Location and the Gods

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[Taliesin]

A few questions, just wondering and all that.

1. For you, does general location affect the strength of your relationship with a particular God(ess), or how you work with a God(ess)? For example, would it be easier to connect with Manannan on the Isle of Man, or in Ireland, than places where the God isn't 'native'?

2. Also, does specific location matter? Say, would you only work with a deity in a place or situation relevant to their field? Is this preferable?

[Caroline]

A few questions, just wondering and all that.

1. For you, does general location affect the strength of your relationship with a particular God(ess), or how you work with a God(ess)? For example, would it be easier to connect with Manannan on the Isle of Man, or in Ireland, than places where the God isn't 'native'?

2. Also, does specific location matter? Say, would you only work with a deity in a place or situation relevant to their field? Is this preferable?

I think it depends entirely on the deity and the situation. From a Hellenic viewpoint, there are deities (or divine spirits) tied to particular locals; others range far more widely. For example, while I think you could worship/offer cultus to Demeter anywhere, I think you if you were trying to recreate the Eleusian Mysteries (assuming we knew stuff we don't), you'd have to do it in Eleusis. I don't think such a thing could be transplanted. Mysteries celebrated elsewhere would be different, and should have a different nomiker; they might be Mysteries of Demeter, but they wouldn't be Mysteries of Demeter at Eleusis.

[Aster Breo]

A few questions, just wondering and all that.

1. For you, does general location affect the strength of your relationship with a particular God(ess), or how you work with a God(ess)? For example, would it be easier to connect with Manannan on the Isle of Man, or in Ireland, than places where the God isn't 'native'?

2. Also, does specific location matter? Say, would you only work with a deity in a place or situation relevant to their field? Is this preferable?

I don't know.  I've never been to Ireland, so I can't say if it's easier to connect with Brighid there. 

The only other deity I've ever had direct experience with is Raven, who I met for the first time when I was in the Pacific Northwest for work.  I didn't *really* experience Him until I spent a little time in Alaska.  I think He was mostly just helping Brighid get my attention.    I haven't felt Him much since then, though.  I don't know if that's because I'm no longer in Alaska or because He isn't interested in me any more.

I'm not really sure what your second question is asking.  I don't think of myself as "working with" Her, so much as "doing Her work".  If I've dedicated a certain task or activity to Her -- like the lighting design work I do -- it often has to take place in a specific location.  It's hard to do lighting design if you're not in a theater, f'ex.     I guess another example is social justice advocacy.  Some of the related tasks can happen anywhere, and some have to be where ever the relevant policy-maker is located.  But those situations are about where I do certain kinds of things, not where I experience Brighid more strongly, or anything like that.

[Melamphoros]

I think it depends entirely on the deity and the situation. From a Hellenic viewpoint, there are deities (or divine spirits) tied to particular locals; others range far more widely. For example, while I think you could worship/offer cultus to Demeter anywhere, I think you if you were trying to recreate the Eleusian Mysteries (assuming we knew stuff we don't), you'd have to do it in Eleusis. I don't think such a thing could be transplanted. Mysteries celebrated elsewhere would be different, and should have a different nomiker; they might be Mysteries of Demeter, but they wouldn't be Mysteries of Demeter at Eleusis.

Using this as a jumping-off point, there were also the major gods worshiped pretty much everywhere (Zeus, Hera, etc) and minor nature deities that were more localized (the god of the closest river, nymphs, etc).

[Caroline]

Using this as a jumping-off point, there were also the major gods worshiped pretty much everywhere (Zeus, Hera, etc) and minor nature deities that were more localized (the god of the closest river, nymphs, etc).

Yes, exactly. Which is why I think most of the Olympians (and some Titans) really don't care where their worshippers are, and why I honour the nymphs of the local waters and woods and not those of Greece.

[Nomad of Nowhere]

A few questions, just wondering and all that.

1. For you, does general location affect the strength of your relationship with a particular God(ess), or how you work with a God(ess)?

2. Also, does specific location matter?

I feel that ceremonies for a deity are often done better if they are in the correct location. For instance, back in Russia the oak tree was worshipped among men and the lime among women- two trees often associated with a God and Goddess respectively. These two trees are important to my tradition, and yet here in the US the European variations of these trees are hard to come by. To me, this is a reminder that some things can not be the same when you practice on a distant land. There are a number of specific places to worship, such as oak groves, riverbanks, and mountaintops. Even bogs belong to Veles.

[Nimue]

A few questions, just wondering and all that.

1. For you, does general location affect the strength of your relationship with a particular God(ess), or how you work with a God(ess)? For example, would it be easier to connect with Manannan on the Isle of Man, or in Ireland, than places where the God isn't 'native'?

2. Also, does specific location matter? Say, would you only work with a deity in a place or situation relevant to their field? Is this preferable?

