Patron deities - how did you know?

[Cait]

I know we have a few threads already on patron deities, but I couldn't find one about this aspect of it in particular...

For those of you who have a specific patron god or goddess - how did you first come to know that s/he was your patron? Was it a decision you made yourself, or were you chosen by them?

If you felt you were chosen, how did they make this clear to you? Were there signs, messages, or just a feeling that this was what they wanted?

If you chose your patron yourself, how did you come to the decision that s/he was the one you wanted to dedicate yourself to?

[Melysande]

I was picked by mine. Hera, when I first started considering which matron goddess to choose, sent two live peacocks across my path when I was dring to work. She made up my mind for me. (Otherwise, I'd have chosen Epona.)

And most recently, Seshat, the one who owns my head. I was writing an article on our accounting department at work and I needed something to make it more interesting. She sent me a dream where I flipped to a specific page in my old college history book, to specific paragraph and a specific sentence. I woke up out of the dream, got that book off the shelf, found the exact page I saw in my dream and had the hook for my story. **sigh** Since then, she's given me many things, including an office flood that I only jokingly wished for.

**shrugs** She's fun, quiet, persistent, helpful and friendly enough, so it's cool. :)

[*~*Chary*~*]

Well with my patrons bast and sekhmet i was chosen

Bast made it clear by sending me visions of her, cats would come up to me and always seem to like me, i found more and more books on her and when i finally started practicing paganism she was the first deity to come to me

With sekhmet however it was rather different, it foolwed the same suit of visions, books etc etc and when it looked like i wasnt getting it ... she came in a dream and quite bluntly put it that she wanted me to serve her

[*~*Chary*~*]

Incidentally here are a few threads on this topic :)

http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?threadid=15610
http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?threadid=636

[Cait]

Thanks very much for the links, Chary. I did try the search option, but it kept timing out for some reason...

[*~*Chary*~*]

No problem ;)

[Asherah]

Ok for me; My patron goddess is Asherah.
I found her by accident.. lol

I play a rpg game online and my screen name is Shekina.
I was studying trying find my goddess, when Shekina hit me like a ton of bricks. Now in judaism she is refered to as The shekina, and i just couldn't do that... so I delved deeper.

I discovered Shekina was really Asherah but hidden deep w/in judaism. **long story**

So boom ton of bricks again, and now Asherah is my goddess, although I do work with Anat and Ishtar (astarte). :)

Makes sense?

[Darksapphyre]

Merry Meet
I'm new here but maybe I can help.
I dedicated my life to the goddess ten years ago. When she came to me, it was just a sense of what she was. So I researched all I could find on the different aspects of the Goddess. Cerydwyn is who she was, I felt a affinity with her from the beginning and I was drawn to her. Go with your feelings the goddess will guide you.

[Mnemosyne]

Welcome, Darksapphyre! :sunny: Everyone has so many fascinating stories about how they met their patron deity. Like others, my goddess came to me in a dream. I know that she looks after me and gives me good blessing. Similar to Darksapphyre, I researched more about my goddess, so I could learn more about her. I feel closer to her than ever before.

[*~*Chary*~*]

Hi Darksapphyre

Merry Mett And Welcome, i'll keep it short in here lol, but check out your Pm's under "profile" at the top of the page. Theres a private message i sent you with the MW tour, some useful links and helpful information.

Again Welcome
Chary xxx

[Cait]

Welcome, Darksapphyre - I'm pretty new as well. :)

Anyway, part of the reason I posted this question is that I suspect I've been getting... um... attention, lately. Now, I don't want to ignore such things, but equally, I'm sort of wondering whether it really is anything, or whether it's just imagination and wishful thinking (...or for that matter, whether I'm just going crazy). Does anyone have any advice on this sort of thing? Sorry for being vague and unhelpful, but... Well, did anyone else go through anything like this? What was it that made you feel sure that a deity was trying to get in touch with you?

[Mnemosyne]

Welcome also, Cait! :) You ask good questions. Questions here make us think about our own spirituality and relationships with the deities. If you think that a god or goddess is trying to reach out to you, you should trust your own instincts. In my opinion, you should feel special that a deity is trying to communicate with you. Already, many members have shared how a god or goddess has reached them. I think that many of us share something in common; these great deities have come to us through symbols and/ or images in our lives. These symbols and/or images, either through dreams, meditation, life experiences...etc, move us because they tend to be meaningful and empowering.

[Myst]

I chose Hekate and worked with her for over a year. I was searching for a deity for months and when I gave up on deities, spirituality, and basically life in it's entirety, Isis started whispering into my ear and nagging at me to study Ancient Egyptian beliefs. Then I realized it was actually Aset who was calling me with the face of Isis. Not that I'm sure Aset is my parent or patron either yet, or if Isis and Aset were those that lead me to AE because I knew them first. You never know, I may find out later that my matron/patron is someone entirely different - for instance I'm really attracted to Maat and Djehuti all the sudden.

[Myst]

Originally posted by Cait
Does anyone have any advice on this sort of thing? Sorry for being vague and unhelpful, but... Well, did anyone else go through anything like this? What was it that made you feel sure that a deity was trying to get in touch with you?

Sure, as you can see from my previous post I'm still not sure whether Isis was whispering in my ear because she's my matron, or because I was supposed to look into Ancient Egyptian beliefs and find my deity from there.

Sometimes I wonder if people are really getting messages or if they are just having "wishful thinking" too, including myself. However, I also know that there was a distinct difference between my work with Hekate and so far with Isis/Aset - I chose Hekate, but Isis and Aset called me. In the former case I may have been subtly called by Hekate, or I may just have had "wishful thinking" that made me think I did. However, I did learn a lot with Hekate over that year and a bit, regardless of whether I chose her or she chose me. In the end, it doesn't really matter if the deity chose you or if you chose them, as long as you learn from them what you can. If you feel an affinity for them chances are you need/want to learn something from them, even if they didn't call you outright.

In short, if you feel like you're being called, look into it. Spend some time with that diety, invite him/her into your life. Don't worry about whether they called you or you called them - either way you can learn valuable lessons and grow spiritually.

[WhiteCat]

Arianrhod is my patron Goddess. Im not too sure if She chose me or I chose her. Im still thinking about that one.

I remember seeing her name written on a large banner at a wise woman celebration, and it just stuck in my head. I did not know much about Arianrhod, but did know She was a welsh deity. and I have been pulled towards the welsh deities since i began studying the pagan path.

I was sitting out side in my garden and found my self asking her to teach me about her and her mysteries. A few days later I had the most remarkable meditaion/journey. Arianrhod came to me and although she did not speak,I knew she was agreeing to take me on as a student of her mysteries.

Some day i hope to travell to Wales and see the sacred sites!

WhiteCat,
BroomRider

[Hamelyn]

This is something that's been going through my head a lot lately. One of the reasons I posted the topic on Homosexual Spirituality was because I had begun to consider the male and female aspects of energy, things that normally don't matter much to me in my workings... but a couple months ago I- moon and night fan that I am- suddenly began to get a calling towards the sun. LIke, everything about the sun. The light, the heat, the summer, the plants, the shifting shadows, snowcones and caramel apples... and I kept getting this feeling inside of me. Think of it like... if you've ever heard a lion roar, take that into slow motion. It starts without warning, and in a shocking speed it raises to a deafening roar. It seriously got to the point where I couldn't think of anything /but/ the sun. I'm... still not really sure how to take that. Also, sometimes it's just the patterns that make me feel close to a spirit or a deity... the otter has shown up a lot in my life, and recently, horses made a really awkward appearance as well. I don't think I have anyone I consider a 'patron' yet, however.. hm.

