what is dedication?

[danielle]

I feel guilty sometimes because I just don't get the time for ritual or for even thinking about my religion most of the time. I feel it but I don't get much chance to think about it..

Does anyone else get this guilt or are you all so dedicated that its in your mind all the time.

I feel genuinely bad for neglecting my faith and my Goddess. Is this normal?

[Garden of Eden]

I found that in the first year or so I had difficultly remembering to do things... I still forget things occasionally (Sabbats are always sneaking up on me...) So, no, it's not always in my mind. You can't think about your religon all the time, but I certainly try to integrate it into my life as much as possible. It takes a while to do it though, and quite a bit of effort.

Try to make a little time each day to dedicate to the Goddess (and God if you worship him also)... Maybe just to talk to them... or maybe for a full-blown ritual... Either is good for bringing you closer to them. That's all I do... and it's all the advice I can give you... hope it helps.

[The High Queen of Faerie]

I found that in the first year or so I had difficultly remembering to do things... I still forget things occasionally (Sabbats are always sneaking up on me...) So, no, it's not always in my mind. You can't think about your religon all the time, but I certainly try to integrate it into my life as much as possible. It takes a while to do it though, and quite a bit of effort.

Try to make a little time each day to dedicate to the Goddess (and God if you worship him also)... Maybe just to talk to them... or maybe for a full-blown ritual... Either is good for bringing you closer to them. That's all I do... and it's all the advice I can give you... hope it helps.


i agree with that, most certainly. though i never performed a 'dedication ritual' sort of thing, i always have been dedicate d in my mind. my deities have taken me in as their own, and that is truly the only sense of dedication that i really need. i work on my book of shadows as often as possible, and i try to write in my magickal journal at least every second day, and i pray to my gods daily. i burn candles and incense, i look outside at the moon as it changes phases in the looming night sky, i appreciate the beauty of flowers. all of this is part of how my religion touches me. i try to see my deities manifested in every day things - i consider storms and rain (since i love such things) my gods' special gift to me, as well as the sight or discovery of a beautiful flower, since i love flowers.

i do forget things a lot of the time, of course - though i try not to let it get me down. :) just do what you feel you are comfortable with, and what you have time for. schooling and work certainly can steal time away from religious studies. but hey, isn't browsing mysticwicks dedicating a portion of your day to your spirituality?

[danielle]

but hey, isn't browsing mysticwicks dedicating a portion of your day to your spirituality?

very good point. Thats made me feel a bit better.

I think about my Goddess every day. Little things remind me of her and she's always in my mind. But somehow I just feel I should be doing more. I dunno its strange

[The High Queen of Faerie]

very good point. Thats made me feel a bit better.

I think about my Goddess every day. Little things remind me of her and she's always in my mind. But somehow I just feel I should be doing more. I dunno its strange


that's great!

if you feel like you should be doing more... do you have the time to add more to your daily schedule? if so, try going out for a walk, or something similar - something that will make you feel closer to your goddess. something simple such as burning a favourite incense could make you think of your goddess. have you tried meditation? if you're one for divination, you could always ask your goddess to help you with a divining of what perhaps would be best for you. if you're overburdened with school and/or work as it is, i'm sure your goddess is understanding! have you begun a book of shadows or a magickal journal? if so, dedicate a little bit of time to them. if not, why not start one? taking notes on magickal books is always a fun experience. if you haven't already, try putting symbols of your goddess on your altar, that might make you feel a little better. :) it'll remind you of her whenever you look at it!

[Isa]

You shouldn't feel guilty at all >D Sometimes you have to neglect your studies to truly come to appreciate and understand them. If you forget or find yourself not really wanting to practice on a regular basis, take it as a cue that you might want to broaden your knowledge and focus your attention on something else for a bit. If this is truly your calling you'll always come back to it and in my experience (as someone who has passed up more serious Pagan study for adventure many times...) you come back much wiser and skillful than you would have had you guilted yourself to be so constant.

[PAGANFILES]

I feel guilty sometimes because I just don't get the time for ritual or for even thinking about my religion most of the time. I feel it but I don't get much chance to think about it..

Does anyone else get this guilt or are you all so dedicated that its in your mind all the time.

I feel genuinely bad for neglecting my faith and my Goddess. Is this normal?

If you are truly comfortable in your faith and enjoy rituals and works connected to it You really don't need a dedication ceremony. In fact dedication is a kind of word that feels like there might be a "Sword of Damocles" somewhere in the mixture.

Relax, enjoy, it's great to just go with it and not run after it.

Terry