Which Gods do you have/are interesting in having a relationship with?

[SorcererGaheris]

Obviously one for the theists here...which Gods/Goddesses do you have a current relationship with? Or want to get to know/develop a relationship?

Hekate is currently the sole deity that I am meditating upon and conversing with on a semi-regular basis (generally once a week.)

However, my prime interest is deities from Irish and Welsh pantheons, with a particular focus on certain Gods and Goddesses with particular skills and correspondences.

Manannan Mac Lir of the Irish pantheon has grabbed my interest (appears to be more or less the same deity as Manawydan in the Welsh pantheon.) I haven't yet done anything to develop a practice with him, but I'm hoping to as time goes on. There are other deities that catch my interest too.

Anyone else disappointed no one has said a sex god yet.

Or am I the only immature one still awake.😁

There are Gods and Goddesses of love, lust and sex, so take your pick! 😊

Aphrodite, Eros, Freyja, etc...

@FrostedSunrise

Thanks for your comment! I'm surprised that there are lots of Celtic-focused pagans/polytheists who don't know much about him; my perception has been that he's one of the more well-known deities. Perhaps he's well-known by name but not one of the most popular ones to get to know.

I've had an interest in Manannan for a while and have Morgan Daimler's Pagan Pantheon book about him. It may have partly been his association with the Isle of Man, as I have an interest in the Isle of Man for a few reasons - the most prominent being that I'm a huge Bee Gees fan and all the Bee Gees were born there. I sometimes think that if I do take steps to get to known Manannan better, I might try playing him some Bee Gees songs as an offering, them being famous "sons" of his Isle and all.

Glad you're having fun with it all. Who are some of the more recent deities that have reached out?

@eyestosee

So, trying to answer your questions:

I don't think there are deities that are inherently more or less trustworthy than others. However, I think when one builds a personal relationship with particular deities they sometimes trust those ones over others that they do not know. It's not that they think the other deities are untrustworthy, just that we tend to favour the deities we've come to know and with whom we've established a relationship.

Deities often have a few things that they are associated with. So different deities can sometimes oversee and represent some vastly different things. I suppose in some cases what one deity oversees and represents could conflict with what another deity does.

I don't regard myself as their equal exactly, but I also don't see myself as being in a position of total subservience to them. For me, it's about a relationship of mutual respect and reciprocity.

I might, in some circumstances, trust a deity's perspective over my own, simply because I believe they have a wider field of knowledge and understanding than I do.

I'll have to think a bit more about your final question.

I used to be a christian.
I used to think I could hear from the christian god.
It makes me shudder now when I realise just how utterly confused I actually was.

@SorcererGaheris, thank you for answering my question. So, if I understand you correctly, you are not worshipping (in the usual sense of the word) these deities but it is really simply a (albeit respectful) relationship with them, as you say.

I suppose it depends on how you define 'worship'. I suppose I might describe myself as honouring and respecting these deities and (hopefully) building a fruitful relationship of care and reciprocity, rather than worshipping them/.

What an excellent topic op.
Place marking right now but Hecate has been very important to me . I'm interested in Bridget also.

Thanks for the detailed answer @SorcererGaheris. Yes, I meant did you include YHWH in your practice.

Another question (sorry!). Do you think of all of these deities as being a mixture of good and bad? For me (the one true) God is the source of light, love and truth and anything outside of Him is rooted in darkness. How do you define darkness if you haven't experienced the light, as it were? (No offence meant).

I don't include YHWH in my practice, but then again I also don't involve the vast majority of other Gods and Goddesses in my practice. I still believe they all exist, of course. I just don't engage with them at present. It would be impossible to include them all, anyway - there SO MANY deities from various pantheons.

I think I've yet to come to a solid conclusion on the nature of deities in a moral sense, so I'm not sure if I can answer that other question. Perspectives can vary on that matter from pagans and polytheists. One pagan/Druid I know of has described the Gods as "the epitome of virtue." Others might see them as essentially good, but not perfect, if you get my drift.

I'm sure I couldn't name them all! @SorcererGaheris I think I get what you mean, but don't some people ask the gods to curse others or do them harm on occasion?

From my POV, no deity is all light, and none is all dark, they are shades of grey... i studied philosophy and the problem of Free Will quite a bit, and it was actually something that pushed me out of christianity.. not even the Christian God is entirely love and light.. or all good.

A lot of the time with Paganism we accept that the Deities we choose to follow/worship or offer respect to are flawed beings, but we ask for their help and guidance. You will get a different answer from every Pagan you ask, as by default we all often came to our beliefs via a journey of finding what felt right to us personally.. but the Gods/Goddesses aren't perfect, they're mercurial, moody, they get angry, impatient.. when you believe they are just 'good' or 'bad' you lose the nuance of who they are at their core... and quite frankly, if you aren't willing to face their darker natures, you shouldn't be inviting them into your practice.

When we look to the Deities to define and outline our morals, we're wrong stepping them and ourselves, morality should come from within, from what we are taught is right/wrong, from what we reason out ourselves.

You should also remember, the christian stance on other gods is literally explained in the bible... God is a jealous god who believes you should have no other God before Him... the entire faith is built on othering every ONE Else.

@WinterBones, from a Christian perspective (I am Christian) this is because we believe in one (triune) God, who is eternal - the beginning and end. His ways are higher than ours and always perfect. We might not appreciate and understand how but His actions are right for every context. We have been given free will and since the fall creation is out of balance and the law means it (creation) tries to right itself which gives rise to suffering. Every wrong doing has consequence within creation. As Christians we believe, though, we can be redeemed through choosing to accept Christ.

