How do you release Deity?

[Gently Gazing Eyes]

This is something I figured I would ask before I attempt to cast a circle and have a deep conversation with Goddess. Everywhere I've read agrees; you're not supposed to just finish up your little talk and run off to leave Deity sitting there in your circle until she finally gets bored and goes away (assuming such a thing even happens; for all I know, Deity may faithfully sit there until you come back minutes, hours, days, years afterward). All agree that you're supposed to release Deity after you've finished everything.

My question is this: How do you do this, respectfully?

I've given some thought to this, and I came to think of a few problems here. First of all, since you called Deity to you, don't you think it's just a wee bit rude to up and say "Ok we've had our meal and I'm done with you; go away now until I need you again?" I mean, no matter how nicely you word it, I can't think of any way around the fact that ultimately THAT IS what you'd be saying and implying.

Another problem which comes, from wondering why exactly you would WANT Deity to leave you. I confess I am very inexperienced, and this is why I have so many questions before I even try anything, but if I had established a connection with Deity, and She did not seem wanting to leave, I would wish her to be with me. I do not see why one would only wish to come into close contact with Deity at certain occassions when one could just simply not release her and sit and watch TV with Her or read a book with Her, maybe even have some idle chit-chat about the state of the multiverse.

Alright, I admit that the thoughts there were a bit ... selfish, but I mean no ill will in any way, nor am I trying to be disrespectful. I am merely voicing something I feel concerned about, and asking questions for which I can find no logical answer. I welcome the thoughts of others on what I have said, as well as, quite literally, how you people go about 'releasing' Deity.

[AstraSkye]

Originally posted by PaganInkubus

I confess I am very inexperienced, and this is why I have so many questions before I even try anything

Never stop asking questions... That's the far worst thing you can do...

[Faery-Wings]

My disclaimer- I am not Wiccan and tend to do things as they suit me. I am not big into ritual and spells as such, but more into "hanging out" with my God and Goddess.

I tend to see my Deities as very close, all the time. They are always with me, in me. I just use ritual, meditation or simple spell work to "tune" into them better. The shifting of my conciousness allows me to "hear" them more clearly and allows me to connect with them more closely.

When I am done with my ritual or meditation, I thank them and say kind of a "See you soon, Love ya!" I know they are not gone, just not at the forefront of my mind.

Like I said in my disclaimer, this might not work for any one but me. But feel free to take it for what it is worth for you. :)

[Mnemosyne]

I'm with Chyrssi. I use meditation as a way to get closer to the deity.

In my opinion, the deity is always with us. Because I feel that way, I don't want the deity to go away. I want the deity to be with me through all my times- good and bad.

[Flar's Freyja]

Originally posted by PaganInkubus

This is something I figured I would ask before I attempt to cast a circle and have a deep conversation with Goddess. Everywhere I've read agrees; you're not supposed to just finish up your little talk and run off to leave Deity sitting there in your circle until she finally gets bored and goes away (assuming such a thing even happens; for all I know, Deity may faithfully sit there until you come back minutes, hours, days, years afterward). All agree that you're supposed to release Deity after you've finished everything.

My question is this: How do you do this, respectfully?

I got a smile out of the way you put that. I think that you might be confusing this with calling and invoking the quarters, guardians and/or elements and putting up and taking down your circle. Whenever you set up circle, it is to remain unbroken until you take it down by dismissing. If someone needs to enter or leave after circle has already been cast, a door can be cut, opened and closed. See the Mystic Wicks Book of Shadows thread stuck at the top of this forum for threads on circle casting.

I also believe that Deity is with me all the time as mother, father, sister, brother, friend. I speak with Deity during meditation, during my day, in the car, while doing tasks and in my dreams.

[Gently Gazing Eyes]

I thank you all for your responses on my opinions, and all your input. :)

[Erincelt]

This is really very simple.. You invite deity to come to you... so just invite deity to leave. The Divine will do as they please, you simply extend the offer. At the beginning of ritual you ask them to come observe it and be with you "if they will" so end with the same, only reverse, telling them they may go "if they will". One very common phrase found in Wicca is "Go if thou must, stay if thou wilt." and all its derivatives. Simply stating "Thank you for attending, you may leave now if you need to, I'm through here." will work just fine. The Eternal Parents know what is in you heart, and if you mean what you say with respect and sincerity, they will respond. Just don't be commanding, and you'll be fine. Why not? Because its just rude, that's why. :)

[Gently Gazing Eyes]

Hmm.. never thought about that. Thanks Erin. :)

[Storm]

As I close this circle
go if you must
Stay if you will
But keep me well
on my path
until we meet again.

That is for any of my guardians, the Deity, guides, etc. And usually only if I cast a circle and invite any beings in. Otherwise I might just sit down into a meditation without a circle and start by saying "well this is whats going on, I did this and that and i wish.......and I am tired now, thanks for listening and goodnight." I only cast circles if I need to do any energy work, magick. If I just need to talk and get something off my chest I don't.

[Theres]

i dunno, but the idea of 'releasing' the deities seems a bit... presumptuous to me (as if we can tell them "okay, i'm done with you now, so you can go"!).

if i invoke a God/dess to join my ritual, then i finish by devoking them, and that can include some of the phrases posted above.

but it's really more than just a matter of semantics, it's a matter of attitude, i think.

[Gently Gazing Eyes]

I agree. :)

[Chibi-Fallon]

I'm very big into the whole "hanging out" with the Gods idea. But then again the God who's my most favorite in the whole wide world is Mercury. He's not the most uptight God ever so maybe if you were dealing with someone like Jupiter you'd want a little more formality.
Just do whatever feels right. Most of the time after the ritual I just give the whole "Thanks for helping out," kinda thing. I don't say the Gods have to do anything at this point, just that I'm done with my ritual, and thanks for their help.

[Erincelt]

Just as a slight addendum to my post...

Don't stop talking to God just because you're not in your "sacred space"! If I'm walking across town for some reason.. I take the oppurtunity and pass the time by simply unloading myself. I turn it into a sort of walking meditation + prayer. You talked in another thread about yardwork turning into meditation for you sometimes.. this is not an unusual effect, and is the sort of thing you ought to cultivate. I actually have an aunt that I beg to let me do things outside for.. partially because she has grass allergies, and partially for the time to just.. think.

Always remember that the Divine are like very special parents.. just talk to them. Sometimes they even talk back, in their own ways. :) Once I spoke to Bast.. why Bast, would be hard to explain. But the point is, I spoke to Her.. and ended up spending most of my walking trip with this gray can strolling along beside me. When I stopped talking, she left. Did this mean a darn thing? Maybe, maybe not. The point is, it made the experience /feel/ very, very real to me, and made me feel a whole lot better. Sometimes its the simplest little things that have the biggest impact.

[Gently Gazing Eyes]

Erin, I am really liking your posts; do keep making them. :)

[Storm]

It just seems more polite to say goodbye in some way. You don't invite family over and leave to another room to let them find their own way out. They may know the way out just fine but it is just rude.