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Author Topic: Do your god/desses stay locally?  (Read 4682 times)

EJay

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Do your god/desses stay locally?
« on: August 28, 2012, 03:14:43 am »
How local are your god/desses?  Do they stay within a geographical boundary?

I'm just wondering if they find proof of life on Mars--or not--with the rovers, are there different god/desses on different planets?  Are there some universal god/desses?

I'm nowhere near Hawai'i, but Pele shows up in my life even here in Texas.  However, I think she is earth-centered.  I don't think I would find her on Mars.  Don't know, of course, just a gut feeling, but then again I wouldn't be surprised to find her on Olympus Mons, either.

Just wondering about different pantheons and how they exist in a universal vs. global context.
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Re: Do your god/desses stay locally?
« Reply #1 on: August 28, 2012, 03:34:40 am »
Quote from: EJay;71086
How local are your god/desses?  Do they stay within a geographical boundary?

I'm just wondering if they find proof of life on Mars--or not--with the rovers, are there different god/desses on different planets?  Are there some universal god/desses?

I'm nowhere near Hawai'i, but Pele shows up in my life even here in Texas.  However, I think she is earth-centered.  I don't think I would find her on Mars.  Don't know, of course, just a gut feeling, but then again I wouldn't be surprised to find her on Olympus Mons, either.

Just wondering about different pantheons and how they exist in a universal vs. global context.

 
I think this is an interesting question!  My first devotion was to Kapo, and I actually felt a strong sense of locality with Her--that the further I was from Hawai'i, the harder it was to connect with Her, and that I needed special circumstances like thunderstorms or being in physical contact with the Pacific in order to make a clear long-distance call.

I think another planet would have its own Gods--not that our Earthly ones wouldn't be real from there, but that, if different countries can have different pantheons, if rivers and springs have their own individual spirits, of course another planet entirely would have its own.  I don't know how many or of what kind, with no sentient life there, but I would be fascinated to find out.
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Re: Do your god/desses stay locally?
« Reply #2 on: August 28, 2012, 06:54:55 am »
Quote from: EJay;71086
How local are your god/desses?  Do they stay within a geographical boundary?

I'm just wondering if they find proof of life on Mars--or not--with the rovers, are there different god/desses on different planets?  Are there some universal god/desses?

I'm nowhere near Hawai'i, but Pele shows up in my life even here in Texas.  However, I think she is earth-centered.  I don't think I would find her on Mars.  Don't know, of course, just a gut feeling, but then again I wouldn't be surprised to find her on Olympus Mons, either.

Just wondering about different pantheons and how they exist in a universal vs. global context.

 
My Gods are active outside Greece, so I don't see any reason why They wouldn't be outside Earth. There are local spirits, sure; but the Theoi I see as universal, who may present Themselves differently (how do thunderstorms look on Mars?), but are still there. F.ex. even Gaia, whom many equate with Earth, I see more as a Goddess of matter in general.

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Re: Do your god/desses stay locally?
« Reply #3 on: August 28, 2012, 12:22:46 pm »
Quote from: EJay;71086
How local are your god/desses?  Do they stay within a geographical boundary?

I'm just wondering if they find proof of life on Mars--or not--with the rovers, are there different god/desses on different planets?  Are there some universal god/desses?

I'm nowhere near Hawai'i, but Pele shows up in my life even here in Texas.  However, I think she is earth-centered.  I don't think I would find her on Mars.  Don't know, of course, just a gut feeling, but then again I wouldn't be surprised to find her on Olympus Mons, either.

Just wondering about different pantheons and how they exist in a universal vs. global context.


We had this conversation on AL awhile ago. Not about Mars, but how European heathens don't think American heathens can worship gods of the European land.

I have local deities that are tied to the land. If I went to a blot on Mars then those gods wouldn't be there. But the great gods of heathenry (Odin, Thor, etc) are tied to concepts and not region. If I wanted to write poetry on Mars then Odin would inspire me, even if Mars had its own gods for that, because that's the relationship *I* turn to.

