Amen substitutes

[phoenix9]

Hi,

I have grown up (well to some estent given that I'm still 15) as a christian (though not a very dedicated one and always questioning the basis of the religon) , until about two weeks ago or so when out of nowhere I was somehow inspired (I don't quite know how, it just kind of came to me through a progression of research and contemplation) to pray to Athena, and to some extent She awnsered (much more than any prayer to Jahova/Yahwe/God/whateva ). I have since dedicated much of my time to research of Her and such things and really tried to discover my path, anyway the specifics are unimportant.

The point of this thread is that when I am praying to Her (which I do much more often than I did as a Christian) when I come to the end of a prayer it ends kind of abruptly (except for a kind of hand motion thing I came up with) and I feel like the prayer needs a proper closing.

I contemplated using "Amen" but a) it has such christian overtones and b) why would Athena want to be addressed in Hebrew. I did a bit of research to turn up a better closing and came across "so mote it (be)", but I dont know, it just doesn't feel right.

What do you use to end prayers to your God(ess(e))(s) ?

I am particularly intrested in other worshipers of Athena, but any others are welcome too.

Thanks, :wave:
~Phoenix9

[Akhkharu Asgard]

To me, I don't think they really care. You could probably just end with "the end" if you wanted to. The point of the prayer is the "body" of it. Not how you endeth it (did I just say endeth?).

[Thunder]

Yeth you didith.

[Thunder]

Hi,

I contemplated using "Amen" but a) it has such christian overtones and b) why would Athena want to be addressed in Hebrew.

~Phoenix9

Acording to Merriam Webster the word was also used by the Greeks.

By Your Leave.

[Shanti]

How about ending with just one word that has a feeling you fit with.

Like just saying..peace. Or Love.
Saying it as a wish for all to feel it including your deity...a word from your heart.
Use it like a wish or a final hope cast in the wind to all.

Just an idea.
One word can mean and do a lot!! :)

Find a word that your own personal hope, ending thought.

[Serenity's LostSoul]

How about a simple, heart-felt 'Thank you'?

[Ahautenites]

See, I have no issues with saying "Amen" (if I pronounce it "AH-mehn" not "Ay-MEHN") because Amen is another spelling of Amun or Amon, who is one of the gods in my pantheon. Christians don't even realize that they're saying the name of one of MY gods when they say that. (They're in effect doing exactly what they aren't supposed to: recognizing a god other than their own God.) :)

To end prayers, though, I don't say Amun's name. Instead, I say "senebty," which is ancient Egyptian for "Be Well." (This is because I don't just pray. I talk to my deities. And Senebty is a proper way of saying hello and goodbye to everyone, including the gods.)

[Siqoni]

I usually just wind up saying Bye, or untill next time, I like to feel like I have enough of a relationship with the God and Goddess that I can just Talk to them.

[Akhkharu Asgard]

[QUOTE=Ahautenites]

To end prayers, though, I don't say Amun's name. Instead, I say "senebty," which is ancient Egyptian for "Be Well." QUOTE]

How is that word pronounced?

[Zephyrstorm]

Senebty is seh-nehb-tee, :)

Seneb means Health. :)

Sometimes I finish my prayers to Them with Ankh, Udja, Seneb "Life, Wealth, Health." Otherwise, I just kinda chat with Them. Though my Dad seems to get quite a kick out of the use of His name in that manner. :D

[KaidaMidnight]

It depends on what we talked about (no, I don't "pray" to my deity, I talk with her). If I'm asking for blessings, or anything else, I usually end with a "Thank You". (also if it's just a talk of thanksgivingness) If it's a talk of something where I need advice, I usually end it with "you know best". I've even ended with a "Blessed Be". It depends on your relationship and how you view it.

[Juniper138]

So mote it be, blessed be, so be it, with all my heart, thank you, from the depths of my soul, bless this witch, in perfect love and perfect trust, as your servant and priest/ess, Great Spirit bless me,as above so below, ah yeah, in your honor, in your name, goodnight, blessings of this day to you, blessed morning, always and forever, in the name of *your patron god's name here*, let it be, for this I thank you, I humbly bid the thanks.

Thats all i can think of, try out different things, and see what works for you. What your prayer is for can affect what feels right to say at the end of it. So long as it comes from the heart, its all good.

[Kudzu]

I did a bit of research to turn up a better closing and came across "so mote it (be)", but I dont know, it just doesn't feel right.

If "Amen" feels wrong, "Blessed Be" is another popular stand-by.

[phoenix9]

Thanks. And just cause I feel apt to say this.. I too do just talk to Her most of the time, but I've gotten into the habbit of havinga somewhat formal "prayer" after I wake up in the morning and before I go to bed (kneeling and all that) the rest of the time I do just talk with Her if I feel the need, desire, or call. I only have the desire for a word to close a formal prayer.

And not to dismiss your findings but I dont see why the Greeks would have used Amen as it is, according to my research, hebrew for "so be it" or "truly" (depending on context) (although I don't study hebrew personaly and none of my orthodox jewish or Isralei friends are online to verify).

Thanks everybody for your input.

