Polytheism - Blog Posts

MAKING NORSE HEATHEN ABRIEVIATIONS FOR MESSAGING AT 12:15AM.

isto = I Swear To Oden

istt = i Swear To Thor

omo = Oh My Oden

omt = Oh My Thor

(y'all know the saying ''burn in hell''? well did u know in Norse heathen hell is actually an ice land because Norse heathenism originated in the north, [imagine that.] so here's what i say)

Freeze in hell

omg im so smart :000

Polytheist asks!

To spice up the end of your Yuletide season ^^

Were you born into your faith? If not, how did you discover it?

What draws you to your Gods? What do you like about them?

Is your practice more ritualistic or casual? What does it look like?

How do you picture the universe? What is your idea of its cosmology?

Do you believe in spirits, angels or demons?

Are there Gods you willfully don’t follow? What are the reasons behind this choice?

What does your ideal altar look like?

What are some of your stronger UPG’s?

Do you have a patron/matron? How did you choose them?

If you could have a direct conversation with your deity/deities right now, what would you tell them?

Do you pray? If so, what do your prayers look like?

How important is mythology in your practice? How much credit do you give it?

What are some devotional acts you actively engage in?

How would you define your Gods? (have fun with that one)

Are you faithful to one specific pantheon or is your belief more eclectic?

How do you communicate with your deities the best?

Do you associate certain Gods with specific songs? Share them!

What are your thoughts on godspousing?

How have your Gods affected your life?

List a few of the deities you worship and associate each with a quote your think represents them best!

Feel free submit any of these questions in my ask box too, I do want to share in the fun! 🥺

Artwork

idk but the polytheism and idol worship slander must stop. i don't want to think of god as some kind of shapeless entity anymore. i don't want just one god. sorry bro. i want them to be little clay figures i made with my hands. i want to put garlands on them and give them little meals of honey and milk and whatever i have in hand. I want to hold one in my hand. i want to love them. i want to believe. i want a little form-possessing dude for every little phenomenon. i'm done with your 'monotheism is superior ' thing. it was fun. now it's boring. i'm just going to believe in what i want to, and i'm not going to believe in the things you think are more 'culturally mature' just to possess the philosophical or logical higher ground. bye

Does anyone else on the pagan community feel genuine love for their deities? Not in the romantic sense, but more in the way you love a family member. It's especially strong coming from a religion where you never felt a genuine connection to "your" God. You felt fear, obligation, confusion, curiosity, and maybe love on some level, but this love is different.

It is finally understanding the feeling people around you described from being in church every Sunday. It's growing up finding the congregation's hands in the air, the singing and crying, the raw emotion to be... unusual, strange. What were they feeling? How can I feel this way? You try to forge that connection, but you're never successful. You start to doubt the God you grew up with. You wonder if he hates you, or if you're not trying hard enough — if you're broken.

...Then, one day, you find what you've been searching for all this time, somewhere else. You experience the feeling of finally meeting your soulmate, finally finding your place or your tribe. You experience the pure joy, the peace, the childlike wonder, the longing, the wisdom, the bond, the reverence, the admiration. You experience an unfamiliar tightness In your chest when you pray to them or make offerings.

I've never felt more in love than I am with my gods. Ive never felt more at home, more at peace.

I hope to feel this way for the rest of my days, because what is life without the gods? What is life without something beyond this world, yet at the same time, an integral part of understanding the meaning of existence on this physical plane — on this planet?

"A problem for the theist"

I’m going to go somewhere a little risky in this one. This is just stuff to think about. Screenshot of episode 28.12 of The Atheist Experience, which aired on YouTube March 24, 2024. I was watching The Atheist Experience with my husband a few weeks ago. (Okay, I was tuning in and out because my interest waxed and waned.) And my brain caught on a phrase that, when I went back and watched that…

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ΓΕΝΕΣΙΑ

- Towards to Autumn Equinox, when military campaigns ended, in Athens there were Genesias (a.k.a. Nemesia): funeral festivals where they honored their ancestors, specially the ones dead in battle.

- During the day, they offered sacrifices to Gea with public worship, while in private they went to family graves to clean them and tell about the ones who there was not anymore. At the end, to their own ancestors, they offered vases full of (olive) oil.

- This festival is well suited to the feeling that permeated ancestors worship: when Nature started its own descent in Underworld, social and spiritual actions would reflected it too.

Muin

Today starts and will end on 29th september Muin's arboreal month, the vine, then linked to the Vendemmia and - more general - to the autumnal nature. But also the effects of the good wine produce on people: happiness, carelessness, joy but also toxicity, angry and danger.

It rappresents the period between autumn equinox and all of works linked to: working activities, the second harvest, the preparing of the food to store during winter, etc. At large, Muin reppresents the master through which the knowledge comes, the one who make us try hard to gain a higher level of our personal growth.

From the 1th to the 4th August, Zuni tribes (Pueblo) celebrates the abundance of mais harvests with a wild thanksgiving dance, called "Shoko Otiikwe", in honor of Mother Goddess Mais.

I worship Artemis, of course I love deer and archery.

I worship Aphrodite, of course I have a giant box of seashells for her.

I worship Dionysus, of course I’m a queer theater kid.

I'm a Hestia devotee, of course I love cooking for Her.

I'm an Apollon worshipper, of course I love the sunrise+sunsets

I'm a Zeus worshipper, of course thunder is a comfort.

I'm a Hestia devotee, of course her altar has a salt lamp so it'll always have light and warmth.

I'm an Apollon worshipper, of course music is a huge part of my life.

I'm a Zeus worshipper, of course I defend Him all the time!

As an addendum: I talked to my therapist about spiritual psychosis, because I've had visions, and I have a therapist, and she had some thoughts.