Moving on from this other gods, from a Christian perspective are not God Almighty and not to be worshipped. The Bible recognises there are other spirits and powerful forces within this world but they are not our God.

And it makes sense to me, as the op described their practices and beliefs, they are not worshipped as a Christian worships God.

This is quite interesting, I'm very familiar with Greco-Roman polytheism ( and some Levantine) but not with Celtic, Norse, I can tell you that the normal relationship with gods is that of patron-client, meaning they don't need you, don't have to help you, but may do so and you need to be properly appreciative. They are not your friend!
I think this 'working with' + close relation comes from Greco-Roman magic which forced the deity to work with you + the model of Jesus being your friend.
I started out like many women, in witchcraft turned to Greco-Roman paganism and thought Hecate would be it. But that's not really the case. During Covid, I sacrificed and prayed to Apollo and he has helped me big time. Same with Juno-Hera whom I wasn't terribly interested in at the beginning. The gods help whom they choose and it's up to us to be attentive.
I have a home altar and I can tell you, never throw away in the garbage what you sacrifice to the gods. It's theirs! Gather it up and leave it outside for the birds and animals.This is the traditional practice of millennia. If that's difficult give the gods liquid and incense offerings. The liquid leave until it evaporates and the incense ashes are easy to dispose of in a backyard or park.

Thanks for your perspective @WinterBones I don't really know a lot about paganism.

I wonder if any of you have come across this Bible passage? (Acts 17 vs 16 to 34).
What do you make of it? Sorry for the length!

16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. 19 Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean.” 21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)

22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” 33 At that, Paul left the Council. 34 Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.

Yep, i'm familiar with it.. i have read the bible cover to cover (yes, really)

I dislike the Paul verses intensely, to my eyes, he took what Christ taught, and turned it to his own purpose. I don't believe he was ever a true voice of God, and i think the patriarchy that Christianity became and forced, and a lot of the hurt and grief and hatred that stems from it as a faith, is his doing.

@LillyPickles I have read parts of the Bible (when I was a child and up to my late teens, I was pretty much a Christian, although in the later stages, a Christian who was getting interested in some different things, such as spiritualism and astral projection) but I've never read that particular passage. I recognise it as encompassing the conventional Christian view as it has come to be.

Personally, I think what those passages espouse is great for people who accept its premise. Ultimately, it's part of a theistic/religious framework that I no longer adhere to, and I'm not in agreement with some of the basic premises that underlie it.

I agree with certain elements, such as Gods "not living in human temples" (I know Paul was speaking only of as what he saw as the one creator God, but as polytheist, I obviously use Gods in the multiple. The Gods and Goddesses, as I see it, are not contained or restricted by temples, and can potentially be accessed anywhere. Some Gods have certain physical locations that are associated with them (Cerridwen and Llyn Tegid in Wales, various Irish deities have corresponding locations in Ireland, for example) and some people may wish to visit those locations to make contact, but it is not a necessary requirement to connect to them. The Gods and Goddesses, as I believe it, can be present anywhere, at any time.

I also don't think the Gods and Goddesses need the offerings that I and other pagan polytheists give to them. I give them offerings not because the Gods need them, and not necessarily as an act of service - but as a matter of respect. For me, it is reaching out with good manners and thoughtfulness and hopefully raises the chances that the deity will be open to engaging and helping with any matters that I request their assistance on.

I've seen quite a few pagans discuss this concept of "reciprocity" in their relationship with Gods and other forms of spirits, and for me, that is what it comes down to. If we wish these entities to help us in some way, it is only fair that we do our part and give them things that they find pleasing. When I meditate and call upon Hekate and ask her to into my space, I am inviting her into my home and trying to make her feel welcome and appreciated by giving some simple offerings.

You believe in ALL deities? Even the Flying Spaghetti Monster? What do you mean by exist?

I’m of the firm belief that it is fine to talk to God(s), but if they speak back then that’s a mental health issue.

@SorcererGaheris the problem with 'reciprocal', I feel, is that it is not very different from transactional. Buying favour. Which directly contrasts with the Christian idea of 'grace', that is unmerited favour. Giving and receiving motivated through love.

Yes, I do believe that all Gods and Goddesses, from all religions and pantheons, exist. My personal interest is in specific deities from specific pantheons (those of Celtic cultures) and an occasional few from other pantheons. So I don't include the vast majority in my personal occult and spiritual practices. However, I do believe all are real beings - that's deities from the ATRs (African traditional religions) the Canaanite deities, Egyptian, Roman, Norse, Greek, Slavic deities, etc, etc, etc...

By 'exist' I mean that it is my view that all deities exist as independent, conscious, non-physical entities.

I think it makes sense that in contrasts with certain Christian ideas, though, because polytheistic pagan practice is built on different ideas and premises than Christianity. We have a different definition of Gods and ways of looking at them.

So I agree, it does contrast with some Christian ideas, but that's largely because these practices and ideas are non-Christian.

Currently Brigid

I'm shocked at some rude replies.

Making offerings and blessings is a huge part of my life.

Christian grace is so weird; there is an entire theology of sin to unpack and then being 'unworthy.'

Pagan relations with the gods are much simpler and healthier. We ask the gods for good things/protection and then sacrifice in gratitude. Look at the art, Greco-Roman art is beautiful, Renaissance art when it turned to the gods and myths was amazing too.
No hideous nailed up god, bleeding hearts... Theologically no guilt, no sin.no creepy threats of burning in hell or unbaptized babies forever in limbo due to original sin. Spare Me! And stop proselytyzing.

None of them. I've come to realise that the only entity I can rely on is myself and my own resources. I have nothing against religion in general, and the comfort and meaning it can give people, it's just not for me anymore.