The term "wort-cunning" translates to "herb wisdom" and describes the use of herbs in Pagan and Heathen practises. Nearly every culture ascribes a specific meaning or property to plants or flowers or herbs - even in today's society we still do this. Roses, for example, are an almost universal symbol of love and passion, and have been for some time.
Because of the sheer number of cultures and traditions or paths which utilise herbs in various practises, the "meanings" and "properties" of a single herb can become a bit confused, or unnecessarily complicated.
One of the most popular ways to use this knowledge is to create herb sachets, or mojo bags, or talismans (something which I do frequently.) They're typically small and easy to carry on your person in every day life, which is a huge part of the appeal. Another method is to create a bath mix of herbs, for ritual baths or a specific sort of cleansing. Some individuals prefer to work with essential oils and extracts, creating perfumes which can be applied and worn rather than physically carried around. All three methods typically have similar, if not the same, results - though the bath idea is usually a one-off deal that has few lingering effects.
Another method in which herbs are used is by placing them on one's altar, or around one's house. Mint leaves on one's altar, for example, are believed to attract good spirits.
I typically purchase my supplies from herbal medicine stores, which tend to be mostly organic (not a major selling point for me, but for some it's vital) and what I cannot find in there I often come across while wandering around or by purchasing the plant I need. Orchids are a bit of a pain in that orchid petals are very handy to have and very difficult to find if you don't want to buy four or five plants and care for them year-round.
Additionally, I have some very helpful friends and family members who will spot something I've mentioned to them while they're out and sometimes bring some back for me. As it is, I'm currently on a bleak-looking quest for cypress - not cedar cypress, though. There are surprisingly few of those trees around here, which is proving irksome. I may have to default to using oils - a medium which I find a bit messy- instead.
As I work with new plants, flowers, roots, and herbs I make a note of what they are, what they are believed to do, and so on in a compendium-in-progress which I have been working on for the last few months. I am hoping to complete it in the next year or so.
Monday 27 August 2012
Sunday 26 August 2012
Prompt: Light and Dark
I find I am somewhat puzzled by this dichotomy of paths - this "light" versus "dark" debate that I stumble across now and then. One person once asked which I was.
My answer is a bit complicated, I'm afraid.
I seek balance in all things, where I can find it, and so I am neither light nor dark. I walk with Tricksters, who are both and neither, and also something else entirely. Tricksters are Gods with hourglasses for hearts, whose natures change with each turn; they are in equal measure kind and cruel, good and evil, helpful and harmful as it suits them.
A lot of people associate Tricksters with chaos and, by association, so-called "dark" paths.Others view Tricksters as cultural heroes - those who highlight social wrongs and correct them, after their fashion- and therefore describe following Tricksters as a "light" path.
I respectfully agree and disagree on both accounts.
...I did tell you my answer was complicated, didn't I?
I was raised with the concepts of Chaos and Order, rather than a worldview of strictly Good and Evil. It's a Nordic thing. Many Asatru feel that one must be aligned completely with Order, and thus the Aesir. Many of those who worship Gods such as Loki, however, will (mistakenly, in my opinion) seek absolute Chaos.
Chaos is not Evil, I should note. Nature is chaotic - but when was the last time you heard someone honestly claim that Nature was evil? A storm isn't good or bad - it is incapable of caring either way if it destroys something. It simply is.
Too much Order is stifling, but too much Chaos is dangerously volatile.
Tricksters understand this best of all deities, I would venture to say, because they exist in the liminal world between the two. Hermes is one of the ones who favours Order at least a little bit, but even he is capable of the mischief and trouble that comes from those of his kind who strongly favour Chaos, like Loki.
To walk with Tricksters is to walk a Grey path, upon which you will lean towards the so-called "light" and "dark" as you need to, or as your patrons feel you should.
Hermes is a God of thieves, of miscreants and clever criminals and the like, but he is also a God of balance (as embodied in the caduceus) and of boundaries. He understands when to abide by the rules, and when to break them. I'm tempted to say that Hermes is one of the more responsible Tricksters in the world, who understands the value of duty and a job well done as well as the value of mischief and fun.
Loki is... not irresponsible, but perhaps not always very good as foreseeing the consequences of his actions, at least where the mythology is concerned. He is the impulsive one who wants to have fun and enjoy himself and satisfy his curiosity, and routine is utterly, painfully boring to him. Responsibility is not an excessive burden, as long as it doesn't completely cramp his style, but he'd honestly rather plot and scheme and and plan to wreak havoc and mayhem, as is his want.
As a God of travellers, I look forward to seeing where Hermes leads me.
As a God of mischief, I am half-dubious and half-curious as to where Loki will lead me.
...And I fully expect my Totems to jump in and interfere or help, according to their nature. :D
I seek balance in all things, where I can find it, and so I am neither light nor dark. I walk with Tricksters, who are both and neither, and also something else entirely. Tricksters are Gods with hourglasses for hearts, whose natures change with each turn; they are in equal measure kind and cruel, good and evil, helpful and harmful as it suits them.
A lot of people associate Tricksters with chaos and, by association, so-called "dark" paths.Others view Tricksters as cultural heroes - those who highlight social wrongs and correct them, after their fashion- and therefore describe following Tricksters as a "light" path.
I respectfully agree and disagree on both accounts.
...I did tell you my answer was complicated, didn't I?
I was raised with the concepts of Chaos and Order, rather than a worldview of strictly Good and Evil. It's a Nordic thing. Many Asatru feel that one must be aligned completely with Order, and thus the Aesir. Many of those who worship Gods such as Loki, however, will (mistakenly, in my opinion) seek absolute Chaos.
Chaos is not Evil, I should note. Nature is chaotic - but when was the last time you heard someone honestly claim that Nature was evil? A storm isn't good or bad - it is incapable of caring either way if it destroys something. It simply is.
Too much Order is stifling, but too much Chaos is dangerously volatile.
Tricksters understand this best of all deities, I would venture to say, because they exist in the liminal world between the two. Hermes is one of the ones who favours Order at least a little bit, but even he is capable of the mischief and trouble that comes from those of his kind who strongly favour Chaos, like Loki.
To walk with Tricksters is to walk a Grey path, upon which you will lean towards the so-called "light" and "dark" as you need to, or as your patrons feel you should.
Hermes is a God of thieves, of miscreants and clever criminals and the like, but he is also a God of balance (as embodied in the caduceus) and of boundaries. He understands when to abide by the rules, and when to break them. I'm tempted to say that Hermes is one of the more responsible Tricksters in the world, who understands the value of duty and a job well done as well as the value of mischief and fun.
Loki is... not irresponsible, but perhaps not always very good as foreseeing the consequences of his actions, at least where the mythology is concerned. He is the impulsive one who wants to have fun and enjoy himself and satisfy his curiosity, and routine is utterly, painfully boring to him. Responsibility is not an excessive burden, as long as it doesn't completely cramp his style, but he'd honestly rather plot and scheme and and plan to wreak havoc and mayhem, as is his want.
As a God of travellers, I look forward to seeing where Hermes leads me.
As a God of mischief, I am half-dubious and half-curious as to where Loki will lead me.
...And I fully expect my Totems to jump in and interfere or help, according to their nature. :D
Thursday 23 August 2012
Dream-Walking
I've mentioned this term several times but it occurs to me that I should actually explain what it is for those who are unfamiliar with it.
Dream-walking is basically astral projection. I only ever dream-walk in my sleep, with two exceptions. The nitty-gritty mechanics of the process escape me, but it is essentially you - your consciousness, your soul, your spirit, or whatever you'd prefer to call it- leaving this particular plane and moving into the Upper World or the Lower World.
To clarify, we - you and I- live in between those according to most shamanic traditions. The Upper World is reserved for Gods and the like, while the Lower World is home to ancestral spirits, Totems, and so on.
Each location within the Upper and Lower Worlds looks different to each individual person. When I've gone to the Lower World during a mediation (one of only two successful attempts) I went to a bright and sunny barely field, and I was sitting upon a large, flat boulder. That was, incidentally, how I met Coyote - he wandered up to greet me before I lost my concentration and snapped out of the meditation.
I've also ended up in a cave in the Lower World, right beside the entrance to the barley field, but I held that meditative state for an even smaller amount of time and didn't get the chance to explore. The scenery can change quite easily, however, and I've been in a multitude of places. This is where I most often interact with my Totems.
Typically speaking, I am largely unable to meditate due to my inability to concentrate hard enough or for long enough, so I normally dream-walk while, surprise surprise, sleeping. I typically have no control of where I go when this happens, and the scenery there is a combination of my perception of a location, heavy symbolism, and a few other random elements.
When I am in the Upper World, which is almost always where I go when dream-walking for some reason, I interact with Gods a fair bit - usually Hermes, as it happens, but not always; I've interacted with Loki while dream-walking two or three times, as well.
One thing I should be very clear about is that I do not use hallucinogenic or narcotic drugs to achieve these state, nor do I condone their use. I meditate and achieve the desired mental state through concentration and willpower, nothing else. When I dream-walk, I do little more than simply go to sleep - the rest happens on its own.
I won't rant and rave about my opinion on drugs which are not prescribed by a certified physicians or are caffeine or alcohol - and even those I use in moderation. It's enough to re-state that I do not and will never use such things, as it is my personal feeling that the use of hallucinogenics and narcotics outside of a cultural thing, like peyote in specific rituals, cheapens the experience and makes it less than it could have been if you had simply made an effort to do it on your own. It's not you reaching the Upper or Lower World through honest meditation and reaching a mental state of absolute calm on your own - it's you dosing yourself.
There, done. Topic closed, moving on!
There are dozens of techniques when it comes to meditating and dream-walking. As I rarely am able to meditate due to my busy lifestyle, and as dream-walking comes naturally to me, I'm afraid I can't recommend much. I did find that listening to a guided meditation recording in a dark room while completely relaxed was very helpful, though. Some people prefer to listen to a specific drumming pattern, or nature-based sounds, or hum. Some people even listen to trance music in a closed room at high volume. Dancing, in combination with such sounds, is commonly used in many cultures to achieve a trance-like, meditative state.
It's all completely subjective - as is everything in this world. Choose what suits your path and your lifestyle.
Dream-walking is basically astral projection. I only ever dream-walk in my sleep, with two exceptions. The nitty-gritty mechanics of the process escape me, but it is essentially you - your consciousness, your soul, your spirit, or whatever you'd prefer to call it- leaving this particular plane and moving into the Upper World or the Lower World.
To clarify, we - you and I- live in between those according to most shamanic traditions. The Upper World is reserved for Gods and the like, while the Lower World is home to ancestral spirits, Totems, and so on.
Each location within the Upper and Lower Worlds looks different to each individual person. When I've gone to the Lower World during a mediation (one of only two successful attempts) I went to a bright and sunny barely field, and I was sitting upon a large, flat boulder. That was, incidentally, how I met Coyote - he wandered up to greet me before I lost my concentration and snapped out of the meditation.
I've also ended up in a cave in the Lower World, right beside the entrance to the barley field, but I held that meditative state for an even smaller amount of time and didn't get the chance to explore. The scenery can change quite easily, however, and I've been in a multitude of places. This is where I most often interact with my Totems.
Typically speaking, I am largely unable to meditate due to my inability to concentrate hard enough or for long enough, so I normally dream-walk while, surprise surprise, sleeping. I typically have no control of where I go when this happens, and the scenery there is a combination of my perception of a location, heavy symbolism, and a few other random elements.
When I am in the Upper World, which is almost always where I go when dream-walking for some reason, I interact with Gods a fair bit - usually Hermes, as it happens, but not always; I've interacted with Loki while dream-walking two or three times, as well.
One thing I should be very clear about is that I do not use hallucinogenic or narcotic drugs to achieve these state, nor do I condone their use. I meditate and achieve the desired mental state through concentration and willpower, nothing else. When I dream-walk, I do little more than simply go to sleep - the rest happens on its own.
I won't rant and rave about my opinion on drugs which are not prescribed by a certified physicians or are caffeine or alcohol - and even those I use in moderation. It's enough to re-state that I do not and will never use such things, as it is my personal feeling that the use of hallucinogenics and narcotics outside of a cultural thing, like peyote in specific rituals, cheapens the experience and makes it less than it could have been if you had simply made an effort to do it on your own. It's not you reaching the Upper or Lower World through honest meditation and reaching a mental state of absolute calm on your own - it's you dosing yourself.
There, done. Topic closed, moving on!
There are dozens of techniques when it comes to meditating and dream-walking. As I rarely am able to meditate due to my busy lifestyle, and as dream-walking comes naturally to me, I'm afraid I can't recommend much. I did find that listening to a guided meditation recording in a dark room while completely relaxed was very helpful, though. Some people prefer to listen to a specific drumming pattern, or nature-based sounds, or hum. Some people even listen to trance music in a closed room at high volume. Dancing, in combination with such sounds, is commonly used in many cultures to achieve a trance-like, meditative state.
It's all completely subjective - as is everything in this world. Choose what suits your path and your lifestyle.
Wednesday 22 August 2012
Prompt: Totem Animals
Totems are as subjective as anything else in the world of Shamanism. I know many Aboriginals who believe that those who are not Native but claim to have Totems in the Native American fashion are mocking their beliefs. I know others, however, who believe that Totems are no different than Gods - who go to those who need them, regardless of who or what that person is.
I hold with the latter half, though I have an immense amount of respect for the former and certainly see no need to pick a fight with those who hold with the former themselves.
In terms of Totems, there are a number of beliefs about how many one can have. Some people insist that nine is the magic number here, while others are a little more uncertain. Additionally, there are different types of Totems.
The four types which I am aware of are Life, Journey, Messenger, and Shadow.
A Life Totem is a Totem which walks with your throughout your lifetime, perhaps fading in and out in terms of immediate influence but ultimately always present. Typically, your Life Totem represents an aspect of your spiritual nature, as well.
A Journey Totem shows up in your life for a period of time - be it weeks, months, or years. They don't stay with you for your entire lifespan, but they do remain with you for a significant amount of time (not just a few days or hours) and they guide you onto your path.
A Messenger Totem is a Totem who appears very briefly to draw your attention to something and then they take their leave of you. They show up for a much shorter period of time than a Journey Totem would, and usually their arrival leaves a distinct impression. They sort of grab you by the face and make you look at an issue or situation that you might otherwise have missed or ignored, if need be, or they alert you to some change that you need to make.
A Shadow Totem represents your fears, or some aspect of yourself which you must learn to accept and overcome. Until you do so, that Totem will work against you. Should you manage to accept and overcome this Totem, however, that will change dramatically and your Shadow Totem will be as helpful as any other Totem in your life.
My Totems are as follows:
Wolf (Life, since early childhood)
Crow (Life)
Coyote (Life? Could be Journey as well.)
Moth (Journey)
Spider (Messenger)
Turtle (Messenger)
Badger (Messenger)
Jaguar (Messenger)
Eel (Shadow)
WOLF:
Ever since I can remember, Wolf has been a part of my life. As I child, I frequently encountered wolves in the wild. In one particularly memorable incident, I came very close to a local pack of wolves. I had escaped the house, being the insufferable child I was, and had wandered outside in the middle of a cold winter evening. I had wandered several yards from the house, which was in the country, when a pack of lowland wolves wandered across our property. The alpha wandered away from the pack to look at me, whereupon my parents appeared on the backyard porch and nearly had synchronised heart attacks, looked over at my parents, and then returned to his pack and went on his merry way.
I frequently dream about wolves, and often sing with them when I dream-walk (somewhat out of character for me in the waking world; I'm very self-conscious) - and, when I don't dream walk, I am often the recipient of wolf-related gifts, or stumble across a number of wolf-related items.
CROW:
Crow has been with me for quite some time as well, both when I dream-walk and otherwise. I actually find it disconcerting to be somewhere where I don't hear any crows, now, and typically become much more alert and aware of my surroundings in their absence. I don't see Crow in my dreams as often as I see Wolf, but when I do it's usually memorable. Once, I even managed to convince Crow to sing with Coyote and I when I was dream-walking. I am always attracted to anything involving these birds, especially their feathers, and always make a point of greeting them when I see them.
COYOTE:
Coyote is a bit ambiguous, as most Tricksters are. I can't quite tell if he's a Life Totem or a Journey Totem, but he has appeared in conjunction with Crow on occasion. While dream-walking, Coyote showed up in a park-like area and we played and wrestled (to my horror, I may have baby-voiced and call him a puppy) and sang, whereupon Crow joined us. He's ultimately very playful whenever I encounter him.
MOTH:
I see Moth quite a bit, on and off, and am rather fond of Moth as a Totem. Moth shows up in my life for a few different reasons, but usually bears a personal message of some sort.
SPIDER:
I don't like spiders, as I've mentioned in another post, but the ones I encounter while dream-walking typically don't cause me any distress. They're often a source of mild confusion or curiosity, then, and typically indicate, for me at least, that I'm about to have a bout of creativity.
TURTLE:
Turtle served to make the introductions between Hermes and I when Hermes began to appear in my life, both acting as a Messenger Totem and representing the God - which is rather fitting, as Hermes is a messenger himself. In one particularly odd dream, I remember "waking up" in my dorm room to find a turtle lying on the edge of my bed. I was worried the turtle would fall off the edge, so I picked it up and moved it over to the side of the bed that was up against the wall - whereupon Turtle bit me. I thought that was very unfair, particularly since I couldn't bite Turtle back due to his shell, and apparently decided the best course of action would be to hold Turtle up to my face and shout, "RAWR!"
I woke up when Turtle giggled, and the only thing that I could think was, '...Turtles don't giggle.'
BADGER & JAGUAR:
These two showed up at the same time, and I admit, I still have no idea what they wanted from me. I've always liked Jaguars - and seem to have somehow accumulated a number of jaguar-related items without paying attention- but Badger was a bit of a surprise. I only saw them once, however.
EEL:
I don't like eels. I mean, they're tasty in tempura, but that's as far as I'll go. I find them creepy for multiple reasons, and I've only ever encountered this Totem in one dream. As far as I know, I was not judged to be ready to accept Eel in my life in that encounter.
OTHER:
I've had other Totems appear, usually in dreams, but usually as very fleeting Messengers, such as Owl, Swan, Eagle, and Cat.
I fully expect more Totems to wander in and out of my life, as I need them or as they feel the need to share something with me.
As usual, I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have!
I hold with the latter half, though I have an immense amount of respect for the former and certainly see no need to pick a fight with those who hold with the former themselves.
In terms of Totems, there are a number of beliefs about how many one can have. Some people insist that nine is the magic number here, while others are a little more uncertain. Additionally, there are different types of Totems.
The four types which I am aware of are Life, Journey, Messenger, and Shadow.
A Life Totem is a Totem which walks with your throughout your lifetime, perhaps fading in and out in terms of immediate influence but ultimately always present. Typically, your Life Totem represents an aspect of your spiritual nature, as well.
A Journey Totem shows up in your life for a period of time - be it weeks, months, or years. They don't stay with you for your entire lifespan, but they do remain with you for a significant amount of time (not just a few days or hours) and they guide you onto your path.
A Messenger Totem is a Totem who appears very briefly to draw your attention to something and then they take their leave of you. They show up for a much shorter period of time than a Journey Totem would, and usually their arrival leaves a distinct impression. They sort of grab you by the face and make you look at an issue or situation that you might otherwise have missed or ignored, if need be, or they alert you to some change that you need to make.
A Shadow Totem represents your fears, or some aspect of yourself which you must learn to accept and overcome. Until you do so, that Totem will work against you. Should you manage to accept and overcome this Totem, however, that will change dramatically and your Shadow Totem will be as helpful as any other Totem in your life.
My Totems are as follows:
Wolf (Life, since early childhood)
Crow (Life)
Coyote (Life? Could be Journey as well.)
Moth (Journey)
Spider (Messenger)
Turtle (Messenger)
Badger (Messenger)
Jaguar (Messenger)
Eel (Shadow)
WOLF:
Ever since I can remember, Wolf has been a part of my life. As I child, I frequently encountered wolves in the wild. In one particularly memorable incident, I came very close to a local pack of wolves. I had escaped the house, being the insufferable child I was, and had wandered outside in the middle of a cold winter evening. I had wandered several yards from the house, which was in the country, when a pack of lowland wolves wandered across our property. The alpha wandered away from the pack to look at me, whereupon my parents appeared on the backyard porch and nearly had synchronised heart attacks, looked over at my parents, and then returned to his pack and went on his merry way.
I frequently dream about wolves, and often sing with them when I dream-walk (somewhat out of character for me in the waking world; I'm very self-conscious) - and, when I don't dream walk, I am often the recipient of wolf-related gifts, or stumble across a number of wolf-related items.
CROW:
Crow has been with me for quite some time as well, both when I dream-walk and otherwise. I actually find it disconcerting to be somewhere where I don't hear any crows, now, and typically become much more alert and aware of my surroundings in their absence. I don't see Crow in my dreams as often as I see Wolf, but when I do it's usually memorable. Once, I even managed to convince Crow to sing with Coyote and I when I was dream-walking. I am always attracted to anything involving these birds, especially their feathers, and always make a point of greeting them when I see them.
COYOTE:
Coyote is a bit ambiguous, as most Tricksters are. I can't quite tell if he's a Life Totem or a Journey Totem, but he has appeared in conjunction with Crow on occasion. While dream-walking, Coyote showed up in a park-like area and we played and wrestled (to my horror, I may have baby-voiced and call him a puppy) and sang, whereupon Crow joined us. He's ultimately very playful whenever I encounter him.
MOTH:
I see Moth quite a bit, on and off, and am rather fond of Moth as a Totem. Moth shows up in my life for a few different reasons, but usually bears a personal message of some sort.
SPIDER:
I don't like spiders, as I've mentioned in another post, but the ones I encounter while dream-walking typically don't cause me any distress. They're often a source of mild confusion or curiosity, then, and typically indicate, for me at least, that I'm about to have a bout of creativity.
TURTLE:
Turtle served to make the introductions between Hermes and I when Hermes began to appear in my life, both acting as a Messenger Totem and representing the God - which is rather fitting, as Hermes is a messenger himself. In one particularly odd dream, I remember "waking up" in my dorm room to find a turtle lying on the edge of my bed. I was worried the turtle would fall off the edge, so I picked it up and moved it over to the side of the bed that was up against the wall - whereupon Turtle bit me. I thought that was very unfair, particularly since I couldn't bite Turtle back due to his shell, and apparently decided the best course of action would be to hold Turtle up to my face and shout, "RAWR!"
I woke up when Turtle giggled, and the only thing that I could think was, '...Turtles don't giggle.'
BADGER & JAGUAR:
These two showed up at the same time, and I admit, I still have no idea what they wanted from me. I've always liked Jaguars - and seem to have somehow accumulated a number of jaguar-related items without paying attention- but Badger was a bit of a surprise. I only saw them once, however.
EEL:
I don't like eels. I mean, they're tasty in tempura, but that's as far as I'll go. I find them creepy for multiple reasons, and I've only ever encountered this Totem in one dream. As far as I know, I was not judged to be ready to accept Eel in my life in that encounter.
OTHER:
I've had other Totems appear, usually in dreams, but usually as very fleeting Messengers, such as Owl, Swan, Eagle, and Cat.
I fully expect more Totems to wander in and out of my life, as I need them or as they feel the need to share something with me.
As usual, I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have!
Sunday 19 August 2012
Identifying Your Patron Deity
Now, this is a bit of an interesting topic, as it is highly subjective at best. I suppose I should cover some of the really, really basic stuff before I begin.
Firstly, not everyone has a "PATRON GOD" (or Goddess) in the sense that this deity has been with your forever and will never ever leave you and is the primary influence in your life. In fact, some people don't have any Gods which even passingly influence their lives. While working with deities is quite common, being God-touched -having one or more patron deities with a vested interest in you- is actually pretty unusual. I am gifted with such a status, as is my sister and one or two of my friends, but the vast majority of the people I know are not.
It's not actually a happy sunflowers-and-rainbows-and-puppies deal, despite what some people think. Those who are God-touched have difficult lives, overall, and a number of struggles to overcome. They tend to be tied to Gods because they genuinely need their patrons, or because they are needed for something to be accomplished. Being God-touched is not having everything suddenly made easier for you because you have Zeus in your corner; if anything, everything gets that much harder.
Those involved with energetics can identify those who are God-touched, if they are skilled enough, as a random side-note.
Secondly, most of the time you don't get a say in who or what your patron deity is. They choose you, for the most part, and enter your life when they feel you are ready for them or simply when you need them. Some paths encourage individuals to seek out and choose their own patrons, but that gets a bit complicated when the subjectivity of it is brought into play. I was raised to believe in the Norse pantheon, for example, but my primary patron is Hermes, a Greek God. I had a hard time reconciling that for a while, I admit, and even went so far as to foolishly declare, "Okay, fine, but I need a Norse God to make this culturally acceptable! I'll take Loki if I have to!"
To be fair, Loki was already present in the periphery, but he's not too good with ignoring open-invitations like that. Particularly the stupid ones which let him cause trouble. If ever there was a God who needed to wear a warning sign with a dozen caveats in tiny print on it, it's Loki. Great guy, but rather prone to destroying your comfort zones, ruining your life (however permanently or temporary) and stomping on whatever self-delusions you might have... all in your best interest, of course, so that you can figure out your problems, get help if you need it, and move forward with a much healthier perspective on things.
...Yes, that may have happened to me recently. Shush.
Thirdly, if I can escape that particular tangent, just because one God likes you, it does not mean that his siblings or other pantheon buddies will. Anubis and Osiris may be your bestest best friends ever, but don't just merrily assume that Hades and Hel wants to hang out and party solely because of your association with two other Death Gods.
I'm well-liked enough by some Tricksters, but I'm not stupid enough to wander over to Anansi and ask for a hug. I don't like spiders. Spiders don't like me. I think that is fairly indicative of how that encounter would turn out, don't you?
Now that I've covered those three things, let's move on, shall we?
How to Tell if You Have a Patron:
Firstly, people with patrons tend to be drawn to items, ideas, or animals associated with their patron deities. I am fond of turtles and hawks (creatures of Hermes') and encountered them often as a child, for example. The tricky bit here is to be aware that there is a difference between an animal representing a patron God and a Totem. I do not have Hawk as a totem, but I run into such birds representing Hermes now and then, for example, while I do have Turtle as a Messenger Totem and see turtles functioning as a representation of Hermes fairly often. Here, you have to rely on your intuition quite a bit for the distinction.
Secondly, when your patron thinks you are ready to have them in your life, they usually send signs of some sort - commonly referred to as a "thwap." Those signs can be personal symbols of the deity, such as the caduceus for Hermes, or frequent mentions of the deity's name in unlikely places. As another example, it got to the point where I couldn't turn on the TV, read a book, or go on the internet without seeing something related to Hermes or Mercury. Some Gods will contact you via dreams, as well, or you will meet them while you dream-walk or meditate.
The first time I encountered Hermes during a dream-walking sequence, we started shouting at each other. He wanted me to stay put where he could keep an eye on me, and I wanted to explore the strange new environment I was in. It eventually degenerated down to, "Stay here!" "No!" "Yes!" "No!" "Yes!" "No! I want to go over there!" "YOU WILL STAY PUT." "NO, I WILL NOT AND YOU CAN'T MAKE ME."
As first impressions go, I admit I possibly could have done a bit better. Despite that initial spat, though, we actually get along very well.
Thirdly, if you truly do not want to interact with your patron God, you do not have to. Do not fall into the line of thinking that you have to go against your current beliefs and drop everything once a new deity appears. It's your choice, ultimately, and even Gods tend to respect that. If you're not ready, then you're not ready - most deities will fall back into the background and wait until you're ready to handle them if you react badly to an initial encounter. Some, admittedly, may push you into accepting them, but usually only if it is a change in your life that you really, really need.
Some people have an easier time sorting out who their patron God is than others. For some individuals, it's as easy as meditating and the God in question come to you and outright says, "Hello, you're one of mine. Be a dear and acknowledge me in your life, would you?" On the other side of the spectrum, however, some Gods will only give your hints and nudges in their direction with the idea that you need to figure it out yourself.
When you have multiple patrons, identification depends on a number of things. In my case, my Gods came in a single-file sort of routine. Hermes introduced himself and made himself known, then Loki appeared very briefly to let me know he was present but not active, then Anubis appeared while I was helping with a healing process for a friend and took an interest. Some people, however, get caught up in a sea of deities trying to get their attention and have to find a way to deal with that.
Another thing which should be noted is that not every God that appears in your life is automatically a patron. Kokopelli, a Navajo Trickster, is not one of my patrons at this stage in time, but he does show up now and then to see how I'm doing. We don't really talk or interact much, but he appears to be curious enough to wander over and take a peek at my life when it suits him. Similarly, I share my name with the wife of Loki, Signy/Sigyn, but she is not (as far as I can tell) a patron of mine, either.
Now, I cannot caution you enough about avoiding Fluffy-Bunny Syndrome. For those who don't know what that is, a Fluffy Bunny is someone who thinks that every minor thing that happens to them is somehow magical, God-related, or spiritual.
If your door abruptly slams shut, you can identify the Fluffy-Bunny in the room by looking for the person who automatically assumes that there is a demon in your house and is already starting to exorcise it. A non-Fluffy Bunny will check to see if there's a strong wind coming through a nearby window which would just have easily resulted in the door closing on its own.
I have a rule of three about this sort of thing, particularly where Gods and patrons are involved. If something happens more than three times in a row, I will tentatively assume that it is not a perfectly ordinary event and consider investigating it further. Less than three, and it's not worth paying attention to.
If you have any questions, feel free to post a comment below and ask!
Firstly, not everyone has a "PATRON GOD" (or Goddess) in the sense that this deity has been with your forever and will never ever leave you and is the primary influence in your life. In fact, some people don't have any Gods which even passingly influence their lives. While working with deities is quite common, being God-touched -having one or more patron deities with a vested interest in you- is actually pretty unusual. I am gifted with such a status, as is my sister and one or two of my friends, but the vast majority of the people I know are not.
It's not actually a happy sunflowers-and-rainbows-and-puppies deal, despite what some people think. Those who are God-touched have difficult lives, overall, and a number of struggles to overcome. They tend to be tied to Gods because they genuinely need their patrons, or because they are needed for something to be accomplished. Being God-touched is not having everything suddenly made easier for you because you have Zeus in your corner; if anything, everything gets that much harder.
Those involved with energetics can identify those who are God-touched, if they are skilled enough, as a random side-note.
Secondly, most of the time you don't get a say in who or what your patron deity is. They choose you, for the most part, and enter your life when they feel you are ready for them or simply when you need them. Some paths encourage individuals to seek out and choose their own patrons, but that gets a bit complicated when the subjectivity of it is brought into play. I was raised to believe in the Norse pantheon, for example, but my primary patron is Hermes, a Greek God. I had a hard time reconciling that for a while, I admit, and even went so far as to foolishly declare, "Okay, fine, but I need a Norse God to make this culturally acceptable! I'll take Loki if I have to!"
To be fair, Loki was already present in the periphery, but he's not too good with ignoring open-invitations like that. Particularly the stupid ones which let him cause trouble. If ever there was a God who needed to wear a warning sign with a dozen caveats in tiny print on it, it's Loki. Great guy, but rather prone to destroying your comfort zones, ruining your life (however permanently or temporary) and stomping on whatever self-delusions you might have... all in your best interest, of course, so that you can figure out your problems, get help if you need it, and move forward with a much healthier perspective on things.
...Yes, that may have happened to me recently. Shush.
Thirdly, if I can escape that particular tangent, just because one God likes you, it does not mean that his siblings or other pantheon buddies will. Anubis and Osiris may be your bestest best friends ever, but don't just merrily assume that Hades and Hel wants to hang out and party solely because of your association with two other Death Gods.
I'm well-liked enough by some Tricksters, but I'm not stupid enough to wander over to Anansi and ask for a hug. I don't like spiders. Spiders don't like me. I think that is fairly indicative of how that encounter would turn out, don't you?
Now that I've covered those three things, let's move on, shall we?
How to Tell if You Have a Patron:
Firstly, people with patrons tend to be drawn to items, ideas, or animals associated with their patron deities. I am fond of turtles and hawks (creatures of Hermes') and encountered them often as a child, for example. The tricky bit here is to be aware that there is a difference between an animal representing a patron God and a Totem. I do not have Hawk as a totem, but I run into such birds representing Hermes now and then, for example, while I do have Turtle as a Messenger Totem and see turtles functioning as a representation of Hermes fairly often. Here, you have to rely on your intuition quite a bit for the distinction.
Secondly, when your patron thinks you are ready to have them in your life, they usually send signs of some sort - commonly referred to as a "thwap." Those signs can be personal symbols of the deity, such as the caduceus for Hermes, or frequent mentions of the deity's name in unlikely places. As another example, it got to the point where I couldn't turn on the TV, read a book, or go on the internet without seeing something related to Hermes or Mercury. Some Gods will contact you via dreams, as well, or you will meet them while you dream-walk or meditate.
The first time I encountered Hermes during a dream-walking sequence, we started shouting at each other. He wanted me to stay put where he could keep an eye on me, and I wanted to explore the strange new environment I was in. It eventually degenerated down to, "Stay here!" "No!" "Yes!" "No!" "Yes!" "No! I want to go over there!" "YOU WILL STAY PUT." "NO, I WILL NOT AND YOU CAN'T MAKE ME."
As first impressions go, I admit I possibly could have done a bit better. Despite that initial spat, though, we actually get along very well.
Thirdly, if you truly do not want to interact with your patron God, you do not have to. Do not fall into the line of thinking that you have to go against your current beliefs and drop everything once a new deity appears. It's your choice, ultimately, and even Gods tend to respect that. If you're not ready, then you're not ready - most deities will fall back into the background and wait until you're ready to handle them if you react badly to an initial encounter. Some, admittedly, may push you into accepting them, but usually only if it is a change in your life that you really, really need.
Some people have an easier time sorting out who their patron God is than others. For some individuals, it's as easy as meditating and the God in question come to you and outright says, "Hello, you're one of mine. Be a dear and acknowledge me in your life, would you?" On the other side of the spectrum, however, some Gods will only give your hints and nudges in their direction with the idea that you need to figure it out yourself.
When you have multiple patrons, identification depends on a number of things. In my case, my Gods came in a single-file sort of routine. Hermes introduced himself and made himself known, then Loki appeared very briefly to let me know he was present but not active, then Anubis appeared while I was helping with a healing process for a friend and took an interest. Some people, however, get caught up in a sea of deities trying to get their attention and have to find a way to deal with that.
Another thing which should be noted is that not every God that appears in your life is automatically a patron. Kokopelli, a Navajo Trickster, is not one of my patrons at this stage in time, but he does show up now and then to see how I'm doing. We don't really talk or interact much, but he appears to be curious enough to wander over and take a peek at my life when it suits him. Similarly, I share my name with the wife of Loki, Signy/Sigyn, but she is not (as far as I can tell) a patron of mine, either.
Now, I cannot caution you enough about avoiding Fluffy-Bunny Syndrome. For those who don't know what that is, a Fluffy Bunny is someone who thinks that every minor thing that happens to them is somehow magical, God-related, or spiritual.
If your door abruptly slams shut, you can identify the Fluffy-Bunny in the room by looking for the person who automatically assumes that there is a demon in your house and is already starting to exorcise it. A non-Fluffy Bunny will check to see if there's a strong wind coming through a nearby window which would just have easily resulted in the door closing on its own.
I have a rule of three about this sort of thing, particularly where Gods and patrons are involved. If something happens more than three times in a row, I will tentatively assume that it is not a perfectly ordinary event and consider investigating it further. Less than three, and it's not worth paying attention to.
If you have any questions, feel free to post a comment below and ask!
Saturday 18 August 2012
Prompt: Offerings
When I was first discovering what it meant to have a patron God, I did as much research as I could, and found the amount of information on Hermes as a patron to be woefully lacking. That was, in fact, part of my motivation to create this blog - as a means to give others in that position a little more insight.
Offerings are a bit of a funny subject when it comes to Paganism and Heathenry. It all depends on who you ask, really. Some people are staunch supporters of traditional offerings done in the traditional manner at the traditional times and locations as described in this book or this folklore and so on. Other people are of the opinion that Gods have changed with the times, just as we have, and are perfectly happy with more modern offerings.Some people fall in the grey area between those two - like myself.
If I can give Hermes a more traditional offering of something like wine or honey, I do so, but often times I am unable to do so due to the fact that I am a stereotypical poor student. In my experience - and this is by no means an absolute rule or anything- as long as you make an effort to find something they might like, most Gods are willing to run with it. I've given Hermes all kind of things, ranging from candied ginger to M&M's, Skittles, chocolate-covered espresso beans, jube-jubes, jelly beans, cookies, Lindt chocolate, and cupcakes that I've made... all the way down to the more traditional things like offerings of incense, alcohol, fruit, and honey.
From what I've noticed, Trickster Gods tend to like sweet things. It's an odd quirk of theirs, I suppose.
For example, I once bribed Loki with a lemon meringue pie to cheer up a friend of mine who was absolutely miserable. Suffice it to say, hilarious things happened, and a mental high-five was shared.
I find coffee and tea are also quite acceptable to most of the Gods I've run into - especially any teas that are particularly zingy or fruity where Hermes is concerned- but for the love of all things good and green and/or caffeinated, DO NOT PUT FAKE SUGAR IN IT.
That is the only time I've ever had Hermes seriously irked with me, now that I think about it. I wasn't thinking and I put a sugar substitute into a ginger tea that I was going to offer to Hermes - I can be somewhat sugar sensitive, hence the Splenda-ish stuff- and proceeded to have the absolute worst day for transportation immediately afterwards. Our car broke down in the middle of nowhere, my friend's car (she was kind enough to rescue my family and I) ran out of gas in almost torrential downpour, and... well, I won't treat you to the entire saga but, suffice it to say, I learnt my lesson.
Anubis is an interesting God where offerings are concerned. He likes bitter chocolate, or beer, or coffee, but he's also reportedly rather partial to tootsie rolls and toys. I haven't interacted with him as much as I have Hermes, however, so I don't really have any personal stories to report. I suspect he's partial to particularly heady incenses like frankincense, too, but that's only a suspicion.
A number of people also write poems and other devotional things for their patrons - particularly when those patrons are associated with writing, oration, languages, or anything remotely related to being silver-tongued. I admit, I'm not very good with poetry, am worse when it comes to presenting it aloud, and generally find the entire poetry thing to be a bit awkward - but I write well, and I write as often as I am inspired to. I'm writing a story involving a number of different Gods, and I take the time to present their personalities in a way that they find agreeable or amusing.
Another type of offering I engage in where Hermes is concerned is keeping a dream journal. I have an orange one - his colour- with a Shakespearean script embossed into the cover in calligraphy, and I use it to keep track of the dreams that I feel are significant, or which involve dream-walking of some sort. I tend to dream-walk on and off, you see, and usually end up in terribly interesting places that I'm probably not supposed to be in, but that's a post for a different day.
I also play games like Dungeons and Dragons as a rogue as a strange sort of agon for Hermes, who is a God of chance and luck and gambling. I'm not into gambling, so this suffices for me. I tend to be unusually lucky when I play using a a set of dice I dedicated to him... I'd be afraid of cheating because of that, but Hermes is also a patron of cheaters, liars, and thieves, so I can't really feel too bad about it.
On my altar to Hermes (which has a distinctly orange theme and is rather difficult to miss; subtlety is not my friend) I have a lucky quarter which appeared in my purse one day and has been strangely useful ever since. It's one of those unique quarters that Canada puts out every now and then, and it depicts a buffalo on a hill before a green sun. Don't as me why it's green, I have no idea - but, whenever I need a quick decision on something, I honor Hermes' aspect as a God of chance by flipping that coin. It's mostly worked out in my favor, over all.
Similarly, I have a 'Hermes' Penny Jar' on my altar, where I place all of my spare change (primarily pennies, if you haven't guessed that already.) When it's full, I intend to leave the (rolled) coins in a random location for someone to find.
I could go on and on about offerings and the various experiences I've had, but I think this is sufficient for the time being.
Offerings are a bit of a funny subject when it comes to Paganism and Heathenry. It all depends on who you ask, really. Some people are staunch supporters of traditional offerings done in the traditional manner at the traditional times and locations as described in this book or this folklore and so on. Other people are of the opinion that Gods have changed with the times, just as we have, and are perfectly happy with more modern offerings.Some people fall in the grey area between those two - like myself.
If I can give Hermes a more traditional offering of something like wine or honey, I do so, but often times I am unable to do so due to the fact that I am a stereotypical poor student. In my experience - and this is by no means an absolute rule or anything- as long as you make an effort to find something they might like, most Gods are willing to run with it. I've given Hermes all kind of things, ranging from candied ginger to M&M's, Skittles, chocolate-covered espresso beans, jube-jubes, jelly beans, cookies, Lindt chocolate, and cupcakes that I've made... all the way down to the more traditional things like offerings of incense, alcohol, fruit, and honey.
From what I've noticed, Trickster Gods tend to like sweet things. It's an odd quirk of theirs, I suppose.
For example, I once bribed Loki with a lemon meringue pie to cheer up a friend of mine who was absolutely miserable. Suffice it to say, hilarious things happened, and a mental high-five was shared.
I find coffee and tea are also quite acceptable to most of the Gods I've run into - especially any teas that are particularly zingy or fruity where Hermes is concerned- but for the love of all things good and green and/or caffeinated, DO NOT PUT FAKE SUGAR IN IT.
That is the only time I've ever had Hermes seriously irked with me, now that I think about it. I wasn't thinking and I put a sugar substitute into a ginger tea that I was going to offer to Hermes - I can be somewhat sugar sensitive, hence the Splenda-ish stuff- and proceeded to have the absolute worst day for transportation immediately afterwards. Our car broke down in the middle of nowhere, my friend's car (she was kind enough to rescue my family and I) ran out of gas in almost torrential downpour, and... well, I won't treat you to the entire saga but, suffice it to say, I learnt my lesson.
Anubis is an interesting God where offerings are concerned. He likes bitter chocolate, or beer, or coffee, but he's also reportedly rather partial to tootsie rolls and toys. I haven't interacted with him as much as I have Hermes, however, so I don't really have any personal stories to report. I suspect he's partial to particularly heady incenses like frankincense, too, but that's only a suspicion.
A number of people also write poems and other devotional things for their patrons - particularly when those patrons are associated with writing, oration, languages, or anything remotely related to being silver-tongued. I admit, I'm not very good with poetry, am worse when it comes to presenting it aloud, and generally find the entire poetry thing to be a bit awkward - but I write well, and I write as often as I am inspired to. I'm writing a story involving a number of different Gods, and I take the time to present their personalities in a way that they find agreeable or amusing.
Another type of offering I engage in where Hermes is concerned is keeping a dream journal. I have an orange one - his colour- with a Shakespearean script embossed into the cover in calligraphy, and I use it to keep track of the dreams that I feel are significant, or which involve dream-walking of some sort. I tend to dream-walk on and off, you see, and usually end up in terribly interesting places that I'm probably not supposed to be in, but that's a post for a different day.
I also play games like Dungeons and Dragons as a rogue as a strange sort of agon for Hermes, who is a God of chance and luck and gambling. I'm not into gambling, so this suffices for me. I tend to be unusually lucky when I play using a a set of dice I dedicated to him... I'd be afraid of cheating because of that, but Hermes is also a patron of cheaters, liars, and thieves, so I can't really feel too bad about it.
On my altar to Hermes (which has a distinctly orange theme and is rather difficult to miss; subtlety is not my friend) I have a lucky quarter which appeared in my purse one day and has been strangely useful ever since. It's one of those unique quarters that Canada puts out every now and then, and it depicts a buffalo on a hill before a green sun. Don't as me why it's green, I have no idea - but, whenever I need a quick decision on something, I honor Hermes' aspect as a God of chance by flipping that coin. It's mostly worked out in my favor, over all.
Similarly, I have a 'Hermes' Penny Jar' on my altar, where I place all of my spare change (primarily pennies, if you haven't guessed that already.) When it's full, I intend to leave the (rolled) coins in a random location for someone to find.
I could go on and on about offerings and the various experiences I've had, but I think this is sufficient for the time being.
Friday 17 August 2012
An Introduction
Hello,
I'm rather new at this, but I've been contemplating a blog for some time now and I think now's the time to stop wondering about it and actually get things moving on this idea for a change. Let's get started, shall we?
Firstly, I don't consider myself a witch, or a shaman or sorcerer, or any of the many other descriptions I've heard for what I do. I was brought up in an Asatru family, but found that I was called to Pagan paths over Heathen ones, though I keep the Nine Noble Virtues close to heart regardless of my path. I practice wort-cunning, create apparently very potent mojo bags, work with tarot cards and runes, and have dabbled in a number of other things.
At most, I am a seiðkona, but even then I do not feel particularly close to that description. I practice what comes naturally to me, nothing more. I will listen to those who take the time to speak to me and teach me what they know, regardless of where they are coming from or what path they are on.
More over, I learn about whatever interests me, regardless of whether or not I actually have a use for that information. What can I say? I'm a Sagittarius.
Tricksters, for example, have always fascinated me. They are the characters in stories that I have always liked best, even when they are the "bad guys" of the story. They are the complex and complicated figures who can cause problems and solve them in the same breath, or wreak absolute havoc simply because that's what they feel like doing... but they are also capable of kindness, terrible cleverness, and ingenuity. They are at once creators and destroyers, friend and foe, chaotic and lawful, and this duality has always resonated with me.
It's just as well, really - I've been walking in the company of Tricksters for quite some time now.
Ever since I can remember, I have had the influence of at least one Trickster God in my life. Hermes has been with me the longest (since early childhood) and Loki has appeared in my life on and off since my later childhood as well. Coyote and Crow, two of my totems, frequently pop up, as well - particularly Crow. Now and then, Raven says hi, too.
Except, here's the kicker: I didn't figure any of that out until I was about 18. I was writing a novel, based on Greek mythology, and in my research I discovered the concept of having a Patron. My first impression was that it was a strange concept, and probably not at all for me, but Hermes apparently had other ideas. Shortly after I encountered this idea, he popped up everywhere in my life until he was just impossible to ignore and well beyond simple coincidence.
And, trust me, I tried to ignore him. I managed it for, I think, four months before I finally caved in. The guy gets points for persistence, if nothing else.
That was the day Hermes became my Patron God. As Tricksters go, he's one of the milder ones. His duties as a messenger and a guide to the dead give him a sense of order and responsibility in many of his functions and aspects, but his sense of humor is delightfully open. He is also an understanding God, at least from what I've seen, and very helpful overall.
Loki has recently reappeared in my life, having been an old favourite of mine from the myths I grew up hearing. I was, however, somewhat biased against him due to my father's influence as a steadfast supporter of the Aesir and the order they represented, and perhaps a little intimidated by his reputation of being particularly malicious sometimes. I quickly learned to form my own opinions about such things - particularly Gods- based upon my own experiences and not those of others, however, and I am not closed to Loki's influence.
I just sort of quietly hope nothing spontaneously combusts - literally or metaphorically- whenever he's around.
Crow has been around for ages, and is one of my primary Totems. I used to live in a house that had a pair-bonded Crow couple nearby, and every day I woke up to them cawing at each other. They make me smile, and while some see them as pests, I am genuinely fond of these clever birds. There's something delightfully devious about them sometimes, and you cannot deny the intelligence in their eyes. Crow visits me often when I dream-walk.
Coyote is less of an active part of my life at the moment, but he crops up often enough. I believe that he's waiting for the correct time to exert his influence, but stops by to say hi and play when I dream-walk as well. In more than one dream, we have even sung together - an absolutely fascinating experience.
I have other Gods who speak to me, and other Totems as well, but I think for the purposes of this post, that is quite enough. Otherwise, I'm liable to start waxing poetic. :)
I'm rather new at this, but I've been contemplating a blog for some time now and I think now's the time to stop wondering about it and actually get things moving on this idea for a change. Let's get started, shall we?
Firstly, I don't consider myself a witch, or a shaman or sorcerer, or any of the many other descriptions I've heard for what I do. I was brought up in an Asatru family, but found that I was called to Pagan paths over Heathen ones, though I keep the Nine Noble Virtues close to heart regardless of my path. I practice wort-cunning, create apparently very potent mojo bags, work with tarot cards and runes, and have dabbled in a number of other things.
At most, I am a seiðkona, but even then I do not feel particularly close to that description. I practice what comes naturally to me, nothing more. I will listen to those who take the time to speak to me and teach me what they know, regardless of where they are coming from or what path they are on.
More over, I learn about whatever interests me, regardless of whether or not I actually have a use for that information. What can I say? I'm a Sagittarius.
Tricksters, for example, have always fascinated me. They are the characters in stories that I have always liked best, even when they are the "bad guys" of the story. They are the complex and complicated figures who can cause problems and solve them in the same breath, or wreak absolute havoc simply because that's what they feel like doing... but they are also capable of kindness, terrible cleverness, and ingenuity. They are at once creators and destroyers, friend and foe, chaotic and lawful, and this duality has always resonated with me.
It's just as well, really - I've been walking in the company of Tricksters for quite some time now.
Ever since I can remember, I have had the influence of at least one Trickster God in my life. Hermes has been with me the longest (since early childhood) and Loki has appeared in my life on and off since my later childhood as well. Coyote and Crow, two of my totems, frequently pop up, as well - particularly Crow. Now and then, Raven says hi, too.
Except, here's the kicker: I didn't figure any of that out until I was about 18. I was writing a novel, based on Greek mythology, and in my research I discovered the concept of having a Patron. My first impression was that it was a strange concept, and probably not at all for me, but Hermes apparently had other ideas. Shortly after I encountered this idea, he popped up everywhere in my life until he was just impossible to ignore and well beyond simple coincidence.
And, trust me, I tried to ignore him. I managed it for, I think, four months before I finally caved in. The guy gets points for persistence, if nothing else.
That was the day Hermes became my Patron God. As Tricksters go, he's one of the milder ones. His duties as a messenger and a guide to the dead give him a sense of order and responsibility in many of his functions and aspects, but his sense of humor is delightfully open. He is also an understanding God, at least from what I've seen, and very helpful overall.
Loki has recently reappeared in my life, having been an old favourite of mine from the myths I grew up hearing. I was, however, somewhat biased against him due to my father's influence as a steadfast supporter of the Aesir and the order they represented, and perhaps a little intimidated by his reputation of being particularly malicious sometimes. I quickly learned to form my own opinions about such things - particularly Gods- based upon my own experiences and not those of others, however, and I am not closed to Loki's influence.
I just sort of quietly hope nothing spontaneously combusts - literally or metaphorically- whenever he's around.
Crow has been around for ages, and is one of my primary Totems. I used to live in a house that had a pair-bonded Crow couple nearby, and every day I woke up to them cawing at each other. They make me smile, and while some see them as pests, I am genuinely fond of these clever birds. There's something delightfully devious about them sometimes, and you cannot deny the intelligence in their eyes. Crow visits me often when I dream-walk.
Coyote is less of an active part of my life at the moment, but he crops up often enough. I believe that he's waiting for the correct time to exert his influence, but stops by to say hi and play when I dream-walk as well. In more than one dream, we have even sung together - an absolutely fascinating experience.
I have other Gods who speak to me, and other Totems as well, but I think for the purposes of this post, that is quite enough. Otherwise, I'm liable to start waxing poetic. :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)