If you are noodling over what kinds of spiritual experiences are psychologically healthy and not, Abraham Maslow wrote a book called _Religions, Values, and Peak Experiences_ that you should probably read.

Psychosis comes with compulsions. If you have an experience and still feel free to choose for yourself what you do and do not do, religiously speaking, it's not spiritual psychosis. Spiritual psychosis is psychosis with spiritual window dressing. It is spiritually themed, but not actually spiritual in nature, if that makes any sense. If your visions are threatening, and you feel like you can't say no to them, that is spiritual psychosis. If Hekate appears and tells you everything is going to be ok, but you should probably work on being nicer to people (and you think about that, and tell her maybe, but that's really hard, and you don't know if you can do that) that isn't.

Another problem, also with spiritual window dressing, but far more common, is spiritual bypassing. This is when you use spiritual ideas and practices to sidestep or avoid facing unresolved emotional issues, psychological wounds, and unfinished developmental tasks. So, if you take a theological position that the gods hate everyone who does X because it triggers your trauma, that is spiritual by-passing. If the gods comfort you when you are hurting, that is not.

Edit: If you want to know what causes psychosis, here is an article. Funky religious and spiritual practices aren't on the list.

Water, the flow, the womb, the origin of life, the element that is in constant movement and transformation. Water flows through our bodies and across the earth; we depend on it for life. As far back as we can remember, humans have been intimately connected with water, both physically and spiritually. According to the theory of evolution we emerged from aquatic sources and ancient creation stories from around the globe told us life on earth originated from waters. Ancient Civilizations around the globe built the first cities near water sources. Water is deep, receptive, and purifying, and represent both the life giver and the death bringer.

 Some of the most common water spiritual correspondences are:

Orientation: West

Qualities: Emotion, Intuition, Flexibility, Receptivity

Magical Weapon: Cup, Cauldron, Mirror, Comb

Rituals: Divination, Purification, Healing, Blessings, Transformation

Places: lakes, springs, streams, rivers, beaches, oceans, seas, wells, fountains, waterfalls

Natural elements: rain, thunderstorms, snow, ice, fog, seashells, starfish, pearls, dolphins, seahorses, frogs, toads, fish, turtles.

Tarot: Cups

Rune: Laguz

Zodiac Signs: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces

Spirits: Naiades, Nereids, Mermaids, Oceanines, Nymphs, Kelphis, Each uisge, Gwragedd Annwn, Morgens, Nixie, Jenny Greenteeth, Peg Powler, Crinaeae, Limnades, Pegaeae, Sirens, Camenae, Asrai, Karkinos, Charybdis, Cetus, Grindylow, Kraken, Pistrice, Selkies.

Deities: Aphrodite, Venus, Mefitis, Diana, Thetis, Leukothea, Ino, Amphitrite, Hapi, Sobek, Neptune, Poseidon, Oceanus, Sabrina, Melusine, Acionna, Boann, Bormana, Dylan Ail Don, Llyr, Sinann, Sequana, Nefti, Khnum, Tefnut, Anuket, Abzu, Enbilulu, Achelous, Anapos, Nereus, Pontus, Scylla, Proteus, Thalassa, Coventina, Fontus, Juturna, Danu, Proteus, Tiamat, Triton.

30 Days of Deity Devotion

(Originally created by Arrin Deuognatos, who is no longer on Tumblr.)

A basic introduction of the deity

How did you become first aware of this deity?

Symbols and icons of this deity

A favorite myth or myths of this deity

Members of the family – genealogical connections

Other related deities and entities associated with this deity

Names and epithets

Variations on this deity (aspects, regional forms, etc.)

Common mistakes about this deity

Offerings – historical and UPG

Festivals, days, and times sacred to this deity

Places associated with this deity and their worship

What modern cultural issues are closest to this deity’s heart?

Has worship of this deity changed in modern times?

Any mundane practices that are associated with this deity?

How do you think this deity represents the values of their pantheon and cultural origins?

How does this deity relate to other gods and other pantheons?

How does this deity stand in terms of gender and sexuality? (historical and/or UPG)

What quality or qualities of this god do you most admire? What quality or qualities of them do you find the most troubling?

Art that reminds you of this deity

Music that makes you think of this deity

A quote, a poem, or piece of writing that you think this deity resonates strongly with

Your own composition – a piece of writing about or for this deity

A time when this deity has helped you

A time when this deity has refused to help

How has your relationship with this deity changed over time?

Worst misconception about this deity that you have encountered

Something you wish you knew about this deity but don’t currently

Any interesting or unusual UPG to share?

Any suggestions for others just starting to learn about this deity?

The Ultimate Deity Journal Guide

Similar to my grimoire guide, this is a guide on deity journals.

What Is A Deity Journal?

A deity journal is a journal dedicated to a deity. It’s filled with information, offerings, devotional pieces, etc. If you like journaling or can’t give other physical offerings (like food, libations, etc.), it’s one of the best offerings out there.

What Do I Use For It?

Usually deity journals are physical journals and notebooks. Binders and folders work as well. I have seen deity journals online, using things like Notion or Google Docs. Those are a little harder to format, but are great if you don’t have a notebook or aren’t a fan of physical journals.

So, What Do I Put In It?

Devotional Artwork

Devotional Playlists

Pressed/Dried Flowers or Herbs

Prayers

Devotional Poems or Stories

Myths

Recipes

Stickers

Experiences or Dreams

Photos

The Basics (Name, Epithets, Domains, Family, Associations, Holidays, Symbols, Sacred Days, Sacred Animals, Etc.)