[Mnemosyne]

MM Hamelyn! :sunny: I too have been very drawn to the sun this year. My reason for being drawn to sun has nothing to do with a deity, I believe. In the past, I always found the sun to make me lethargic. However, I think that I suddenly like the sun, since I realized that it does feel relaxing and am looking for change in my life.

Hey, maybe the animals that you are drawn to could be a connection with a deity. For example, the goddess Epona is associated with horses. But then again, you might also want to check out some threads on animal spirituality in divination and the magick and rituals forum.

As you have probably read, there are many ways that we find a patron deity. Maybe the advice of another member could help you. Also, keep on examining all these symbols in your life.

[earthcat]

I too have felt a very stong pull towards the sun lately. I have always preferred the darkness of night, but within the last year I have suns popping up all over my home.
Perhaps we should start a new thread to see if this is also happening to others????
And possibly find out why.....

in ter esting.....

[ChelleOfShadows]

Maybe we should stick this thread???

I was called to my element before I ever had anything to do with a diety. My first was Ocasta, the Cherokee God of witches and shamans... from there I was drawn to the Goddesses of the Earth which is my element. If I had to choose only one diety of them all I couldn't.

As for being pulled toward the sun, ok this is kind of spooky, I have bought sun jewelry, kleenex boxes, charms, t-shirts, sheets you name it if there is one with a picture of the sun on it I probably have bought it. I even (shudders at the thought) got out in the sun and played golf or tennis almost every weekend this summer and I HATE TO SWEAT!!! I swim because it is the only sport you don't have to sweat! I just thought I was going through a phase. hmmmmmmmmm very interesting!!!

[earthcat]

ditto on the sweat thing..... and the swimming thing....

I've got sun string lights going all around my kitchen near the ceiling. I've got a toe ring that is ringed (!) in suns.... I've got a sun poster to put up..... and on and on.....
What is up with this, anyway????

I'm really new to this, so I'm not sure what "stick this thread" means....

And I also have to get offline now.... :(

[Mnemosyne]

Hhhmm, I don't know why so many of us are feeling a connection toward the sun lately. Perhaps it is the summer season? But then again, I think it is going deeper than that answer, since many of us aren't too keen on the sun, since the sun can often make us hot and sweaty.

Think about the representations of the sun. To me, the sun is a sign of happiness and knowlege. Maybe the sun has the same representation to you also.

Ok, this is a god and goddess discussion, so do you think that a sun deity is playing a part in your life at the moment? Do you think that a sun deity is trying to communicate with you? There is a thread on sun deities here, so maybe some of you want to learn more about these special deities.
:sunny:

[Amber Ravenstar]

I haven't been having the "sun thing" you've been experiencing, but I have been going through the same thing with leopard print. (Not real fur, of course, shudder).

Having a house full of cats, it shouldn't be a surprise that Bast is saying hi. Not sure if there is a deity associated with leopards specifically, but I associate Bast with all things feline. >^..^<

[Mnemosyne]

MM, Amber Ravenstar! :sunny: I think that you are onto something. I am a big believer in symbolism. In my opinion, the gods and goddesses send us messages through symbols, be it in life experiences or dreams. I think that the leopard print could possibly mean that you are drawn to Bast. Many members here are drawn to Bast, so you should check out those threads. Also, check out other Egyptian deities associated with cats. Other deities have deities associated with cats. For example, Freyja, the Norse goddess, has her carriage drawn by cats.

BB

[Arduinna]

How I found mine. I have felt a presence around me since I was a little girl. But it always intimidated me. Even though it didn't seem threatening. I was at a Reiki training and talked with my teacher about it. And she told me next time, to ask the presence it's name. Duh!! I guess I had just never thought of that. Anyway, I did ask and she told me she was Anumati. I didn't know who that was, but after some reasearch I found out she is a Hindu Moon Goddess.

[Arduinna]

duh, I'm such a twit. Just realized I posted this (nearly a month ago) in the Patrons thread. I don't really consider her my patron. I just know she has been a guide for me. I should pay better attention before I post.

[staarman]

My personal patrons are Diana and Ra

Diana was an obvious choice for me. No avatar of the goddess seemed more fitting to an infantryman than the goddess of the hunt.

Ra came about throgh a bit more personnal means that I won't get into publicly but he fit perfectly into my life.

[Mnemosyne]

Welcome, Staarman! :) It seems like your two deities create some balance in your life. After all, Diana is associated with the moon, and Ra is associated with the sun. What made Diana an obvious choice for you? Well, glad to see you posting here.

[staarman]

With being Infantry in the 82nd Airborne we do a lot of night operations and training missions (especially here in Afghanistan) and Diana being a moon goddess and a huntress made it just seem like fate.

[Mareth]

I *thought* I was going to get to choose...

For the first few years that I was studying the Craft, I "experimented" (for lack of a better word, no disrespect intended) with a few different Goddesses when I did ritual.

I did a lot of ritual work with Demeter for a while and She felt *almost* right, but not quite... I thought that it was some lack within me, that I didn't know how to connect to Her the right way.

Then, my ex-husband took me horseback riding. I hadn't been in years, even though I've had a lifelong love of horses. As soon as I swung up into the saddle, I heard this resounding voice say, "Epona!"

At the time, I didn't know Who or What Epona was, but I knew it was important, so I started going through my Craft books as soon as I returned home. That's when I discovered that Epona is a Celtic Goddess associated with horses. My search was over :)

And, I learned later that Demeter has some connection with horses, her Priestesses being sometimes called "The Mares of Demeter," so that explains why She felt almost right, but not perfect.

B*B,

-Mareth

[tainted echoes]

me..i dont know. i dont know if i really believe in goddesses (i'm still a bit agnostic about it all) but i still feel a really strong connection to the moon and artemis (diana).

my element is earth, and although i am a complete pyro, i have always loved the outdoors. not playing sports or whatever, but going camping or canoeing or something that had to do with communing with nature. artemis is known as the huntress, maiden, etc. you guys probably know..anyway, she healed animals and was almost "one" with them..like i am. (i have had a deer run from me ONCE in my entire life, and it wasnt my fault, it was my dad's)

also, whenever i look at the moon i feel happy, and calm, like nothing can hurt me, especially during the full moon. since she has to do with the moon..well anyway, thats another deep connection i have.

i've always been drawn to her, because i liked her name, her myths, and because when i say her name out loud i feel confident. i feel powerful when i'm in the woods/forest and i love running barefoot with animals. it's weird. but to answer your question:

i felt connections since i was 6 years old, and by then i hadnt learned mythology in class or anything. not dreams or signs but just things in common, and a sense of confidence and power. (corny! wee!)

[tainted echoes]

Originally posted by staarman
My personal patrons are Diana and Ra

Diana was an obvious choice for me. No avatar of the goddess seemed more fitting to an infantryman than the goddess of the hunt.

Ra came about throgh a bit more personnal means that I won't get into publicly but he fit perfectly into my life.

we rule ;)

[HobbitLady]

My Patron Goddess is Kali-She let me know LOUD and clear she wanted me.
I also work very closely with Venus. I got kind of the ying and yang thing going on here:)

[TornadoAli]

Isis has called me since childhood..I was always interested in Ancient Egypt, and always drawn to Her for some reason. I collected tons of Isis-related things over the years, and when I discovered that my true path was pagan, it's like everything just clicked. And she's been with me all along! :-)

[Tyrvald]

Obviously, Tyr is my patron god. I knew this because my mother named me "Justin", which means "one who is just". I've stayed true to this name. Tyr is the Norse god of justice and of war. My real last name also means "the warlike". Since my name was "Just One, the Warlike", Tyrvald, which means "powerful by Tyr" seemed natural when I took up Asatru. So in a way, my mother chose a patron god for me when I was born. She knew the meaning of the name "Justin" when she gave it to me. My choice to take up Asatru was also just natural. I was always pagan in my personal theology and my heritage is all Asatru at it's pagan roots, the Swedes, the Poles, and the Czechs.

