How to Write an Invocation: A Wiccan Guide to Goddesses, Gods & Patron Deities
At the beginning of Wiccan prayers, ceremonies, rituals, and spells; devotees recite an invocation. Originating from the Latin word vox, or voice, an invocation is a formal calling of a Goddess and God in requesting their presence and aid. One of the most well known examples of an invocation is found within the Catholic Rosary. Upon initiating the Catholic Rosary, the following words are spoken: “Hail Mary, full of grace…”
Similar to a Catholic prayer, at the beginning of a Wiccan ritual (spell and/or prayer) the name of the Goddess(s) invited to the ritual is stated. However for Wiccans, the Goddess’s name is also followed by the aspect of Her qualities or personality one wishes to invoke. A Wiccan invocation can also express thanks for past blessings, be artistic and lyrical, or spoken silently within a prayer. Regardless of the type of invocation, a call to the Goddess(s) should always remain sacred, heartfelt and sincere.
In our Wiccan beliefs, we have the choice of invoking a multitude of Goddesses (and/or Gods) and the type of ceremony or spell we perform must correspond to the Goddess(s) or God(s) we call upon for aid. Our request (prayer or spell) to a specific Goddess(s) for assistance can once again be analogous to a Catholic prayer made for a certain Saint. This is also why a Wiccan should pursue a foundational knowledge of pantheons and deities. Learning the multitude of personal aspects of Deity can require a long length of time. However, every Wiccan should be familiar with the Creatress of the universe, the Triple Goddess; Goddess Diana (not to be confused with the modern Roman Patron Deity, Diana Goddess of the Hunt) and those Goddesses a Wiccan specifically seeks to honor and establish a relationship with. So in this article we will simplify the information by discussing the different aspects of Deity, and how these aspects are personified to guide you in creating your invocation. We will also explore how to develop a personal relationship with the Creatress through Her personified aspects by seeking specific Patron Deities.
The most powerful and complex aspect of the Goddess is – Primeval Deity. In the Wiccan belief of creation, Primeval Deity is the unconscious, slumbering Goddess Diana. Also known as Universal Deity, this is the divine consciousness behind the energy that forms the universe and gives life to all that exists. Despite personified feminine, Primeval Deity is actually both feminine and masculine – the Creatress (Creator), the Sustainer and the Essence of all things.
Upon creation of the universe, Primeval Deity separated into polar powers: spirit and matter; feminine and masculine; yin and yang. Although Primeval Deity separated into the Goddess and God; spirit and matter – It is important to note that in Wiccan belief, the Creatress is still considered as One.
The concept of Primeval Deity (and the separation of spirit and matter) is highly abstract. In order to obtain a better understanding, humans (long ago) translated these abstractions into terms they could relate to. They created pantheons and mythologies that explained the nature and cycles of Primeval Deity through personification. Personification is the representation of an abstract quality in human form. It is through personification that humans can understand and make a personal connection with Primeval Deity.
Personification of Deity is broken down into seven main archetypes of Deity, and this is true regardless of which pantheon the archetypes belong to. It is worth noting, that some pantheons group archetypes into twelve Goddesses/Gods. However, the extra archetypes are simply further personifications of one of the basic seven. The seven main archetypes are: Maiden; Mother; Crone; Hero; Lover; King; Sorcerer.
1) The Maiden – is the young Goddess of spring and new beginnings. She is the Goddess of the dawn, of youth, and of potential. She rules art, creativity, self-expression, self-confidence, exploration, discovery, intelligence, and skill. She is represented by the planet Venus and the waxing moon. From different pantheons, She is called: Freya (Norse/Germanic); Brigid (Celtic); Aphrodite (Greek); Venus (Roman); Oshun (African); Hat-Hor (Egyptian); Durga (Hindu).
2) The Mother – is the Goddess that sustains the universe. She is the Goddess of motherhood, nurturing, and providence. She rules compassion and the bounty of the earth and is represented by the full moon. From different pantheons, She is called: Frigga (Norse/Germanic); Boan (Celtic); Hera (Greek); Juno (Roman); Yemaya (African); Isis (Egyptian); Lakshmi (Hindu).
3) The Crone – is the Goddess of death, magick, and the spirit realm. The Crone also represents the elder wise woman, the witch, and the matriarch. She rules wisdom, visions, and transformation. She is represented by the planet Saturn and the waning dark moon. From different pantheons, She is called: Hella (Norse/Germanic); Morrighan (Celtic); Hekate (Greek); Carmenta (Roman); Oya (African); Sekhemet (Egyptian); Kali (Hindu).
4) The Hero – is the young God of spring and new beginnings. He is the God of independence, energy, vitality, courage and strength. He is the warrior; He is noble and chivalrous, a protector of the weak and a defender of justice. He is the athlete, the adventurer, and seeker of noble quests. He rules all that is idealistic, virtuous, brave, and true. He is represented by the astrological sign of Aries and the planet Mars. From different pantheons, He is called: Thor (Norse/Germanic); Lugh (Celtic); Aries (Greek); Mars (Roman); Ogun (African); Horus (Egyptian); Ganesha (Hindu).
