What we be the God/dess of Computers?

[Gwion]

Hermes? Toth? Maybe we need to invent a new one. What would be a good name for a computer God or Goddess?

I just want someone to pray to when the tower starts making those coffee grinder noises and shuddering and flashing warnings of imminent doom. Maybe it's possessed or there's a gremlin infestation...

[Mnemosyne]

I think that there are gods and goddesses connected to the computer. When I am on the computer, I am usually doing work or educating myself. For that reason, I usually ask Athena, the goddess of wisdom, or the appropriate muse for assistance.

Are you wanting a deity to help you with your writings on the computer? How about Ogham? We were just discussing this god of writing in another thread. :D Or are you looking for a god of technology? I tend to think of Apollo or Hermes as being associated with technology. Hermes would be a good choice for a god of computers, since he is the god of communication. Perhaps you can ask him for assistance when communicating with people via the computer.

BB

[Caelin]

....imagining Hermes with a mobile phone...

[Mnemosyne]

:rotfl:
In my mind, Hermes has those winged shoes. He doesn't need a mobile phone since he can fly super quick to the person to whom he needs to talk. lol.

[Mythrel]

I can see Hermes being a network admin...making sure the web stays connected and as fast as possible...gotta make sure those messages get there on time!!!

[Ganga]

I would think of the goddess of learning who, for me, is called Sarasvati. Also any god/dess of communication could preside over the computer. Fun question.

[Mnemosyne]

Yeah, Sarasvati is good to call on when working with computers. You're on the same wave length as me; call on goddesses of wisdom when using the computer. People believe that Sarasvati is a goddess of writing to, yeah? What about calling on other gods and goddesses of writing such as Oghma?

[catlin]

Computers and other communications means have a tendency to break down when Mercury is retrograde. My tv set got its final break down on such a day.

[Mnemosyne]

Good point, Catlin! I didn't put two and two together to figure out that techonlogy doesn't always go as well when Mercury is in retrograde. I believe that members here were talking about why their computers and televisions...etc. weren't working well in the Astrology Forum a few months ago. Well, Mercury is no longer in retrograde, so I don't have to worry about bizarre communication problems. Now, Venus is in retrograde. I wonder what the deities have in store!

[Arduinna]

I vote for Hermes too.

Can we add Apollo so he can keep the computors safe and healthy?? LOL

[Danustouch]

Perhaps it would depend on what one does with their computer. I originally was thinking Hermes/Mercury, as well...Perhaps a God associated with Lightning, as well (electricity)

For an investigator, - Herne the Hunter, or Artemis the Huntress? Heh.

For a Poet, writer, or artist, who writes on the computer, and stores their work on one, Brighid?

For a Geneologist who uses it as a tool for their research...a Goddess associated with Family?

That was what I was thinking. Perhaps it has more to do with what you mainly use your computer for...

[Cait]

I've generally associated computers and the internet with Minerva and Mercury... although I'm not entirely sure I could explain why. :) I suppose because I think of them as being all about communication, which makes the Mercury connection obvious, and the spreading of information and knowledge, which strikes me as something Minerva would want to be involved with.

[Amethyst Rose]

I would (and have) associated Minerva with the computer, because she was sortof a goddess of technology (among other things). You might also consider Hephaestus, because he was the god of metal (forges/fire) and patron of craftsmen (might be a bit of a stretch).

[Mithrea]

I have two books at home: One is the Wiccan Web and the other is Cyberspells. They are both by Trish Telesco and Sirona Knight. There is a whole chapter dedicated to this. When I get home, I post some info :)

[Gwion]

I've often wondered about the connection between cyberspace and the spiritual world. In fact, I nominate William Gibson for computer God. He delves into this idea a lot, especially in Mona Lisa Overdrive.

(Gwion swallows the red pill, again)

[Mnemosyne]

Fabulous, Mithrea! I am looking forward to reading your info. I recall that you have been doing some research on technology and paganism. Hopefully, your projects have been doing well. :)

[tainted echoes]

*rolls over laughing* hermes! just because he's the coolest. hehehehehe. and michievous, i mean, how else do teens sneak around talking to their friends?

[Earthcup]

Coming from the MSU* tradition.....

Matrix!

Daughter of Hephaistos and Iris. Crafty communicator? :D

*Make Stuff Up :nyah:

Iris being Hera's messenger and Hephaistos being the bigger, better, faster More Power! Toolman I can see it happening. Of course Iris would be in big trouble should Hera find out about this union......

*wanders off pondering Olympian politics....*

[Mnemosyne]

Originally posted by Earthcup
Coming from the MSU* tradition.....

Matrix!

