The White Goddess

Deity sometimes associated with Pan, with whom she shares traits, such as the lure of abandon. She has no name, for she has no worshipers. Instead, she singles out (typically) men and subjects them to a trial. If they succeed, they are rewarded, if not, they are crushed and become her slaves. The typical trial is one of desire, especially the male desire to procreate. Thus she is often portrayed as a beautiful woman clad in white walking with a child at the edge of a forest. The forest symbolizes the wild, and to enter the forest is to forsake civilization and embrace one's (baser) nature. The child is the offspring of the observer, seen differently for each man. There are incidents of men appealing to her, as she does not demand the typical offerings of Inanna. However, the conditions of the White Goddess are much more harsh and unforgiving.