"Traditionally, the Wiccan Goddess is worshipped in Triple form - as the Virgin who has not yet known motherhood or who as not chosen this path, as the Mother, and as the Wise Woman, who is post-motherhood, she who acts as midwife to the Mother and as layer out at Death. These three aspects of the Goddess are represented by the waxing, full and waning moons."
"Today we live in a world of ruthless individualism, but that was not the world of our ancestors. Every member of the tribe was dependent on everyone else and resonsible for everyone else. And all were depentdent on the Gods who brought new life and who received us into death.
In the West, Goddess worship was suppressed by centureies of monotheism. However, if we look further back we find the Great Mother, worshipped in Ephesus as many-breasted Artemis; in Eqypt as isis whose veil might be lifted by none; as Cybele, Great Mother Goddess of Asia Minor whose worship was brought to ancient Rome; as Inanna of the Sumerians - she who descents into the Underworld and overcomes the forces of death.
In Wicca, the Goddess is still worshipped in her ancient names - as Aradia, Cerridwen, Isis, Astarte, Dione, Melusine, Aphrodite, Dana, and Arianrhod. She can be called by all these different names because there are but some some of the many names under which the Mighty Mother of us All has been known throughout the mellennia.
She appears in Egypt in her form as the Great Cat Goddess Bast, Goddess of love, whose black statues can still be bought today. She is Venus in her Roman aspect of love Goddess and Diana in her form as the Virgin Huntress of the Moon who is owned by no man. She is Hectate the Goddess of the crossroads and the August storms which may blight the harvest. She is Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of love, born it is said from the foaming waves."
"Principles of Wicca" Vivianne Crowley
