what to do when you think a deity is calling
Somebody asked this question in a social media comment on Called by Problematic Gods. I went looking for a web log mail where I discussed information technology and I couldn't find one. I've written plenty about my own callings, what to do when you're called by a God you'd just every bit soon avoid, and what to practise when it seems like nobody volition e'er phone call. But in over ten years of blogging, I've never direct answered the question of how you know if a God is calling yous.
I guess that means it'due south time for me to write well-nigh it.
What information technology means to be chosen
Earlier we talk about how yous know if you're existence called, we need to discuss what it means to be chosen in the outset identify.
Evangelical Christianity says that everyone has to have "a personal human relationship with Jesus" or they aren't a real Christian. That thought was unknown in aboriginal polytheism and it has no place in gimmicky Paganism or polytheism.
A polytheist is someone with a religious regard for many existent Gods – being called is not required. If one or more Gods speak directly to you, bang-up. If not, laurels Them just the same. Embody Their virtues and assistance build a world that reflects Their values. It is your deportment that make you a polytheist, not your experiences.
Beingness called means you lot're asked – or in some cases, required – to perform certain actions or live in sure ways in a higher place and beyond what is expected of those who are not called. The reasons why are not probable to be explained, at least not to your satisfaction.
Being called can be a smashing affair, but information technology's non winning the lottery. Information technology'due south not a birthday check from your favorite aunt. Information technology'south more than like beingness drafted into the army – oftentimes the army of a state you didn't even know existed six weeks agone.
The signs
There are three primary signs that a God is calling you into Their service.
Recurring imagery. You begin having dreams involving the roles and imagery of a God. Perhaps you dream of stags, y'all keep seeing deer in diverse media and maybe even in the wild, where you don't look to notice one. You go along running into torques and serpents and various animals, all of whom behave in ways that are atypical for them. Y'all may be hearing from Cernunnos.
That last qualification is important: carry in ways that are singular for them. Animals are sovereign persons the same as we are – they practise their own things for their own reasons, reasons that rarely involve bringing "messages" to humans. Earlier you make up one's mind that something in Nature is a sign or an omen, make sure it's not just ordinary beast, constitute, or conditions beliefs.
But when you proceed seeing the imagery related to a certain deity so many times it feels like information technology tin can't be random adventure, it probably isn't.
A persistent presence. If you lot haven't experienced this you may not understand it. If y'all accept experienced it you lot know exactly what I'k talking about.
A voice in your head, except it's behind your head, not in it. Thoughts that aren't yours that tell y'all things you accept no mode of knowing. Or that tell you things you know are true but have been trying to deny and avoid. The presence of Another, just at the border of your peripheral vision.
This doesn't happen in one case or twice. It happens over and over once again. Our materialistic civilisation tells y'all you're making it up, or maybe you're hallucinating. That is possible, and if nosotros are wise we consider all the likely mundane explanations first.
But if your experiences defy mundane explanations, you may be hearing from a God.
A dramatic introduction. The vast majority of calls involve some combination of the first 2 signs. Just occasionally a deity will make a loud and dramatic appearance that leaves you with no doubt They're existent… and They're really serious.
Information technology's more than probable this will come later in the human relationship. That'due south what happened with me, anyhow. After several years of working with and for Cernunnos, I had my get-go feel of ecstatic communion with Him. It was astonishing and overwhelming and terrifying and I will never forget it.
But occasionally that happens right upwardly forepart. In that case, encounter the link below to the post titled "Am I Hearing a God or Am I Going Crazy?" Because a dramatic introduction from a deity can have you lot questioning your sanity.
How to respond: listening. No matter what the signs, heed. Listen with all your senses. Avoid the urge to interpret the signs right abroad. At the least, wait until your current experience is over. If you start trying to figure it all out besides soon, you're likely to miss more signs, and y'all're likely to jump to wrong conclusions.
When the Gods speak, heed.
Who is calling yous?
You might remember this would exist clear, but it seldom is. The Gods rarely denote Themselves by name. Perchance They think anybody should know who They are, like in aboriginal times. Perhaps They don't recollect who They are is specially important. Maybe, similar many spiritual beings, They know there is power in a name and They don't throw Their ain name effectually lightly. Regardless of why, it is likely that yous'll realize you're being called long before you lot know who'southward calling you.
