The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum

In North America, for instance, I have felt Dionysos connected to the buffalo rather than the bull, as it is the native large horned animal. Sekhmet may manifest as a cougar in the north, rather than an African lion. Odin comes from a land of harsh winters, but what aspects will emerge in the desert? I am not suggesting that one simply imagine the appropriate associations – it’s not a game to play – but rather that one be open to a true experience of the gods as They appear in the world that one knows first-hand.

I loved this. I loved everything about it. I think it's fantastic and bloody brilliant.

Heathenry is already a system that includes dealing with your immediate environment and immediate influences.

In other words, you agree with the essence of the blog post.

Either that, or 'heathenry' has no meaning outside of its cultural source.

I can see parts of it and how it would be of benefit.  Yet I wonder how much is taken from the indeginious peoples by dropping their gods / goddess and Spirits?

It's like sure you can say the Buffalo remind you of ______ but what about the native peoples who see it as Tatanka and its sacred role with regards to things like White Buffalo Calf Woman Comes Dancing or Wankan Tanka?  Even to the importance it had upon the entire society of the plains and how each and every part was used and honored for its use.

The Greeks when they went into Egypt did identify a lot of the local gods / goddess to their Greek counter parts yet those gods also retained their local flavor and names as well.  For instance Bast and Pahket retain their Egyptian identities even as they gain an association to Artemis.  But perhaps more importantly the Greeks acknowledged the Egyptian identities of thier gods / goddesses as well as the Greek titles, thus some documents and records say Artemis others say Bast or Pahket yet all recorded by the Greeks.

To me it would be like going to Hawaii and saying no that's not Pelie that's Vulcan just ot make yourself feel better and more of a recon.  Yet the mountain and landscape identify with and as Pelie who has been the island goddess of the volcano for as long as memories have been around.

While I'm not saying all would be so rude or bold as to denounce Pelie for Vulcan I can see how it would be done by some.  Done even as it was an affront to the local peoples and the god / goddess (s) and spirits of those places.  All in the name of trying to make ones own spiritual practices more encompassing of the landscape one finds themself in.  Then wonder why their is mistrust and hatred against various religious practices and peoples.

I can see parts of it and how it would be of benefit.  Yet I wonder how much is taken from the indeginious peoples by dropping their gods / goddess and Spirits?

It's like sure you can say the Buffalo remind you of ______ but what about the native peoples who see it as Tatanka and its sacred role with regards to things like White Buffalo Calf Woman Comes Dancing or Wankan Tanka?  Even to the importance it had upon the entire society of the plains and how each and every part was used and honored for its use.

The Greeks when they went into Egypt did identify a lot of the local gods / goddess to their Greek counter parts yet those gods also retained their local flavor and names as well.  For instance Bast and Pahket retain their Egyptian identities even as they gain an association to Artemis.  But perhaps more importantly the Greeks acknowledged the Egyptian identities of thier gods / goddesses as well as the Greek titles, thus some documents and records say Artemis others say Bast or Pahket yet all recorded by the Greeks.

To me it would be like going to Hawaii and saying no that's not Pelie that's Vulcan just ot make yourself feel better and more of a recon.  Yet the mountain and landscape identify with and as Pelie who has been the island goddess of the volcano for as long as memories have been around.

While I'm not saying all would be so rude or bold as to denounce Pelie for Vulcan I can see how it would be done by some.  Done even as it was an affront to the local peoples and the god / goddess (s) and spirits of those places.  All in the name of trying to make ones own spiritual practices more encompassing of the landscape one finds themself in.  Then wonder why their is mistrust and hatred against various religious practices and peoples.

Right. If I move to Japan the gods aren't already there waiting for me. Japan has it's own gods and it's own land spirits. I would bring my gods with me, who would reside in- and view me through- my idols of them. There isn't a need to see them in the local environment because they aren't present there. But I can acknowledge and interact with that local community of spirits that directly influences me, even if I don't have a relationship with the local deities.

On the same token, they aren't a concentrated presence in the overall land of Northern Europe, either. The hills of Bavaria don't necessarily have an equal presence of Woden at the same time as the Black Forest. The gods move through places, they aren't in all places. They can't exist in the tree that already has its own personality/spirit. They can't exist in Pele's volcano.

The desert is its own living thing, not a blank canvas to be colored in by gods. I approach that living thing as a heathen, but that doesn't mean it can be reconstructed into a heathen structure.