How have those of you who have relationships with other deities developed those relationships? I find it more difficult to have time to get to know these new goddesses. Do you have any techniques for doing so? What do you do for a deity who is a softer speaker than the other?
I keep being afraid that my subconscious mind is making up personalities to deal with different issues of my own personality, rather than actually having a deity speak to me. Have you had this thought?
And most importantly, when Something Happens-- either something you've asked for or something you just know is out of the ordinary, how do you know who did what? Was it deity A, deity B, deity C, or All of the Above? Do you try and figure out which godly source did the Something, or do you thank them all?
Well, currently I work with four gods, and it seems to be going fine so far.
I think what helped me 'get to know' them (not that I really do yet...but I'm working on it) is that I started off with Manannan as my patron and making connections with Aenghus and the Morrighan knowing that my energy was going to be concentrated on Manannan. I work with tM less, simply because she's made it clear that I can come to her if it's urgent, but Manannan will be sorting out the day-to-day stuff, so I don't know her so well. Later, when Lugh came into the picture, I'd established a foundation of a relationship with the others, so I could concentrate a little more on Lugh. I guess it's a little like getting to know four new friends. I tend to make offerings and perform rituals to all of them at once (unless it's Lughnassad or similar, when I concentrate on the deity being honoured on that day), so I usually get equal amounts of time with all of them.
I have certainly had my doubts about my sanity, but I find if I concentrate on the things that probably didn't happen without divine intervention, f'ex, when I was emotionally messed up over a decision I had to make for months (not an exaggeration), then I asked for help, and soon after (about five days, I think), I knew exactly what I had to do and why. Or when you get a message with something you couldn't possibly know, or is just so out-of-character for you to think. I say don't worry about it. I think most people probably question, and after all, what is faith but continuing in the face of that questioning?
And to answer your question about knowing Who did What, I return to my example about the decision. It was easy to tell then, because Manannan pretty much straight-up told me that he was sick of my whining, so he was going to lend me to Aenghus for the week so I could sort it out. It was fairly easy to tell who had their hands in that particular piece of work
.
But at other times, I've certainly asked who helped me at one point and Manannan, Aenghus and Lugh have
all given me the metaphorical innocent eyes and a "Who, me?"
Fairly sure it was one of them, they're not telling who. Guess I just live with that, puny mortal that I am.
Hope that was in some small way helpful.
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