FROM WICCA (podsnet echo) 
From: Vanyel
Subject: more reps (the last)
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 T> This is how I see that part: The God, while, yes,being fertility and all
 T> that, is also what is called in mythology a psychpomp. That is, he
 T> conducts the dead to the Next Place. He is also the death that occurs
 T> with the harvesting of food. He's also (in my opinion) the hard lessons
 T> that come with wintertime, whether the literal one or the dark night of
 T> the soul. Sometimes in order for life to go on, hopes must die and new
 T> ones take their place. Reading the Charge of the Dark God helped clarify
 T> that passage for me. It *is* an unfortunate way to end, tho'. Robert
 T> Graves in _The White Goddess_ gives at least one additional translation
 T> (the original being, I believe, Welsh) which may work for you better.
 T> So, yes...think, ponder, comtemplate!

Though I, too, am still pondering and contemplating :) , I have a bit of a
problem with this part.  My problem is not about references to death in the
Craft, but with the representation of which of the Divine Couple is
represented as the psychopomp.

I see the relationship between the One, Goddess and God in a different way.
I've stated this before in other echoes, but I'd like to throw it out here
and see what others think.

To me, there is one Ultimate Existance, of which all are a part and which is
a part of all.  This is The One.  One description I once heard of this is
"the Universe made aware of itself."  The One manifests itself especially
through two forces which are different from each other, but not opposite.
These are the Light and the Life.  The Light is that force which enlightens,
defines, describes limits and definition of things, and which grants
knowledge of these things.  It is represented by the continuum from darkness
or the absence of Light to brightness or a fulness thereof.  The Life is that
force which enlivens, gives substance, purpose and meaning to things and
grants the knowledge of these things.  It is represented by the continuum
from death or the absence of Life to aliveness or the fulness thereof.  I see
the God as representing the Light and the Goddess as representing the Life.
Therefore, I see the Goddess as the Mother and as the psychopomp.
   
   Blessed Be!
   
--Vanyel SevenTreasures

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