Spells/Rituals That You Want To Or Have Done With Them

Offerings And Devotional Act Ideas

Journal Prompts

Magazine/Book Cutouts

Hymns

Shopping List (Things You Want To Buy For Them)

Fabric Scraps

Letters To Them

Divination Readings With Them

Coins Or Other Currencies

How You Celebrate (Or Plan To) Holidays Or Sacred Days With Them

UPGs

Altar Plans (Drawings Or Descriptions Of Altar Ideas)

Incense, Herb, And Oil Blends

Drops Of Wax, Wine, Etc.

Seed Packets

Blessings

Charms

Charm/Spell Bags

Travel Plans (Places You Want To Go For Your Deity)

Maps That Remind You of Them

Sigils Dedicates To Them

Superstitions Related To Them

Research On Their Birth Place

Devotional Jewelry Charging Station

Affirmations Dedicated/Influenced By Them

Small Sticks Or Branches

Book Annotations

Divination Techniques Related To Them

Relationship Goals (Better Communication, More Signs, Etc.)

Their Associated Rune/Tarot Card/Etc.

Teas And Tea Blends

Folklore/Mythology Entities Related To Them

Vision Board

Goals

Diary Entries And Rants

Taglocks

Paper/Straw/Etc. Dolls

Doodles

References/Further Reading

Pagan Prayer Journaling Prompts

Have you ever wanted to try Pagan journaling? If you don’t know where to start, here are a few prompts that you can read for inspiration.

Daily Check-Ins:

These are journaling practices that you can do on any given day, or daily if you choose.

Write down five things you’re grateful for, and thank the Gods for them.

Meditate for two, five, or ten minutes. Write about it afterward.

If you remember last night’s dream, record it and what you think it might mean.

Tell the Gods about your goals for the day.

Read one chapter of a book each morning and write notes.

Record the weather. How does it make you feel? Would you thank your deities for the weather or season?

Cleanse with smoke or crystals and then write down how you feel afterward.

Perform divination--draw a tarot card, pull a rune, or scy for a bit. What was your question? What was your answer?

Talk to the Gods about what is bothering you.

Find an inspirational quote. What do you like/not like about it? How does it relate to your practice?

Choose one symbol, crystal, herb, or divination tool. Research its correspondences and note how you can use it in your practice.

Contact a spirit you’re familiar with. What method did you use? Divination, meditation, or something else? How did it go?

For a Pantheon/Religion:

These prompts can help you learn about a religion/pantheon or explore your own beliefs.

Are there any major holidays coming up? If so, how can you prepare for them?

Study how the ancients practiced this religion, and take notes. What can you include in your practice? What will you exclude?

Look up the tenets of your religion, if applicable. Do you agree or disagree with these rules? How can you include them in your practice?

Give an offering to the Gods, such as a candle, incense, coffee/tea, or even water. How do you feel afterward? Is any particular deity grabbing your attention?

Talk about your favorite or least favorite myths from this religion.

Jot down a general prayer for all the deities, such as “Gods, I thank You all for ___.”

If you are interested in any other pantheon, study it and take notes.

Research a deity in your pantheon Whom you don’t know as well. What did you learn about Them?

How do you feel about this religion’s view of the afterlife?

Does your religion have a holiday calendar? If so, write about it.

Are there any local legends or folklore where you live? Study and write about them.

Why did you choose this religion or pantheon?

If you are eclectic or still choosing a Pagan religion, write down what you are looking for in a belief system.

Write down anything you love about your religion/pantheon.

Record your worship goals. In the next month, season, or year, look back at your list. What have you accomplished?

Are you thankful to this religion for any positives in your life? If so, write those down.

For 65 Pagan journaling prompts, read the full blog post.

I honestly believe the gods want you to be independent. They do not want you calling on Them five times a day. They are not constantly hanging over our shoulder, telling us "make the bed, eat healthy, don't skip breakfast, work out, try harder on that math question, take the water instead of soda, do your homework right after school, shower, brush your teeth, go to sleep on time, etc"

We should be able to manage ourselves. They are there to support us, and They might help in certain areas, like if you have an ED then yes maybe They do push a little harder for you to eat healthily, but for the most part no. They are gods, not our parents.

If you rely on Them too much throughout the day, if you keep calling on Them out of loneliness and needing someone to tell you to make the right decision, you've got

✨ A co-dependent relationship ✨

Which means if that deity leaves, takes a break, or if your connection is severed for some reason, you will completely break down. That is not sustainable. That is not healthy.

And no god wants that for Their worshiper.

I don't know if I just haven't encountered it yet, but I haven't really seen anyone talking about or acknowledging something that's neither Unverified Personal Gnosis or Shared Personal Gnosis, but rather a third thing: Personal Group Gnosis.

PGG emerges from a small group of people having similar experiences to each other, which may or may not resemble anything that people outside of the group are experiencing.

This isn't inherently a bad thing. But among those who lack critical thinking skills, it can lead to some real trouble if they conclude that their similar experiences means that they're uncovering an actual objective truth, regardless of whether it's congruent with anything anyone outside of the group is experiencing.

One thing that many people fail to account for is the fact that they and their group generally share many of the same preconceptions and biases. For example, a group of younger Wiccans are very likely to believe in now-debunked ideas such as the great goddess hypothesis and the witch cult hypothesis. They'll believe in the existence of pagan gods, but they'll probably have a Christian-influenced understanding of divinity and morality, with little to no comprehension of the role that animism played in the development of pre-Christian traditions, nor with any real appreciation for how different values influenced the stories that people told about gods and other spirits.

They might even be exposed to similar media, which gives them all similar ideas about gods, spirits, and history. Even if they don't directly engage with the most popular media, it can still reach them through second or third hand exposure.

They're also likely reading the same spiritual, occult, and esoteric writers; or at least, reading people who have very similar ideas to one another.