Likewise, I'm sure Mars would have its gods of region and concepts as well.
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Re: Do your god/desses stay locally?
« Reply #4 on: August 28, 2012, 12:39:35 pm »
Quote from: EJay;71086


Just wondering about different pantheons and how they exist in a universal vs. global context.


Well, it's hard to imagine Raven or Spider living or bothering with a place that has no ravens or spiders.  Maybe once travel is more common and Earth species start sneaking on board or being brought in, but for now I'd say my gods don't have much business beyond this planet.  Other gods and new gods, sure.

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Re: Do your god/desses stay locally?
« Reply #5 on: August 28, 2012, 01:10:28 pm »
Quote from: Nachtigall;71098
My Gods are active outside Greece, so I don't see any reason why They wouldn't be outside Earth. There are local spirits, sure; but the Theoi I see as universal, who may present Themselves differently (how do thunderstorms look on Mars?), but are still there. F.ex. even Gaia, whom many equate with Earth, I see more as a Goddess of matter in general.

 
This.

If I can worship the Theoi hundreds of miles from Greece, then why not thousands upon thousands of miles away?

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Re: Do your god/desses stay locally?
« Reply #6 on: August 28, 2012, 03:33:36 pm »
Quote from: EJay;71086
How local are your god/desses?  Do they stay within a geographical boundary?


My main pantheon is quite emphatically Irish, and I live in California. They exist mainly on the spiritual plane, so while their presences might be felt most strongly in their homeland, I feel like they'd laugh at the notion of being unable to leave it.

However, the animal spirits I've contacted seem to need culturally-specific counterparts--the Grizzly Bear looks like the American species, but he's only a grizzly because "this is the closest we've got," with British and Irish bears being hunted to extinction. I asked if he had any connection to the American Black Bear, and he gave an uncharacteristic "NO. THEY ARE TINY WIMPS."

The Turtledove is also the European Turtledove, not just a "dove"--while American mourning doves are similar in appearance and connotation, she still says they're "close, but not QUITE right." And as the boar isn't native in the US, the Boar has also emphasized that she's the Eurasian Wild Boar, not an American peccary or a feral pig.

However, the Stag is fine with "any large, antlered deer (that isn't a moose/elk/reindeer)" because deer occupy a pretty similar cultural niche across the board. The Fox enjoys frustrating me with not answering my questions, so I have no idea whether he's American, European, Asian, or the news channel.
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Re: Do your god/desses stay locally?
« Reply #7 on: August 28, 2012, 04:33:33 pm »
Quote from: EJay;71086
How local are your god/desses?  Do they stay within a geographical boundary?

I'm just wondering if they find proof of life on Mars--or not--with the rovers, are there different god/desses on different planets?  Are there some universal god/desses?

 
My God has no pantheon and no 'homeland', so He is active where He chooses to be active and I don't see that as different from any other Deity/Spirit. It's very clearly illustrated with the Afro-Carribean religions--their Spirits and Gods came with them when they were brought to the US in slavery and have taken root here, as well as in Haiti, Jamaica, and anywhere else They please after sometimes originating in Africa.

If there is life on Mars, I don't see why our Gods/Spirits wouldn't be happy to go there, too. After all, more worshipers and resources are more worshipers and resources...

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Re: Do your god/desses stay locally?
« Reply #8 on: August 29, 2012, 03:01:03 am »
Quote from: Marilyn/Absentminded;71142
Well, it's hard to imagine Raven or Spider living or bothering with a place that has no ravens or spiders.  Maybe once travel is more common and Earth species start sneaking on board or being brought in, but for now I'd say my gods don't have much business beyond this planet.  Other gods and new gods, sure.

Absent

 
This.

And it's interesting that you mention Raven and Spider.  Those are two of my totems.  My other two are Snake and Turtle.

