Working with different pantheons

[badkitty]

So one of the signs of being a fluffy bunny according to http://pagandiversity.com/fluffy.html is "Or, when you do call on a Lord and Lady by name, mix and match any two from any pantheons at any times."

I am pretty unfluffy, but I do mix pantheons. When I do I realize that I am doing it, and am conscious of the aspects that I am working with.

I was curious on if others do this or not.

[Theres]

i wouldn't put too much on that list.
note...

17. You can be lacking in all of the preceding Fluffy Traits, but if you demonstrate this one, you're in the Fluffy Club: Don't show any signs of having been touched by divinity or ecstatic experience. Many mainstream Christians sing hymns as if they were laundry-lists, and everyone accepts them, so that is what we want to do. Look askance at people who actually get out of themselves in ritual or celebration. Care more about what society and/or your friends think than what your deities think or whether you are actually getting anything out of what you do. Be sure not to do anything, even if it would develop your path/abilities/insights, that might possibly provoke disapproval or make you lose face.

but shortly after we see...

Why do we make such a big deal about fluffies? We'd happily let it pass if they weren't so busy trying to impose their fluffy values on the rest of the community. The rabid fervor with which they attempt to impose their flippancy on others gives outsiders the impression that we're all stupid, incapable of critical thinking skills, and inconsistent. Quite frankly, we don't appreciate that, and we don't appreciate being told we need to behave in stupid, unthinking, and inconsistent ways. So while you are certainly entitled to believe whatever you wish, you don't have a right to force it on us; but we do have a right to call bullshit when we see it.

inconsistency?

[Aidron]

i wouldn't put too much on that list.
note...



but shortly after we see...



inconsistency?


Mmhmm. Nine times out of ten the people who have issues with those they label as fluffy bunnies do so out of irritation about how they reflect poorly on them. These same people in turn speak ideals about how you should be spiritual for yourself, and care little about what others think.

Frankly, the whole thing makes me want to roll my eyes right out of my head. I can call bullshit when I see it just as good as anyone, but it's not because they are a poor reflection on me. None of you are a reflection on me, only I am. If people cannot accept that and get over their senseless anxiety about worrying what others think based on what others do, I have no patience for them and truly wish they'd do nothing more than stop lacing the carbon minoxide they exhale with foolishness.


To answer the original question, badkitty I feel you left out critical parts of the line.

If your belief is "All Goddesses are One Goddess" and "All Gods are One God" and ultimately all deities are aspects of the One, use this as an excuse to not bother learning about or working with specific deities. Or, when you do call on a Lord and Lady by name, mix and match any two from any pantheons at any times.

The emphasis is (obviously) mine, but one part of the point is that people hurl out names left and right of various deities without having ever researched them or expriencing what those deities are and what they have to offer. Working with a deity is like working with the elements, and working with both is akin to working with a fellow soldier in war. You must bond with them, know them inside and out, and why? So that you form a union that will produce harmonious results, instead of causing your magic to end in disaster or your head to be blown off.

As for the part you specifically quoted, there are problems with mixing and matching pantheons and this stems from the fact that pantheons tend to carry cultural energies. If there is bad blood between the cultures, chances are there will be bad blood between the deities. I think the list went a bit overboard here, not elaborating on that and presuming to dictate that if you should ever mix and match pantheons you are inherently an idiot. I do not agree with this, but I no sooner agree with those who use deities as if they were some sort of one dimensional power booster, not as an extremely complet and multi-faceted entity all their own. To clarify, mixing and matching I consider to have its benefits, as all deities have something different to bring to the table. However, if you are going to mix and match you should no doubt let them know ahead of time and ease them into a working relationship so that there is 1.) harmony, 2.) no nasty surprises, and 3.) out of sheer respect. They are partners in your work and should be treated as partners, not as slaves to be beseeched at will.

[Theres]

i can agree with most of that Raven, however this caught my attention...

there are problems with mixing and matching pantheons and this stems from the fact that pantheons tend to carry cultural energies. If there is bad blood between the cultures, chances are there will be bad blood between the deities.
firstly, since we're talking about the "All Goddesses are One Goddess" belief (NOT my belief, btw), then we're really only seeing the divine as archetypal aspects, in which case there is no problem with mixing and matching that i can see.

secondly, i believe that the Gods are above the petty quarrels and machinations of Their human followers, so i don't see any cultural differences as being a problem either.

but to return to badkitty's question...
if one is a reconstructionist, this might be seen as annoying. but if one is a Wiccan, what difference could it make? since all Gods are reduced to spiritual soup, what does it matter which pot They come out of?

[Aidron]

i can agree with most of that Raven, however this caught my attention...


firstly, since we're talking about the "All Goddesses are One Goddess" belief (NOT my belief, btw), then we're really only seeing the divine as archetypal aspects, in which case there is no problem with mixing and matching that i can see.

secondly, i believe that the Gods are above the petty quarrels and machinations of Their human followers, so i don't see any cultural differences as being a problem either.

but to return to badkitty's question...
if one is a reconstructionist, this might be seen as annoying. but if one is a Wiccan, what difference could it make? since all Gods are reduced to spiritual soup, what does it matter which pot They come out of?


I disbelieve that gods are above quarrels. Such things are present within every mythology, and logically I think it would stand to reason that if the culture they stem from did posses bad blood with another, so too would the gods.

Roman and Greek, for example, while they are each gods in their own right, should be recognized as having been essentially taken from Greek culture. The relationship of the two cultures and the origin of the Roman gods speaks to me as bad blood for lack of a better euphemism at the moment.

Though in truth, with Wicca if you are simply reducing deities to the same masculine and feminine archetypes of one great goddess and one great god, I see no reason why this would be a problem. However, I see no reason why you would even bother to call them by name them. Because those specific deities represent a force or energy you wish to bring into your working? Why bother when you can simply work with other energies and archetypes.

[~Elise~]

So one of the signs of being a fluffy bunny according to http://pagandiversity.com/fluffy.html is "Or, when you do call on a Lord and Lady by name, mix and match any two from any pantheons at any times."

I am pretty unfluffy, but I do mix pantheons. When I do I realize that I am doing it, and am conscious of the aspects that I am working with.

I was curious on if others do this or not.

Feri has its own pantheon of Deities & Guardians to work with...I don't have much time to go outside that, to be honest. That is not to say I don't -- but I usually don't mix them with anyone else. Just personal preference.

JMO and YMMV,

Elise

[Phae Talon]

So one of the signs of being a fluffy bunny according to http://pagandiversity.com/fluffy.html is "Or, when you do call on a Lord and Lady by name, mix and match any two from any pantheons at any times."

I am pretty unfluffy, but I do mix pantheons. When I do I realize that I am doing it, and am conscious of the aspects that I am working with.

I was curious on if others do this or not.

I know a bunch of people who mix pantheons (and pretty successfully). I think what is important to keep in mind that there is a difference between working with deities from different pantheons, and inviting them to the same circle. This link: http://www.accendi.net/putf/archives/?strip=002 illustrates my feelings on the subject perfectly. :lol:

--Phae

[kaosxmage]

So one of the signs of being a fluffy bunny according to http://pagandiversity.com/fluffy.html is "Or, when you do call on a Lord and Lady by name, mix and match any two from any pantheons at any times."

I am pretty unfluffy, but I do mix pantheons. When I do I realize that I am doing it, and am conscious of the aspects that I am working with.

I was curious on if others do this or not.

I wouldn't call those folks fluffy in general. I think the understanding could be those who mix pantheons with no regard to the pantheons various mythologies. That being said, I'm a polytheist and animist at heart. I don't think that the Gods are locked into their various cultural prisons. Wouldn't be very impressive if they couldn't respond to all of humanity in various cultures.

I happen to be fond of working with what I term a rogues gallery. Isis and Odin are among my favorites. I'm also a fan of Anpu, Iktomi, Wakan Tanka, Morrigan, Rhiannon, Lugh, Mannanan Mac Lyr ...point being, all different pantheons, Who cares? Pantheon piracy is good practice ...afterall, are you only a product of the climate, culture, and people when and where you were born ...or have you grown? :evilway:

Much love,
--Kaos

[Theres]

I disbelieve that gods are above quarrels.
i think you missed my point.
obviously mythology is full of stories about conflicts amongst the gods, whatever the pantheon. i just don't believe that They are too terribly concerned about our conflicts.

every society or culture builds walls around itself, but it's my belief that those alls do NOT etend to the heavens.

[Elderbush]

I work with gods from 2 different pantheons because the gods in question introduced themselves to me. I am not about to tell them to go away because they are from the "wrong" pantheon. My life is good, my spiritual life rich and it isn't anyone's business but my own whom I worship or what gods are talking to me.

On the other hand, I agree one should not mix and match gods or have a God of the Week. :)

[Darakash]

I know a bunch of people who mix pantheons (and pretty successfully). I think what is important to keep in mind that there is a difference between working with deities from different pantheons, and inviting them to the same circle. This link: http://www.accendi.net/putf/archives/?strip=002 illustrates my feelings on the subject perfectly. :lol:

--Phae
ROFLMAO! :lol: That was perfect! I want to thank you for my best laugh in quite a while.

On the question itself...I personally only work with the Egyptian Pantheon at this time, and my hubby is a Celtic kinda guy, we eaach have our own altars to our separate Deities, but are going to be building a shared altar soon and will probably perform rituals that mix pantheons. I think that as has been stated you use sense and research to understand who is going to work together and who is not....should be fine! I mean I see no reason, at least upon this moment (and will do more research before I do anything with it) that my Patron Thoth(Tehuti) could not "get along" with his Matron Hecate, in fact, I can think of things they have in common that would probably make for cool interaction. Now I would definitely be very careful about mixing the other two: Sekhmet and Cernnunos....but, while their "animal" representations might seem like a problem, their "personalities" are not that different.....hmmmmmmm
DK :reading: (research time LOL)

[Phae Talon]

ROFLMAO! :lol: That was perfect! I want to thank you for my best laugh in quite a while.

I aim to please :bigredgri

--Phae

[CaitrionaMorgaine]

Ar Afalon has a pantheon that we work within, and I very rarely feel the pull to look elsewhere, as my relationships with those Gods fulfill me. However, I do not feel that I am able to dictate what should work for another. I feel that a great amount of research should be done before considering it.

Phae, thanks for sharing that comic, it's one of my favorites.

Avalon's Blessings, ~Rhiannon