And finally, since they're most likely friends and therefore trust each other, they are naturally biased toward accepting each other's experiences as valid, and working them into their own mental maps of the spiritual or metaphysical world.

In short, they're all primed to have very similar experiences to each other.

Without awareness that exposure to similar ideas can influence similar mystical experiences, it's very easy for a small group like this to generate a sort of shared map of reality that they feel justified in regarding as absolutely, objectively true.

It's at this point that people begin to feel confident telling you that if you just talked to your gods about what they're claiming, your gods would absolutely confirm them to be true. And if they don't, you were never really talking to those gods.

Having one's entire internal map of reality dictated by Personal Group Gnosis can be incredibly dangerous. It alienates you from the rest of the world by making you feel as if the only people you can trust are those who agree with your PGG. It can make you see outsiders as spiritually inferior, especially if they disagree with you outright. It can even encourage conspiracy thinking, because attributing what outsiders believe (or apparently believe) to the actions of a malicious conspiracy is a very common rationalization.

In other words, this is how you get a cult.

Now, a lot of people won't recognize it as a cult (and some will vehemently deny it's a cult) because it might not have a clear leader (though there's almost certainly a small number of people who have the most influence), and it probably doesn't have a financial goal. However, the destructive capacities of small groups of people living in their own reality cannot be denied. Members who don't go along with the group's accepted model of reality are often treated harshly, and are frequently targets for harassment. They may say that if you don't like it you can just leave, but let's be real, that's no simple matter if you believe that these are the only people with a real grip on reality, or if these people are basically your only friends, or even just your only friends who share your spiritual beliefs.

(If you're in this kind of situation? My advice is to start making more friends outside of this group. You don't have to cut yourself off from this group cold turkey; you can just start hanging out with other people more.)

Now, I'd like to emphasize that none of this is to say that PGG is inherently bad; I am only pointing out that it can be incredibly dangerous for people who lack knowledge, perspective, and critical thinking skills. Additionally, a group where there's a lot of this going on can be very dangerous for those who desperately just want to belong and get along, and push themselves to adopt their groups popular beliefs for fear of consequences.

Just like a single person's UPG doesn't dictate reality for everyone, neither does a single group's gnosis. PGG isn't inherently any better or more "correct" than UPG.

Learning the history behind your Gods is one of the easiest ways to dismantle the allure of “danger” that being raised monotheistic sometimes places on the very concept of syncretic worship.

Like, for example, when you realize how many gods of the Greco-Roman Pantheon(s) are borrowed or heavily influenced by other cultures you’ll realize that there’s no concept of “true” Hellenic or Roman worship. You’re worshipping a bunch of Gods only some of whom are rooted in only-Greek or only-Italic concepts and cultural ideas. A lot of Them are Syrian, Celtic, Iranian, Egyptian, Sumerian, Anatolian, etc. - or are influenced enough to lose this “purity” of self.

Worshipping this religious cluster is by definition being syncretic, I would say. Because Greek and Roman Pantheons are by definition syncretic. You’re fine. You’re not “disrespecting” anyone by doing this.

Do you know anything about trickster Spirits pretending their deity's?

I don't have much experience with that, sorry.

Speaking generally, but when it comes to witchcraft,

if you don't have the ability to analyze what gods and/or spirits tell you,

and then make your own decisions,

you should probably not be working with gods and/or spirits.

If you don't feel comfortable saying "no," you should probably not be working with gods and/or spirits.

on the essence of offerings

The question "does god xy will accept and like xy as offering" is a question originating from a theology where the offering will "appear" 1 to 1 before the god to eat and digest.

This question is one of the more prominent ones and can cause religious anxiety.

But this has not to be the case, if we take a different aproach on what exactly is offered and why. Do we "feed" the gods? Perhaps not. They were there before us and were well nutritioned. Just look at Thor :D

Do the Gods "need" our offerings? Perhaps not. Like I said, they exist without us and will exist without us.

So why do we offer food, drinks and votives?

@oceankeltoi made a wonderful example with his Cat where he would land on the lap of him and simply purr. This purr is what our offerings are. They have no "real" purpose but to sway and compliment the gods. We give symbolic thanks to them for what they did, do and will do in the future.

Like a toast, it helps to have some thoughts behind an offering and a pious aproach towards the ritual and the offered things.

Besides that, just because the Edda's state, that Odin only drinks Mead and Wine in his Hall, that doesn't mean he doesn't accept a nice offering of cookies and a libation of milk or anything else or he doesn't drink/ eat anything else outside the hall. Literalism is not the way.

practices to bond with your deities

i'm most familiar with Greco-Roman deities so i'll use them for examples, but feel free to ask me about a specific deity! which Greco-Roman deity you should work according to your birth chart indications

communication

say "good morning" / "good night" - this is not only out of respect but developing a habit to include them more and more in day to day life

talk to them - whether you're expressing gratitude, praying, asking for advice, or even just talking to them about your day, this will show you are thinking about them and looking up to them. if you feel uncomfortable or can't talk out loud, a journal works just as well

write to them - speaking or journaling, writing is an art form they will appreciate. make journal entries to them, write them a poem or a song. it doesn't have be a fancy, even just phrases here and there will make a huge difference

document your experiences - after spending time with them, write down how it went. keep track of what they seem to like, what they tell you, even small details that don't seem to stick out because when you go back and look, they might stick out then or you might notice patterns

share your food - giving your deity a small portion of your food each time you eat is a way to communicate your honor and respect to them, and also learn what foods/drinks they enjoy

divination - this is more than just tarot cards! there's other forms of cartomancy, there's dowsing, numerology, etc. i personally use astrology <3

