Broadening Path - Insight & Advice, Please!

[DandelionDame]

I've come to realize as of late that in my search for The Pantheon & Tradition for Me, I inadvertently limited myself a lot. I've been of the mind that finding one's path involves finding a particular pantheon and culture and dedicating onesself to that way once it's apparent that it clicks and feels like the right one. Example: I've been researching ancient Greek religions (like Hellenisimos) and thinking about what clicks and what doesn't. Before this, I was all about the Egyptian research and throughout much of my life I was (and still am to a degree) very into the ways of Celtic in general, Irish in particular. And NOW I feel drawn to study various Eastern spiritualities and philosophies. In attempting to find ONE pantheon and religion that makes me go "A-HA! That's it! This is where I belong!" I've found that I'm opening up to the possibility of being more eclectic and realizing that, much to my surprise, that may possibly be exactly what I'm meant to do (I'm a dedicant of Hekate and I get a positive feeling from Her about this possibility). Maybe!

I've been drawn to different Goddesses mostly from various cultures & traditions and while I studied up on them, I haven't really dared approach some of them for fear of "doing it wrong". I'm very big on respect for everyone & everything, and deities are certainly no exception! Some recent threads here on MW have really stimulated my brain on culturally-respectful ways to honor deities, and that's extremely important to me. What I fear is this: that in honoring a deity (say, Artemis, for example), I inadvertently disrespect a rule that goes along with the pantheon She's in. I've read that you're not supposed to honor one Olympian without the others in some form. Being a polytheist, this seems like a very important thing to not gloss over!

But I'm nervous that if I do follow the path I believe I'm being lead to and honor and work with deities from many different cultures, that I'll completely unintentionally do or not do something that is impolite and disrespectful and bring down some divine wrath on me or those around me - you know?

I guess I'm looking for some others' thoughts on this - do you think your Gods & Goddesses frown on this sort of thing, or do you think They're ok with eclectic types as long as respect is given and some study has been done?

[DandelionDame]

Nothin'? Bueller? ;)

[Bix]

I'm kinda in your same boat...with deities and in spellwork. It just seems like everyone else is just so much more knowledgable than me.

[Felis Sorror]

Is it knowledge or confidence?

I personally work with Artemis, and she is my only matron (or patron) Olympian, but paying respect to other gods and goddesses is only polite and (in some cases) proper.

Don't be afraid to choose the gods and goddesses that you feel drawn to because they come from different Pantheons. I feel you're only slighting yourself that way.

[BrigidMoon]

Just my personal opinion here. I think if you feel good about different gods/goddesses from different areas of the world, then, go with it. If you're true to each one you are drawn to, there isn't going to be a problem. I don't think you have to feel tied down to one area of the world. It's good to spread out :)

[Isa]

One of the reasons why I've never gotten into working with goddess and gods myself, I don't like this idea that a divine being will smite you if you get their name wrong, or worship incorrectly or something like that. I mean that sort of pettiness, jealousy, and wrath are human flaws and I firmly believe that divine should at least be as good as the best sample of humanity. Human flaws have no place with divine spirit (except perhaps in mythology for purposes of metaphor and all that)

So I really don't think you have anything to worry about when it comes to choosing gods and goddesses from the spiritual side.

[Loopaleigh]

Hi DandelionDame

I'll say it LOUD and PROUD for you.....I'm ECLECTIC TOO!!!!!! :lol: And I don't care who knows about it!!!!!

And after 16+ years being a Pagan, I havn't incured any "wraith" yet....hmmm, yet.
_inabox_

The Divine guides us where we need to go, what we need to be learning, what we need to be doing.....just keep listening and trust in that.

I'm not a big believer in the "smite you down" school of thought when it comes to the Divine.
I do believe that some of the Deities are harsher than others, are more challenging, and have difficult or uncomfortable life lessons to teach us......but these SAME Deities are also there to HELP us through their lessons.

If a single Pantheon or Path is right for you, they'll let you know about it.
If you are meant to be a "Reniasance" Woman then they'll guide you in that direction.
And, yes, I'm sure I spelled "Reniasance" wrong, but you know what I mean. :graduate:

Just keep studing and learning and the confidence will naturaly folllow.

[Toby Stimpson]

Well, in many ways you are doing soemthing very right in my mind! :). I have found that understanding the Gods as a whole and the ultimate nature of my own beliefs have only coem about by being exposed and searching for others ways. Even if you only work with one Goddess or God, but continue to learn about other deities, even invoking them...you may find a pleasent surpise. A freiend of mine from toronto who I met here was recently going through a crisis of the soul...a Goddess from another pantheon was begging him to coem to her. He did...but the most interesting thing was that his Matron hecate and Isis, who was calling him, were tied directly to the Underworld. I like to think that there are general Gods beneath the gods...that Love Gods are a part of the THE Love God...or cthonic deities are a part of the Dark Gods...you may find that a deity from a completly different culture will call to you, but it isnt disobeying or abandoing your Patrons and Matrons by following up on that call...perhaps the one calling is merely a new form of your Goddess, changed to accomadate soem changes in your life? I hope soem of this has helped.

Namaste

Tobias

[DandelionDame]

Oh yay! Thank you everyone SO much for your insights and experiences. It's just so confusing sometimes! I don't even do much spellwork because I haven't had a need for it - I'm just big on honoring and connecting and getting to know the divine in its infinite forms and as I mentioned, I'm polytheist, so the whole potential for being eclectic is kinda overwhelming! But very exciting at the same time. Plus, in the ridiculous amount of thinking I've been doing, it struck me that I've been fortunate to be exposed to lots of cultures and ways of thinking in this day and age, so maybe it's not so far fetched that I'm meant to do some exploring like this. And with Hekate being the wonderful guide that She is, I guess I shouldn't second guess so much. She seemed to really enjoy Imbolc this year & even popped in to a meditation on Brighid that day! :)

Again, I thank you all very, very much for helping me out with your thoughts - I'm starting to feel a little more confident about this realization.