget (maybe its my age) so I would recommend this book to anyone whose life is touched by this most perfect path.
A quick and easy read but very informative with no unnecessary waffling, Lisa covers several of the more popular deities such as Hecate, Pan, Diana & Cernunnos among others and describes the attributes of each god/goddess and the relationships between them and us and where these deities fit in the bigger World view with their correlations to other polytheistic religions such as those practiced in Egypt, Greece and Rome.
She also details the best ways to commune with our chosen god or goddess with ideas on candle colours, herbs and ritual offerings among others.
Very useful for those just beginning on their path but also those further advanced but needing a reminder of little details we tend to forget (maybe its my age) so I would recommend this book to anyone whose life is touched by this most perfect path.
October 29, 2016
I usually hate History books, but not this book though i skimmed through certain god and goddesses i wasn't so keen on. Osiris and Isis to the win. And thank god for Rick Riordan, so that I actually knew what they were talking about. Can't think of a better person than Riordan to have taught me about Egyptian, Roman, Greek mythology in the most interesting way. And for all my Percy love, i thought my choice would certainly be a Greek Deity, but here iam rooting for Egyptian beliefs and all. That's one thing about Wicca, it never forces its decisions on you, you have your own choice based on what you connect with and nothing is wrong or right. If I didn't know the path i chose was right already, maybe now I know for sure.
December 20, 2021
Very good intro to deities
I always enjoy Lisa Chamberlain’s writing. She doesn’t make assertions without including opposing views or exceptions to consider, and she always makes the reader aware of the limits of knowledge that exist on any given subject.
That said, she managed to include a wealth of knowledge on deities in clear and concise language, and this was an enjoyable and easy read.
My only wish is that she had also included Norse gods, as I am interested in them and also they are rather widely revered in Wicca today. I am not saying she overlooked them—again, she stated the limits of what she was sharing in this book very clearly—but because I would have enjoyed to read her writing on them.
I always enjoy Lisa Chamberlain’s writing. She doesn’t make assertions without including opposing views or exceptions to consider, and she always makes the reader aware of the limits of knowledge that exist on any given subject.
That said, she managed to include a wealth of knowledge on deities in clear and concise language, and this was an enjoyable and easy read.
My only wish is that she had also included Norse gods, as I am interested in them and also they are rather widely revered in Wicca today. I am not saying she overlooked them—again, she stated the limits of what she was sharing in this book very clearly—but because I would have enjoyed to read her writing on them.
July 27, 2024
Lettura estremamente scorrevole e breve, al punto che l'ho terminato in un paio di ore.
Punto di forza (fondamentale) è che l'autrice non ha la pretesa di essere esaustiva e invita, a più riprese, a studiare e ad approfondire seriamente qualora si sentisse la spinta nei confronti di una divinità specifica. Quello che fa è offrire una infarinatura (non scevra di difetti) su alcune civiltà antiche e la loro religione, menzionando 3/4 divinità importanti per ognuna di loro. Precede il tutto una introduzione sulla Wicca.
Non pane per i miei denti, ma riconosco che per un novizio possa essere un ottimo punto di partenza: umile e che invita a costruire da sé il proprio percorso.
Punto di forza (fondamentale) è che l'autrice non ha la pretesa di essere esaustiva e invita, a più riprese, a studiare e ad approfondire seriamente qualora si sentisse la spinta nei confronti di una divinità specifica. Quello che fa è offrire una infarinatura (non scevra di difetti) su alcune civiltà antiche e la loro religione, menzionando 3/4 divinità importanti per ognuna di loro. Precede il tutto una introduzione sulla Wicca.
Non pane per i miei denti, ma riconosco che per un novizio possa essere un ottimo punto di partenza: umile e che invita a costruire da sé il proprio percorso.
May 15, 2024
I am reading this as apart of a group of books for a report I am writing and I had an extremely hard time with the information throughout the book. I felt as though there was a lot left on the table that we could have dove into and so much missing detail.
I would have a hard time recommending this book to a beginner that does not have the skills and knowledge behind them to understand what is being talked about.
I truly love how Lisa Chamberlin writes but I feel as though she could get more granular overall.
I would have a hard time recommending this book to a beginner that does not have the skills and knowledge behind them to understand what is being talked about.
I truly love how Lisa Chamberlin writes but I feel as though she could get more granular overall.
January 29, 2019
Great read! Whether you are pagan, wiccan, an atheist or just interested in mythology this book covers the main Pantheons; Greek/Roman, Egyptian, and Celtic as well as an introduction to the triple goddess. I couldn't put it down, and have since bought two other books by this author. She is very comprehensive and doesn't simplify things but it is easy to understand. I'd recommend to anyone interested in this subject.
May 12, 2020
A brief look into some of the more common deities found today, from Egyptian, Greek/Roman, and Celtic. I enjoyed reading the little mythology found here, but I found there was no information about how to actually FIND a patron deity. No tips or suggestions. Though I guess if a mythos here captures your attention, then it's a start and a way for you to look deeper in to it. Which I guess is the whole point of such beginner books that Lisa writes.
November 10, 2022
This is a good overview of deities. If you are looking for something with a lot of "deity options" I'd say this isn't it. This is very much broad and the deities that I work with were not in here. Which is fine for what I needed the book for, but if you are brand new and looking for specific deities, just be aware that this is kind of a "most popular" kinda thing. The information about history etc is very good and easy to understand.
March 21, 2019
Who can I turn to?
I found this to be a useful introduction to the origins of several deities of the ancient world. As well as a really nice overview of the cultures that gave birth to them. This is an excellent place to begin your search for a deity to work with.