I suggest looking into your existing heritage for inspiration when choosing a pantheon and a patron deity. It results in a nice feeling of connectivity with your distant ancestors.

It may have also been a sign that I should follow my ancestors when my mother gave me the name of her father as my middle name. Look for clues in your life and find what perhaps is meant to be.

[Mnemosyne]

Welcome to MW, Tyrvald! :wave:

Thanks for all your advice about considering heritage when choosing a patron deity and pantheon. It sounds like you have a strong understanding in the subject. I look forward to reading more of your posts around here.

[KaliGiri5]

He came to me

[smoldering_temptress]

I have a few:

*Arianrhod--I am almost full irish, so am attracted to the celtic deities, altho she is the only one who speaks to me. I found her, altho I think certain aspects pulled me to her.


*Persephone- found me. I feel my life is a constant stuggle, and since she is "overcoming" struggle, she was my first.


*Bast(et)---one of the most recent. I had ALWAYS had a weird obsession with cats, just felt some kinship, and I had always known about her but never realized I was meant to serve her until lately.

[Moondancer13]

I'm still working on my patron goddess. I'm now stuck between Artemis and Cerridwen, both of whom have helped me a lot during a depressing time in my life. However, I knew that Apollo would be my patron god because I had a really great spiritual experience with him during my earlier Wiccan days. I guess you kind of have to try praying to different dieties, and do a lot of research, and see which ones you seem to connect with.

[AmbivalentMirage]

Well, it was excessively simple for me! lol...

You see, I am Jewish, and one of the most important Jewish liturgical prayers is the Shema. The Shema (translated) says "Hear oh Israel, the L-rd G-ds, the L-rds are one!" Because of this, I don't select a deity...I simply know the Divine as "Father" and "Mother". Sometimes I use specific titles for aspects, but often I just use "Elohim" as a general term for praying to the Divine as a whole.

Because I am called to Judaism, I feel bound to monotheism. Not in a bad way, though! It's part of my nature and feels right for me. =) Idols, statues, pictures...not for me. I like my invisible, completely-united Divine Being. :D

[Theres]

interesting that you'd bring up Apollo now, Moondancer.

i just found out last night that i'll be taking part in a lecture tommorrow for the Unitarian Church in Portland!
so, by their request, my friend and i will be casting a circle in their front garden, and we decided that a good theme would be World Peace. i will be invoking Apollo (light and reason), and she Athena (warrior Goddess of wisdom).
i have worked with Apollo before, in connection with seasonal work and the muses, so He's not entirely foriegn to me. but this is REALLY short notice!
in any case, i look forward to drawing upon this inspirational 'Muse' once again.

[Elfa Wylde]

I found my Goddess the same way i originally found my "power animal."

Her name is Flidas. I'm still looking for info on her.. there doesn't seem to be much (any help would be apprieciated!)

but even so... i was on my hill (the MoonHill as we call it) meditating on finding a Patron. trying not to think anything specific you know? Anyway... I kept thinking of the woods...and all the life in it...getting "visions" of things liek that too....When i was a kid i LOVED to rin around the woods....i used to talk to the animals i 'met' there even.. and the trees too!
Suddenly i knew there was a Goddess trying to talk to me, but i just couldn't seem to "hear" her name. I asked that she show me a sign that I would understand.. then i opened my eyes...

Get this: not 20 feet away from me were three (goddess trinity?) beautiful deer... a stag and two does.

I had read about Flidas a while before that, but never gave it much thought. Later that day (after all the farm chores had been done and i was in my weekly bubblebath:D ) reading a book about Gods, Goddesses, and heros and such.. i came across Flidas again.. this time i read every word in the book about her... The Deer is her main symbol. She is the Goddess of the Forest and Wild animals (hence the last name of Wylde)

She and i (so far in my learning about her) are very much allike. She's said to be consort to the Horned God... the god of the Forest and Hunting.

it all just seems right. Someone suggested putting an Antler on the altar for her... but it seems wrong somehow....I'm looking for a figure of a Stag (and a doe too possibly) to set on the altar.


~*~ Typical Elf... Long winded stories.... and the point is ALWAYS as the end.~*~

B*B

[She-Arna]

I'm not sure. I just started getting more and more interested in Brighid and reading more and more about her until one night I invited her into the circle with me and from the moment she wraped me in her arms I knew she was the Goddess I wanted to follow.

[Elfa Wylde]

isn't this all interesting!? all these Suns popping up?

i have a moon charm (earring type) and a Sun charm hanging under my kitchen window where the sun and moonlight will hit them through the skylight... and every morning now for many months the moon has fallen in the night to the counter and the sun has remained hanging where it belongs.

i've also noticed this in the past year:

There was a "freak" frost.. very hard taht pretty much destroyed the early-blooming crops (fruit mostly) An acre of grapes shoudl produce up to 7 tons of grapes...however the average around here was only one ton per acre. Just before the economy took a dump there became less and less rain. small ponds dried up...the river dropped to an all time low... the Herons, eastern coyotes, and rabbits (along with the wild turkeys and other wild life) were practically unseen....suddenly i was hearing about company after company going out of business....people laid off all over the country....my own family was put into dire straights at a point.

now...suddenly...everyone's getting Sun messages....ravens are cramming themselves into my yard and all over my town (in South West Michigan)...Herons are all over..as are the Canadian geese, rabbits, coyotes, frogs....and get this: Black Eagles! we have two pair nesting in trees less than a mile from our home and there have been more pairs sighted!

The river has risen...not much...but some....several dried up lakes around me now have patches of water in them....some of these lakes have been dry for years!

we're getting messages...they're encoded....we MUST decipher them! I know in my heart of hearts... that when the water levels rise...the economy will get better......but there's something else giong on besides........

Anyone else notice things like this?

[She-Arna]

I wonder why we're all getting such strong Sun messages.

[Elfa Wylde]

I was thinking about the Sun thing last night....in Tarot the Sun stands for joy and good things.....is there going to be an upswing in the good things?

think...think.... what does the Sun represent? this is gonna drive me nuts til i figure it out (LOL typical me.....)

[serenarian]

Originally posted by WhiteCat

Arianrhod is my patron Goddess. Im not too sure if She chose me or I chose her. Im still thinking about that one.

I remember seeing her name written on a large banner at a wise woman celebration, and it just stuck in my head. I did not know much about Arianrhod, but did know She was a welsh deity. and I have been pulled towards the welsh deities since i began studying the pagan path.

I was sitting out side in my garden and found my self asking her to teach me about her and her mysteries. A few days later I had the most remarkable meditaion/journey. Arianrhod came to me and although she did not speak,I knew she was agreeing to take me on as a student of her mysteries.

Some day i hope to travell to Wales and see the sacred sites!

WhiteCat,
BroomRider

Arianrhod is my patron too. I don't know whether it's because I'm Welsh myself, but when I was learning about Wicca, I saw her name in a book and it grabbed me. I felt so drawn to her, and then I began to study her myths and realised how much she could teach me. Arianrhod is also the Old Welsh name for the moon, and I have always, since I was very small, had a fascination with the moon.

And WhiteCat, I'm sure Wales will welcome you with open arms.

Cofion, (it means best wishes, it's Welsh)
SilverArian

[RedCelt]

I have a question for anyone who might know. Are you only supposed to have one Patron Deity? Or can you split yourself between...say two? And if you do, does it have to be Goddess and od or can it be 2 Goddesses?

