Goddess/God Names?

[Sowelu]

Is it important that when I worship a Goddess and God that I worship Them by a certain name? Like if I am at my Alter? Or meditating? Can I just say "My Lord and Lady? I have still yet to learn all the Goddess and God names and the meanings behind them.:)

[Myst]

Sure you can use "God and Goddess", "Lord and Lady", or whatever works for ya. :)

[Ganga]

I agree with Myst, but would like to add that *for me* it feels more personal to say the name of the Deity. The difference is something like: someone calling me the woman/ lady versus someone calling me Ganga. The former person would approach me with formal reverence, the latter with friendship. But these are just my feelings, and everyone has to do as they feel right and comfortable with.

[Faery-Wings]

For me, it depends on what my purpose of praying or talking to the Goddess is. For instance, in the morning, I like to say a quick "Hi, thanks for bringing me a another day..." type of prayer. Also at night I try to give thanks for the day or maybe discuss an issue, ask for guidance. For that I might just use Lady or Goddess or Mother. For a more specific issue, like the problems I was having with my daughter, I talk to my Patron, Demeter. I always talk to her when it comes to my kids. I figure, she knows!:p

Naturally, different specific needs might call for a different God or Goddess- but I only have a few specific ones I typically talk to.

Not sure if that makes sense, but it is what works for me.

Chris

[Kadynas]

I usually call upon deities that deal with my specific situation or state of mind, although I do have a few favorites. (I consider Eros my patron.) :D But whenever I just feel like talking I'll usually refer to them as Sun & Moon, kinda like my default names. :lol: But for the most part I tend to stay within the Greco-Roman pantheons.

[Mystic Wolf]

For me we have specific aspects we use depending on the work involved. However my coven often uses Lord and Lady in public rituals.

[Theres]

Lord & Lady works just fine, but is a bit generic.
i like to use a specific name if i'm doing a specific ritual, and include as many titles and attributes as is practical. this focuses my mind more on the deity in question, and it becomes more of an 'invocation' than just saying 'hi'.
however, they know what is in your heart, and that is where the real communication takes place anyway.

[Mnemosyne]

Personally, I think that it would be more personal to call a diety by name. For example, if you have an altar set up for a certain goddess such as Demeter but suddenly want to ask another goddess such as Hera for support, I think that it would be more appropriate to call the goddess by name. I just think that saying the goddess or god's name would show more respect for the diety. Perhaps saying general words such as "god/goddess" or " My lady/lord" would work if you have a general prayer or are praying to your patron diety.

[Sowelu]

Thank You!:)