The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum

One of the hardest transitions for me, when going from a vaguely Jewish worldview (my mother is Jewish and my father is Catholic, so while I knew I was Jewish, it was never really stressed a lot) is not feeling totally comfortable 'talking' to the gods about everything.

When I was younger, I would talk to the Abrahamic God about almost everything; friends, parents, romantic problems. But now, I feel as if that is too frivolous and not specific to the gods I honor now.

So, what subjects do you think are too frivolous and not relevant to your relationship with the gods? Did you have the same trouble adjusting?

 
I can relate. Coming from a Christian background it was absolutely normal for me to go to God about everything. Even just short little "Help me, get through this" when I need some added patience. So now I find myself in an odd dilemma because from what I hear, people don't go to their pagan gods in quite the same way.

..So, what subjects do you think are too frivolous and not relevant to your relationship with the gods? Did you have the same trouble adjusting?

Truthfully none.  The biggest thing for me is I may speak to them about everything and anything, the difference being I don't expect them to solve my problem(s) for me.  Sometimes I find just the act of speaking to them is enough to clear my head and get my thoughs around it.

I don't ever "talk" to them; petition them for favors and blessings, yes. Try to gain insight on what they want me to do within a tight ritualistic framework and checking most of my personal baggage at the door, yes. Maybe it's the nature of these deities, maybe it's because I get all my communication needs taken care of by my family and friends, but it's probably a combination of both. Different strokes for different folks, really. Not all pagans have even remotely the same kind of relationship with the divine either. I'm sure those who have an intimate, familial-style relationship with their gods probably can do this. As for me, I mostly feel like an intern... and there are just some things that have no place being discussed with your boss.

 
This. ^^^ Stated more clearly than what I was trying to say.

The deity himself or herself must make a huge difference. Not all deities have a "warm and cuddly" aspect to them where you can pull up a chair, light a candle and some incense, and talk things out. There are some deities from whom I get this impression: "Feel free to talk if it's something major, and only if you're ready to do something about it."

But then again I could be talking out the wrong end. . .

One of the hardest transitions for me, when going from a vaguely Jewish worldview (my mother is Jewish and my father is Catholic, so while I knew I was Jewish, it was never really stressed a lot) is not feeling totally comfortable 'talking' to the gods about everything.

When I was younger, I would talk to the Abrahamic God about almost everything; friends, parents, romantic problems. But now, I feel as if that is too frivolous and not specific to the gods I honor now.

So, what subjects do you think are too frivolous and not relevant to your relationship with the gods? Did you have the same trouble adjusting?

I don't really talk to them about anything. Though, I will bare my soul once in awhile to my ancestors. The nameless ones, mainly. Saves on embarrassment.

 I feel closest to Vidar in a prayer type sense I guess. He's the Silent God, and the one that initially drew me into heathenry. There's something comforting about a deity that doesn't speak but who "communicates" myth and personality regardless. It makes words unnecessary. Like someone you can just sit in comfortable silence with and they get it.

All entirely personal feelings regarding him of course, and not based on anything other than that.

That's interesting because I'm the reverse: When I was Catholic, I never thought I could talk to God about anything--partly because of self-esteem issues, partly because I got increasingly terrified of the idea that God knew everything that happened or would happen to me, so He'd already decided not to help me for some reason or another.

This may have been why I was always so angry or sad, because I wouldn't talk to humans and I had no spiritual outlet besides my writing (which was always angry, depressing, or escapist).

^ This is really similar to my own story. I wasn't Catholic, nor did I go to a church regularly. However my family identified with Christianity, and would tell me to "talk to God about it, He will cleanse your sins and get rid of your problems..." or something like that. I could never do that though. Sure, I tried it a couple times, but it just felt very wrong to me and I was also disappointed when my problems weren't solved as I had hoped. Or at all, as it may be (ah, the ideals of being young... ). I always worried about whether I said this right or if he cared or if I should ask about this or or or or.... in other words I would over think about what I should say.

 Now, after finding my path and my patron and matron, I still don't talk about my problems! : but now, I feel like I don't *have* to explain myself and every little detail. I can just reach out to them, and when I feel their warm reply, full of love and understanding... and realize that they already KNOW about my problems, they saw what happened, and even if *I* was the one screwing up and causing the problem, they still care about me. They take away my pain and help me clear my head so I can fix my own problems, and if they are the kind that can't be fixed and out of my control, then they help make it easier for me to live through it, and do the best I can. All without saying a word.

... that may be one of the main reasons why I love my path, and the pagan gods. They feel so much CLOSER. I don't have to explain myself to them, because I knew they were already there.

One of the hardest transitions for me, when going from a vaguely Jewish worldview (my mother is Jewish and my father is Catholic, so while I knew I was Jewish, it was never really stressed a lot) is not feeling totally comfortable 'talking' to the gods about everything.

When I was younger, I would talk to the Abrahamic God about almost everything; friends, parents, romantic problems. But now, I feel as if that is too frivolous and not specific to the gods I honor now.

So, what subjects do you think are too frivolous and not relevant to your relationship with the gods? Did you have the same trouble adjusting?

Having been Pagan all my life I am glad to say I have not had any transitional difficulties of the kind that you express, myself,
although I have spoken to many from Chritianity or other faiths who have so I understand where you are coming from.

Having said that, there has been some interesting times during my Pagan path where some Deity has come along, and some Deity has gone as a result..  and I have really had to "mind my P's and Q's...."!
They really don't all get on well together, and I've learned that the hard way...:whis:

I am ALWAYS very guarded about ANY interaction with them, whatever is going on in my world, for I am sure they have better things to do with their time than listen to me, a mere mortal, whittering on and on...  I mean, you wouldn't dare bitch about your fella's bad habits or complain about your spotty complexion with somebody like Queen Elizabeth, or President Obama would you?

It depends on which ones it is as to how I interact with them for I find they have their own ways of making me understand what's ok and what isn't.  
For instance, I have Neith issuing orders at me from time to time, and I just comply, for I know to argue with Her or even to ignor Her would be sheer folly and lead to no good for me at all, Her wrath would sting like a ton of hot bricks crashing down on my head...  
while Ganesh is like a favourite Uncle... offer Him a Bounty bar, and he's like putty in your hands  and I admit I take this for granted and ask for His help quite often...  where I wouldn't dare ask Neith for anything... ever...:eek:

Very rare I talk to them about personal stuff, usually it's for a third party when I'm trying to help solve a problem... or even more rare, when I am trying to speed up karma for a wrong doing...

I don't think I've ever felt comfortable speaking to them about any thing, and I have to say I doubt I ever will...

One of the hardest transitions for me, when going from a vaguely Jewish worldview (my mother is Jewish and my father is Catholic, so while I knew I was Jewish, it was never really stressed a lot) is not feeling totally comfortable 'talking' to the gods about everything.

When I was younger, I would talk to the Abrahamic God about almost everything; friends, parents, romantic problems. But now, I feel as if that is too frivolous and not specific to the gods I honor now.

So, what subjects do you think are too frivolous and not relevant to your relationship with the gods? Did you have the same trouble adjusting?

i actually had the opposite problem. i grew up in a partly non-denominational partly baptist family. and i never talked to god about anything in my life. i thought talking to god was for repenting of asking for something. i never saw him as a deity that cared about my daily life, but once i came to paganism one of my favorite parts was my nightly devotionals, which i sadly do not do anymore and wish to start again, i would light some candles and just sit and talk with the goddess go through my day say what i was thankful for say what annoyed me. i felt like she was and is always there to listen to me. it really affirms my beliefs and the feeling of home i got when coming to paganism