[Mercedes]

Your post reminds me of something written by Marcus Aurelius:

The Athenians pray, "Rain, rain, dear Zeus, upon the fields and plains of Athens." Prayers should either not be offered at all, or else be as simple and ingenuous as this.

I was thinking of using "amen" a long time ago, but I didn't care much for it. I had been suggested "ida est" (Latin for "so it is"), and that's what I usually use. Sometimes a simple "thank you" or even a 'normal' goodbye sort of ending works (e.g. "goodnight" ending a prayer right before bed).

[Fire's Shadow]

I think "So Mote it be" is a good substitute.

[cartweel]

Sometimes a simple "thank you" or even a 'normal' goodbye sort of ending works.(e.g. "goodnight" ending a prayer right before bed)

I mainly used the simple "goodday" or "goodnight", too. I tend not to use "goodbye" because it seems so final in that context, though I don't know why since I use it for people.

[Serenity's LostSoul]

I tend not to use "goodbye" because it seems so final in that context, though I don't know why since I use it for people.

I usually say 'laters'. :)

[Zebi]

I both pray and talk to my deities, depending on the occasion. When I'm out walking, I tend more towards talking to them, but just before I go to sleep, I am more formal. I also enjoy the use of prayer beads, although I haven't written any prayers to the Kemetic deities for them (someday).

When I was Wiccan, I used "Blessed Be" or "Amen" to end my prayers all the time. Now that I'm Kemetic, I find that I still use "Blessed Be" a lot. Part of it is getting used to the Kemetic terminology, but I also feel that it fits right for the situation.

[Vincent Verthaine]

Awomen is used in a lot of discordian rituals.

[Little Billy]

Awomen is used in a lot of discordian rituals.


By the hidebound ones.

I use: "169% O\/\/NED! DO NEVER TEST!"

[Cain]

I always preferred "Or else".

[MorningDove030202]

How about this:

"Athena, my Goddess, I pray this in your sacred name,

and I vow to always be your faithful dedicant. So Mote it Be!"

Dove

[phoenix9]

Yea, blessed be has definitly grown on me. Dove, I ocassianly use something similar, but I dont really think She requires so much dedication to end even every formal prayer mine is (nt static but along the lines of)

"Dearest Athena all blessing be to Thee, Greatest of all, may You guide me in Your ways and watch over me and know that I truly love and follow You, Blessed Be (Your name)"

but that often does find its way down to being a simple"I love You, Blessed Be"

[Harmony Aurore]

To end prayers, though, I don't say Amun's name. Instead, I say "senebty," which is ancient Egyptian for "Be Well." (This is because I don't just pray. I talk to my deities. And Senebty is a proper way of saying hello and goodbye to everyone, including the gods.)

that's pretty nifty. i never knew that. how do you pronounce that word.. "senebty"?
I like it very much.

[Nitefalle]

How about "Can I get a HELL YA!!??!" The Norse gods like that one, anyway. And there's the always classic "Party on!"

[Astara Seague]

I say Thank you or blessed be sometimes I dont say anything, I just say what comes to me most of the time, to me its not really prayers to me its like speaking with someone

[Alora]

Lots of good ones here. However there is one that I did not see that I like very much.

Namaste'

[Zebi]

that's pretty nifty. i never knew that. how do you pronounce that word.. "senebty"?
I like it very much.

The pronunciation of "senebty" is sen-eb-TEE or zeneb-TEE. This is a parting phrase that a lot of Kemetics use as an alternative to "farewell" or "goodbye". It means "may you be healthy".

You can read about more terms the Kemetic Orthodox use here: http://www.kemet.org/terms_list.html

[RubyRose]

I use "Blessed Be" generally.

[gurlygurl2004]

I wondered that myself when I started doing spells and pagan prayers. My sister suggested so mote it be or come what may. So I always use come what may.

[Stormie]

yes just say thank you!

[orissa]

Funny, I became non-Christian about 7 years ago and never said Amen during that time except lately I've started using it again, maybe reclaiming the word in my spirituality. I think the actual sound and structure is good- I think sounds, tones have value and significance, and by that measure Amen actually seems pretty good.

[The Lady]

I often wondered this myself and started ending my prayers with "Thank you!", but it seemed so . . . polite! I wanted to find something that meant more to me than polite.

I love all the suggestions made here! I will have something to work with now.

So . . . um . . . Thank you!:hahugh:

[DoktorSick]

what i try to do
end things with a since of humor
they seem to like that.
some of personal faves are.
and would you like fries with that,
fo sizzle bizzle,peace to the middle.

[PoisonIvy]

what i try to do
end things with a since of humor
they seem to like that.
some of personal faves are.
and would you like fries with that,
fo sizzle bizzle,peace to the middle.


Oh I think they'd love to hear "word to yo mutha"!:fpraise: :lol:

[cheddarsox]

I will usually do a sign of honor, such as a bow of the head, or raise my hands in praise. Or a head bow of recognition and acceptance. Often I say "as it is", acknowledging the rightness of the way of the ALL.

I have gotten away from "Blessed Be" and "So Mote it Be" because around here they are totally associated with Wicca and Godess worship and I don't want people to get confused about which trad I am.

cheddar