Note: This is a general and basic guide for working with Deities and will become more complex as your Path deepens.
What are Deities?
The definition of a deity is: “A deity is a supernatural being, like a God or Goddess, that is worshipped by people who believe it controls or exerts force over some aspect of the world”. Deities are commonly thought to be Gods and Goddesses from various *pantheons, cultures and parts of the world. However, deities can also represent *archetypal energy or be viewed more animistically, such as the energy in all things, such as a forest, plant, ocean, moon, thunder, or earth. All of it is yours to choose. That is the beauty of it; how to believe and view deities is entirely up to you – it can even be a facet of yourself!
Why Work with Deities?
No matter how you believe in Deities, working with their energy can be very rewarding. For ease of writing, we will be treating Deities as sentient Gods and Goddesses. After establishing a working relationship with a Deity, you can call upon them to lend their energy during a ceremony or ritual, healing work, spells. You can ask them for guidance and assistance or clarity, comfort and strength.
How to Work with Deities?
You can choose to work solely with one Deity (Monotheism) or multiple Deities (Polytheism). As well as sticking with deities from the same Pantheon or mixing it up. I would recommend learning about one Deity at a time
and then branch out from there if you wish. You can stick to an ancestral
Pantheon of yours or explore others. If exploring other Pantheons, please proceed with respect for the culture and the associated belief systems.
Want to work with a Deity but not sure who?
Start by researching deities and see which one(s) stand out to
you. Once that happens, learn more and decide which one to start working with.
Possible signs that a Deity is calling out to you:
- Having dreams about the Deity.
- They make an appearance during meditation.
- The Deity’s symbols repeatedly show up in dreams, meditation or waking life. Ex. Animals, plants, objects or colours.
- You may “hear” the Deity make themselves known, typically an inner voice, but may sound very real.
Once you’ve chosen a Deity – or they chose you, start to build a relationship. Once again, do lots of research and learn about them. Then, create an altar for the Deity; adorn it with their corresponding symbols, objects, food, flowers/herbs and colours. Make offerings, light candles and burn incense in their honour, related colours and smells preferred. Acts of service in a Deities honour is also a great way to show your gratitude. For example, you can plant a tree for a forest specific Deity, create a poem for a Deity of artists and poets and even volunteer your time in an area specific to the Deity.
When working with a Deity, how ever you choose to view Deity energy, be sure to show your gratitude towards them. Make regular offerings, and in return, the Deity will lend its energy and strengths to you.
*Archetypal Energy: A particular set of patterns and behaviours that exist within the collective unconscious we all share; in all human cultures throughout time. Often Archetypal Energy is personified or physically manifested: the hero, the trickster, lovers, and the sage are all examples. They all exist in the human collective and on an individual basis.
*Pantheon: A particular set of all gods and goddesses of any individual polytheistic (believing in multiple deities) belief system, mythology or tradition. For example, Egyptian Pantheon, Greek Pantheon, Aztec Pantheon and Celtic Pantheon. The Greek Pantheon consists of Zeus, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Ares, Hermes, Hekate… the list goes on.
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