5) The Lover – is the consort of the Goddess, and the second aspect of the young God. He is the God of early summer and the flowering of life on the physical plane. He is the joy of life and exuberance of being. He rules life and sex. He is represented by the astrological sign of Leo and by the Sun. From different pantheons, He is called: Baldur (Norse/Germanic); Aengus (Celtic); Eros (Greek); Apollo (Roman); Shango (African); Ra (Egyptian); Vishnu (Hindu).
6) The King – is the God of late summer and the harvest. He is the God of responsibility, fatherhood, family, and community. He rules law, honesty, civility, peace, balance, and contracts of all kinds. He is the judge and counselor. He is represented by Libra in traditional astrology, and by the planet Jupiter. From different pantheons, He is called: Odin (Norse/Germanic); Dagda (Celtic); Atlas (Greek); Jupiter (Roman); Obatala (African); Amon (Egyptian); Brahma (Hindu).
7) The Sorcerer – is the God of winter. He is Lord of the animals, the hunt, the forests, and of all wild places. He rules omens, dreams, trance states, deceased spirits, the underworld, and occult practices. He is represented by the astrological sign of Scorpio and the planet Pluto. In different pantheons, He is called: Seidr/Od (Norse/Germanic); Cernunnos (Celtic); Hades (Greek); Pluto (Roman); Ellegua (African); Osiris (Egyptian); Shiva (Hindu).
In essence, there are hundreds of names associated with the seven aspects of Deity. Each is a human creation in which particular elements of the Primeval Deity have been invested into specific personalities. Over the millennia, human thought and emotion have granted great power to these names and personas. This power and vibrational energy (or hekau – Egyptian for “words of power”) is what a Wiccan taps into when writing an invocation. It is through these names and personifications that we begin to understand the abstract nature of the Creatress!
As we learn about the different personifications of Deity, we gain another advantage besides the means to compose a proper invocation – the opportunity to connect with a Patron Deity! A Patron Deity is a personified aspect of Deity that a Wiccan best interacts with and eventually invokes most often in their practices. For most, the relationship between a Wiccan and Patron Deity is intense and emotional. The Patron guides a Wiccan as the teacher, the inspiration, the personification of the qualities a Wiccan wishes to develop. In turn a Wiccan becomes the disciple in learning how to exemplify the qualities of the Patron.
As the bond between Patron and Wiccan strengthens, so, too, does the communication. What begins as prayer and quiet meditation will evolve into dreams, visions and ultimately the channeling of oracles!
However, in practice; you don’t actually choose your Patron Deity – a Patron Deity actually chooses you as their disciple! This will occur in a number of ways. You may feel “guided” to change certain aspects of your lifestyle. This feeling may come from a certain Patron guiding you to them to assist in your evolution and ascension. Or you may begin to find yourself drawn to specific artifacts, images, symbols and even certain times and places. This could be a present or even a past-life Patron guiding you back to them! You may even come to notice a particular animal either in pictures, dreams and/or physical form, repeatedly crossing paths with you. This could represent the animal totem of your Patron Deity trying to guide your path.
Your Patron Deity can even be associated with your profession or the profession you seek. Pantheons have deities associated with many types of vocations including: skilled labor and trade; business and finance; law and justice; mathematics and writing; poetry and art; medicine and magick!
Each Wiccan holiday, Sabbat and season also have their own Patron Deities. For example, if you maintain a sense of Samhain “energy” throughout all year, it may be your Crone patron guiding you to Her. This is another reason why a fundamental knowledge of the personal aspect of Deity is so important. How would you know if, Morrighan was calling out as your guide if you knew little about Her? How would you realize that your penchant for reading poetry by the fire was actually Brigid whispering in your ear? Or that the ravens and wolves encompassing your dreams are the totem animals of Odin? One must seek in order to find!
Once you feel comfortable and have a good sense that you have found your Patron Deity, you can begin to develop a relationship by simply talking, praying or making an offering to Her (or Him). What makes a good offering? Start by reading Her (or His) mythology and learn about what pleases your Patron Deity. When creating your altar, incorporate items that remind you of your Patron Deity in honoring them. These items may be as simple as an intriguing stone you found while on a nature walk or perhaps even better – something you created yourself like a painting! Whichever items you choose for your altar to honor your Patron Deity, they should be meaningful and come directly from the heart.
Some Wiccans will choose to serve and honor the same Patron their entire lives. Others will seek different Patrons as they make their way through The Dance of life. It is a personal choice for every Wiccan and either path is perfectly acceptable – as all Patron Deities are a different aspect of the One Grand Creatress – Goddess Diana. Patron Deities cannot experience jealousy, nor will a Patron Deity ever seek to bind you… they simply wish to help you evolve and ascend in reestablishing your connection with Primeval Deity, the true Goddess of Creation.
– The Goddess Kingdom© 2023
