I need a little help please with nature deities...

[LittlePerson]

Those of you who know me know my background beliefs. Okay so I've recently realized something; that I can combine my beliefs in God and the Spirit of Nature (I used to think that they were separate, still kind of do, but now I realize that a God of Nature would use Nature's Spirit or energy to assist or that I could). Anyway I used to do my prayers with "Dear God and Spirit of Nature", but I want to combine this somehow. For the sake of time I am pasting a pm I sent to someone to explain what I need.
Can you tell me of any Gods and or Goddesses who are directly involved with nature? The only ones that I know off hand are cerrenuos, gaia, and the green man. I feel very connected to the Green Man, as we have a wall plaque of him by our front door which I feel is protective. I love the Green Man, but I have read that he is not a god but a spirit, but that is okay because I believe in the spirit of nature and pray to it. But I also believe in a God too but don't know the name. (what I mean here is that the spirit of nature would be like a divine energy and that God would be the personal deity who can use the Spirit of Nature or control it). I have always thought God was genderless. But on the other hand if the spirit of nature is male, is there a female counterpart to the Green Man who is possibly a Goddess? Maybe something from the original stories from the wheel of the year with the holly and oak kings and the Lady? Who is the Lady? Thanks. I feel I'm getting closer to figuring this out.
I spoke with my inner voice (whom I believe is in touch with God) and realized today that It's okay to believe in God as Nature itself, but I would like to have a deity that is already recognized as a God of Nature or Goddess of Nature. Also, and this is very important, this God/dess has to be one who someone can have a personal relationship with and is very nurturing and forgiving.
Okay, if none of this makes sense, then pm me and maybe I can explain more. If it makes any sense at all and you can help then thank you so much.
Umph, my head hurts now. :hmmmmm: :D

[Seren_]

Can you tell me of any Gods and or Goddesses who are directly involved with nature? The only ones that I know off hand are cerrenuos, gaia, and the green man.

Some that immediately spring to mind are Flora (in Latin, meaning "flowers") and Faunus. Faunus is often considered as being the Roman equivalent of the Greek Pan. Diana or Artemis could also be considered to be very nature oriented by some people, being involved in hunting and so forth. I'm no Classics expert, though..

Cernunnos can be regarded as a nature/fertility god, and I know that he is often equated with Herne (who I was always is the "British version" of Cernunnos, but I doubt the accuracy of this...).

I was always under the impression that Gaia was more associated with the Earth, rather than nature, specifically?

I feel very connected to the Green Man, as we have a wall plaque of him by our front door which I feel is protective. I love the Green Man, but I have read that he is not a god but a spirit, but that is okay because I believe in the spirit of nature and pray to it.

It's true that some people would say he's a spirit rather than a deity, but I think a lot of the time, those who regard him as a deity tend towards a more "archetypal" view of deity anyway...So his godlike status depends on your perspective...

But on the other hand if the spirit of nature is male, is there a female counterpart to the Green Man who is possibly a Goddess?

I assume that by a Green Man you mean the foliate headed masks that are often found on medieval churches (although I'm aware of older depictions as well)...Just checking, because otherwise what I'm about to say is probably irrelevant. :D These foliate masks are often considered in a wider group of figures, including more "rude" depictions of couples having sex, the Sheila na Gig's (ugly looking women bearing their bits, basically. IIRC, their name indicates a "woman of loose morality") and so forth. You might want to look into these as a whole, maybe, although they are interpreted more popularly in a fertility context, rather than nature.

A lot of the times "nature" gods might be more geared towards "fertility" in specific, because nature's fertility is more important in sustaining us humans than nature in general. If that makes any sense? I can think of a lot of goddesses from Gaul depicted with cornucopias that indicate a fertility status, and Cernunnos, for example, is often shown with coins or a pouch that is thought to be coins, associating him with fertility as well...as well as animals and such.

Maybe something from the original stories from the wheel of the year with the holly and oak kings and the Lady? Who is the Lady? Thanks. I feel I'm getting closer to figuring this out.

I believe - and I could be wrong - that the Holly and the Oak King is largely influenced by relatively modern research by the likes of Sir James Frazer's Golden Bough and so on. You might find it useful looking into his works, although they are basically considered outdated and incorrect in many ways...

[LittlePerson]

A lot of the times "nature" gods might be more geared towards "fertility" in specific, because nature's fertility is more important in sustaining us humans than nature in general.That's just it exactly. I really feel as though we are more subservient to nature than the opposite as would be more of the sentiment of "christian thinking". Nature is far more powerful than we are and it is we who rely on it. When I pray before a meal or when cooking it's to give thanks to the plants and animals who gave their lives and energy so I could have theirs. So I have a lot of respect for nature. Thanks for the response.

[Sister of the Wind]

I've heard of a Queer Myth about the divine twins, the Green Man and the Red Man, here's the link:
http://www.witchvox.com/gay/mqmtdt.html

-Luv, Sis :fpeace:

[WynterSpirit]

That's just it exactly. I really feel as though we are more subservient to nature than the opposite as would be more of the sentiment of "christian thinking". Nature is far more powerful than we are and it is we who rely on it. When I pray before a meal or when cooking it's to give thanks to the plants and animals who gave their lives and energy so I could have theirs. So I have a lot of respect for nature. Thanks for the response.

I can totally relate to what you're saying. :)

GREAT thread!

[LittlePerson]

Thanks. Blessings to you. And Happy Autumn. May we be thankful for the harvest season.

[TYRRHENUS]

Can you tell me of any Gods and or Goddesses who are directly involved with nature?Hey LittlePerson. I'll tell ya what I know. Almost all Roman gods are associated with nature. Conversely, almost all goddesses are associated with cities. My guess is because women seem to be better communicators than us guys. Anyway, here's a short list of goddesses off the top of my head who are associated with nature. There are probably more:

Flora (per Seren's recommendation.)
Sylvani (the little satyrs and things associated with the forest. Masculine & feminine.)
Natura (a goddess whose name I shouldn't have to translate.)
Terra Mater (Mother Earth, who was considered to be part of Natura, not the other way around.)
Libera (a rustic Vesta who brings orchards. a goddess of all trees and the forest as a whole.)
Tellus (another form of Mother Earth of Etruscan origin.)
Ceres (very ancient Italic goddess.)
Maia (a.k.a. Ops, originally Oscan.) The earth, healing, chastity and snakes. Her devotees sometimes called her Bona Dea (good goddess.)
Luna (moon, a pre-classical goddess.)

[mucgwyrt]

Ing (or 'Freyr Ing' meaning Lord Ing) is similar to cernunnous. He is the anglo-saxon (and the norse call him Ingvi Freyr I think) god of fertility, wild animals, the sunshine, the rain, the forests etc etc. :)