Laziness and the Gods.

[SatSekhem]

You know, I don't know that I'd list the aversion to do rituals that I have sometimes as laziness so much as ...well. Just like I said, aversion.

When I get stressed, if I have to do anything other than say, watch three hours of Charmed or play the Sims for an entire evening, then I get really buggy. I can't focus, I can't concentrate, and I sure as HELL don't want to do anything that makes me search inside myself or outwardly for/toward a source of godliness.

That's what's been happening to me lately. If I sit down at the altar, I immediately want to stand back up again. I want to give offerings and then be up and away, no thought involved.

But to be fair, it's the same with my art, too. When I get stressed, nothing can make me sit down and do it.. it becomes an obligation rather than joy. Much like being at the altar does.

Stupid stress.

I completely get this.

[Nehet]

In the "Forgetting" Your Deity, Arienwen posted...



I was just wondering how this affects others and their connection with their gods. I mean, are you lazy? Do you put off your offerings? Did you kick the laziness's ass right out of your system? If so, how did you do it?

Inquiring minds need to know!

Like Devo, I just do it.

Of course, sometimes I get "lazy". I used to take breaks when I started to get the ritual blahs. Then, at one point I realized that I was going to get as much out of my spirituality as I put into it. I decided to try an experiment, and do ritual daily for awhile, even if I didn't feel motivated to do it.

The result, for me, is that ritual has become comforting. No matter what else in my life goes to hell, I still have my daily ritual as a constant. That reminds me of the Gods' presence in my life and actually makes it easier for me to get through stressful things.

Now, even though I don't take literal breaks from ritual, I still take "mental vacations". Meaning, I go through the motions but I'm not focused. I try to cut myself some slack if I'm under stress and unable to focus on ritual. IME Ausir is understanding if I'm doing the best I can. He seems to still appreciate me going through the motions, even if I'm just going through the motions.

There are days when doing ritual for Him feels like going to the store to buy flowers for a special date with my sweetie.

Then there are days when doing ritual for Him feels like going to the store on a crappy, snowy day to get basic household essentials because my sweetie needed me to do it.

Both acts say "I love you". The second one just isn't as exciting and might not even get an enthusiastic "thank you", because it's not "special". It's just what 'ya do, you know? But it still matters as much, if not more so, then the first option.

[Devo]

There are days when doing ritual for Him feels like going to the store to buy flowers for a special date with my sweetie.

Then there are days when doing ritual for Him feels like going to the store on a crappy, snowy day to get basic household essentials because my sweetie needed me to do it.

Both acts say "I love you". The second one just isn't as exciting and might not even get an enthusiastic "thank you", because it's not "special". It's just what 'ya do, you know? But it still matters as much, if not more so, then the first option.

I really like this- and it makes me feel better about the days where I was just going through the motions.

Ironically, I had a habit of talking Set's ear off- esp. if I was tired... I'd just sorta ramble on during the 'special prayers/talking' section. He'd actually tell me to STFU and finish so he could go on his way XD Random tangent, but it's what came to mind.

-Devo

[SatSekhem]

Like Devo, I just do it.

Of course, sometimes I get "lazy". I used to take breaks when I started to get the ritual blahs. Then, at one point I realized that I was going to get as much out of my spirituality as I put into it. I decided to try an experiment, and do ritual daily for awhile, even if I didn't feel motivated to do it.

I think I've come to the conclusion that my lack of ritual isn't so much laziness, but a lack of enthusiasm coupled with the fact that the daily rite and the reason behind my doing it? That just wasn't for me. Now, I'm just... floating and listless while I try to figure this shit out.

[Nehet]

I think I've come to the conclusion that my lack of ritual isn't so much laziness, but a lack of enthusiasm coupled with the fact that the daily rite and the reason behind my doing it? That just wasn't for me. Now, I'm just... floating and listless while I try to figure this shit out.

