QUOTE(J*S @ Jan 24 2007, 05:30 AM)
I think that you guys are nailing it, at least as far as my understanding goes. Baphomet is an equivalent to Pan, i.e. Pangenitor and Panphage, the generative and destructive principle personified.
Baphomet is also the resolution of opposing principles. If you look at the classic Levi illustration you'll see the following characteristics:
Half Demon, half Angel
Half Man, half Woman
Half Human, half Beast
One hand pointed at the Heavens, One at the Earth
One hand pointed at Severity, the other at Mercy
Solve et Coagula
I could go into some more Thelemic interpretations, but the above is more generally useful I think (and I can't remember which bits I probably shouldn't talk about!).
I know several magicians who have images of Baphomet set up at their Earth Watchtower, which seems to make sense given the Pan/Dionysian associations. I have also been told that he is somewhat pompous as a discrete entity, and I too have heard about the odd sense of humour!
I'm interested in knowing just what are the main differences between Baphomet and gaia, I'd like to think they can be viewed as representing different aspect of nature, but at the moment I'm not sure which ones.