Daughter of Hephaistos and Iris. Crafty communicator? :D

*Make Stuff Up :nyah:

Iris being Hera's messenger and Hephaistos being the bigger, better, faster More Power! Toolman I can see it happening. Of course Iris would be in big trouble should Hera find out about this union......

*wanders off pondering Olympian politics....*

:rotfl:

Hera might accept Iris and Hephaistos' union. Look all the hook ups around her. If Hephaistos' wife Aphrodite could get with Ares, then, Hephaistos himself could team up with Iris.

If Hephaistos and Iris, don't work out, what about Iris and Hermes? Just think two deities of communication working together. Maybe Iris and Hermes are the computer gods for those people who have broadband; that's why their communication is pretty quick.

[Armitage]

Eris and Hermes...How else to explain why technology always screws up so spectacularly? :D

[Mnemosyne]

Originally posted by Armitage
Eris and Hermes...How else to explain why technology always screws up so spectacularly? :D

Beautifully said! lol. I have never read the words "screws" and "spectularly" in the same sentence here.

Yes, techology can be chaotic; however, it can be beautiful too. Remember that the messenger Eris can bring beautiful things into our lives- such as rainbows. And for Hermes- he is a messenger god who loves to play tricks. Now if only he would have my computer stop playing tricks on me! lol

[Mithrea]

Oh shwew!

Sorry this took so long.

Okay The Wiccan Web by Patricia Telesco and Sirona Knight has 10 pages worth of Gods/Goddesses associated with a computer. The Cyber Spellbook by the same authors has 28 pages. I can't just go typing it all on here without copyright violation (and because I don't have the time, sorry :( ). So . . . Mnem, how should we do this?

[Mnemosyne]

:boing: Yeah! Mithrea is going to teach us more about deities and the computer.

Hey, Mithrea, if you have read the books, could you possibly summarize the main points? Does each pantheon have a specific god/dess associated with the computer?

[Mithrea]

*in her teacher's voice*

Yes, both books are broken down by pantheon. Celtic, Egyptian, Greco Roman, Eastern Religions, Norse and Teutonic, and then "others." Ummm, that's in The Wiccan Web .

In The Cyber Spellbook they are all jumbled together.

They are both just lists, telling you which deity to use for each purpose or goal.

[Mnemosyne]

I'm a teacher too, so can I use my teacher's voice also? lol.

*in Mnem's teacher voice*

Mithrea, what are 2-3 deities from the Graeco Roman pantheon that one can call upon when using the computer?

[Mithrea]

Hecate -- since one of her symbols is the key, dedicated your passcodes to her.

Logos -- to help you understand your computer's logical functions.

Hermes -- for IM's, chat, emails and keeping the lines of communication in general open and working smoothly.

[Mnemosyne]

Many of us figured out that Hermes was associated with the computer. However, I would never have thought of Logos or Hekate. That Hekate keeps popping up in posts around here.

Thanks, Mithrea.

[Mithrea]

*peers over glasses*

Any more questions?




:p

[Cait]

Coming from the MSU* tradition.....

Matrix!

Daughter of Hephaistos and Iris. Crafty communicator?

*Make Stuff Up

Iris being Hera's messenger and Hephaistos being the bigger, better, faster More Power! Toolman I can see it happening. Of course Iris would be in big trouble should Hera find out about this union......


Heh!

I read a novel a while ago, which featured a lot of the Greek gods/goddesses, and talked about how they sort of carried on existing and doing stuff in the world long after most people had forgotten them...

Anyway, according to this novel, what happened was that in the early part of the 20th century, Ares and Athene finally made up their aeons-old quarrel and then, getting a bit carried away, ended up having sex. (Everyone was rather surprised by this, what with them hating each other, and Athene being a virgin, and all, but...) The result of this was Technossus, the god of technology. He grew to adulthood in a very short time, and then promptly starting having an incestuous affair with his mother, which resulted in the birth of Telecom, the young god of communications.

I just... thought it was funny, or something. :) Although Hephaistos and Iris works too. :)

[Mithrea]

Cait, I don't think that's funny, I think it sounds fascinating!! :D Do you remember the name of the book?

[Cait]

The title was "Down Among The Gods", but I'm afraid I can't remember the author's name. It was a pretty good book, and seemed very pagan-ish in its general outlook, although it never actually explicitly came out and said anything about it. It was narrated, if I remember correctly, by Hermes, and focused on his efforts to get through to a thirtysomething woman who had no idea he was there. Interesting stuff.

I still think the name "Telecom" is funny though. ;)

[Mithrea]

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1860494951/ref=ed_oe_p/102-7873384-4453763?v=glance&s=books&st=*

is that it? if it is . . . I'm going to order it. :)

[Cait]

That's the one. :)

[Mithrea]

Cool, thanks. Holiday reading! :D