Personalities of Deities

[Iris]

I thought this might be an interesting topic for discussion. It always seemed to me that, when working with a particular deity for any period of time, you get a 'feel' for the kind of personality they have. So I was wondering...how have you guys got along with different incarnations of deity, and what traits do they have that you find notable? I remember reading a post by one user (can't remember the name, sorry) who said a God she worked with liked music by Disturbed and similar bands! So, have any of you discovered similar quirky traits of the deities you've interacted with...?

I might post a bit later. Gonna have to think about this.

[indigo rain]

Sekhmet seems to like rain or making it rain and she likes to loom, she's a magnificent, very intimidating presense. as for her favorite band... i'll have to check that out... lol

[Ahautenites]

Setekh is my Parent. He's demanding, but only because He knows I can be better. He is full of surprises. He can be more than a bit moody. He has a tender side that He shows very rarely and would rather no one knew existed because He's gotten hurt because of it. He is strong. Can't be a god of change and not be strong enough to deal with the changes. He has a dark sense of humor. He's more than a bit perverse. He's definitely creative. He's a vegetarian. He's patient, which I've always found somewhat surprising. He rewards his Chosen children lavishly, when He does reward them. He's a showman... he loves to make a flashy entrance (aka thunderstorms or snowstorms). He's brave, but He's also an opportunist (He has a certain moral flexibility). He's cunning. He reacts very quickly whenever possible. His lessons are very hard (it's like having a teacher that loves giving pop quizzes all the time), but the understanding that is gained is always worth it. If there are blows in life that are about to befall you, sometimes He'll avert them if the risk is too great, but other times, He'll just let the blow fall and give you the strength outside yourself to pick up the pieces for yourself and allow you to grow and learn from what transpired. He is the original Do-It-Yourself god. He instills in His Chosen children a driving need for independence, a need to rely on no one else but oneself. For all that He can be a bit stand-offish, he likes having company. He can be a bit jealous if I talk to any other netjer or netjert (excepting, of course, my Beloved, Seshat). He loves Linkin Park, Puddle of Mudd, and Disturbed, and even the Labyrinth movie sountrack, but on occasion, He likes something a bit more traditional inspired by His homeland. He doesn't like Heru's stuff being in my room, but since His statue will be much bigger (when I get it) than Heru's, he doesn't mind so much. And His macabre sense of humor allows Him to appreciate the Eye of Horus brass and bell hanging thing in my room without any hint of jealousy. Also, He doesn't mind that I want a red-tailed hawk tribal tattoo on my upper arm because it's not the same kind of hawk or the same kind of pose in which Heru is ever displayed.

One of the HoN kai imakhu (high priest, basically) once said that the thing about being Chosen by Set (aka Setekh) is that He probably doesn't like you very much. As one of the Chosen children of Setekh, I disagree with this. Setekh is tough on His kids because they need it and No One Else quite fits the bill for that particular child. He gets impatient with too much self pity and whining. He'll only let you wallow in misery for just so long. And then, He's like, "Hey, c'mon. Enough, already. Crying doesn't solve the problem at hand here. Stop crying and think of something practical to help yourself."

Seshat, on the other hand, is my Beloved. She's much more reserved, but just as forceful in Her own way. Now that She's done Her job in making me recognize that the Kemetic Netjeru wanted my undivided attention, She rarely makes Her presence felt. She's subtle. If I receive messages from Her in dreams, She doesn't insert Herself into the dream. She just puts the correct thought directly into my head as though it were my own thought, but with a tinge of feeling to let me know that it *wasn't* me but Her. She's a literalist, like me. Have to be *very* careful what I wish for because She and Setekh delight in giving me exactly what I ask for, in exactly the way I don't need it at the time. But it always turns out to be exactly what I *did* need at the time, at a later time. (What I mean is, it seemed like something I shouldn't have wished for and received when I was doing the wishing and receiving, but months later, I'll look back on it and see how beneficial it really was.) She likes M&Ms, because She can count them and sort them, and She loves chocolate. Any food or other offering that can be counted and sorted as well as appreciated on its own merits is a wonderful gift for Her. She also appreciates creative writing, because it's the artful side of Her Communication aspect that is being honored.

Ma'at, Aset and Bast have all gotten my attention at different times, but mostly it was only to say hello and to remind me of something that I needed to be focussing on in that instant.

[Rain Gnosis]

My experience with Sekhmet has been that she's blunt, powerful, and independent. She, like Ses mentions about Setekh, does not like self pity and whining, and yet she is also sympathetic to pain - she let me be miserable and helped me stand up again, she was not pushy but she demands strength. She is very protective and can be furious, and yet she is also associated with healing. She reminds me of an older sister and best friend. Somehow she helped me rise again and supported me in battle without my ever thinking I was relying on her - as if her strength and tenacity my own, as if we fought together not because we needed to but because it was natural of our relationship to do so. She is a quiet but strong, pure presence, she makes some demands but I always have the sense that what she requires of me is what is best for my own growth even if I don't sense it at the time. It feels as though she doesn't need my undivided attention but that she will be there when I need her.

I have heard it said that children of Sekhmet are prone to temper tantrums and outbursts, and yet I have not found that so within myself. Though I definitely can be angry, I am reminded by Sekhmet that destruction must be appropriate - at times we must make war, but it is not well to get carried away and nearly destroy mankind. I have learned there is definitely a time to be furious, and a time to be destructive, and then there are times when it is not useful. I have not become less angry but more aware of how I use my anger and how appropriate it is. Her fury is power, her independence and courage is natural like a lion. She is not hateful and not "evil" even if destructive. I imagine her and Setekh are somewhat similar that way.

[Ahautenites]

**nods** I get that impression of Her, too, Rain. I don't view any of the Netjeru as evil. Just misunderstood. **grins at Wanderer, Nallia and PB (They know I have a tendency to like beings that are "misunderstood.")**

I personally have a healthy fear of Sekhmet. I won't ask Her for anything except in terms of healing. And I'm always quite respectful of Her because I don't wanna get flattened (.... and scraped back together, and flattened again on general principle). But from what I've heard from you and others, She's a marvelous Parent.

For a long time, I wanted nothing to do with Setekh because of his reputation as The Bad Guy (TM), but upon getting to know Him, I've found He's really a decent god... even if He does make my head spin from all of the changes currently going on in my life.

[indigo rain]

thought i'd write a little more today, i have more time...
i'm a child of Sekhmet who does have angry outbursts... but i'm getting better at staying calmer, it's something i've been working on diligently here lately. i find Sekhmet to be a lot like me, or rather, a perfect version of me, maybe that's why she chose me. She's quiet, only speaks when she has something important to say, and she's subtle, but she is full of rage, controlled rage though. She's proud, very strong, very loyal, and she does not ask for constant attention. as others have said, she's just there when you need her. She's an amazing help with psychological healing and transformation. She's changed me so much for the better, and continues to do so. Her methods are often sudden, unexpected, and seemingly catastrophic at times, she's a goddess of action, and she's impatient when it comes to getting results.
as for Horus, he's more like a big brother. He's bright, funny, warm, and has a wonderful sense of humor. He knows when to be serious, though and possesses amazing strength. He's noble, gentle, and doesn't ask for a lot of attention. All he asks is that i notice the sunrise and appreciate it's beauty. i'm not as close to him as Sekhmet, and he is content to kind of stand in the background and be my friend when i need one. instead of being like me, he's my polar opposite, he's what i strive toward every day, to be happier, brighter, stronger. finding a balance between these two is my life's work.