[linaia]

I was picked by mine also. Ilmatar, the goddess mother of the Finnish pagans. I had NO idea I wanted to be a pagan, let alone go the rather lonely path of the Finns, but I kept dreaming and seeing and thinking and hearing and dreaming of the goddess. I reached into my rune sack (for the very first time I may add) and her rune was the one I pulled out. I almost cried. It was all very serendipitous and quite lovely. She makes me feel warm and golden and loved. The "mother" is a warm and golden and loving mother.

[linaia]

Interesting! I was just thinking that myself when I saw your post. I had just posted a reply on how I was chosen by Ilmatar as her "child" and how she is warm and golden and loving. The Finns don't traditionally worship the moon goddess, their goddess is of the Sun because in Finland, THAT's where life lies. Warm Regards, Linaia

[TimoDajibael]

My patron is Athene. I know that thats probably extemely popular, but you really have no choice in these matters.

I found out while I was in a Belthaine circle (my first, three years ago) and the Priestess told us to visualize our femine inner selves. I saw the Owl, the Helm, the Aegis and the Goddess Athene, and ever since then I've been on a slippery slope to undertstanding why.

[linaia]

Hi, I believe that Flidas (Flidais) may also be Epona, the goddess of the horse and the stag. There's a nice site you might like to visit which talks about her. Warm Regards, Linaia

http://www.timelessmyths.com/celtic/danann.html#Flidais

[DarkFlora]

hi.

Flora is my patron. (I love how that sounds. It's like patron saint, only I've never been Catholic, and so felt left out.) She's not very popular as a patron, I think mostly because of her reputation as a "slut." It's funny that she chose me, because I am very monogamous!
I don't know how she found me...I think she worked her way into my life slowly so that I wouldn't freak out. I have always been drawn to images of trees, tree-ladies and of figures morphing into flowers and such, and I think that was her initial calling to me. One day I looked around my home and saw her image in my artwork, and suddenly it clicked...
She is a major creative goddess, and since I am an artist by trade, I find her energy helps me. Also, I think her aspects of gentless and love are much needed in my life, because I tend to be aggressive and depressed often.
I could go into this more...but why??? :)

"The Love of Flowers is so Widespread That No Explaination is Truly Necessary."

[redheadwitch]

i love all these stories!

as for RedCelt:
hey, i am no expert on this stuff...and i wondered about the whole "is it only one, or can there be more thing" because

i have three!

i have been interested in the whole Egyptian pantheon for ages.
and at some point i just thought Isis was THE COOLEST EVER!
but i hadn't yet really realized i was "pagan" or knew anything about patron anything!

but eventually i just kept being "Isis-ized"
and yet Artemis was pulling on my arm as well, and everywhere i went i would read something about "diana" (artemis) or the moon goddess this, the moon goddess that, and i had to wonder.

and then somehow Hecate got all jealous, or curious, or interested...
and then i was torn between the three!

so one night i laid down and just said, look, fight it out, but somebody tell me whose the boss, or if i can have you all??

and oddly to me, Artemis came to me first, but they all came to me, and i felt that they are all the triple goddess to me...

Artemis is the maiden
Isis is the mother
Hecate is the crone.

and they all represent aspects of me...animal lover, lover of men(!), and lover of magick.

so i have 3, what can i say?? :bigredblu

[Mnemosyne]

hi.

Flora is my patron. (I love how that sounds. It's like patron saint, only I've never been Catholic, and so felt left out.) She's not very popular as a patron, I think mostly because of her reputation as a "slut." It's funny that she chose me, because I am very monogamous!
I don't know how she found me...I think she worked her way into my life slowly so that I wouldn't freak out. I have always been drawn to images of trees, tree-ladies and of figures morphing into flowers and such, and I think that was her initial calling to me. One day I looked around my home and saw her image in my artwork, and suddenly it clicked...
She is a major creative goddess, and since I am an artist by trade, I find her energy helps me. Also, I think her aspects of gentless and love are much needed in my life, because I tend to be aggressive and depressed often.
I could go into this more...but why??? :)

"The Love of Flowers is so Widespread That No Explaination is Truly Necessary."

I agree with you. I too love Flora. Artwork also drew me into her. When I saw her in Bottecelli's Primavera painting, I was instantly drawn to her. I see her as a motherly goddess though.

[Khell]

Hi. I'm new here, but I think I can still give you this advise, when chooseing your god or goddess, just do what I did: Go with the one that you can relate to the most. Thats the best advise that i think anyone can give you, so good luck!

Khell

[indigo rain]

i did a meditation to find out who my patron was, at the time i was only looking for one. all i could do was get a vision of a crescent moon, waning. i thought, okay she's the crone, but who? i had the urge to get online, so i did. i looked for an egyptian crone goddess, because the egyptian pantheon always was a fascination to me, and i found sekhmet. as soon as i saw her and read her story, i knew she was the one. later i chose horus, because i felt he was a balance to her. when i was looking for a patron god, i picked up a book at a garage sale thinking it would be an interesting story about egypt. it was, and the main character's patron was horus. as i was reading it, i couldn't stop thinking, he should be my patron too, it just feels right. and that's how i get most info- intuition, maybe a little bit of vision.

[Jenet]

Before I actually get on and answer the original thread: Elfa Wylde, you may like to chat with Sianand flidais, she also follows Flidais (as you might have gathered) and there is a post from her here: http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?threadid=28787
on the subject of who Flidais actually is.

Hmm, on to me.

I don't really have a specific patron, I work most often with Brigid, the Morrigan and Aphrodite. The last may seem strange coming from a Celtic pagan but this particular Goddess and I have had a rather special relationship since she decided to prove something to me about three and a half years ago. I also came into paganism in part through my obsession with Classical myth.

Brigid was the first one I turned to when I was called to Celtic and I have since discovered that the Morrigan calls out to the warrior in me. When it comes to others who I call upon for aid I have a fondness for Diana, Arawn and Taliesin. Again there's the Greek connection - go figure, these two just don't seem to want to let me go and I'm not going to argue with them.

I've had it said that not having a specific patron can make you a little vulnerable to somethings although it does give you more freedom. Anyone else have an opinion/theory on this one?

Unity
Jenet

[TheeHeks]

I was drawn to Isis and the Egyptian pantheon since I was small. I would always, when visiting my grandmother, take the dictionary and read everything that was written about that. Most I was drawn to stories about Isis and Bast.
When I had my pc in 98, that's also what I liked to do, go on internet and read stories on that. History and all that. But I was that time not Pagan yet, at least not consciously.
I started this path in 2001 or so, and from the start have dione rituals with Isis, Bast, Horus etc.

TheeHeks

[FeatherGoblinglimmer]

I am still trying to find the goddess that feels right for me. There are a few I have and do pray to and work with but they don't feel quite right. I tend to be drawn to moon goddess's like Diana, i hope my search will end soon

[Mnemosyne]

I am still trying to find the goddess that feels right for me. There are a few I have and do pray to and work with but they don't feel quite right. I tend to be drawn to moon goddess's like Diana, i hope my search will end soon

Don't worry dear. Over the years, my needs and characteristics change. As a result, I feel drawn to different goddesses from time to time. I kind of like searching, so I really don't want my search to end. It keeps me on my toes and learning each day.

[Kalika]

Kali is my patron Goddess...

And I feel both ways... that I chose her, and that I was chosen in turn.
I kept reading books by various authors... fiction books at the time... and Kali was mentioned in several, which was odd to me, because I hadn't heard much of her previously. So I started doing research... and it just kind of clicked. The essence of what she is "the creator & destroyed or all things", a mother aspect, and devourer of time, just seemed right for me. She has the positive as well as the darker side, and isn't necessarily depicted as beautiful, but she is.

