Do you worship he deities of your homeland?

[adazakura]

I am posing this question as i live in the Uk and though i find the myths of this country fascinating i dont truely follow any deity from here, though the green man appears to me in dreams occassionally.
I am fascinated by egypt but only the one goddess, bast.
the same applies to Hawaii and Pele.
I am not a fan of greco roman ideals but i support the ideas of strong women found in the cults of diana and artemis...I also know alot about the Norse traditions but only Loki has had any influence in my life and well that blighter is a trouble maker..

i love japanese and chinese gods, the ideas of shintoism that all life is sacred.

the rainbow serpant of australia is alson an interest but not hugely so.

i also like the Aztecian gods as they have a vengeful aspect and reflect the culture that surrounded them, and the gods of the differing native american tribes....
i would love to read more on he deities of Alaska and the SLavic deities....though Baba Yaga the witch goddess is definately someone i read alot about..

so tell me about what you are interested in and why....

[Jolixte]

Nah. I don't think that Monterey, California has many local deities.

[Njorun Alma]

I have to say I am very interested in the old Gods and Goddesses of Scandinavia. Although I have an almost equal attraction to the Celtic Gods and Goddesses.
It's hard for me to really make a direct choice and stay with it. Although the mythology of these northern countries does touch my heart especially much.
I guess when all is said and done, Freya, Frey, Njord, Idun, Odin, Thor, Skadi and all the other norse Gods and Goddesses has a very special place in my heart. However I am more inclined to the more Druidic paths of life.

[Cain]

Nope. Not of the UK or Australia. I find the Aboriginee mythology interesting, but thats because I know so little about it, I suspect. But thats as far as it goes with me.

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

I imagine that you would be wrong. Native tribes lived all across the states and they each had their own Spirits/Gods that they followed. There are always local land spirits to be found anywhere you go as well. Try reaching out to them and you might be surprised by what you find.

Nah. I don't think that Monterey, California has many local deities.

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

I do have an interest in the local religous beliefs native to both southwestern pennsylvania where I live now, as well as those of the southwestern united states where I grew up. They have certainly influenced me and how I look at the world, and I make sure that I honor them when I make offerings to the Land, because after all it is Their land.

However, I am a Scottish polytheist, and follow the gods and as much as I can the traditions of my ancestors.

[KEishin]

Well if you consider my homeland to be where I was born then no. I live in the Eastern US, and even though I have Algonquin blood not too many generations back, I don't feel called by that path in the slightest.

There are local spirits, elementals and wights in my current area to be sure (I have a nice relationship with the spirit of my town - it found me an apartment) but I'd not call them deities.

But on the other side of my family I'm Welsh/Irish/French-Canadian and that's where I feel my pull the strongest. Perhaps it's because the emphasis is on the British tradtions in my family?

[David19]

I feel a pull to Asatru and British deities (pre-Germanic and Celtic) but i'm also attracted to others, if you're talking about blood, then i'm attracted to Mesopotamian deities and paths, Hittie (Turkish) Hebrew (pre-monotheism, tribal deities), Canaanite deities and paths, as well as Celtic and Norse, like i said.

But i'm also attracted to others that i don't have any ancestor relations too (like Greek, Native American, Aztec and South American, Siberian and Russian as well as indigineous(sp) religions of Malaysia, Hawaii, Kemetism, Italian (& Roman) and other mythologies and cultures.

[Nerts]

I lilve in the Vancouver area of BC, Canada. My diety 'pool' if you will is Welsh. That's my ancestory so I think it's important to connect with your roots. I'm am in no way opposed to using other dieties it's just that I haven't had a need to yet.

E.

[Meadhbh]

While I don't worship the Hawaiin deities persay don't totally ingnore them either. I pay attention to the basics and try not to offend anyone but I don't have to the urge to ask them for anything. I have brought Pele gifts before but that was because I was visiting her home and it was the polite thing to do.

[Philosophia]

I'm interested in Australian mythology but I don't follow them. I do give respect to the traditions involved.

[Toby Stimpson]

I couldnt vote since my option was not listed. I worship mostly Devas from Hinduism, even though I was born and raised in Wales. For me it isnt so much where but the messages...that and the facty that i have a few brown friends who have helped push me in the right direction hehe. I think in soem ways, it's not necessarily what we feel but more of what our souls are attracted to or what we can understand better. I am a strong believer that different Pantheons are merely different ways for people to understand similar things and worship similar things. I used to worship some of the Gods from my homeland but not so much now.

Namaste

Tobias

[Ishtara]

No, I don't.

I have an interest in the spirituality of the Pacific Northwest First Nations, but it is purely cultural.

I did not get to choose my Gods anyway. Netjer grabbed me all of a sudden, refused to let go of me and sure did not give a damn whether I was Egyptian or not! :)

[Callatya]

gee, I'm trying to remember the names of those that I know of, but I can only remember the stories of a few.

