A question for the men

[Magestya]

I have a question for the men, just to get some opinions so I can let the hubby read.
The hubby is just learning the different Gods and Goddesses. He really wants to connect with the God more, is there any suggestions that a woman can't give but a man can that might help him?

Blessings

[Valoe]

there is a web site for pagan men at:
http://pagan.drak.net/paganmen/

[Xander67]

my advice would be for him to realise the duality in his soul
(yin /yang) and that when he learns to balance his masuline and feminine qualitities he will begin to see things with a much greater perspective.... IT is our nature...

perhaps the fact he is drawn to masculine dieties could be a sign that his femine side is about to surface, (opposites do attract)

Thats my opinion anyhow :) good luck

[Theres]

you could have him look up the song 'Greenman' by XTC.

and along with what Xander said...
i have, from time to time, been involved with a couple of 'men's groups'. we'd go off into the woods to drum and celebrate our 'maleness' together, and try to connect with the God through this kind of 'bonding ritual'. but every time i've done my meditations at one of these gatherings, it has ALWAYS been the Goddess that has appeared to me most strongly. and i think that this has to do with balance within one's self. through all this drumming and 'mooing', the thing most missing was the thing which contacted me.
i do not normally have a problem connecting to the male deity, only at these exclusively male events.
and i find that interesting...

[dragonmagic64]

perhapes both aspects need to be addresses.
Help him with a reflection practice.
to him , what is the female aspects or qualitys of himself.
What is the male aspects of his personality.

Let him find the Goddess's within,
along with the Gods

inner reflection will open up doors that could remained closed.

Example of qualities for myself. (this is my personal opinion only)

Goddess:
Magical healing
Protection of Children
Power of life
Harvest


dragonmagic64

[Magestya]

He knows his feminine side, he is feeling the calling for his male side, but is not sure how to go about walking the path. We realise equality between the two, but his calling is towards the God right now, as in the past it has been to the Goddess.
He is reading the posts and thanks you all for your advise.

Blessings,
Magestya and Devon

[mato]

I connect simply by realating their myths to events in my life and then in past present and future see how I was already connecting to that particular divinity at that time or in those times that I would need to. I look back and see all the battles I fought with Huitzilopochtli and see when I was more like Tezcatlipoca. What I treasure though are the moments that I realize that I am drawing from a particular deity while I am doing it, it is something of a communion moment, even with the unpleasent ones it is cool.

Oh ya sometimes you will take on aspects of a god that you are currently researching without intending to if you are generally empathic, or if you draw energies in without knowing it, I learned alot about energy control that way.

[Myst]

Ok, trust me folks, Dev is in touch with his femininity. I've seen him dressed as a woman for Halloween a few too many times to believe he can't access his Goddess energy.

That said, maybe if you took some time to research different pantheons and Gods and see what seems right to you. That's usually how I find my matron. When I think of you I immediately think of Celts (obviously) then Norse Gods. Maybe take some time too to sit and think about what masculinity in its purest form means to you.

[mol]

Hmm. My suggestion would be to take a retreat. Alone. Go into the woods. Start a fire. Sit under the stars and listen.


To hear the Gods whisper sometimes you have to quiet the screaming around you.

[Pagecrd]

i thought this was a measurement question!!!! ok im getting my mind out of the gutter right now!

[mato]

:rotfl:

Ya retreat into something, some like the woods some like the desert let the gods decide though, for example if it is a firey diety go to the desert start a huge bonfire (safely) and meditate on that god, if it is one of the many wild green gods retreat into the woods set up a lean to or something simmilarly 'wild' and have fun, if it is an animal god dont build a fire (unless you are one of those safety nuts, in which case build one but you are less likely to end up with the animal god at the fire side, save it the honored position in front of the fire though) but bring lots of blankets. If it is an agracultureal deity make a year of his study and grow things like a mad man (but retreat is not to be done until winter).