connect with their energy - doing activities that appeal to your deity regularly with strengthen your connection with them. for example, my deities are Diana/Artemis and Luna/Selene, so I spend a lot of time in nature, especially at night under the moonlight

honoring

research them in great detail - to get to know your deity, learn everything there is to know: names and epithets, symbols, attributes (plants trees, stones, animals, planets, week days, etc.) domains, family, popular stories and myths

cook a full meal - you can decide on a meal that is associated with them (like steak for Mars/Ares) but you don't have to, either way just dedicating time and energy to make an entire meal just for them will say a lot

altar - this is probably what you will hear the most, but don't feel heavy pressure. it doesn't have to be huge, fancy, or expensive; you can start out with literally just a candle and some leaves. slowly over time decorate and personalize it to your and your deity's liking

offerings - this is more than just sharing your food with them, it's actually giving something solely to them. have you ever been in the mood for a certain food even though you weren't hungry at all? that might be them hinting that they want it. gifts that you think they'd like or you felt called to get, including crafts you made yourself

share your worship - i want to say this is 100% not a necessity, so don't feel stressed if there is no one you can talk to about your deity work. i have no one to talk to about it, but i share freely on this blog and am trying to make friends online who i can share with! not only is sharing a way to show respect and love for them, but others can give you ideas of devotion and connection

creation/digital

going digital is a great way to worship and connect with your deity, especially if you cannot be open about it

make a playlist - include songs that remind you of them or that you'd think they'd like that involve their domains or stories/myths

art - literally any form of art they will appreciate. music like singing or songwriting, drawing, painting, sculpture, literature like reading books they'd like or writing stories, poems, songs, etc., dancing, theater or acting, or literally anything else. you can get specific, like learning an instrument for Apollo

exploring - exploring areas you think they'd like or just new areas in general. you might find points of interest they'd enjoy (like crossroads for Hecate), or see/hear their sacred animals, or find things that coincide with their stories/attributes/symbols

spending time with them through hobbies - the best way i can describe this is through examples: going to parties/celebrating for Bacchus/Dionysus, cleaning and taking care of your home for Vesta/Hestia, gardening for Ceres/Demeter or Proserpina/Persephone, taking care of the ocean for Neptune/Poseidon, the list goes on and on. anything that involves their domain

pinterest board - kinda self explanatory, making a pinterest board (or a physical picture board/wall if you prefer) with images of your deity and their symbols/attributes. here's mine

phone background - setting your phone background as an image or your deity is not only a sign of honor and respect, but will help you develop the habit of thinking of them regularly. can also spark conversation with others without being direct about your worship!

— more ways to connect with deities

see the first post here

wear devotional jewelry (typically a symbol that is associated with them, but can be anything as long as you designate it)

create something with them/for them (poetry, drawings, cook or bake, build something, etc)

research their myths

create playlists for them and listen to those playlists

do you like sandbox games? create a shrine, temple, altar, etc for your deities in those games (like minecraft, terraria, stardew valley, etc)

go on a walk outside and invite them with you

thank them. thank them for anything and everything

take care of yourself as a devotion to them. if you want to specify, you could do this with a deity that is more closely related to self care (my mind immediately goes to Aphrodite or Hera), but any deity would appreciate you taking care of yourself; they love you

set aside a day of the week to be “their” day and spend time with them, give them offerings, etc that day (some deities are associated with days of the week; apollo for sunday, artemis for monday, thor and zeus for thursday, to name a few)

be creative! above all, the gods like to see that you put thought and effort into your worship. it doesn’t have to be grand or expensive to be thoughtful, just heartfelt. may the gods be with you <3

Bedridden witch: Worship edition

Sometimes as someone who is stuck in one spot, it can be hard to feel connected to your gods/goddesses/deities. However, it’s not as hard as you may think to find some solid methods! Please note that your deities understand your situation and don’t expect you to suffer for them or consistently do things for them!

Burn candles or incense that remind you of them. If you are unable to do this, try an oil diffuser or room spray.

Use blankets, sheets, pillows, etc. that have colors you associate with them.

Make an online devotional blog or altar. I do this [X]

Chat with other people who work with them. 

If your body is okay with it, eat foods that are sacred/connected to them.

Hang pictures or decorations that correspond with their sacred animals, plants, or what lessons or teachings they present to you.

Write devotional poetry, or make drawings for them.

Draw sigils for them and hang them on your walls, ceiling, or put under your mattress.

Find a stuffed animal that you feel captures their essence or reminds you of them, and hold it close when you need the support.

Research them/browse their tag on tumblr.

Keep stones and crystals you associate with them near you – on a bedside table or under your pillow.

Use astral travel or dream magic to connect with them.

Listen to music that makes you feel closer to them.

Watch shows or movies that remind you of them.

Pray to them, talk to them, write them a letter. Stay in communication with them, especially in times of need.

Meditate.

Drink something warm or cool that helps you connect with them.

Make a spell bottle/jar that you feel captures their essence. Charge during good days, use for connection and support during the not-so-good days.

Make emoji spells to feel more connected to them.

Expose yourself to natural light (or gentle artificial light) or complete darkness, depending on the deity.

Devote small, everyday tasks to them. (Example for the Greek + Roman pantheon.)

Read books about them, or that remind you of them/their values.

Make herb sachets for them, keep them under your pillow or hang on your wall.

Wear scented oils, perfumes, lotions, or pick a shampoo with a scent or ingredients that make you think of them.

@thewitchofthenorse also has a post on this here!

And here is a post about nature connection while bedridden, which is great for nature deities!

Again, please note that you don’t need to do anything to be connected to your gods/goddesses/deities. They know and understand what you are going through, and are patient. 

Click here for the other posts in this series!