Is the Forest God you're hearing Cernunnos, or Herne, or Pan? They're not all the same. And remember that while the Gods are virtuous, lesser spirits can and will lie. Discernment is required.
How to respond: inquiry. This is where the old saying that Pagans are "the People of the Library" comes into play. Exercise your homework.
Beginning with ancient stories and myths. Read scholarly works on how our ancestors understood and worshipped their Gods. Talk to Their gimmicky followers – we're to the betoken now where pretty much every deity who'south agile in our globe already as a few priests and devotees. And nigh of us beloved to reply questions about our Patrons. Yeah, you'll run into a few flakes. After a while yous'll larn to tell them from the mystics who seem like flakes to the mundane world merely whose experiences are shaping the restoration of our modern polytheist religions.
The more yous know well-nigh the deity you think it might exist, the better job y'all can do of figuring out how closely your experiences match upwardly.
What are you called to do or be?
Once you determine that a God is calling you, the next question is "called for what?" The many Gods practice non be for our benefit – They practice Their own things for Their ain reasons. But sometimes those reasons involve humans.
Many people assume that if a God is calling them, information technology's to be Their priest. That'southward certainly ane possibility. Simply priesthood is not the default relationship betwixt humans and Gods. Rather, it's one specific type of relationship; a formal commitment to a set of duties and responsibilities. Information technology is non to be entered into lightly.
If you recall you are existence chosen to be a priest, read Preparing For Heathen Priesthood. And retrieve that there are many sacred callings that aren't priesthood.
You lot may be called to be a devotee – someone who honors a God and who performs occasional service for Them, but who does not take on the obligations of priesthood.
Or yous may be chosen to perform a specific chore – something They demand or want done that yous're especially suited to do.
And it's possible you lot're only called into a relationship. If a new neighbor knocks on your door, they probably don't want to borrow your ability saw or sell you ring candy. They just want to introduce themselves and come across if in that location's the possibility of an eventual friendship. The Gods aren't all about love, only some of Them do dear us, for reasons known only to Them.
How to respond: meditation. Particularly in the early days of a call, Gods are not known for being transparent and specific. Y'all know you're being called, but you're non sure exactly why.
Meditate. Whatever method works best for y'all. For me, that'due south long walks exterior early in the forenoon. For you that may be sitting in silence, or in contemplation of an epitome of the deity in question, or some of other grade of meditation.
Then when you call up you have the answer, meditate on that. Come across how information technology fits with what you know and with the experiences you've had. If you lot've got it, dandy. If not, keep trying until y'all understand what y'all're being called to do or be.
How volition you reply?
Discerning the call is only the starting time part. At present you take to answer.
You are a sovereign existence – yous can say no. Most Gods volition accept no for an answer – They'd rather get find some else who'due south eager to do the work than try to persuade you to do something y'all're reluctant to practise. Almost times, that is. Sometimes They won't take no for an answer. If you find yourself in that situation, see the link to "Negotiating With the Gods" below.
You may want to limit your commitment, especially at start. "I will do this but non that." "I will do this for a yr and then nosotros'll re-evaluate it." "In exchange for this I want that from You." There'southward no guarantee your offer volition be accepted, but you never know till you enquire. If yous're uncomfortable negotiating, call in exterior counsel – discover a priest of the deity in question to negotiate for you.
How to answer: divination. Tarot, runes, bibliomancy, geomancy – whatsoever method works for you. Divination won't tell you which determination to make, but information technology can show you what things will be like if you choose one path or another.
Recently I had a spiritual decision to make and I was genuinely conflicted. I saw four possible choices. All of them were achievable – none of them were ideal. I broke out my Tarot cards and drew a 3-carte du jour spread for each option, asking "what volition happen if I make this selection?" Ii of the options showed unfavorable outcomes – I immediately eliminated them. The other ii required more reflection, but every bit I studied the cards (both the standard meanings and how the artwork spoke to me in the context of this state of affairs) information technology became apparent that one option would yield better results than the other. So that's what I did.
The choice of how to respond to the call of a God is ultimately yours. Divination is one tool to assistance make that decision.
Other posts that may be helpful
Negotiating With the Gods
When You Hear The Call of The Morrigan
Am I Hearing a God or Am I Going Crazy?
Chosen, Not Chosen – Building an Inclusive Paganism
When Yous Can't Experience the Gods for Yourself
Source: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbeckett/2018/11/how-do-i-know-if-a-god-is-calling-me.html
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