From: cortese@netcom.com (Janis Maria C. C. Cortese)
Subject: being called to a particular deity
Date: Wed, 25 May 1994 05:32:05 GMT

I recall someone talking about a feeling of being called to a given
deity, and how to know this was for real, and how to go about making
it Signed and Official(tm) and all that . . . I thought I'd give out
with few (yeah, right) words as to my own experiences this way.

I'm pretty much a believer in the notion that a person is best serrved
by following their natural inclinations on some ways.  I found my own
Craft name this way -- I just sort of waited until I found the "right"
name.  I waited until I got a handle on what I was like at that time
(it may change in the future) and at that point, saw the name as the
proper noun that described what I was, the word for my inner nature.
It's not a name in any but the most basic sense -- a description of
what I *am*.  It's no more a "chosen" name that an apple "chooses" to
be called an apple.  It's simply the name we have for the thing.

Finding a deity figure is similar, and the one that fits you is often
different from time to time.  Don't look for one that you like and
say, "I want to dedicate myself to that one."  Look inside yourself
and see what's there -- and don't lie or hide anything.  Honesty is
needed here.  Know yourself, and then see if you can find a deity
matchup for what you see.  This is what I mean by seeing what your own
natural inclinations are and then going with them.  Oftentimes, the
deity will just sort of fall into place with no effort, like a dewdrop
rolling off a leaf.  It just finds the proper time and bango -- it
happens.  Very zen, actually.  This is similar -- if you relax and
just know yourself, the deity will fall into place with no effort.
Well, enough effort to read books and research so that you'll be able
to know him or her when you see them.  But research isn't effort --
it's fun!

My own deities are a bit odd -- the moirae from the Mycenean/Greek
pantheon are good, as is the Minoan god Kouros.  (Never let it be said
that your deity has to be the same gender!)

Anyway, the only advice I can give you is to know yourself and then
when you see your deity you'll recognize him or her as the right one.
Choosing one that isn't a good fit is a bad idea.

Blessings,
Janis