🌙 deity devotion journals

if you’re anything like me, the desire to meet and communicate with a new deity might be stunted by the idea of actually, ya know, communicating. whatever the reason (you don’t use divination, cant speak aloud, are afraid of being overheard, can’t meditate easily, etc.), initiating contact with deities can seem intimidating, and might even deter you from following the god or pantheon at all. but rest assured, there are easier and more discreet methods of talking, other than whipping out a dozen tarot decks and chanting pagan prayers

💫Why a Devotional Journal? What Is It?

devotional journals are journals dedicated to a specific deity or pantheon, where you can write messages, prayers, questions, or anything else you’d like to speak with Them about. i like to think of these journals like writing letters to a good friend- except your good friend is also a god!

☀️Beginning a Devotional Journal

depending on personal preference, this can be as intricate or as simple as you please. if you feel inclined to introduce yourself, explain what you’re doing or why you’re keeping a journal, or anything else, then feel free to! when i started mine i kept it as easy as writing “dear Apollo,” in a composition notebook, then explained my reasons and goals for keeping a journal specifically for Him. so honestly? go wild

⚡️What To Put in a Devotional Journal

prayers

Their name written in its orignal language

stories about your day

your relationship goals

tarot spreads for/to Them

song lyrics

poetry

hymns

Their family tree

things like the delphic maxims (hellenic) or 10 commandments (christian)

pressed flowers

printed pictures of what They look like to you

artwork

a list of things you associate with Them

gratitudes

what your altar to Them looks like (or what you wish it could look like)

messages you’ve received from Them

devotional acts

sigils/runes/etc

Their symbols

Their myths and lore

offering ideas

Their sacred animals, plants, cities, etc

famous works about Them

if you can think of anything else to put in a devotion journal, please feel free to add on! no matter how crazily beautiful or inconspicuously simple you make yours, the important thing to remember is your gods appreciate all efforts to strengthen your relationship with Them

-Mason Lane

How do I know which deity I’m talking to, or if it’s just my own inner voice?

Silas’s guide to Deity Communication 101:

Okay, so the absolute first step is to get to know yourself. You need to be able to identify what it feels like to be alone in your head/body, in order to identify when something else is there with you. So step away from your altar, don’t call upon any deities, and just spend a few days alone. Things to pay attention to:

what does your inner voice sound like? does it change or is it always the same?

do you think in a monologue, or have conversations with yourself? do you play different voices?

have some imaginary conversations, with your mom or best friend or a celebrity even. what does that feel like, sound like, etc?

how often do you hear your own voice? are you monologuing constantly? do you have to convert your thoughts into words?

is it usually quiet in your head, or pretty loud with lots happening? what do each feel like to you?

how often do you visualize? what does that look like? do you pick what you’re seeing or does it pop up randomly?

Talk to yourself out loud. does your inner voice respond?

Talk to someone else out loud. what happens in your head during that conversation?

Really pay attention to these things and getting a solid grasp on how your own brain works and responds to all sorts of situations.

Ready to move on? Now you can start learning to identify your deities. Depending on how your brain works and how your relationship with each specific deity works, communication could look any number of ways. Be open to learning what that is, rather than trying to force a certain communication style!

Start out by just trying to get time with your deity:

pray or talk to them, out loud or in your head!

spend time at your altar, gather things that remind you of them or that are associated with them.

write them letters

meditate while focusing on them & your connection to them

Hold crystals you associate with them, light them a candle, so a spell for them with herbs they like, etc

give an offering, invite them to join you for a meal

read their stories and myths, get to know them, learn how their worshipers usually get in touch with them

go out in nature, find a spot that reminds you of them. Could be a tree, a body of water, a clearing in the woods, a patch of wildflowers or mushrooms, a big rock, etc. Make that your place, meditate there and invite them to join you.

use tarot, a pendulum, etc. (pay attention to the energy you feel, if the same cards come up frequently, etc.)

Look for art, music, etc that reminds you of them. or make some!

Now WHILE you are doing all of the above, pay very close attention: does it ever feel different than when you’re alone? what does it feel like? Pay attention to all your senses!

How does it sound in your head? is it louder or quieter? does your inner voice respond the same as usual? does it take on a different tone or pace sometimes? do you hear a different voice altogether?

do certain things pop into your head, like you don’t hear a voice but knowledge or answers are just kinda… air-dropped to your brain?

How do you feel emotionally? is there a sense of calm/peace? is there a rush of excitement? does your energy feel different?

what do you see visually? is anything different about your visualizations? do you picture certain animals, imagery of your deity or things associated with them (plants, the sun/moon, water, etc)?

do you taste or smell anything specific?

do you have any bodily sensations, like butterflies in your stomach, a tingle down your spine, hair standing on end, goosebumps, a warm feeling in your chest, a sudden burst of energy, or a suddenly so calm you’re almost sleepy?

does music play in your head?

do you recognize an energy or “vibe” when you’re interacting with them? what does it feel like?

Be patient with yourself, it may take time to really tune into these things and feel the connection. But eventually you might see a pattern of how you feel when you interact with your deity. I recommend trying to start with just one, and really master how it feels when you’re together.

Once you know what they sounds like or feel like to you, it will be easier to tell when they’re around or communicating with you. You’ll learn to recognize them even when you’re not at your “spot” or specifically praying to them.

yo! so, i've been teetering in relation to satanism for a bit now. at first it was a sort of "at tirst i was like 'ooo, satanism' as a joke but bro.. i don't think it's a joke anymore. i'm genuinely curious- but- i have a lot of executive dysfunction and attention-issues that make research damn near impossible for me to do.

as such, i ask you this [in good faith and gen curiosity, ofc]: what is satanism? what is it about? i know its not something that can he simplified, but what about it makes it something you find important for following- and the general belief structure?

hope you don't mind me asking all this. wishing you a lovely timezone. ^^

Hello! I'll boil it down as simply as I can because I totally get you on the executive dysfunction front.

