Glossary - exWitch Australia (formerly 'Born Again Pagan')

HERMES

Greek messenger god, swift and cunning, portrayed with winged feet, wearing a winged helmet and carrying a Caduceus, a serpent-entwined, Magick wand that symbolizes spiritual illumination. Hermes also was a Patron god of Magick, using his caduceus to cast Spells. As god of travelers, his image was erected at crossroads; he was charged with escorting the souls of the dead to the . The dog is associated with Hermes for its intelligence and devotion.

According to myth, Hermes was born of Zeus and Maia, daughter of Atlas. He was a shrewd thief from his earliest hours. Before nightfall on his first day of life, he stole most of Apollo's heifers. Zeus made him return the heifers. In contrition, Hermes in-vented the lyre and gave it to Apollo. Hermes continued to play malicious tricks but also was generous in his protection of others: for instance, he saved Odysseus from the magical Spells of Circe.

Hermes appears in Greek mythology more often than any other deity. The Greeks identified him closely with the Egyptian god of wisdom and Magick, Thoth. Hermes is said to have learned the mysteries of the universe, which he sought to teach others. Hermes is derived from herm, a form of chiram, in Witchcraft the personification of the Universal Life Principle, represented by fire. Hermes has been equated with Odin and Wotan in Norse and Teutonic mythology, and with Buddha.

Hermes, along with Thoth, is personified in Hermes Trismegistus, a mythical figure said to have written the Hermetica texts of ancient sacred learning and lore.

PLEASE NOTE:
One of the major problems with 'defining' Paganism and/or its beliefs and practices is that it is an 'organic' movement, in that it is undergoing constant change and re-evaluation from within, and as such any 'one-size-fits-all' approach to understanding Paganism will be found wanting.

Due to the very 'organic' nature of Paganism, and the many differing Paths and Traditions within it, in many cases no one definition may be universally accepted by all Pagans. Therefore, where such cases of possible conflicting and/or contradictory meanings of certain terms occur I have endevoured to give not only the generally accepted meaning, but also any major 'variations' in belief and/or practice.

Christians who believe this difference in meaning of certain key terms, beliefs and practices to be unique to Paganism need to remember that such conflicts also arise within the Body of Christ - the Church. Take for instance the differing practices amongst Christians concerning Baptism and the different attitudes towards women in the clergy.

- Jean-Luc

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