Whom the Gods Favour

[Mercedes]

I've read on various sites that some deities are fantastic to those they favour. But how does one know he is favoured by a certain deity? Are there clear signs of it? And is there any...non-favouritism?

[Aidron]

I've read on various sites that some deities are fantastic to those they favour. But how does one know he is favoured by a certain deity? Are there clear signs of it? And is there any...non-favouritism?


This is merely one of those things that no one else can tell you, just as no one can tell you if you're in love. If you are (in love or favored) you will know, and if you're not you will also know (usually by a feeling of uncertainty).

I, however, feel deities can have hundreds of worshipers they favor, even all of their worshipers, so I do not think there are any clear signs of divinity having favoritism toward one person. It is most likely different for each, for each relationship is no doubt unique.

[Mercedes]

I see. That makes a lot of sense. If one is unfavoured, does that mean the deity really dislikes that person or what?

[BlackMagicalCat]

When God isnt happy with me,my conscience bothers me and my spirit is troubled,when he is pleased ,I feel a warm smile inside me,thats where God dwells,inside me.

[Aidron]

I see. That makes a lot of sense. If one is unfavoured, does that mean the deity really dislikes that person or what?

It might. I would find it far more likely that the person has displeased that specific god or gods in some way, since random dislike for no reason is rather strange.

[dr_zeus440]

rule of thumb (everything is just a version of something else);

if you have to ask, then you cant afford it. / no one really knows because gods are UnFaThOmAbLe CrEaTuReS! / nuisances.

[Mercedes]

rule of thumb (everything is just a version of something else);

if you have to ask, then you cant afford it. / no one really knows because gods are UnFaThOmAbLe CrEaTuReS! / nuisances.

Um.

Right.

[Mercedes]

It might. I would find it far more likely that the person has displeased that specific god or gods in some way, since random dislike for no reason is rather strange.

That makes sense.

It's still possible not exactly to 'connect' with one, yes? You see, I'm not very attuned to the element of water, and I feel as if I am unable to truly commune with the likes of Neptune. Then again, there could be some other problem of my own that I really don't know...

[Tobias]

I think our "favour" with the various gods depends upon how well we get along with them individually. Certain ones match our personallities better than others.

I've been seeking wisdom for many years now, ever since I was a teenager. I guess it's quite natural that I would find favor with Athena. I didn't know about this until she told me; but apparently she has been helping me for some time now. One day I was reading a post here about her, and she let me know that she had "chosen" me. I'm still learning about her, and what all she does.

A couple months ago I upset someone, and was taking the threats they had made to me rather seriously. As I was looking for options on how to deal with this person, I couldn't find peace on any course of action. I am used to having battle plans laid out for me (something Athena has apparently done anonimously for many years), but in this instance I wasn't landing on anything.

When I finally tired myself out on looking for offensive options, and started considering peace, then Athena came to me and offered help. I was supprized that she was available for that, and even had to ask her a couple of times about it. But apparently that was the wisest couse of action at the time. And, with the confidence of having a Higher Power assisting me I've dropped my defences and have pursued a path of peace.

Now, that said, I would like to point out that there were other courses of action available at my disposal. I did discuss with Anubis the possibility of this person's dimise. He wasn't particularly for it, so I dropped the idea. But I believe there are different gods for different choices of action that we take. Athena's wisdom suits me fine. I find favour with her because she like to give wisdom to people who appreciate it and will listen. If all I ever did was ignore her, how long do you think she would hang around?

When I encounter various gods and other spirits, I try and find something I have in common with them. For a god of the sea, I would mention how fun I find it to surf the waves, and hang out on the beach. It may be petty in comparison to the scope of what that god has responsibility over, but at least it's honest and respectful. Anything they care to offer from there is up to them.

[Aidron]

That makes sense.

It's still possible not exactly to 'connect' with one, yes? You see, I'm not very attuned to the element of water, and I feel as if I am unable to truly commune with the likes of Neptune. Then again, there could be some other problem of my own that I really don't know...


It is indeed very possible and extremely common. Look around at anyone here, I am certain they can list at least one deity they have no affinity for and connection with.

I for example have no affinity or love for the Roman pantheon. I likewise have no affinity for the various Celtic pantheons and the Nordic one.

Neptune may not be for you. The Roman pantheon itself may not be for you. It could be any number of reasons in truth. Perhaps another deity associated with water would be more appropriate for you. I sincerely doubt you will find a connection and affinity for every deity.

[Mercedes]

Thanks, Tobias. I'll take into account those 'little' things and the like. I also appreciate your sharing that story. :)

Thank you, Aidron, as well. I'll think more on the pantheons and whatnot. It's just that I've so far felt strongly with Apollo and Athena, and I've been acquainted with both Roman and Greek...Not sure if I prefer one or the other. I'll keep searching around.

[Ninjakitten]

I think that some people know they have seen favor with Diety differently than what other people feel. When people are close to Diety and strive to please Diety, they may see more clear signs than those who don't. A couple of years ago, I performed an act that apparently was good enough for Godde to freeze me in my tracts as I was about to enter my home, and a powerful voice told me that I didn't know the magnitude of what I had just done, yet I did it anyway without question (forgive me for not being willing to talk more specifically about what I did do), and that He (was a male voice) was proud of me. Then I felt what I could only interpret as a Crown of Saints being placed on my brow, and was told I forever have a place with Diety. I wouldn't say I was "favored" above the Diety's other children, though. I don't think the result would have been different if another of the Diety's children did what I did. Hmm. Despite experiences like this, I've still had my faith shaken lately, even though I know I wasn't out of my gourd when this and other things happened. I even had Diety (the Christian one of all things) cast a circle for me to have an important conversation with me through a winged being of light (I'm assuming that was an angel). Didn't relate it to like a Wiccan circle or anything until I started studying Wicca.

[Mercedes]

Hm. Intriguing. Thanks for sharing the story.

[Sapphire_tigress]

YOu mentioned that you discussed certain aspects of your problem with your God, Anubis. I am a new Pagan/Wiccan-thingy ^^ and I feel called to the Goddess Bast and the Egyptian Pantheon as well, but i am unsure what i can do when I have problems and how to approach them. Does it depend on your particular deity or is their some kind of protocol?

[Aidron]

YOu mentioned that you discussed certain aspects of your problem with your God, Anubis. I am a new Pagan/Wiccan-thingy ^^ and I feel called to the Goddess Bast and the Egyptian Pantheon as well, but i am unsure what i can do when I have problems and how to approach them. Does it depend on your particular deity or is their some kind of protocol?


The answer to your question is subjective, so do keep that in mind when reading my own response.

To approach them imagine any possible way you could contact them. As such remember that gods are capable of far more than we are or ever will be. Speak to them aloud, in your mind, speak your prayer, concerns and so forth into an object such as a stick or cone of incense and ignite it, letting the smoke carry your message to them. Alternatively you could just hold the stick or cone of incense and focus on what it is you wish to communicate to them, see the problems in your mind, pour the emotion that the matters of your prayer evoke in you. A candle will work just as well, but I prefer incense since A.) it is a facet of the element of Air (which holds dominion over communication) B.) it's more economical in most cases and C.) you can leave it be without fear of anything catching fire.

Those are simplistic methods. As you develop a greater understanding of your gods you will no doubt discover and be able to fathom ideas in which to communicate with them that are more effective, appealing, respectful, traditional, suitable or all of the above. For example, if I wished to speak to Artemis about a concern of mine I could do all the above or instead I could wander out into a forest and use the forest as the catalyst for my prayer. Sit by a tree and let it absorb my prayer, speak it aloud for her to hear and so forth. Logically this would be more effective than the basic examples above since Artemis holds dominion over the wilds, thus she may be more keen to hear the prayer, respond to it, better able to hear it or even all of these.

[Evendusk]

I read somewhere that the ancient Greeks believed that people with charisma had been touched by the gods.

[Tobias]

You mentioned that you discussed certain aspects of your problem with your God, Anubis. I am a new Pagan/Wiccan-thingy ^^ and I feel called to the Goddess Bast and the Egyptian Pantheon as well, but i am unsure what i can do when I have problems and how to approach them. Does it depend on your particular deity or is their some kind of protocol?

Were you addressing theis question to me, or to Aidron? Oh well, it doesn't matter. I'll andswer too because it's an interesting story. :)

It's a little bit embarrasing though. I can't believe that I was so upset with this person that I was sitting there imagining way to do them in! It was all just imagination though, and somewhat thereputical. I really am the last person in the world that would be able to sucessfully pull off a murder.

While I was contemplating on these thoughts, I felt some spirit advise me that if I was going to wish somebody dead, I would do best to rely on them. I'm not talking about black magick here or anything (though it could mabey fit in that category), I deal more with spirits and dieties, yeilding my own wishes to their advice and suggestions.

When I went with the suggestion to give this over to the spirit world, I immediately felt like I was in a courtroom, pleading my case before a judge. It felt like this judge was the god of death in that he decides who is a hazzard to mankind and needs to be removed from this realm. Anubis came to mind as the name for this god, though I don't claim to really know enough about him historicaly to comfortably pin this on him for sure.

He quite graciously heard my reasons as to why I wanted this person dead. I was honest with my assessment of what they had threatened me and my children, and why I thought death would be a good option. At the end i also mentioned how it would be convienient for me if I didn't have to deal with this person anymore (kind of as a joke), and got a somewhat serious reply that that was not a factor that he would consider while making his determination! (Not much of a sense of humor here).

Anyway, within a half hour or so I got my answer back. No, this person was not enough of a threat to deem her worthy of death. I was actually kind of relieved. I don't think I would like to know that I really did have a hand in getting someone killed, if Anubis had made his judgement go the other way. It also opened the doors for me to start to realize that she wasn't really planning to do those things, and wasn't the threat I thought she was.

Anyway, there you have it. And btw, I don't consider Anubis to be "my god". This is the only time I've talked to him, and can't even say for certain it was really him. According to my theology, the gods are just a bunch of spirits that take on the names of the gods our mythology provides. IOW, the goddess I know as "Athena", may be an entirely different spirit than the one someone else knows. Yet the myths we have about Athena somewhat accurately describe this spirit and she for now wishes to have me relate to her as such. In the same way, the judge of death that I met was quite comfortable with me refering to him as Anubis; mabey only because in my mind and limited pagan theology that was the best match for him.

[Aidron]

Were you addressing theis question to me, or to Aidron? Oh well, it doesn't matter. I'll andswer too because it's an interesting story. :)

I'm quite certain it was not directed specifically at me as I do not follow any Egyptian deity.

[Sapphire_tigress]

I'm quite certain it was not directed specifically at me as I do not follow any Egyptian deity.

sorry, I was just curious about it in general. Thank you both for replying though :)

[aluokaloo]

That makes sense.

It's still possible not exactly to 'connect' with one, yes? You see, I'm not very attuned to the element of water, and I feel as if I am unable to truly commune with the likes of Neptune. Then again, there could be some other problem of my own that I really don't know...


well if you don't feel a connection with that deity you probably shouldn't be trying to work with Neptune, just like if you don't feel a connection with a person, animal, stone, tool etc. you shouldn't be working with them. What they mean by favoritism, is that they look out specially for their followers. Not Oh, I like(insert name of follower) better then all the others who worship me. Each of us even if 50,000 of have a relationship with say Apollo, have our own unique relationship with Him just as you have a unique relationship with a friend. I hope that helps.