Deity of choice

[crowman]

The grey mare grabbed my attention recently in a rather profound way whilst i was walking on dartmoor in the shape of a rather feisty but beautiful grey mare pony. She let me get close enough to take a few photos watching me all the time whilst unconcernedly grazing. As soon as she was sure i was watching her she whinnyed loudly, shook her long mane and galloped off

This got me thinking how did other people acquire their own personal affinity with their deities of choice? How do you recognise/ worship them? How do they figure in your daily practise?

[potia]

Personally Epona came into my life many years ago, long before I connected with this bunch

Horses have always been a love of mine although to date I still don't know how to ride or have had the pleasure of developing along term relationship with any equine apart from those that are my guides. When I started looking at deities Epona was the logical one for me to be drawn to first. Since then I've developed relationships with a few other deities.

Some of the answers to your questions about practice and honouring the gods you will find on the Brython site at: www.dunbrython.org.uk/rituals/

At the moment my daily practice includes singing to Epona and talking to Taranis. Both of these started as part of some magical work I did for a freind and are continuing to the solstice. Both have had additional matters included since I began.

[arth_frown]

Taranis- From being a sky father. Turning of the night sky and seasonal stars. I also think of him as a weather god

Lugus- The god of many crafts. I'm a craftsman who makes traditional woodland products.

Epona- lady of the land. We are of the land and part of the land.

Esus- being a woodsman I give thanks for the trees for firewood and crafts.

I sometimes have a small ritual and give a offering or celebrate with the hearth, but I'm always thinking of them.

[dreamguardian]

Depends.

I've never been one of the old names but tend to use terms of appropriate titles:

If I'm doing 'bushcraft' type stuff I'll make offerings & give thanks to the local 'Silvanus' of the particular woodland I'm staying in.

Regarding the pursuit, preparation and butchering of food I'll make appropriate thanks to the 'Cocidius' for taking one of his.

I have errected a small alter with a huge rock that virtually broke my body at the front of house, dedicating it to the protector of home & family. If I'm away from home both on leaving & returning, I lavish it in offerings. I do so intently if I'm to be away on my own & my wife is at home during my absense.

And so on ...

[bram]

Andred for me, since I live in Sussex and she is extremely local to there. Brigantia because I was born and bred in the North lands.

Andred does not like to leave Sussex so enen i am away I honour hè local spirits as well as Norse ones.

[Tegernacus]

Taranis is here, in the mountains. Also the local God Ocelus, who is very apparent in the South. Not sure about Epona. The river is still a powerful force and calls me, not sure who or why yet. And the spirit at my spring, which may be an ancestor, again not too sure yet.

[nellie]

When I was in 6thform I did a study of mythology and psychology and for whatever reason Rhiannon's story from the mabinogion became my focus. After that it was as though i just couldn't let go - over the years I've just felt a kind of 'pull'. I don't know if you've ever experienced pre-cognition but it felt an awful lot like that. I also seem to find myself surrounded by blackbirds. Jays too, though I think that episode was about something specific (not sure what though).

I've also had a few experiences with Hekate, though why I felt that pull is beyond me. That started off with a preoccupation with yew trees. I wasn't sure who the presence was to start with and once I worked it out within a few days I came across some monkshood in flower which is supposed to be sacred to Hekate. I'd never seen monkshood before and took it to be an affirmation that I'd figured it out right. I tried my best to form that relationship but my heart wasn't completely in it. To be honest I was more than a little fearful of Hekate's reputation, despite that fact that once you dig a bit deeper She really is an awesome Goddess. For whatever reason that relationship didn't click but it did show me quite a lot about myself (most notably that I'm scared of just about everything!!)

[Heron]

Dec 31, 2010 8:36:43 GMT -1 nellie said:

When I was in 6thform I did a study of mythology and psychology and for whatever reason Rhiannon's story from the mabinogion became my focus. After that it was as though i just couldn't let go - over the years I've just felt a kind of 'pull'. I don't know if you've ever experienced pre-cognition but it felt an awful lot like that. ...

......

That was certainly also the case with me as far is Rhiannon is concerned.