Sorry... I rambled. :)

Hope that makes some sense!!

Blessed be.

Kalika

[Shira-Chan]

:headphone Mine was kinda of odd in a sense. Ever since I was little, I was attracted to Egyptian mythologie. So my "imaginary friends" as a kid, where the gods. But after a couple of years, they where put in the back of my mind. Until the seventh grade. Everything was going wrong, I felt abandon and rejected. I was in the school library and I look out the window, and I saw, just for a second, the image of a young man (20-25) looking up at me, smiling. I blinked and he was gone. So I asked someone who was also looking out the window if she had seen him. And she said 'no'. That freaked me out. But then I kept seeying him. Outside my house, while I was riding my bike, but one day, I just didn't see him again. Then I changed schools, regained confidence in myself, I restarted to re-read the same book, but then the glossare of the gods name went blurry, and the only thing that was clear was the name 'Anubis'. And then in my mind's eye, I saw him smile. It was him along. He was trying to reach me. Ever since then, Anubis has been with me. He comforts me when I'm depressed, and when I lose sight of reality, he helps me get it back. I can always count on him for help. I don't know where I would be today without him ^_^ I love my Anpu!

[Bainidhe Dub]

Though I haven't had one particular deity jump out at me, there have been a few that have caught my eye.

The first time I tried meditating, I decided to ask for guidance as I was not feeling particularly secure and was very unhappy, second-guessing myself constantly. Athena decided to join me, and gently reminded me that she was always there with me and that I wasn't drawn to the Phoenix for nothing. "Out of the ash..."

I have also had an affinity for the Morrigan (Macha, Badb, and Nemain) and for Hecate. I call upon the Morrigan usually when I feel threatened in some way, and Hecate guides me when I am undecided.

[Stillwater Spirit]

Asherah

I would very much like to know about the connection about "The Shekinah", and "Asherah". I have found the Pagan connection strong through out some of the "Traditional" Christian teachings, but hidden, and modified, but there all the same. This is especially true here in the Southwest, where many Native Americans had to modify their beliefs about creation and also regarding their Gods/Goddesses.
Once "organized" religion was pushed on them, they had to hide their traditional beliefs.

[TaysatWesir]

Maihes the lion headed Netjer, son of Bast is my patron. I found him through a good friend who too had Maihes as a patron. I chose Maihes because he is not largely worshiped and a unique Netjer. Besides that I can relate to his aspects and in case your interested here is a page about Maihes (http://www.thekeep.org/~kunoichi/kunoichi/themestream/maahes.html).

[Mesektet]

Osiris is the patron form of Deity that has become apart of me.

[MoonCrystal]

I feel sort of drawn towards Hecate. Nothing definate like visions or anything, I just feel comfortable with her, she seems to speak to me on some level. Do you think this means that she is my patron deity?

[Yasmine Galenorn]

I know we have a few threads already on patron deities, but I couldn't find one about this aspect of it in particular...

For those of you who have a specific patron god or goddess - how did you first come to know that s/he was your patron? Was it a decision you made yourself, or were you chosen by them?

If you felt you were chosen, how did they make this clear to you? Were there signs, messages, or just a feeling that this was what they wanted?

If you chose your patron yourself, how did you come to the decision that s/he was the one you wanted to dedicate yourself to?

I was called into service. And when the gods call, you know, believe me. It wasn't subtle for me in any way whatsoever. My service is for life--no getting out of it, no oathbreaking, no walking away if I get antsy or it gets hard. And I love it....

Yasmine G.
Priestess of Mielikki and Tapio going on 12 years
(I was called to them after being generally in the Craft for 12 years).

[Gorgonqueen]

Hi Cait!
To answer your question, sometimes the goddess chooses us. Sometimes we choose the goddess.
In my case, I researched different mythologies from around the world, prayed to many of the different goddesses and invoked them in rituals. Finally, I decided that I felt the strongest connection with Astarte, queen of heaven. A Phoenician goddess of love, fertility and war. I know that Astarte is watching over me, and guarding my destiny. Astarte is my patron goddess. Forgive me for my presumptiousness, but I assume that as you are asking this question, you have not yet chosen a patron goddess? My advice to you, is to pray and meditate, get some good books on world mythologies, and give it time. The goddess will come to you, when she is ready or feels that you are ready. Or you may decide, as I did, that you have discovered for yourself, your patron goddess. When you finally discover your patron, you have to build a relationship with her, this means regular prayer and meditation. Of course, you do not need to have just one patron goddess, you might choose two, or perhaps three. I would not advise having any more than three, however. The rest is for you to discover for yourself. Blessed Be.

[Gorgonqueen]

Hi Yasmine!
My sister has your book, 'Embracing the Moon'. I have read it several times, and it's fantastic. I absolutely loved it from start to finish. It was so inspiring and helpful. I was very interested to hear about your patron deities being Mielikki and Tapio. I have looked into Norse mythology in the past and read several books, but could never find out much about the two of them. Please could you share with me, what you know about Mielikki and Tapio. And tell me how you came to choose them as your patrons? Blessed Be.

[*GrumpButt*]

Bast is mine, or I am her's.

One day when I took my dog Dragon in to the verts for her shots, I saw a cage with kittens in it. I lawys go over and visit but I had never taken one before, my parents forbade it lol.
Well I am playing with the two big ones, and I saw this liiiiittle one laying at the back of the cage, she did not come to me, she did not even notice me. She looked at me like "whatever" .lol

So I have Dragon in the vets office and she is getting her shots, well a thunderbolt from the blue struck, I had the overwhelming feeling to take the small kitten, who by the way I thought at the time was kinda ugly, she has kinda bug eyes lol.
The feeling was so strong that I almost left the dog in the office to go get the cat lol.

I had already told the vet that I didnt want any of them, but as soon as her shots were done, I raqn to that cage and took out that lil bug eye.. lol

Well after parents screaming and bitching, I had to name her. I wanted to name her after a goddess. So I got out my book and went down the list, just the names I didnt look at what they ment. Well I get to Bast and I just stoped, I didnt know what it ment but I KNEW that was her name lol.

And since then I have felt very close to her. long story short:
Bast chose me, she might have taken the long way around but I finially got it lol.
:colorful:

[Yasmine Galenorn]

Hi Yasmine!
My sister has your book, 'Embracing the Moon'. I have read it several times, and it's fantastic. I absolutely loved it from start to finish. It was so inspiring and helpful. I was very interested to hear about your patron deities being Mielikki and Tapio. I have looked into Norse mythology in the past and read several books, but could never find out much about the two of them. Please could you share with me, what you know about Mielikki and Tapio. And tell me how you came to choose them as your patrons? Blessed Be.

Hey there! There's a forum about my books--both fiction and nonfiction--here on MW--take a look under "The Author's Circle" and you can find it. (URL: http://www.mysticwicks.com/forumdisplay.php?f=64 )

Join the discussions if you like. Also, what information I've had time to write up about the Finnish mythology is on my site---very different from Norse, so take a look there. Not much info about the old Finnish religion is very accessible, especially in English, and primarily because it was an oral tradition rather than being written...everything was passed down in song and poetry.

My main site link is: http://www.galenorn.com and to the Finnish site in particular: http://www.galenorn.com/puhuriglacier

Nice to meet you, (I'm short on time today or would post more).

