Post by Wandering Druid on Feb 17, 2011 20:28:22 GMT -5
Well, we usually say you should chose a pantheon first and give offerings as a way of introducing yourself. Keep giving offerings and asking for guidance. One of them will show a interest and come forward. Once you discover/identify the deity that has shown an interest in you, keep giving small offering to the whole pantheon if you chose. They might think it rude if you just cut them off. Besides, it helps to get in good with the deities family.
I was actually serving Danu by my own chose when Brighid made herself known to me and that I was her's. lol Long story and I might tell it sometime. My relationship with Brighid grew through firedancing, fire scrying and ogham as well as my daily devotions to her. Sometimes I would just sit before my shrine to her, and talk. I would talk about my goals, fears etc.. At the end of my devotions I would always caste the Ogham.
Best to chose the tool of that culture. If I had been building a relationship with say Odin, I would have used the Runes. I wouldn't use the tarot. Thats a whole different topic that I will post in a seperate post.
At first you are only asking to get to know them, seeking their guidance and wisdom. Trust me, you will know when your relationship grows strong enough to ask greater favors. Also, don't only look at rituals & devotions as the only sign of communication. I have had Brighid pop books out at me in bookstores & libraries. Have had her lead me to website that had nothing to do with magick and they would speak to me and I knew it was her.
A few years ago, Brighid (who is my spiritual mother) fostered me off to Airmid. I have become quite devoted to her (I call her my spiritual aunt. lol). My relationship with her has grown through my work with plants. But she not only speaks to me through plants. Within days of her entering my life, she pushed me directly to Kiva Rose. I had been looking/researching several herbalist online. When I came to Kiva's old blog, she jumped out at me. The minute I saw her, a clear and powerful image of Airmid flooded my mind. Airmid was clearly telling me, "This is one of my daughters. Listen to her!"
I had been slowly becoming disillusioned with ADF and Airmid pushed me further into the world of the Rewilders. First with Kiva, but has grown far beyond that. Airmid was clearly telling me, "You are not a priest of rituals & ceremonies. You are a priest of healing and plants and nature."
I couldn't possibly list here all the ways she communicates with me without making it, it's own post. I'll write a piece about her later.
Basically, for a good relationship you have to grow beyond offerings to apprenticeship. Our relationships with the gods is a recuperative one. Like in ancient times, you apprentice to the master/teacher. Trading your service and devotion in exchange for their wisdom and knowledge. It is a benefictual relationship as you will find in serving them, you are actually fulfilling you own goals as well. Serving them opens you for other greater learning than you originally asked for.
Service/devotion/apprenticeship is way different than worship. A master expects their apprentice to question them. To challenge them. In doing so, you are showing you are actually paying attention. You are actually learning. A slave worships it's master and does their bidding without question. We are not slaves to our deities the way the monotheistic ones are.
I can't tell you how the deities will talk to you. But I can tell you this. You will know when they are. lol Just keep your eyes open and try to look at the bigger picture as well as the little details.
I started out just wanting to learn herbalism. But no! Airmid has bigger responsibilities for me. lol You will have to watch my blog for that info. lol
I was actually serving Danu by my own chose when Brighid made herself known to me and that I was her's. lol Long story and I might tell it sometime. My relationship with Brighid grew through firedancing, fire scrying and ogham as well as my daily devotions to her. Sometimes I would just sit before my shrine to her, and talk. I would talk about my goals, fears etc.. At the end of my devotions I would always caste the Ogham.
Best to chose the tool of that culture. If I had been building a relationship with say Odin, I would have used the Runes. I wouldn't use the tarot. Thats a whole different topic that I will post in a seperate post.
At first you are only asking to get to know them, seeking their guidance and wisdom. Trust me, you will know when your relationship grows strong enough to ask greater favors. Also, don't only look at rituals & devotions as the only sign of communication. I have had Brighid pop books out at me in bookstores & libraries. Have had her lead me to website that had nothing to do with magick and they would speak to me and I knew it was her.
A few years ago, Brighid (who is my spiritual mother) fostered me off to Airmid. I have become quite devoted to her (I call her my spiritual aunt. lol). My relationship with her has grown through my work with plants. But she not only speaks to me through plants. Within days of her entering my life, she pushed me directly to Kiva Rose. I had been looking/researching several herbalist online. When I came to Kiva's old blog, she jumped out at me. The minute I saw her, a clear and powerful image of Airmid flooded my mind. Airmid was clearly telling me, "This is one of my daughters. Listen to her!"
I had been slowly becoming disillusioned with ADF and Airmid pushed me further into the world of the Rewilders. First with Kiva, but has grown far beyond that. Airmid was clearly telling me, "You are not a priest of rituals & ceremonies. You are a priest of healing and plants and nature."
I couldn't possibly list here all the ways she communicates with me without making it, it's own post. I'll write a piece about her later.
Basically, for a good relationship you have to grow beyond offerings to apprenticeship. Our relationships with the gods is a recuperative one. Like in ancient times, you apprentice to the master/teacher. Trading your service and devotion in exchange for their wisdom and knowledge. It is a benefictual relationship as you will find in serving them, you are actually fulfilling you own goals as well. Serving them opens you for other greater learning than you originally asked for.
Service/devotion/apprenticeship is way different than worship. A master expects their apprentice to question them. To challenge them. In doing so, you are showing you are actually paying attention. You are actually learning. A slave worships it's master and does their bidding without question. We are not slaves to our deities the way the monotheistic ones are.
I can't tell you how the deities will talk to you. But I can tell you this. You will know when they are. lol Just keep your eyes open and try to look at the bigger picture as well as the little details.
I started out just wanting to learn herbalism. But no! Airmid has bigger responsibilities for me. lol You will have to watch my blog for that info. lol