I continue to ponder the current issues surrounding
polytheism. The primary controversy seems to be between those who view the gods
and spirits as objective beings with personal wills and agency and those who
take a more Jungian or symbolist approach, viewing the spirits as aspects or
persons of the human psyche, whether individual or collective.
In general let me say that I find little merit in trying to
measure people’s Pagan sincerity or piety by their ideas. In my opinion it matters
hardly a grain of salt to the gods and spirits what you might think they ‘really’
are. If you behold their images, call their names, make their offerings you are
a worshipper, whatever one’s own small opinion about their nature might be.
Likewise, there is no prescribed or measurably insufficient
amount of worship required to be a ‘good Pagan’. Not everyone is devout in
religious practice, nor needs to be. The sources are there, public rites are
available, and offerings can always be made at a home fire. Each of us decides
what sufficient piety is.
All that grumbled, I’ll say that I choose to act as if the
gods and spirits are objective persons. That remains a thought-experiment, to
some degree, but the results so far are encouraging. I deal with both the High
Ones and with smaller local spirits in this way – I must say there’s a marked
difference in my perceived conversations.
One place where I diverge from current polytheistic fashion
is in my attitude toward devotionalism. My polytheism is more theurgic than
devotional. If I must meet a new deity for some new work I approach through
meditation, ritual and study. The ritual will involve correspondences, proper
times and seasons, proper invocations, proper visualizations. It will not
require any offer of submission or obedience, but rather an offer of a seat of
honor at a noble table. During the presence I seek to have conversation with
the god, let her behold me as I behold her, etc. This is not a courtship, but a
diplomatic dinner.
I don’t do surrender mysticism in relation to the gods; “not
my will but thine” does not pass my lips, nor have I ever felt as if a god
wanted that from me. I am an ally of the gods, their priest and magician, doing
my bit in the work of bringing their presence into the world. They receive my
honor and welcome, but not, by habit, my obedience. The primary divine person
that I 'trust' (as in expect to have my best interest at heart and know what I
need) is my own agathosdaemon - the interior spark of the divine that makes me
be me, and links my spirit directly with the web of spirits.
To say "the gods" (as a class) is rather like saying "the
universe". I certainly don't trust in the universe to look out for me - I
look out for myself. So, my piety is formal, respectful and mostly indirect. I
offer to the gods generally, to my short-list gods frequently, and to the gods
of my house and hearth more frequently. Those latter I do rather trust the way
one trusts a long-time friend. Divine Brigid, and the Great Good God have
always looked out for us here, bless their names.
I’m not a human who lives by the passions. My inclination is
to watch and manage myself, not to ride waves of feeling. Thus while love and
devotion are part of the emotional set surrounding Invocation and the presence,
they are not my primary mode of approaching deity. Rather I work magic, making
the formal introductions, developing a relationship, making a deal. I find
myself satisfied when all is steady. Thus I seek to drive the ship of my life
with my own hand at the rudder, even if the spirits are the noble passengers.
It is always good to have powerful friends.