But back to topic, I don't see them on Mars, either.

What surprised me with Pele was when I traveled through Arizona and went through the lava fields, unexpectedly.  It was a good thing.  She reminded me that she's always there, regardless.

That's why I'm curious.  I think perhaps some deities are local and some universal.
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Do your god/desses stay locally?
« Reply #9 on: August 29, 2012, 03:34:25 am »
Quote from: EJay;71255
I think perhaps some deities are local and some universal.

This is close to what I believe, too. There are some gods I most strongly encounter near the places they came from. Others are easiest for me to 'hear' around their associations in the landscape, but will spesk to me in other places too (Manannan and the sea, for example). And others are constant presences that no longer seem to be tied to the land - I guess they became more tribal gods than gods of the land, and went where their followers did. I'm almost sure I could experience Brigid on Mars, but with no water, would Manannan be there? It's an interesting one to ponder.
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MattyG

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Re: Do your god/desses stay locally?
« Reply #10 on: September 09, 2012, 03:02:08 pm »
Quote from: EJay;71086
How local are your god/desses?  Do they stay within a geographical boundary?

 
I would highly suggest that you read my favorite book, American Gods by Neil Gaiman. It's all about what happens to the gods and goddesses when they're brought to America with the immigrants of their various cultures. As a matter of fact, I'm fairly sure that this novel was the thing that motivated me to pursue a pagan path. Not the exact same thing as the gods on Mars, but still an interesting perspective. I personally think you can bring your gods with you in your heart, though without the geographic and cultural history behind them, they would really be the same. The gods are universal truths described by local cultures. I hope that makes sense.

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Re: Do your god/desses stay locally?
« Reply #11 on: September 24, 2013, 02:34:44 pm »
Quote from: MattyG;73167
I would highly suggest that you read my favorite book, American Gods by Neil Gaiman. It's all about what happens to the gods and goddesses when they're brought to America with the immigrants of their various cultures. As a matter of fact, I'm fairly sure that this novel was the thing that motivated me to pursue a pagan path. Not the exact same thing as the gods on Mars, but still an interesting perspective. I personally think you can bring your gods with you in your heart, though without the geographic and cultural history behind them, they would really be the same. The gods are universal truths described by local cultures. I hope that makes sense.

 
That is a very interesting way of looking at it. Sounds a lot like Inclusive Polytheism.
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Re: Do your god/desses stay locally?
« Reply #12 on: September 24, 2013, 02:58:37 pm »
Quote from: EJay;71086
How local are your god/desses?  Do they stay within a geographical boundary? Just wondering about different pantheons and how they exist in a universal vs. global context.


For me, my deities exist in a universal context. They go beyond the borders of their cultural origins. They go beyond the Earth's atmosphere. Just my personal feelings of course.
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Do your god/desses stay locally?
« Reply #13 on: September 24, 2013, 05:03:43 pm »
Quote from: Nachtigall;71098
My Gods are active outside Greece, so I don't see any reason why They wouldn't be outside Earth. There are local spirits, sure; but the Theoi I see as universal, who may present Themselves differently (how do thunderstorms look on Mars?), but are still there. F.ex. even Gaia, whom many equate with Earth, I see more as a Goddess of matter in general.

This! Although, I do think that many of the Gods are tied to the Earth itself. The Titans, IMHO, are more likely to extend beyond the planet. Still, I suppose one could look at Zeus as the God of all skies and Poseidon as the God of all oceans. Hmm, you've given me something to think about!
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Re: Do your god/desses stay locally?
« Reply #14 on: September 24, 2013, 06:55:05 pm »
Quote from: Lykeios Lysios;122947
This! Although, I do think that many of the Gods are tied to the Earth itself. The Titans, IMHO, are more likely to extend beyond the planet. Still, I suppose one could look at Zeus as the God of all skies and Poseidon as the God of all oceans. Hmm, you've given me something to think about!
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