At it's core, Satanism is any type of religious or spiritual practice that involves one or more of the following:

Worshipping or working with Satan / Lucifer as an entity (as a bringer of chaos, as a rebel against authority, as a bringer of knowledge, etc)

Following Satan / Lucifer as a symbol of rebellion against authority / oppression or as a symbol of humanity, free will, and knowledge (Satan giving humanity knowledge and free will against God's will instead of letting humanity live without free will)

Following the philosophy of defending the people around you against oppression and using the name Satanism

Striving to be your best self and not letting others walk all over you and calling it Satanism (this is on a scale that can extend to self-deification where you treat yourself as your own god)

Any of these can be mixed and matched into whatever practice you like, but those are what I kind of see as the core universal beliefs people have when it comes to Satanism, whether you're theistic or not!

For a lot of people, Satanism is a religion that focuses on opposition of theocracy (religion controlling the government) and protecting and uplifting people, especially those in danger. Many Satanists tend to take an anti-Christian point of view as well due to religious abuse, which tends to lead people to the "opposing side".

-Luci

Easy Ways to Connect More Strongly with your Deities

Say Good Morning when you wake up, say Good Night before you fall asleep

Share your food with them. If you’ve ever wanted some of your friend’s french fries, you know how they probably feel. 

Donate to causes that fall under the jurisdiction of your deity. Are they a goddess for women? Donate to a women’s shelter or Planned Parenthood. Is your deity a patron of the arts? Give to PBS or local theatres.

Cook a full meal in honor of your deity. Seriously. It sounds silly but you can definitely find a regional cookbook based on your pantheon to cook a full ass feast for them.

Write them letters or notes. Keep a little notebook of notes and letters to your deity. Did you see a cute cat that you think Frigga would’ve liked? Maybe you saw a girl’s outfit that would’ve made Aphrodite drool. Let them know, or give yourself a reminder to tell them about it later.

Change your phone background. Does your deity have a temple or built pantheon? Put that shit as your wallpaper! Did you find a picture that so perfectly captures the spirit of your deity? Make it your lock screen.

Make them a Mix Tape. You know, so you can belt out songs in their honor while making your way downtown. Faces pass. And you’re home bound. 

DIY your Altar. I’m not going to lie, I’m not to altar type. However, it is a fantastically personalized space that you can do anything with. So don’t let anyone stop you from knitting that mini statue of Hecate a scarf. 

Communicating with Spirits

On this blog, we’ve talked about why witches might want to work with spirits, types of spirits they might work with, and the proper etiquette for establishing a relationship with a spirit. What we haven’t yet talked about is one of the most important, but sometimes most frustrating, elements of spirit work: communication.

There are several methods you can use to communicate with spirits, depending on your skills, preferences, and comfort level.

Signs and Synchronicity

The most organic way to receive messages from spirits is to wait for physical signs in your environment.

The concept of synchronicity was first introduced by Carl Jung. A synchronicity is a “meaningful coincidence” — a seemingly random event that feels meaningful to the individual. For example: crows have a lot of spiritual significance to me, and whenever I see or hear one it has a very specific meaning for me.

Another way a spirit might send you a sign is by surrounding you with physical reminders of them. I’ve most often experienced this with deities. If a new deity is reaching out to me, I’ll see images of them in places I wouldn’t expect to and may hear their name mentioned over and over again around me.

In her book The Angel Code, Chantel Lysette encourages readers to ask for physical signs when they connect with spirits, as a way to confirm that this is a genuine spiritual experience. This is something that has really stuck with me, and has become common practice in my spirit work. It can be very powerful to see signs in your mundane life that validate your spiritual experiences.

Divination

One easy way to communicate with spirits is to use your favorite divination method. (I’ve already done a whole post on divination, so I’m not going to spend much time on it here.) When using divination to communicate with a spirit, address your questions to them by name. From there, proceed as you normally would.

One thing to keep in mind when using divination to communicate with spirits is that the communication will be limited by the divination method you use. If you’re using a pendulum, you can only ask yes or no questions. If you’re using a tarot or oracle deck, the spirit will be limited to the cards in that deck when they’re trying to answer. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it is something to keep in mind.

Automatic Writing or Channeled Writing

This is a little bit different than other divination methods, because in this case you’re actually connecting directly with the spirit in order to write down messages from them. Automatic writing is the act of allowing your hand to write out a message without focusing on the words — the idea is that your hand will be guided by the spirits in order to write down their message for you. Some people believe that you should use your non-dominant hand for automatic writing, as this is your “receptive” hand. Channeled writing is the act of receiving a message through your psychic senses, which you then write down. Automatic writing is a type of channeling, but not all channeling is automatic writing.

I personally prefer channeled writing, simply because I find it more comfortable. Some witches prefer automatic writing because it bypasses your conscious mind, thus making it less likely that you’ll unknowingly “edit” the message. However, automatic writing can be a little bit harder to learn, so I’m going to focus on channeling here.

To channel a message from a spirit, you will need something to write with — a notebook and pen/pencil works, but so does a laptop with a word processor or even the notebook app on a smart phone. You will also need to enter a light trance state (this is the same state of consciousness experienced in meditation), so you might choose to use trance triggers like incense, shamanic drumming, or binaural beats. Begin by creating a protective space around yourself. (This is just to make sure only one spirit comes through at a time.) Invite the spirit you want to receive a message from into your space. Enter a trance and open yourself up to whatever it is they have to say. Don’t think about the words that come to you — simply write them down. You can analyze the message later, after your trance has ended.