Not a great start, but yeah, in answer to the question, no, I don't worship the local deities. It seems somehow hypocritical to not follow that way of life but to intrude upon their ways. There is also a great diversity throughout the aboriginal culture, I'm fairly certain that from tribe to tribe the deities would differ. From memory the rainbow serpent is indigenous to the Kimberly region, I have no idea if the same creatures are used across the land, or if gods/creatures are specific to the region in which they originated.

[arianrhods_daughter]

I am pulled to the dieties my ancestors worshiped although born in another country I don't think I merit any right to follow the indigenous religions of this area seeing that we've not been in this country for very long while the country we came from we've been established in for as long as humanity has existed in the UK

[SilentDreams]

I am drawn to Greek dieties. Why? I don't know. I've always loved greek mythology since I was very little.

Am I drawn to my dieties due to my love of the mythology? No. I think I'm drawn to the mythology cause without knowing it, I've always been a child of Persephone and Eros. I wish I could say why I'm drawn to them and why two greek dieties chose me but I can't.

[Brandon Bee]

I did not get to choose my Gods anyway. Netjer grabbed me all of a sudden, refused to let go of me and sure did not give a damn whether I was Egyptian or not! :)
Same here! I don't worship the Native American (the land I live on) or the Germanic (my heritage) deities, because I didn't get a choice either. One morning, Inanna just decided to poke me with a hot iron stick and say "HELLO?! I'm right here!!"

[Renny]

Yeah, I do... sorta... more like my ancestral origins. I've always felt this inexplicable link to the Germanic gods and I figured it must be because I have German heritage, but it was only recently I found out that it goes way, way back, and that I have heathen blood. My family hails from Frisia, and so lately I have become more interested in Forseti, the god of the Frisians... I had never worked with him before.

[Green]

Although I am part Native American (only by a pinch) and about 1/8th Mexican, my genetics are ruled by a moshpit of caucasian roots. I have gone through 6 different pantheons and came upon the conclusion that the Celtic pantheon has the most connection with myself.
But that's now. Who's to say that I won't be worshipping a different one in the future.

[maldito]

I'm mexican and I find very interesting the mesoamerican deities. But Persephone was the goddess that called me.

[indigo rain]

since i live in the states, there's only native american deities in our region, and while i'm interested in their myths, and native american shamanism techniques and concepts, i can't tear myself away from the gods of egypt. which is why i picked, myths of a specific place... don't diversify. i've been interested in other mythologies and deities, but it's never felt right to actually work with any other than egyptian.

[indigo rain]

I did not get to choose my Gods anyway. Netjer grabbed me all of a sudden, refused to let go of me and sure did not give a damn whether I was Egyptian or not! :)

that seems to be their m.o.

it's certainly what they did to me.

[Xirian]

No. And this is whether you're talking about my ancestry or about where I live now. If you're talking about my ancestry, there would be too many cultures to choose from. As far as where I live now, I am interested in Native American culture and for a short while was involved with the local Native American coalition in my area. But the Etruscan deities made it impossible for me to ignore them, therefore, those are the deities I commune with regularly.

Therefore, I did not vote.

[Theres]

i would have answered simply "no", but that wasn't an option on this poll.

[Myrr]

While I don't worship him(?), Esaugeta Emissee is the Great Spirit of the area I live. Esaugeta Emissee is the Great Spirit of the Creek nation in North Georgia.

[Ladylepgirl]

My homelands vary so much. But I am mostly Italian and Irish, so I tend to be linked to those pantheon's. But i have a Greek Patron Goddess that I work with, so I kind of do both. I do honor my homeland ladies, but tend to go outside of it when I work. I think I was Greek in a past life.

[Lolair]

I'm currently studying the mythology of my ancestors in Scotland as well as the local mythology from the tribes in British Columbia. I won't be using the local mythology in my practice, but I'm a firm believer in learning about the land around you before learning about places thousands of miles away.

The folklore, practices and deities of Scotland really attract me, I had no idea there was so much lore there! I think I'll skip the deep fried mars bars though...

[Arion]

Nope, I worship Greek deities, but I am not Greek by ancestry.

[Rowan Darkmoon]

My ancestry is primarily Irish and Italian, and I worship gods from those pantheons. However, my homeland is the US. I find Native American deities and myths interesting, but I don't follow any of them.

[Rick]

Do you follow the deities of where you live?

Nope

[EvieLee]

I was born and raised in Australia but am not of Aboriginal blood. I personally feel (and I'm probably in a minority on this one) uncomfortable sticking my nose in where it doesn't belong in this instance.

However, I am unaware of my ancestory and so in the past have worked with the deities that have drawn me.