[dragonmagic64]

forgive my misinterpetation of the begining question. :confused:
I'd have to go along with mol & I sure like mato's idea's as well. :thumbsup:
inner reflection always anchoring :boing:
infact I think I'm going to do just that this weekend. Thanks guys :evilway:

[dann]

Actually, I can relate. As a man, I often find it difficult to connect to the god, but much easier, oftentimes to connect to the goddess. Something I've found helpful is focusing in on something specific about his own male-ness (whatever he defines as some physical/mental/emotional aspect that speaks to him as an essence of his masculinity)--meditating and focusing on the energies which surround and imprint that particular aspect that he associates with masculinity may help him connect to a more "masculine" nexus of energy--i.e. the god.

That said, one can obviously find both masculine and feminine qualities in anything--and in truth, I believe they differ for each person. But if your husband could locate a root of masculinity in himself, he could use that as a bridge to identifying with a masculine energy

anyways, just some thoughts, hope this helps

cheers

[Jazzy Cat]

For a man like for anyone in Paganism, you must find gods that relate to you. If you are a gardener then nature based Gods like Frey match you. If the person changes to be really consumed by Shamanism then the personification of Odin is prevalent. You would not think I was Northern tradition would you! I think the biggest mistake here is to think about it too hard and be too complicated of philosophical.

Jazzy aka Torkjell

[zhowlingwolf]

Growing and feeling inter-connection with the God ( who I choose to call Lugh ) came piecemeal. I studied the various Gods
and the 3 ( sometimes 4 ) aspects of the God. I related best and felt the strongest connection to Lugh. So I learned His correspondences, how to honor him in magick and ritual, and built a relationship much the way I have with my few real friends. I try to emulate his attributes and strengths , while working to attune myself with Him !
Brightest Blessings !!!
z-wolf

[manstranger]

I find it hard to connect with him also. He is more primative, imo, and in modern times its hard to relate. Most matters you can call on either.

How i try to connect to him more is to be with the sun more often. Most rituals are during night, or at least most of mine are, so the Goddess is sorta closer to me because the physical manefestation of her power is near me very often. To connect with the God, being near his physical manefestation and doing rituals under it ceretainly helped.

[Danustouch]

Sorry to all you vegetarians out there...

BUT...a friend of mine did a retreat by himself, out in the woods, and drummed himself basically into a trance state, before the God appeared to him. The God which he thought appeared to him, was Herne.

He had wanted to connect with Herne for some time, so one of the things he did in preparation for "meeting" him, was to consume venison meat. Cooked over the fire. He of course, was very mindful of the spirit of deer, and grateful, and did it in a very Spiritually conscious way. However..if your husband is not a vegetarian, this might be one way to connect him....

Just a thought.

[flar7]

Read some stories, myths of ancient male heroes. Their Patron
dieties, and their struggles. Then reflect on your life, how it may
apply to you or how it doesnt apply to you.
Hercules
Perseus
Gilgamesh
Ulyssess
Achilles(very good for self reflection and the study of choices)
The Four forms of Vishnu
Baldur
Thor
Tyr
Arthur(king)

[mol]

Originally posted by manstranger
I find it hard to connect with him also. He is more primative, imo, and in modern times its hard to relate. Most matters you can call on either.

Primitive? Explain please.

[lucidfire]

The differentiation is tough for me, as far as the duality within. I guess the separation can have benefits for learning each yin/yang aspect on its own, but the separation is our own creation, I think. Asking others and you're only finding what it means to them, which is a good point of reference, but I think a lot of the real work is going to be done within, like something that's already there but waiting to be unbound..

My favorite aspects of the god were always Pan and Greenman. There is then the stereotype that the male aspect of things must be this huge macho ego thing, but I'll say I resent that. If you always paint it to be that way, don't be surprised if it is.

Still, I think Mol has said it best here

[mol]

Originally posted by lucidfire

Still, I think Mol has said it best here

Im on a roll.

:)