A Divine Experience

[Chad]

At what point do you consider an experience (through whatever medium) to be a deity making some kind of contact with you? I know there is no way, technically to know, but I'm just curious on what you all think of that. Has a deity contacted you in some way? If so, what are your experiences? (If you do not mind sharing, that is!)

[potia]

I think it's something that you just know in your heart when it has happened. Sometimes you don't really know who at the time, that might become clearer later or not, but you know when it happens. In my experience it's very difficult to put into words. In my experiences (which are few) it's something that is very profound and yet can also be an incredibly brief moment although it doesn't have to be. For me there are one or two pieces of writing that have come out of contact with deity and to this day when I look at them do not seem like something I could write. There's also been one or two experiences where I have "hosted" for want of a better term a deity. In those experiences what I remember tends to be a bit fuzzy and at the time I feel more like I'm distanced and observing things. It's not easy to explain.

[Chad]

Did you put them on the Brython site? Because I believe I read them, if you have. I bet those experiences must have been incredible. I do short prayers and acknowledgements to deities. To attempt to build a baseline of communication, so to speak. These forces seem to take a liking to my acknowledgements and the names I know them by. So, that's about where I am at this point.

I am much too used to being skeptical of everything, so that I come across as indecisive. Maybe because I don't want to risk offending the gods. So, I basically say that the forces I call the gods seem to like me acknowledging them as Belyn, Taran, Mabon, etc. But, that's where I leave it. The longer I continue to practice these beliefs, the more, I figure, I'll be able to draw more concrete conclusions.

[redraven]

I've only had two experiences with deity, one was in response to a direct question and the other was when that deity was being channeled by Potia. My experiences are with collectives and spirits of place and land and to experience those, I have to do be out in the environment. There is a set pattern to how this is achieved and it has taken many years for me to figure out how to correctly instigate it.

[Chad]

I didn't know it could be instigated. I could certainly see that being out in nature is probably the best way to experience such things. It will be years before I grasp the scope it takes to instigate such contact. I heard it takes till 30, roughly for most brains to fully develop. Although being young has advantages, I well know its shortcomings. So, I figure, until I am mentally perpared to instigate such a contact, other than prayers and offerings, I figure the gods will reach me if they wish. Once that day comes that I possess the capacity to reach them in a more direct way, I will certainly take the opportunity.

[redraven]

Chad, can I just clarify my meaning of instigate. I am not saying that I am capable of either demanding or even insisting on interactions. My meaning is that I can and do create a set of conditions that others (non human) can access if they want to communicate anything. It's not a two way discussion as such but the creation of condusive conditions that mean they can communicate with me and that I can then understand the meanng of said communication (usually later after the initial communication has taken place).

[Chad]

I assumed that. After all, I'm sure the gods would laugh at a human trying to force them to do anything! I would never even think along those lines. The gods are certainly not tools. I would never envision them as such. I didn't assume you did either. I haven't ran across anyone that does think that way. Although I have heard there are people who do.

[Chad]

I didn't think you meant it in that way. After all, I'm sure the gods would laugh at a human trying to force them to do anything! I would never even think along those lines. The gods are certainly not tools. I would never envision them as such. I didn't assume you did either. I haven't ran across anyone that does think that way. Although I have heard there are people who do.

[redraven]

Jun 26, 2013 13:17:31 GMT -1 Chad said:

I assumed that. After all, I'm sure the gods would laugh at a human trying to force them to do anything!

I've never experienced any nonhuman entity laughing at me. But then again, I've never tried to force them to do anything, my relationship is two way and I expect the respect I give to the other parties to be observed from their side also. Fortunately, this has been the case so far.

[Chad]

I usually ask for small things, like to protect me and those close to me and such. Of course, it's up to them if they want to do it or not. I can't be mad if they don't. Like you, I see it as reciprocal. I haven't encountered any problems, either. The gods have been good to me. I am deeply satisfied in honoring them. I feel that they have welcomed me. I also want to add it's thanks to you and other members of Brython that I have been able to gain a foothold in my own practices. I've been learning a lot from you guys, particularly Potia and yourself.