Maybe you can just make informal offerings for awhile? And, not necessarily daily. It's not like it's "daily or nothing."

[SatSekhem]

Maybe you can just make informal offerings for awhile? And, not necessarily daily. It's not like it's "daily or nothing."

I want to get to that point, actually. However, I've found that if I do it once a week, I tend to forget. I guess I'd have to have an alarm or something? And, considering the things I've been picking up from my vodou studies, I'm wondering if I should have "always" offerings set out like they do. (Like, they'll leave out a bottle of rum for their deities for ceremonial use.)

Decisions!

[SatAset]

I think I've come to the conclusion that my lack of ritual isn't so much laziness, but a lack of enthusiasm coupled with the fact that the daily rite and the reason behind my doing it? That just wasn't for me. Now, I'm just... floating and listless while I try to figure this shit out.

Some people get drained while doing a rite daily. I think it was Darkhawk that mentioned that she does rituals certain times a month. So perhaps, if the daily part wasn't working for you, maybe you could try once a week and see how that goes better.

And as an aside, only the priests as far as we know, did the rites daily and to hold non-priests to that same standard doesn't make much sense to me as they aren't performing the priest rite for the community.

[SatAset]

I want to get to that point, actually. However, I've found that if I do it once a week, I tend to forget. I guess I'd have to have an alarm or something? And, considering the things I've been picking up from my vodou studies, I'm wondering if I should have "always" offerings set out like they do. (Like, they'll leave out a bottle of rum for their deities for ceremonial use.)

Decisions!

I leave out a small cup of wine or beer for Nebet Het, Wepwawet and Sekhmet. I change it once a week or so and when I dispose of them, I offer them as a libation instead of drinking them. I leave the bottle in the fridge though. I thought that may help it last longer.

But some people do leave the bottles themselves on the shrines and pour a little out as an offering into a cup or bowl.

They did do beer libations and water ones in AE.

[Devo]

I think I've come to the conclusion that my lack of ritual isn't so much laziness, but a lack of enthusiasm coupled with the fact that the daily rite and the reason behind my doing it? That just wasn't for me. Now, I'm just... floating and listless while I try to figure this shit out.

I'm not sure that there is a good alternative right now. I find that when I'm having these issues, it's best to just wait out the storm, and hope that eventually things will slowly sort themselves out. That the gods will lead me to where they want me to be- you know?

An option that I can think of (or options). I used to give my breakfast to the gods. I live in a small apt, so I could easily set it on the altar and say "here, eat this!" and wait a minute, and then take the meal to my.... floor (I didn't have a table for a long long time). So this might work. Another option was a water bowl. I specifically used this for Bast. I kept a statue of her by my cat's water bowl. I'd fill the water up for the cats, and mentally, it became a libation for Bast. Not sure if that would work for you- but it's an idea. Another possibility (I used this for Asar) is a plant. Every time I water the plant, watch it grow- it was for him.

Little things like that help to bring the gods back into my life. They make me feel closer to them, and less like I'm shirking off my 'responsibility' to them (that's how I see it for myself personally).

-Devo

[Firaza]

I want to get to that point, actually. However, I've found that if I do it once a week, I tend to forget. I guess I'd have to have an alarm or something? And, considering the things I've been picking up from my vodou studies, I'm wondering if I should have "always" offerings set out like they do. (Like, they'll leave out a bottle of rum for their deities for ceremonial use.)

Decisions!

I'm trying to keep up a weekly ritual as well, though unforeseen circumstances will sometimes prevent me from doing it. (I try to do it on Sundays, but last Sunday, it completely slipped my mind, so I made up for it by doing it the next day.) When the urge strikes me, I'll light a candle and incense for Anpu no matter what day of the week it is. When I remember to, I'll say a prayer over my food, inviting the Gods to join -- another form of offering in my mind. I'm trying to get to the point where I pray over my food whenever I sit down for a meal, but lots of things slip my mind these days, its seems!