Meditation

If you have a specific question you need an answer to, you can receive an answer to that question in a meditation. Likewise, if you want to connect with a certain spirit, you can do so through meditation.

This is fairly straightforward. Prepare for meditation in the way you normally do — light incense or candles and play music if you’d like, and make sure you have a comfortable place to sit or lay down. Before you begin to meditate, speak your intention out loud. This could be as simple as saying, “My intention for this meditation is to connect with [insert spirit’s name],” or “My intention for this meditation is to receive an answer from [insert spirit’s name] about [insert topic here],” or it could be an elaborate prayer.

From there, meditate as you normally would. Focus on the spirit you’re trying to connect with or, if you have a specific question, focus on that question. Whenever I do this, I often receive an answer in a sudden information download — suddenly the answer to my question is clear and obvious.

Pathworking

A pathworking is a specific type of meditation where you go on a psychic journey, usually with a specific goal in mind. I like to think of pathworking as the halfway point between meditation and astral travel. With pathworking, you are still anchored to your physical body, but your consciousness is able to make a journey into the astral world.

There are two important elements to a pathworking: a clear entrance/exit point and a way to retrace your steps. Pathworking journeys are typically cyclical — there is both a journey out and a return where you go back the way you came. This makes it easier to fully return your consciousness to your body, and failing to do so can cause you to feel disoriented upon the return.

A very common entrance/exit point is a door or gate which you use to enter and exit the astral realm. Sometimes it’s more of a home base — for example, my entry point is a rocky beach. I’ve also heard of people using a tree, or even The World Tree, as their entry point. Whatever imagery you choose, make sure you’re able to find your way back to it. If you’re worried about getting lost, author Thea Sabin recommends using “the Theseus trick.” Like in the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur, you can tie a golden thread or rope to your entry point and the other end to your astral body. If you get lost, you can follow the thread back.

If you want to try pathworking, make a rough “road map” of your journey beforehand. This doesn’t have to be super specific, but it should contain the following: a goal for the pathworking (such as to connect with a certain spirit), an entry/exit point, and a general idea for the route you’re going to take.

Astral Travel/Spirit Flight

Perhaps the most direct route, astral travel (also called “spirit flight,” “soul flight,” or “hedge riding”) involves sending your spirit or consciousness into the astral realm/spirit world. Astral travel is not a beginner technique. This method should only be used by witches who have experience with meditation, pathworking, and other altered states of consciousness. The major advantage of astral travel is that you’re visiting the spirits on their own turf, which means you can communicate with them much more clearly and directly.

I’ll talk about both pathworking and astral travel at length in my next post. In the meantime, know that it is an option but that I only recommend it for intermediate to experienced witches, and even then only after some serious research into how to do it safely.

Some Basic Precautions

No matter which method you use, here are some basic rules to keep you safe and comfortable during your communication.

Cleanse before you begin. The best way to make sure you’re talking to the spirit you want is to clear out any other nasties before you begin. There are lots of ways to cleanse your space, from incense to sound baths to sweeping with a ritual broom. Use your favorite method to energetically tidy up before you try to contact anybody.

Use protection. A few safety precautions never hurt anyone, and they’re a good idea if you’re going to attempt one of the more involved methods of communication, like channeled writing or astral travel. The salt circle is an oldie but a goodie — once you’ve set it up, only spirits you invite can enter the circle. (But please don’t sprinkle salt on the ground outdoors — this hurts plant life! Use another protective substance, like rosemary, to form the circle instead.)

Know who you’re talking to. It may not be in your best interest to chat it up with whoever presents themselves. Not every spirit has good intentions. I speak from experience when I say that opening the lines of communication to whoever is around is not the best idea. Be clear and specific with which spirits you invite into your space, and don’t open the door to spirits who make you uncomfortable. This is part of the reason that having an established relationship with spirits that you know and trust is important.

Don’t take things at face value. Something that doesn’t get brought up enough in the New Age community is the fact that spirits can and do lie. They can also be wrong, and may give you false information in good faith. Just because a spirit tells you something doesn’t make it true. Always do your own fact-checking outside of spirit work.

Don’t be the idiot in a horror movie. Use common sense when working with spirits. Use safety precautions (see previous notes about cleansing and protection). Don’t intentionally contact negative entities — don’t be that guy who buys a Ouija board so he can talk to Jack the Ripper’s ghost. If a spirit gives you bad vibes, tell them politely but firmly to leave. When in doubt ask yourself, “Would a character in a horror movie do this?” If the answer is yes, don’t do it. You’re smarter than that.

Resources:

The Angel Code by Chantel Lysette

Wicca for Beginners by Thea Sabin

Southern Cunning: Folkloric Witchcraft in the American South by Aaron Oberon

New World Witchery podcast (several episodes, including “Episode 164 — Irish Folklore and Magic,” “Episode 161 — Practicing Safe Hex,” and “Episode 152 — Honoring Ancestors”)

“My Goddesses: How and Why I Work with Mary and Hel” by Kelly-Ann Maddox

Spirit work tip

I had this idea, that may or may not have been suggested before. I don't remember a suggestion this specific but there is a possibility.

If you use tarot cards or other divination methods, you can ask the deity or spirit what they suggest you journal about for that entry in your devotional journal.

Depending on your style of divination and/or your interpretations this could be a specific topic or a more general area of life or self.

Example:

I asked Aphrodite for a card to represent a journal prompt, something I should or need to explore.

I pulled the 10 of swords which in the Spirit Halloween tarot deck has an image of a Gryphon.

Upright: Back-stabbed, defeat, crisis, betrayal, endings, loss

The gryphon gives me the vibe of relating to the public face of a being.

Overall this suggests I should write about how a painful or stressful change in my public image affects me and what I think that means.

Which is a rather hardcore topic to start with 😅