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

IAO

A name synonymous with YHWH, or the Tetragrammation, of the Kabbalah. Among the Gnostics Iao was a mystic symbol for the Supreme Divine World. Also the name was that of the Supreme Being.

This mystic symbol for the Supreme Divine World also was used among the ancient Chaldeans and Phoenicians. It is a name so sacred as not to be spoken.

Also, the polar male and female symbol which this mystic name represents was worn by the initiates of the Serapis - an Egyptian-Grecian-Roman deity

The name Ioa also is found in Polynesian mythology meaning Supreme Being.

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