ok so i screwed up my dedication...

[StormVixen]

i dunno what happened... as some of u might know i was supposed to be dedicating myself to Cernunnos today but i did the ritual but... NOTHING... i didnt feel magical or spiritual or ANYTHING!!! i feel like crying!!! i spent so long planning it...
im not really looking for hugs just advice?

[Gypsy flower]

HUGS! try again, if it doesnt work three times it wasnt meant tobe!!

[StormVixen]

thanx... i know its meant to be!!! i know i shoulda done it outside... i just didnt wanna get wet... i wasnt erm... *tuned in* i guess... ill go to the barrow next time...

[Agaliha]

Heh, well I know the feeling...I don't really feel anything spiritual either ...but that's a different topic:wah:

As for advice:
Don't give up, don't feel like it is your fault and perhaps try it again. Maybe because you have been planning it for awhile you were anticipating something grand and spectacular, don't be disappointed that it wasn't.
Not everyone experiences immediate contact and feelings with their diety, some are more distant than others.
So I would say to wait till you feel like it is the best, don't do it right away to just do it, feel like you must and feel that power and energy in you. Does that make sense?

I am sorry it didn't go well this time, but hopefully the next time will be great!

[StormVixen]

yeah i planned it 4 2day cos its specific to Cernunnos... but i guess i should have done it when *I* was psyched up...

[Ben Gruagach]

Sometimes it does work but we just didn't realize it. The Divine is sometimes shouting at us but we've got blocked-up ears.

Watch for signs that maybe it did work. And there's nothing wrong with rededicating yourself again, and again, and again, as often as you feel you need it.

[Sage Rainsong]

I wouldn't give up. Maybe before you do the ritual again you can make a small offering meditate and ask your god about the ritual. Ask him to give you a sign in a way that you will understand. Good luck.

[Kalandriel]

If you really planned it to be today, outside, you should have went outside, rain or shine. :)

Just follow through on the original plan. :)

[StormVixen]

tyeah i knew i shoulda gone outside its just that it was the worst weather so far... and i wasnt up for getting a chill... its nice 2day tho... hmmm...

i dunno...

thanx for all the help anyway...!

[juliaki]

Another possibility (and not knowing the specifics about your rite, it's hard to tell), but if you were dedicating yourself to a particular deity, that is simply an act of you doing something. Did you set up the request so that it was a two-way street? In other words, did you ask if he would accept your dedicated service? If you did, were you prepared that the answer might be no? Are you willing to accept that the service that he wants might be for you to go elsewhere, at least for right now?

My advice would be to wait for a year and a day before trying again. It may be that some changes are needed within yourself, and that gives time for them to start manifesting. Conversely, it might have "worked", but not on a level that has sunk in yet, so that waiting period provides a time for it to "take."

[KEishin]

Sometimes it works and we don't know it - don't despair. I expected to just KNOW after I did mine, but instead it was a gradual awareness of what had changed rather than a sudden insight.

Also think about the deity in question - does Cernnunos tends towards drama or more a quiet, nautralisitc approach. Keep trying; it'll take one of these days.

[StormVixen]

Another possibility (and not knowing the specifics about your rite, it's hard to tell), but if you were dedicating yourself to a particular deity, that is simply an act of you doing something. Did you set up the request so that it was a two-way street? In other words, did you ask if he would accept your dedicated service? If you did, were you prepared that the answer might be no? Are you willing to accept that the service that he wants might be for you to go elsewhere, at least for right now?

My advice would be to wait for a year and a day before trying again. It may be that some changes are needed within yourself, and that gives time for them to start manifesting. Conversely, it might have "worked", but not on a level that has sunk in yet, so that waiting period provides a time for it to "take."

i do talk to cernunnos alot... but lastnight i couldnt... im just guna chat to him about it next time...

[MariThorn]

I have to agree with the responses that mention that Cernunnos may have accepted, but you were expecting a bolt of lightening and he gave you a blade of grass. He came to my husband in a dream to let him know he had accepted him. A quiet dream of them chatting by a river that led to a cave. Not all deities go for loud bangs and flashing lights. On another note, I would wait like someone mentioned and see what manifests itself in your life. Sometimes patience is needed . . .

MariThorn

[StormVixen]

ill get back to this thread when... i find out...

[Toby Stimpson]

Hi Stormvixen...