I don't observe their locations (accessibility being the big problem), but I will try to "bring their location to them" like having leaves, or certain stones, or sea shells on my altar.  I pay more attention to whether they have a preferred time of day.

[Taliesin]

I'm not really sure what your second question is asking. 

Sorry, it wasn't that clear haha. When I say 'working with' I'm just using that as a general doing-stuff-for-or-with-a-deity term, and I didn't think 'worship' would be appropriate. Basically, if your deity was the God(ess) of 'A', then would it be easier to do stuff with them in a place related to 'A' or in a situation that also reflects upon 'A'?

... If that makes sense.

[Rowanfox]

Sorry, it wasn't that clear haha. When I say 'working with' I'm just using that as a general doing-stuff-for-or-with-a-deity term, and I didn't think 'worship' would be appropriate. Basically, if your deity was the God(ess) of 'A', then would it be easier to do stuff with them in a place related to 'A' or in a situation that also reflects upon 'A'?

... If that makes sense.

I'll toss in my two cents here, and these are just my ideas.

Some of the gods are very localized, and the gods of the BTW belong to Britain (England specifically) However, many gods also exist on other planes of reality than the physical. So, we in North America can easily commune with our British gods by meeting with them in another space, in circle.

As well, in my experience, once you have developed a rapport with a deity, you are never really disconnected from that deity. I have had a very personal relationship with Kali (so NOT British) for a couple of decades. A recent trip to India allowed me to meet Her in person (so to speak ) I now understand on a visceral level why She has such a huge number of devoted followers in Her homeland. Meeting Her on her own ground was ......hard to put into words. I still have an attachment to Her, but it is very different back here in Canada.

I have found, myself, that there seems to be a certain etiquette about what gods you invoke where and when. My personal small devotions to the divas, spirits and little mysteries of my current homeland are more about maintaining my good neighbour status with the locals than about my religion. I know I walk in their world, and I feel that they know I belong to "foreign" gods. Seems the polite thing to do to respect the locals.

I have never been to Britain, so I do not know if it is "easier" to work with my gods their. I hope to discover this one day.

[UlsterYank]

A few questions, just wondering and all that.

1. For you, does general location affect the strength of your relationship with a particular God(ess), or how you work with a God(ess)? For example, would it be easier to connect with Manannan on the Isle of Man, or in Ireland, than places where the God isn't 'native'?

2. Also, does specific location matter? Say, would you only work with a deity in a place or situation relevant to their field? Is this preferable?

I've seen this before, and it's a good question because lets say the Celts, for example, were tribal peoples often at war with each other (there's still Province rivalry today). Tutelary deities were often regional, so it would make sense to try and worship them in their traditional homes, or sites traditionally associated with them. In a hard polytheist sense, it would almost seem taboo worshipping Brighid at Eamhain Mhacha, or Macha at the Hill of Tara. 

However, I feel the Gods transcend boundaries, and many Gaelic deities have continental Celtic roots, like Brighid and Lugh, whose cults travelled to Ireland. As far as connection, I think you could get a better one worshipping Gods in their traditional home, but you can also get a good connection elsewhere. Kind of like Guinness, it doesn't travel well, but you can still get it  Maybe travelling would give the occasion more personal significance, like all of the people that make pilgrimages for Paddy, but I wouldn't consider it a necessity.   

[Elyria]

A few questions, just wondering and all that.

1. For you, does general location affect the strength of your relationship with a particular God(ess), or how you work with a God(ess)? For example, would it be easier to connect with Manannan on the Isle of Man, or in Ireland, than places where the God isn't 'native'?

2. Also, does specific location matter? Say, would you only work with a deity in a place or situation relevant to their field? Is this preferable?

I believe in Olimpians and i live in Spain, for me my localization doesnt affect, but... maybe is my mind, i think no... when im in greece i feel them more than in spain, i feel me totaly connected with them in Greece.

[RootRealm]

A few questions, just wondering and all that.

1. For you, does general location affect the strength of your relationship with a particular God(ess), or how you work with a God(ess)? For example, would it be easier to connect with Manannan on the Isle of Man, or in Ireland, than places where the God isn't 'native'?

2. Also, does specific location matter? Say, would you only work with a deity in a place or situation relevant to their field? Is this preferable?

I tend to relate most to the "Great MOther" who goes by many names, so she is both Isis and Arianrhod, and transcends nationality and ethncity or culture.  My sense of her is that she takes on the form, name, language and clothing that any particular devotee needs or wishes to see her in.  So she will come as well in Ireland as in California.  However, she is connected to certain archetypes, so some landscapes and environments are better for being with her, than others are.  Hard, rocky, craggy and dry, windswept and hot places are not very good for meeting with her.  Better to find her in shady, green, moist and watery places, like forests and tender meadows, and not at midday, but early or late, or at night are much better. 

I have not had the opportunity to travel to Europe as an adult.  If I did, who knows,  I might find relationships with European cultural deities enhanced and have more of a relationship to specific deities.   

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