freespirit
Newbie
Posts: 4
Pronouns: She/her
Religion: Eclectic Polytheist
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Post by freespirit on May 12, 2016 1:25:18 GMT -6
Hi guys! So I have a question for every polytheist here. On my own journey and in my own life, I've come to believe in every single deity that exists. That's the definition of polytheism, after all. I'm open to work with and take advice from any one of them that decides to talk to me.
So here's my question: how is it that you focus specifically on one culture, tradition, or pantheon of Gods and spirits? I recognize the value of having a solid framework to work from, for sure, but do only those specific Gods talk to you or interact with you?
I'm not trying to call anyone here narrow or limited, by any means, I'm simply curious as to how it works. How do you believe in all Gods, and yet only focus on a select few?
I'm really interested as to how you'll respond, so feel free to relate any and all knowledge you have to this topic - including stories and experiences!
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aondeug
Full Member
Posts: 141
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers, He/Him/His
Religion: Thai Theravada, Irish polytheism
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Post by aondeug on May 12, 2016 3:10:45 GMT -6
For me part of the focus is due to how my framework works. There are just some gods that either literally cannot exist in said framework or which need to be heavily dethroned. I feel it's easier to just go "Zeus isn't real" than go "Zeus is real, but he's specifically a deva who rules a Heaven that was called Olympus". Cosmologically a being like Zeus just doesn't make any sense in Buddhism. A being like Lugh, however, does make sense. I don't actually believe in all gods. I simply believe in multiple gods.
Another part of the focus is due to these specific gods proving themselves to me, so to speak. They're individuals that I've come to respect heavily. Not because they're gods but because of what sort of people they are. They're honorable and wise. That's worthy of respecting. Especially when some of them have helped me out in particular. Lugh for example has specifically helped me pull myself out of a crisis. That sort of thing means things to me. I focus on Lugh in part because I respect him and in part because I am indebted to him. Also in part because I do sincerely love him. The way a child loves a father.
Which relates to what I mean when I say god. Usually I'm referring to either a specifically Gaelpol or a specifically Buddhist definition. With the Gaelpol thing god is less a type of being and more a title of respect. The line between hero and god is very thing in Gaelpol. It's not so much what you are. It's what you make yourself and what you do. So theoretically you or I could become gods. It's unlikely, but it is possible. Gods can be humans, fae, fomoiri. They can be lots of things! But they got to earn that shit. They've got to get the divine knowledge of Truth. The Buddhist conception of god meanwhile is a specific species of being. So you've got humans, dogs, cats, beetles, and gods. As a result gods aren't at all special inherently in Buddhism. You don't just respect any random person on the street after all. So why respect a random deva or asura? Because they've got laser eyes? Well, that's nice but laser eyes aren't going to stop them from dying and they aren't going to keep me from being reborn. So bring it laser eye boy. Vaporize me. You aren't getting offerings from until you do something that shows you're worth it.
So in a way my Buddhist conception of god rolls back into my Gaelic one. The gods who get my offerings are the gods who proven themselves to be gods in the Gaelic sense. They might not be eternal and they might not be all powerful, but they are wise and worthy of respect. They have earned it.
So we have gods as a species (well more three distinct species of devas, asuras, and brahmas) and gods as a title of respect in my thing. So Mara the Prince of Desire is a god in the Buddhist sense. In that he is specifically a deva and therefore a god. However he is not a god in the Gaelic sense because he is a cowardly, dishonorable malicious piece of shit. It will be a cold day in hell before I take his advice.
As far as whether or not only Buddhist or Gaelic gods have poked at me. I'm not really sure, though these are the ones that interact with me the most and which I interact with back. It's very much a relationship. One that was broached and one that I've followed up on and worked on. It's similar to why I don't consider every person ever my friend, I suppose may be a way of looking at it. Which leads back to Mara, I guess. In that he is an example of a god that I know has poked at me before but who I do not wish to interact with. I don't like him. His advice is terrible and he basically just bugs me to be a fucking asshole. Because that is his M.O. To be a massive asshole.
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sasswolf
Newbie
Posts: 15
Pronouns: They
Religion: Reclaiming witch, Gallo-Brittonic polytheist
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Post by sasswolf on May 12, 2016 9:56:14 GMT -6
For me it's just like relationships with people. There are billions of people in the world, and a few thousand that I have contact with in one form or another, but only about a dozen that I have close relationships with - the ones I really click with or have major responsibilities towards. The deities are the same. Just because I believe they're real, doesn't mean we're right for each other.
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Caelesti
Junior Member
Posts: 50
Pronouns: She/Her
Religion: ADF/UU, Modern American Polytheist
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Post by Caelesti on May 21, 2016 17:20:53 GMT -6
Many polytheists who focus on a particular culture or pantheon have encounters from other pantheons/cultures. (Particularly I notice from gods associated with border-crossing & tricksters) When visiting someone else's home, we might honor their household gods, likewise in visiting different countries or regions. There are also polytheists who practice historical or modern forms of syncretism, or practice dual or multiple traditions separately. There are also pantheons that aren't tied to any one culture, but to a particular tradition- ex: Feri, Otherfaith etc. daoineile.com/ I do think it is generally a good idea to start with a particular focus, so you don't end up scattered all over the place. Specialize in something, then branch out from there after you feel more grounded. I would start with a deity, mythology or religion with which you are most familiar or attracted to, and further explore that and see where it takes you. You can also go with a philosophical framework or practice- ADF Druidry for example has a particular ritual structure, set of ethics & ideology that is still pretty broad, and includes the Indo-European cultures, which includes most of the commonly known (in the West) mythologies, with the exception of the Egyptians. Buddhism, as mentioned above, Wicca, Feri, Thelema for some examples can all include polytheistic viewpoints.
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Post by Allec on May 22, 2016 19:29:23 GMT -6
For me, it's like... I believe in all the deities (or at least am open to their existence being real), but decided early on that I was going to actively honor Gaelic entities. I've definitely been poked by deities from other cultures (Cathobodua from Gaulish Polytheism immediately comes to mind, as well as Athena), but ultimately I have my loyalties already with the Gaelic entities. I also build my religious practice around what the Gaelic myths and stories tell me, as well as what the Celtic Fairy Faith shows. So my worldview just kinda...fits with the Gaelic entities. It's where I feel home.
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Post by Intaier on May 28, 2016 0:22:28 GMT -6
I also focus on Egyptian pantheon because of feeling "home" - absolutely heart-warming feeling of being "in the right place, where you always wanted to be", where you feel most welcomed, and... sometimes it's a feeling of not simply home, but vocation/predestination. It's "home", and it's knowing you've been called to this path, the Netjeru opened the doors and Djehuty sent many invitation letters in various forms of gentle signs :) It's okay for me to honor also some of the Greek Gods, but not in Hellenic Recon framework, but definitely hellenistic, and, in this case, "as a hellenistic who comes from the Egyptian side". There are other pantheons I respect from the distance, and also pantheons I avoid contacting at all (slavic pantheon is one of these. Many people ask me things about slavic polytheism just because I'm russian and I know whar genertally slavic/russian polytheists are doing here :) but I, myself, avoid this pantheon and don't feel any connection.) Same things with babylonian/sumerian deities. I'm well-informed and educated about religion of ancient "Babylonia", but it's purely academic research interest.
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