I would agree with a few others on here, and I might also add...and I hope this doesnt sound harsh becasue I mean it in th ebest intentions: What really is your service to cernunnos? Im sorry but reading your posts you make it sounbd like you were half expecting soemthing...and then when you didn't feel what you were expecting, you thought it was useless. I ask you, did anything else take place? Did you feel anything at all, or was it a complete lack of feeling. On the other hands, and I know this will sound harsh. But it is just a rituel...Im sure there will be people disagreeing...but a rituel is only as good as the people's intentions. Not to say that you are or are not dedicated to Cernunnos, but my point is, if you've been following him for a while now what use is a formalized dedication other than to settle your mind. A God knows when he is being prayed to and followed, even before the people do themselves. All i can say is, if you do it again...dont go into it expecting soem feeling or mircale to happen, just go in truly just slapping yourself as a servant before him and then lety it go becasue you have showed your appreciation for that perticular God...if that made anysese, and please dont take it the wrong way i just want you to think critically instad of feeling like nothing happened...becasue really, everything we do soemthing happens, even if its small it could make a big difference. :)

Namaste

Tobias

[StormVixen]

Hi Stormvixen...

I would agree with a few others on here, and I might also add...and I hope this doesnt sound harsh becasue I mean it in th ebest intentions: What really is your service to cernunnos? Im sorry but reading your posts you make it sounbd like you were half expecting soemthing...and then when you didn't feel what you were expecting, you thought it was useless. I ask you, did anything else take place? Did you feel anything at all, or was it a complete lack of feeling. On the other hands, and I know this will sound harsh. But it is just a rituel...Im sure there will be people disagreeing...but a rituel is only as good as the people's intentions. Not to say that you are or are not dedicated to Cernunnos, but my point is, if you've been following him for a while now what use is a formalized dedication other than to settle your mind. A God knows when he is being prayed to and followed, even before the people do themselves. All i can say is, if you do it again...dont go into it expecting soem feeling or mircale to happen, just go in truly just slapping yourself as a servant before him and then lety it go becasue you have showed your appreciation for that perticular God...if that made anysese, and please dont take it the wrong way i just want you to think critically instad of feeling like nothing happened...becasue really, everything we do soemthing happens, even if its small it could make a big difference. :)

Namaste

Tobias

that is exactly what ive been thinking all day... because i am dedicated to him altho i was never officially *Dedicated* oficially... i feel kinda stupid for doing a ritual now even though he already knows... ah well... thanx

[Elaethril]

I'm torn between two responses to this thread, both more philosophical rather than specific to your experience. On one hand, I totally understand the desire to have a sign of some kind that your deity is communing with you and has accepted you, etc. On the other, I wonder who are we to demand that the gods answer us on our own terms? And, as many have mentioned, they very well could be responding - but on a level that we have to learn to hear at.

In regards to your situation, I guess I feel that a dedication is great but it's more of a pledge TO the god/dess, rather than a conversation. Perhaps, as your service continues and as you grow and expand your knowledge and training on this particular path, you'll find more of the communion that you seek. You don't announce that you're going to learn to play an instrument and expect beautiful music immediately - it takes time, effort and a continuation of that commitment to get to the beautiful music part.

Blessings on your journey!

[StormVixen]

thanks i was just being silly... dare i say fluffy! i was expecting 2 much!

[Toby Stimpson]

Well, you weren't being silly...but at the same time I think you went into it with ideas that, although are credible, are a little too high and specific. A dedication ritual is a great way to bond with a God...or atleast to rededicate your commitment to that deity...but it is far from being necessary in any sort of way. I really get discouraged at those who believe that such a personal experiance should be this way or that (although I do agree with certain other rituals, but thats another topic.) Personal expression of faith and dedication though is one thing...wanting soemthing to happen becasue of it is a completly different matter. I think we should perhaps ponder this more, it certainly is a can of worms haha.

Namaste

Tobias

ps. Namaste Stormvixen is an eastern term used by Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains to say, "I worship the Divine/supersoul inside of you." Basicly stemming from the idea that we are all part divine, and so saying namaste i acknowledge I respect and appreciate you as a form of God allmighty. Also a pleasent way of saying hello. Also, as a side bar, it's similar to the way Muslims and Jews say: Salaam/Shalom (Peace be upon you) :).

[StormVixen]

thanx... hmmmm....*pondering* oooh i saw a rainbow around the moon lastnight... i think i was looking for someting beyond reality when i did my dedication...

thanx for the explanation of Namaste... now i dont have to feel silly every time i read it!