I also like that MS Chamberlain adds a short listing of other source books.
I found this to be a useful introduction to the origins of several deities of the ancient world. As well as a really nice overview of the cultures that gave birth to them. This is an excellent place to begin your search for a deity to work with.
I also like that MS Chamberlain adds a short listing of other source books.
July 12, 2019
Informative read.
This was a wonderfully informative read. This is great for beginners or those looking to refresh their knowledge. It is written clearly and broken down in such a way that even if you are unfamiliar with the deities you will understand. It helps to create a solid information base as you journey along your path.
Blessed be.
This was a wonderfully informative read. This is great for beginners or those looking to refresh their knowledge. It is written clearly and broken down in such a way that even if you are unfamiliar with the deities you will understand. It helps to create a solid information base as you journey along your path.
Blessed be.
August 2, 2020
Insightful
As an aspiring Wiccan path follower, I found this book very insightful. Lisa's books are inspiring most of my work currently, and I've read several. Her books are definitely a useful reference for just about anything you want to know. If the specific thing isn't in the books, I still feel like the author points the reader in the right direction to find the answers.
As an aspiring Wiccan path follower, I found this book very insightful. Lisa's books are inspiring most of my work currently, and I've read several. Her books are definitely a useful reference for just about anything you want to know. If the specific thing isn't in the books, I still feel like the author points the reader in the right direction to find the answers.
August 16, 2021
A great starting point
Whatever your path may be or become this is a great introduction to the God's and Goddesses of the pantheons that have inspired and become part of modern day Wicca. Lisa writes in a clear and easily understandable way for anybody beginning thier journey and gives great additional resources too.
Whatever your path may be or become this is a great introduction to the God's and Goddesses of the pantheons that have inspired and become part of modern day Wicca. Lisa writes in a clear and easily understandable way for anybody beginning thier journey and gives great additional resources too.
August 10, 2017
Perfect!
I am still a beginner Wiccan looking to forge a relationship with one of the personalities of the god and goddess. This books was well written and cohesive. It gave lovely descriptions of a few of the major pantheons and their major deities. Worth the read!
Blessed Be!
I am still a beginner Wiccan looking to forge a relationship with one of the personalities of the god and goddess. This books was well written and cohesive. It gave lovely descriptions of a few of the major pantheons and their major deities. Worth the read!
Blessed Be!
April 9, 2020
Always enjoy her books
They are simple and easy to understand without an overwhelming amount of information, which is very appreciated by a busy mother who doesn't have a lot of time.
They are simple and easy to understand without an overwhelming amount of information, which is very appreciated by a busy mother who doesn't have a lot of time.
May 10, 2020
A good review of information
A generally good review of information and a great starting point. Wish my kindle version had an index of where certain themes of deities are mentioned and such things.
A generally good review of information and a great starting point. Wish my kindle version had an index of where certain themes of deities are mentioned and such things.
August 9, 2020
Gods and Goddeses
It was an ok read, they touch on a few of the Deities but I still felt something missing. It was more of a general not as in-depth as I thought it could of been. For a beginner might be a good read. For me it was missing in some Deities.
It was an ok read, they touch on a few of the Deities but I still felt something missing. It was more of a general not as in-depth as I thought it could of been. For a beginner might be a good read. For me it was missing in some Deities.
November 19, 2020
Basic introduction
This is very basic but a good introduction to the Wiccan understanding of deity. It includes brief discussions of some of the more popular gods and goddesses. I would recommend this entire series to anyone new to Wicca.
This is very basic but a good introduction to the Wiccan understanding of deity. It includes brief discussions of some of the more popular gods and goddesses. I would recommend this entire series to anyone new to Wicca.
April 28, 2021
Jam packed with knowledge
For a short book, this book has completely covered the basic knowledge of many gods and goddesses. I learned a lot quickly. Several useful tables for cross reference are included that I found very helpful.
For a short book, this book has completely covered the basic knowledge of many gods and goddesses. I learned a lot quickly. Several useful tables for cross reference are included that I found very helpful.
October 25, 2022
Beginner guide
Great beginner's guide to god\dess wicca. Loved the history given. Brief overview of the Sabbats as well as magical practices. Nice.glossary of names and associations.
Great beginner's guide to god\dess wicca. Loved the history given. Brief overview of the Sabbats as well as magical practices. Nice.glossary of names and associations.
November 11, 2022
very informative, well laid out
Must read basic for anyone building their first alter or trying to decide which deities to work with and represent in their practice. Well thought out and laid out with helpful charts. It’s very basic, but not in a bad way - excellent for beginners
Must read basic for anyone building their first alter or trying to decide which deities to work with and represent in their practice. Well thought out and laid out with helpful charts. It’s very basic, but not in a bad way - excellent for beginners
January 2, 2024
Good read
I enjoyed learning about the various gods and goddesses of mythology. They are covered succinctly with their highlights. This is a nice read, especially for the low cost.
I enjoyed learning about the various gods and goddesses of mythology. They are covered succinctly with their highlights. This is a nice read, especially for the low cost.
October 13, 2024
informative and well written
Great to read as an introduction and doesn’t overload with too much information. Allows the reader to get an overview and choose to take up some further research on pantheons they may not of considered. Loved reading:)
Great to read as an introduction and doesn’t overload with too much information. Allows the reader to get an overview and choose to take up some further research on pantheons they may not of considered. Loved reading:)
September 22, 2018
Great book
I enjoyed everything about the book. It was interesting and informative.
I.would recommend this to my Wicca friends. Thank you
I enjoyed everything about the book. It was interesting and informative.
I.would recommend this to my Wicca friends. Thank you
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews