Witchvox Article

Author: Stacy Marie
Posted: March 9th. 2008
Times Viewed: 1,691

The All, Tao, Great Spirit, Brahman, the unnamable, Being…That supreme elusive creative force from which all things are but mere reflections of.

Some find it difficult to fully understand and embrace the purpose of so many attributes of the “One” personified into hundreds of thousands of deities. It is easy to drown individual purpose in the sea of the divine.

I have found many Pagans and Wiccans choosing to only work with one or two specific deities. I think that being a polytheistic religion we should take advantage of and fully appreciate the multitude of archetypes we have available to us.

There is a base reason we have chosen polytheism over monotheism. To me it is the understanding that the creative force is that of possibility. The deities are the closest to the center, the reflections of the divine possibilities exerted from that creative force, the All, the Great Spirit.

In today’s world we are not confined to our own cultural myths and legends. Essentially we have available to us every deity that man has ever experienced.

Studying many, and choosing specific, deities to work with as Patrons or Patroness’ (or personal deities) is an act to help you to find balance within. For it is within that the divine should ultimately be sought. It is a life work that should be ever expanded upon as we grow and change as individuals.

Specific deities are the gateways through which we can gain a glimpse of the ultimate divine source. The more glimpses we have, the more of the puzzle we can fit into place. Attuning with them to bring our selves closer to our full potential as spiritual entities.

Reading mythology is a wonderful introduction to the Gods. It is important to remember while reading myths and legends that they should not be taken literally. Often times there are obscure lessons and hidden truths neatly tucked into the literary design of the myths. The true nature of a deity may not be as it appears on the surface of a specific myth.

If you are at a loss as to where to begin, which body of myth to delve into first, I often recommend starting with your own ancestral heritage. This is just a place to start and by no means should it be where to end.

Within the Zenithian tradition we are urged to study at least three different bodies of myth. This gives a strong foundation from which you can add study of specific correspondences associated with specific deities, which is also essential. But it is through meditation that you can develop personal insight into the true nature of a particular deity and thus the true nature of your own potential.

There are several ways to choose proper deities to work with. For effective patronesses or patrons you may look for attributes that you desire to cultivate.

You want to look for deities that have strength where you have weakness. Or deities who represent traits that you already exhibit but wish to build upon and fully develop into extraordinary talents or abilities. You should keep in mind that it is a dance of balance to a certain degree.

If you are working with a Crone you may also want to consider working with a Maiden, as attuning to specific divine energies are most certainly going to bring those energies into your everyday life and thus your entire sphere of influence.

If you are meek and mousy and choose to work with a warrior archetype you may also want to consider working in tandem with a deity you more closely identify with to balance out the big bold warrior energies.

A great way to do this is to work with a deity whose attributes are in line with a talent you may have. This will help balance the attribute you wish to develop while building on that which you already posses.

This is important because if you venture to far outside of your comfort zone and get bombarded with energies unfamiliar to you, you can get depressed, frustrated and burnt out.

There are also many times when a deity will choose you. The best of relationships are forged in this manner. Through your dreams or an intense feeling of being drawn to a particular deity, they will speak to you.

Maybe you suddenly begin to see books about a particular deity, or a TV show comes on with a particular deity depicted, or you simply can’t seem to stop thinking about that God you read about weeks ago.

Part of understanding magic, the divine and the way it works in the universe is being aware of when it is speaking to you. Signs and omens are all around you everyday, it is a matter of being able to tune in and live in a way as to hear them when they speak.

Having a keen sense of your surroundings will foster a deeper understanding of the universe and a closer relationship with the divine.

You should study any deity introducing itself to you in this manner very studiously. There will almost always be a lesson to be learned and much to be gained toward the development of your own spiritual potential in attuning yourself with a deity that has presented itself in this way.

Attuning to and developing relationships with specific deities is a fundamental part of being Pagan and Wiccan. There is much more to doing so effectively than simply choosing and learning about them. That is where you start.

Where you go from there is a test of your dedication.

In my tradition, Zenithian Wicca, shrines are built, offerings of flowers and food are made, invocations and evocations are written and spoken, intense meditation is undergone, all to attune our selves to the specific vibration and energies of a specific deity in hopes of fully awaking the God/dess within. It is through this attunement with deity that true mysteries are revealed.

The universe is a vast magical expanse that encompasses that which is within ourselves reflected outside of ourselves; the deities we work with are our guides within that expanse.

When a continuous flow is achieved, a circuit of enlightenment can be realized.

Copyright: Copyright Stacy Marie Perez 2007

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Stacy Marie

Location: Largo, Florida

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