Yasmine

[aluokaloo]

Fenris always came to me in dreams, but I was never sure of who He was. I often had dreams of Fenris bringing me through times of pain and joy, and forcing me to fight through them, I am a chaotic person by nature, finally I heard His name and began to wonder, one day when I was at school they brought in guests who owned wolves, and wolf hybrids, I knew then. Diana is my Patroness Deity,I have always loved the moon and the night sky, She came to me in a dream, and when I woke up, there was beautiful moonlight spilling through the window on my daughter's bed and my fiance's face, and over me. I knew then I think, I could be wrong however it could be Tiamat. :huddle:

[Isildae]

. . .Is Lilith, and she came to me before I even became a Pagan. I was very alone and confused at that time, but somehow I knew I had a guide or spirit with me. I began to dream of a woman alone in a desert. Sometimes she would dance in my dreams and I would feel my spirit being liberated when I watched her. I began reading different books about goddesses and came upon Lilith quite accidently, and the more I found out about her the more I would have visions about the dancing woman. Sometimes she would have wings, and I would see her flying in a jungle or garden, and sometimes she would come in the guise of an owl.

The more I thought about it the more *knew* this woman was really Lilith, and that she was trying to communicate with me, and empower me, and show me my full worth in this life. She is a dark goddess but she is also a Mother Goddess in her own right, and harbours a nuturing spirit.

I chose her to be mine as much as She chose me. . .

I also called upon the Horned God almost a year before I found my faith. I did it foolishly and with little knowledge of how invocations really worked, thinking nothing would come of it. But then one night I awoke from a dream and felt something sitting on my bed, and sure enough there was a strange looking man sitting crosslegged where my legs were. At first I was afraid and thought he was a regular man, but then I looked up and realized he had very long antlers, and then I realized just *who* he was. He could have caused me harm for my calling him out of foolishness, but instead he was kind to me and made me feel at ease. I've felt a bond with him since that night.

That's how my Patrons came to me, and as you can see thay chose me just as much as I chose them. I guess that's just how it works with the gods. :)

[ButterflyBranwynn]

I have a few little things that drew me to mine. Over the years the same name just kept coming up with different spellings. Then I finally decided to do research on her and learn some more. :) But I also seem to relate to a few others as well.

:colorful:
Blessings,
ButterflyBranwynn

[softlyserpentine]

i am dedicated to the classical greek pantheon in general {i'm also polytheistic when it comes to deity beliefs}, but my patrons right now are dionysus and persephone in particular...i would say that they chose me because it was a suprise...i was doing some further research on different gods and goddesses of the helenistic culture and came across some information about them...and after that it was divine inspiration :)...i was moved to come to them: by feelings and dreams...i would say, though, that the patrons that have chosen me have a lot to do with the stage of my life that i am going through, or the situation i am in at the time...because i have had other patrons come to me before {gaia, aphrodite, pan, zeus}...and i will probably have many different patrons as time goes by...i don't know if that might seem weird to anyone, but as time passes by, each of the patrons i have had have given me invaluable experience and greater appreciation for each of my gods...

:erin

[Karmendi]

Every time I want to post about Lilith Isaldae beats me to the punch :smile:
My patron is Lilith as well. I remeber she found me or visa versa when I was really scared. Of what I can't remember, all I remember is being terrified then feeling something feathery around me. I then started to "see" with my spiritual eyes and found wings, wings that were dark grey in color and then I saw a red headed woman. She sorta wrapped her wings around me and I felt so *safe* something I rarely feel. I was then reading around the web when I saw my favorite artist (Jessica Galbreth) had a new gallery called Night Magick. I looked at the paintings and there she was! My red headed dark winged goddess. I saw she was called Lilith so I did some information on her. Ever sense then she is close by and I can just *feel* when she is near.

[arowind]

:rotfl: still dont have one. well, not a specific diety. i alus like the goddess. she's like, a divine super mom. so i just connect to hre. im kindaq an intrevert. (hee hee lame ol me) so yes. if i could choose who chooses me, (other than the all) id so go for a celtic diety. not epona though. i just never liked them much. ... nothing person to any who do like them, meant no offence. peace

[HorseCrow]

I never actively searched for a matron/patron. But over the years, Artemis continually and time again popped up in my life- in paintings, books, on the net, as sculptures (a sculpture of Artemis was erected in a park 20 m from my house!), in conversation, on Tv and most importantly, in dreams and meditations.
So, finally it dawned on me, that there might be a reason for all this, and so I started reading up on Artemis, and law and behold, it all made sense...

[mydemand]

My Patron Goddess is Kali-She let me know LOUD and clear she wanted me.

Just curious - but how did Kali let you know she wanted you?

I've got this mental image of Kali yelling in your ear "COME ON OVER HERE LADY!" and it's making me giggle XD

B*B, Tiara

[mydemand]

I've been drawn to Lilith for quite a while, though I honestly can't remember where I first heard of her. I remember thinking for a long time that Lilith was a beautiful name for someone, and had this image of her being strong and self-sufficient and fiery.

Recently I just kept hearing her name more and more, and I stumbled onto discussion about her. I asked my closest friend - and spiritual advisor - about it and she told me to go for it! So here I am :)

B*B, Tiara

[Wolf Dancer]

Welcome, Darksapphyre - I'm pretty new as well. :)

Anyway, part of the reason I posted this question is that I suspect I've been getting... um... attention, lately. Now, I don't want to ignore such things, but equally, I'm sort of wondering whether it really is anything, or whether it's just imagination and wishful thinking (...or for that matter, whether I'm just going crazy). Does anyone have any advice on this sort of thing? Sorry for being vague and unhelpful, but... Well, did anyone else go through anything like this? What was it that made you feel sure that a deity was trying to get in touch with you?

:dontknow: You are just in a 'state of confusion', I know the state cause I have been there myself. I have always lived the Native way, and didn't know much bout the names of God/desses. Then a pretty lady sittin on the quarter moon spoke to me one evenin'. Since then I have read everything I can on certain ones. The ones that come to you, research and welcome them. Listen/watch for repeative thoughts, ideas, dreams, even songs. It maybe a T.V. show, or movie. Listen, I know you can hear it on the wind...........

[KissMeImIrish!]

This would be a good place to ask everyones help. I have a problem. are you ready? *drumroll* I've never really HAD a patron goddess. *gasp* well, I have and I haven't. I read all your posts and I can SEE what kind of a relationship you have with your respective deities and I've never really had that with a specific deity. I mean, I feel that way about the Goddess but shes more a generic figure...just, the goddess. I've tried to search for a patron, but I haven't had any deity just hit me with a 'ton of bricks' as one poster put it. I really want a patron, but it seems no one wants me! *sniffle* jk. Really though, has anyone else experienced this before? I have a patron God that I work with (Ganesh) and I even feel a strong bond with Cernunnos (sp?), but no goddess! whats going on here? does anyone have any suggestions, maybe some meditations or something I could give a try? It kind of bothers me!

[Felis Sorror]

Well, you could try meditating on the subject... or finding mythology books and just flipping through the pages. See if anything jumps out at you.

As for me, Morrigan chose me. Since I first heard about her, things just kept adding up. I kept seeing the largest crows I'd ever seen in my life around my house... I kept having dreams about black horses... I cut my hand open on a kitchen knife and got blood all over my shirt, and when I ran back the hall to try and get the blood out, I realized that this was another of Morrigan's trademarks. I knew that she had called me.

With Brighid, it was a little more subtle. I had been going through a large writer's despression, and I called upon Brighid to help me get through it. Since then, I've felt very attuned to her.

As for Anubis and Artemis, I haven't really worked much with them but I consider them my p/matrons because of the deep affinity I feel for them.