At the moment, my focus seems to lean to the Greek arena due to a uni course I did last year in Greek Mythology. However, I don't particularly adhere to the polytheist side of things at the moment so it's a bit up in the air...

:ballonsmi

[Phoenyxfyre]

I'm 13/64ths Miwok (Californian Indian), but I was adopted by a non-AmerIndian family. So i didn't grow up with the AmerIndian customs and culture, but I am drawn to it. My underlying beliefs are AmerIndian. I've studied what I can get my greedy lil hands on when I can, of any of the Peoples of America. But I'm also drawn to Norse Mythos and have since I was a small child. As I got older Celtic Mythos has also Grabbed my attention. And recently I've been on a Hunt of a God and Godess of the Oak and Rose.

so i guess i can vote two ways 'Yes i am very interested in them and follow them.' and 'I am interested in them but drawn to other traditions.'

[Kaija]

Going by ancestral homeland.. it would not be possible.. I am German/Italian/Hungarian, and those cultures are so different.. and many of the dieties I tend to be called to would NOT go well together.. I work with whichever diety calls to me at the time. I've noticed a LOT of Welsh though.. and for some reason the Welsh and the Egyptian kind of go well together at times.. (not always).. Mostly it's just pull though.. if I dont' feel it at the time then it's not right for me then.. Going by place of birth?.. *shrug*.. I don't know.. I've never been terribly drawn to the Native American dieties.. although, Ancestor Worship is part of my path.. So really my answer depends on timing..

[LadyCelt]

I've been getting more into things dealing with the Native Americans. I think it'd be neat to find out about tribes around where I live and research them too. I like their concept of mother earth and other things. I want to learn more aobut the culture where I live. I'm not as into tracing things to my bloodline's roots as where I live right now.

[Skadi]

Yes, I do, I am of English and German descent. I follow the Norse/Anglo-Saxon Gods.

[elle]

The deities worshipped in my homeland (in Britain) would have been Celtic, Roman or Romano-British (for 400 years) and Anglo-Saxon. My ethnicity, as far as I know from genealogical research, is English, (including Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Norman names) Highland Scots, Romany and a little Welsh and Irish in the mix too. I don't feel strongly drawn to the Anglo-saxon deities on the whole, in spite of dealings with a couple of them on a local basis. The Celtic deities feel one step away from me although for some time I tried to follow them. As for the religion of the Gypsies, my father's family had settled before he was born and it seems to be hard to find out exactly what they believed. It would have likely varied somewhat among different family groups in different countries, although I think there would be some underlying links to Hinduism. These days as far as I know, some of them have converted to evangelical Christianity.

The Greek pantheon and mythology is of primary interest to me. I think my ethnicity, mixed as it is, does probably change the experience of worshipping those deities because it will be filtered through my experience of living in (modern) England and that would not be the same as say, someone who had grown up in Greece. I certainly felt that making a 'pilgrimage' to Greece and certain sites strengthened the link that was already there. But the fact is that I felt an affinity to some members of that pantheon before that and I don't even know why.

[Malcolm]

IA IA McDonalds!!

[aluokaloo]

no not really, I actually don't know many Native Cali tribes, other then the Chumash, I'm mostly into Greek/Norse , with Egyptian, Hawiian, Babylonian, Etrus,Roman, Gallic, deities now if your talking about the homelands of racial heritage, I suppose the closest thing would be Norse deties, I'm phillipino/grman/scottish/irish, and I know nothing of philippino deities, and the vast majortiy of celtic deities/folklore never interested me much. Though I've met a few.

[serenarian]

I work closely with Welsh deities as that is my homeland and that is what calls me, but occasionally I may feel a pull to a deity of another culture. For example, at the moment, Oshun is featuring very strongly in my life.

[wolf]

I live in the United States, but follow a path of my ancestors. I've worked with other Gods and Goddesses over the years, but the call of blood is strongest for me.

[Xentor]

No, I don't worship my nation's deity/deities. My path deems worship a waste of time and energy.

[Halstrom]

I don't follow the deities of my homeland. I follow the deities of a different culture, specifically those of the ancient Greeks.

[Gwyddyon]

Although I do often call on Irish deities like Brigid even though I'm one of the ten people in the US that DOESN'T claim Irish ancestry, I do like to invoke the deities of my father's homeland, northern Spain. So I use Mari on occassion (although she's only questionably benevolent most of the time), and I call on Santa Teresa and the Virgin Mary surprisingly often considering that I don't consider myself a Christian Pagan.

[S_Wodening]

Being American, the deities of my homeland would be Native American. Even then, as Missouri was a highly transitory area there would be many tribal traditions to draw from. So instead I worship the Gods and Goddesses of my ancestors (which were Anglo-Saxon and other forms of Germanic). I do pay respect to the land spirits however, and give them bits of tobacco from time to time as that is what they are accustomed to.