Once upon a time, even I believed this, so it’s not hard to understand the misconception. The Goddess gets the spotlight a lot in many Pagan traditions, so much so that it can be easy to believe that she is all anyone cares about.

Part of the reason for the Goddess getting so much attention is because of the male-driven religions that became so widely followed. When people, especially women, realized that Paganism had a feminine aspect, they latched onto it with glee, sometimes to the exclusion of the male aspect. Women had been without something they could connect to for so long, the Goddess was a breath of fresh air, and something they could hold on to.

In truth, most Pagan traditions are balanced, with both male and female deities. In its simplest forms, Paganism has a God and Goddess. These male and female god-forms are both worshiped. An individual may choose to favor one over the other, but they both exist. Some see them as representations of a larger, non-gendered whole, while others see them as individuals.

There are some Pagan traditions that focus more on female deities, such as Dianics. Of course, there are also male-focused traditions as well. Part of what keeps this myth going is the fact that Wicca is very Goddess-centric, and as probably the most well known Pagan tradition, it’s what most people think of when they think of any Pagan. Not all Pagans are the same though, and the Goddess is by no means the focus of all paths for all Pagans.

*Disclaimer: I no longer practice Paganism, but I’ve left these Pagan Myths articles active because I believe they’re still valuable in helping people to understand Paganism and reduce negative stereotypes.*

Briana Blair

Briana Blair is an author and artisan. She has published more then 30 books and thousands of articles across multiple sites. After practicing Paganism and witchcraft for 25 years, she's now on a journey as an atheist and skeptic. She's eclectic, unpredictable, and always evolving. Facebook - Twitter