[doni_girl69]

Hi, I new here, but I just have to reply to this.
Mine is the Mother Goddess, and Hades. I am not sure if Hades chose me, or I chose him. But I have since searched everywhere on line on him. I would love to find more people who are connected with Hades, because I am sort of at a loss. No matter how much I try to concentrate on some other God, he pops back into my life. So I downloaded a pic of him off line, and I have it on my altar. I am inclined to Erkishgal, and Kernunnos. And Aradia as well. :cheers:

[RubyRose]

Morrigan stuck out to me the minute I started researching the Celtic Pantheon. Although by the time I knew I wanted to work with her, I had moved on to a Welsh Pantheon. And imbedded within the Arthurian myths was Morgan le Faye, who is linked with Morrigan.

And then I just started seeing crows around me, which led me to believe that Morrigan was around and was calling me.

[RowanMegaera]

I grew up agnostic, my parents were not religious and taught me to look for my own answers, always encouraging me to read or research anything that drew me. I attended sunday school for a few years when I was little but always felt closer to god in nature. I found the pagan path when I was 12 and began my studies in earnest. I had my dedication at 14 and practiced quite happily for 12 years. For me the Goddess and God were Mother and Father. I had studied mythology for ages and could recite the pantheons like my own family trees, but I never felt the need to limit myself to one set or the other. I had always felt "all gods are one god" and left it at that. A few years ago I discovered tribal style belly dancing and became enthralled! I felt so powerful dancing. I could lose myself for hours, coming to my senses in a heap on the floor panting, sweating and exhausted. For me, dancing was my way to worship. Then, for my birthday my friend and dance teacher gave me a beautiful lithograph which she said reminded her of me. It was Todd Lockwood's drawing "Kali" I broke into tears, it was Mother! From that moment on, Kali has been my life.

[Ishtara]

Ancient Egypt has been a passion for me since I was a young girl. My parents were adamantly atheist and basically taught me that spirituality was "dangerous" and for the psychologically weak. Needless to say, it took me years to recognize this attraction to Kemet for what it really was and to answer the call of Netjer :)

I was still on the fence about my beliefs, wondering what to do with myself spiritually speaking, when one night I had this amazing dream: I was standing in front of the pylon of the Temple of Heru in Edfu, where all the Gods and Goddesses were assembled. They were mingling and talking to each other in small groups. It was an impressive sight, but at the same time it had a deeply joyous and inviting feel to it, almost like... a cocktail party (I hope this will not come across as disrespectful!).
So I took a deep breath and decided to approach Them.
Soon I realised that I had nothing to fear and that They welcomed and answered my questions. It was an incredible feeling. I talked to all the Gods and Goddesses I could, but by far the most patient, helpful and generous with Their answers were Maat, Anpu and Djehuty.

They have not left me since :hearthear

[Raintreewolf]

Greetings all,
I believe this is my first post here....
I love this topic and I have loved reading what everyone has had to share on this subject as well as in similar threads.
Oh, the first Goddess that came to me was Ishtar. When I was 17 and just really getting inot meditation and going on quests, I came out of a meditation where I had gone on a wonderful journey into the memory banks of my DNA and was viewing past lives I had lived....what sorta of brought me out of that meditation was the sound of my own voice chanting Ishtar, Ishtar, Ishtar. Well, I did not know anything about this word and thus my journey into Ishtar. Ishtar has been my Matron Goddess for many years since and actually many of the Goddess with different names are all actually other forms of her, I find.
Diana has come to me quite often, I will see her ghost like image in someone's aura and she will like relate things to me that pertain to that person as she knows them or something like that. I honor her, though she is a helper more than my Matron Goddess.
I have come to a Pantheon in my psyche....there are many in me, they initiate me, advise me, direct me and sometimes one is stronger than than another and will direct a path for me for awhile.
Recently I have become very fascinated with the Egyption mythologies.....and oddly, I find myself very drawn to Hathor....who is like Isis but it is Hathor....she has been in my life for so long....as I scan back over I see all that I have aquired for her worship, the structure of my self belief conditionings, images of her. SHe has been with me for so long and I just recently woke up to her. This is very odd for me. She is teaching me so much now that I'm aware of her prescence in my life. I have come across other people who have also had the Egyption influence over thier lives for a long time before they truelly awakened to it/ them.....Those deities are subtle arn't they, but very powerful once tuned into them. I half to say, that I love Hathor or Het-Hert more than any Goddess ever before. I have loved them all, do not get me wrong but the Goddess in the form of Het-Hert has been such a beautiful wonderment, I get this very swollen feeling of bliss and love for her more than I have ever really remember having before with any other aspect of the Goddess. Perhaps it is because I now see her hand in my life for all these years. With her the struggle ceases, a calm cool gentle breeze, a warm zepher, large gentle eyes, lazy summer days, innocence, purity bliss, unity eternal youth all seem to culminate.
I half to say this is very ironic for me, as I recently have come to the final stages of menapause ( which has occured in my mid thrities ) and I went on a search for a Goddess in this part or stage of my life. I thought it would be Hecate' or Kali, or some black/fire stong and wise crone type goddess. Sigh....and alas, I rest with the eternal virgin aspect of a Goddess. I now understand how Hecate' was on the throne before Kore in the underworld and that the throne has never been empty and how, of course, that trilogy of goddess's ( Demeter, Persephony and Hecate' ) are are actually linked as one....and how one comes back to the virgin in later years....does this make any sense to anyone else. I really have a hard time explaining this personal experience I have had with the Goddess. Though I know, that there are bread crumbs left by others through out the ages that have actually been intimating this.

Ahhh, the Goddess is good, the Goddess is great and above all else she esteems her lover and so do I.

[Toki Wartooth]

Wow...I can't remember if I answered this, but I think my answer has changed a bit anyway.

I've always felt drawn to the Roman and Greek pantheons, and since I've been in Latin in high school, it's helped. I've also always been attracted to the Egyptian pantheon to a degree, though not as much as the former two.

At the moment, I would say my patron deities are Athena and Apollo. I feel as if I'm almost a carbon-copy, human-form of Athena. I don't mean to say this in any demeaning way at all; it's just that I feel I fit perfectly as a daughter of Athena. She is a perfect career Goddess, and if there's something I really put my heart, mind, and soul into, it's whatever may help my career. I'm only in high school, but I've been putting a lot of effort into college and what I'm going to do for a life-long career. She's the perfect one to turn to, for me. I also feel some type of affinity with owls...It's come in various forms. I used to love the owl from Little Bear, I think owls got a bad wrap in Once Upon a Forest, and I love Hedwig from Harry Potter. Owls are fantastic creatures. I've also always liked snakes. And olives? Delicious, green and black. As a Goddess of wisdom and a survivor, She provides strength for me, something I really need. It all fits, as far as I'm concerned.

As for Apollo, I'm kinda surprised he'd be a patron deity of mine. I never really would've thought of Him that way. I found out when I got ill of the stomach. Who would I turn to when sick? Well, I figured Apollo because of a story we did in Latin from Ovid's Metamorphoses, "Daphne and Apollo". If there's one little bit of dialogue I always get stuck in my mind, it's when Apollo states, 'Medicine is my invention'. That was a green light. I started praying to Him, then, for my health and strength to endure the illness, and after communing with him for days, I feel as if we have some connection. It also helps that He's a God of intellectualism and of the Muses, which almost goes hand-in-hand with Athena/Minerva.

As for any other patron deities, perhaps Thoth shall become one of mine. He's the main Egyptian deity I had been attracted to since I got this one game for 4th graders or something...It took place in Egypt, and one came across Thoth near the ending of the game. Players only come into contact with him about five times for spelling, but that was enough to interest me. Whoever did His voice...well, the voice was very, very fitting. Since then, I've been interested in Him. I've been doing a little reading here and there on Him, but I must do more. I have prayed to Him once or twice, but I haven't felt that same strong affinity as I do for Apollo. Nevertheless, as I'm a reader/writer, I think Thoth and I fit together well, and I would not mind having three patron deities. The more the merrier, if you ask me.

Anyway, I don't know how useful this is to anyone, but all that's my story.

[ShadowcatX]

I don't have any actual patron dieties though like some here I worship (I guess you would say generic) Lord and Lady.

However, I am drawn to Marduk and Ishtar. I've done a bit of work with Fortuna and Kali.

However, if I ever do take (or accept?) a patron diety or two one of them will likely be Bast, if she'll have me. I don't know if I called on her, or if she just decided to talk to me or what but she offered me a friend and companion that I had asked for and I had to reject it and that bothers me (esppecially if I went to her and asked for the companion, which I don't know if I did or not.) However, it was all I could do at that time. (Though once I get my own place that will be a different story.)

[Serenity's LostSoul]

I too have felt a very stong pull towards the sun lately. I have always preferred the darkness of night, but within the last year I have suns popping up all over my home.
Perhaps we should start a new thread to see if this is also happening to others????
And possibly find out why.....

in ter esting.....


Add one more to the list; just a week or two ago it dawned on my that while I've always been searching for the 'usual' moon connections, *picture frying pan upside head here* not only has the biggest issue I've had about possibly moving to Canada is the fact that it's not as sunny as here in the SW and I suffer from SAD, but that it's the sun that gives life and without it there would be no life. Now granted, I've known this for a long time, obviously, but it was if a synapse fired just right in my mind and I found that the reason I've been having quandries over 'is or isn't this goddess calling me' is simply because I've been concentrating on the wrong ones.

It has, though, caused me to look at Hathor a bit more deeply; she's always been around on the fringes, and she's sort of jumping to the forefront at the moment.
:woot:

[BlueMoon13]

Well, there are those deities whose attributes I admire, and those who have come to me,and one pair whose "interest" in me was revealed to a coven brother.

[wanderlust*]

I dont remember how I came into contact with Anu. But she's never left my side.

[Raintreewolf]

It has, though, caused me to look at Hathor a bit more deeply; she's always been around on the fringes, and she's sort of jumping to the forefront at the moment.
:woot:

Oh, Hathor is so wonderful. Have you gotten a glimpse of her in your minds eye yet?

I usually have several Gods and Goddess's going but always a main one that I make an exclusive alter to.

[Serenity's LostSoul]

Oh, Hathor is so wonderful. Have you gotten a glimpse of her in your minds eye yet?

Actually, I have an absolutely :gorgeous: print of a painting by Dawn Wilson; it's done is a light amber color, and she is holding her hands up, palms out with light eminating from the palms. It's only from about chest up, and my friend has a print of the full picture.

Here's a link (my print is 5x7 and the color is darker...less gold... and of course the picture is much, much clearer) http://www.sacredimages-ami.com/posters.html (you have to scroll down)

_happydanc

[Raintreewolf]

Actually, I have an absolutely :gorgeous: print of a painting by Dawn Wilson; it's done is a light amber color, and she is holding her hands up, palms out with light eminating from the palms. It's only from about chest up, and my friend has a print of the full picture.

Here's a link (my print is 5x7 and the color is darker...less gold... and of course the picture is much, much clearer) http://www.sacredimages-ami.com/posters.html (you have to scroll down)

_happydanc


Oh, oh oh, that is an absolutely WONDERFUL picture of Het-Hert ( Hathor ). SO lovely, thank you for sharing!

~Rain Tree Wolf :yourock:

[Serenity's LostSoul]

Glad you liked it!

:)

[Vitkyng]

I know we have a few threads already on patron deities, but I couldn't find one about this aspect of it in particular...

For those of you who have a specific patron god or goddess - how did you first come to know that s/he was your patron? Was it a decision you made yourself, or were you chosen by them?

If you felt you were chosen, how did they make this clear to you? Were there signs, messages, or just a feeling that this was what they wanted?

If you chose your patron yourself, how did you come to the decision that s/he was the one you wanted to dedicate yourself to?

My patrons are Freyja and Frey, and they definately chose me. it was there for awhile.. they kept appearing to me wherever I turned, as artwork, in books, in jewellry, etc. It was occurring a little too often to be coincidence. Finally it came to a head though when I had a very powerful 'dream' wherein Freyja and Frey quite literally snatched me up and said 'STOP IGNORING US!' They quite literally declared that I was 'theirs'. Ever since then, when I work with them, things just sort of 'click' or feel right.

As an interesting note I have once had a HP of a coven I was working with tell me that since the coven did not 'use the Norse pantheon', that if I was to become a Dedicant with the coven, I would have to choose a new patron or patrons. I was outraged.. my patrons chose me, not the other way around, and I wouldn't 'cast them aside' in any case. Suffice to say I did not petition to become a Dedicant.

[Happy Shrew]

That's really cool, Aranea, about you being so drawn to Athene and Apollo. I'm the same way, and also a fellow Capricorn. Take that as you will, I suppose.

I don't consider Athene to be quite at the level of matron because I'm always seeking her out and not the other way around. As opposed to Apollo, who has a hard time leaving me alone.

As I mentioned in another thread, when I started working with the Olympians, Apollo just kinda barged his way in. It was weird. I got to get a good sense of what he "felt" like during rituals for him, and every now and again something would happen and it would come with a burst of that feeling. Sort of a "hey, this was my doing" signal. I thought it was neat. He'd also come around when I was feeling lousy. He definitely shows his solar side well - there's a sort of warm golden glow about him that helps when you've got the blues.

Most compelling had to be when I was struck really hard with my depression last December. I literally did not want to get out of bed. I wanted to stop breathing altogether, actually. And, wouldn't you know, he showed up. I didn't want him there - I wanted to magically roll over and die - but he stayed anyway. Despite all of my protesting, he stayed there and sort of cleansed me with that golden glow of his. I was like a helpless child in his arms. And yes, I was able to recover after that point.

How do I know he's my patron? Same reason why I know the experiences weren't wishful thinking - even when I was pushing him away as hard as I could, he wouldn't go away. No matter what it is I may do with my life, he's not leaving. I've been claimed, and luckily for me, I'm okay with the idea.

[PropheticMonkey]

To be honest I'm very confused when it comes to my diety. I dont feel particulary drawn to any specific one, but a spirit that calls himself Enki sends me messages through dreams. I dont know how to worship him because I dont know much about him, only that he is very very old and has a bitter relationship with his brother who wanted to destroy all humans and his father who didnt care either way. Im still trying to find out things about him but we only "talk" when he decides to show himself which isnt very often.

[Childof_theMorrigan]

I was also chosen quite often through dreams and visions some of which I talked about in the thread who is your god/dess

after visions and dreams, I read about who I suspected they were. It didn't take me long to figure out Pan but it took me until this year to know for sure that Morrigan has been calling for years now and that I was ready to take on the task of being one of her children. After my dancing in the void with ravens vision, my high priestess said 'what does she have to do, hit you on the head a brick for you to get it?' Then she gave me Morgan Llewellyn's Red Branch and told me I'd know by the end of it... and of course I did.

[Antoninus]

Honestly I dont know. I guess she kinda chose me, but I dont know for sure. I just felt drawn to her more than other gods and goddeses

[Meadhbh]

It can take time and I've gone though my gods before deciding on Brighid, but our paths kept crossing thogh various roles I have played. Like Child said it took me a while to figure out what she wanted, but once I did it seemed everything came together.