Challenge Accepted: Choosing a Polytheist Paganism

I have been reading Essays in Contemporary Paganism from Moon Books and while I expected to be inspired by the essay on parenting or the one on polytheism most, I was, in fact, brought into deep thought on my own practice most by the final article "After Paganism" by Emma Restal Orr. In this article, Orr points out that she has, at times, wondered if she wanted to associate with the term Pagan after seeing many pagans and groups labeled pagan performing acts of defiling nature even as they claim to honor the land they live on. She goes on to delve into the why behind these actions and why they are so common among the pagan community.

"Paganism focuses from the outset on this search for the self. However, in most Pagan teachings, this appears as the be-all and end-all, the ultimate goal."

She then points out the problem of this thinking when it comes to community, "However, all too often, the self-importance of the I takes over, the insecure ego working solely to benefit itself."
While Orr looks at this issue from the perspective of a nature-loving pagan with a focus on the spirituality of the land and conection to the spirit in community, forests, animals, etc. I looked at this issue in regard to practicing Polytheism.

Not long ago I read Polytheism and Devotion on Galina Krasskova's blog. I began thinking of my religion from the idea of pure and total devotion to Frigga and other Gods that have approached me or that I have approached within the Norse pantheon.
In my witchcraft background, I often approached Gods but almost always only to petition for something for myself. If I gave offering it was in act of thanks for receiving what I asked for. Today, I often give small offerings to My Lady from baked goods I create to flowers I've grown or gathered when out for a walk. I have given offerings in petition to the Gods since I began my polytheist practice in earnest but now I do so far less than when I offer simply out of devotion.

When I contemplated this - I often wonder why the Gods would bother with witches at all unless their petition was something that could benefit more than the witch themselves. Why bother with someone who only comes to you when they want something like a spoiled child? Not even a child, at least then unconditional love might be a factor.

While I was considering this, I came across a conversation on Facebook asking why does Paganism have all these little terms and titles like Wiccan, Polytheist, Heathen, etc. Many people explained the need for the separation and labels much like the denominations of Christianity and defined each word. I focused on how Paganism or Witch does not mean Religious at all much less Polytheist.

Orr says in her essay, "It is no wonder that many give up on gods as actual beings when they have chosen to work with a goddess or god simply because they like the list of associations that go with it. Motherhood, fertility, the wildwood, strength, wizardry, whatever it may be, we are encouraged when we find others who can confirm that Cernunnos or Hecate is what we believe him or her to be. But these are ideas, found in books and shared with other people. They are not the gods that we encounter..."

She goes on to point out similar issues in ancestor work when many pagans profess to honor their ancestors but conveniently disregard parents, grandparents, and other close relations who they have issues with either because of religious conflict or other problems.
It is inconvenient to see Gods or spirits as they are when we can easily focus on ourselves and mold them as ideas that we need in the here and now and can readily dispose of the rest.

So why should we look beyond ourselves to honor the Gods? 

Well, I suppose this is an answer each person who believes in and honors the Gods has to answer for themselves.
If, like me, you believe the Gods had a hand in creating our world and the things within it such as teaching us certain crafts like herbalism, blacksmithing, woodworking, how to survive harsh winters, etc - then that alone would be enough to be in Awe of these caretakers and teachers and cause honor.

I honor the Gods even when I don't feel comfortable with them. Odinn is a great example of this as he has come to me since I began working with runes (drawing his attention is often a result, whether desired or not, when working with runes as they are spirits he has close affinity and workings with). Odinn has told me I am his, I told him I most certainly am not, feeling the need to be loyal to Frigga. He just laughed at me. Odinn has many attributes that I would not like to approach or deal with magically or otherwise. These are not energies I am at all comfortable with. Does that mean I do not honor him or give him respect? No, I honor him not only as the husband of My Lady, not just as the All-Father who rules from Asgard, but also as an entity far greater and wiser than myself.

I honor Frigga because she showed me her face in a time when I needed aid to see me through my second pregnancy and first birth of a live baby. She came to me and helped me through long nights and wrapped me in her love when I needed rest. She hasn't always been so comforting - there have been times her words have been sharp and she has given me no room to squirm out of what I have to do in order to be the very best mother, devotee, and witch I can be in this world and community. For this and more, I honor her.

If I had to choose a God to devote myself too, I probably wouldn't have chosen Frigga. I would have chosen a deity that had more information readily available, who had a darker outlook to match my more gothic aesthetic, who had places to go on pilgrimage to or devotees that could teach me and take me under their wing. Alas, I did not choose and Frigga's lore and those that are devoted to her that are public are few. I did not choose Frigga and, in the beginning, confused her omens and symbols that she sent me to let me know she was there as signs of other Goddesses such as Hekate and Juno. I struggled and yet I couldn't be happier now that things have been made clearer even if it is harder to be a devotee to a Goddess that I do not understand, that I cannot fit into a box with a list of associations on a page in a Modern Pagan handbook.

I honor Frigga and her Handmaidens, Odinn and Mani and Njord and the other Gods and spirits because they are greater than me. I honor them because in my heart I knew honoring them is right and good. I can't make anyone else feel that unless they are open to it and I have no desire to instill this feeling in anyone who would come before the altars of the Gods begrudgingly.

Recently, Dver of Forest Door asked Are You Up For The Challenge? Are polytheists up for discussing their rituals and practices of polytheism. I accept the challenge not just for September but beyond as sharing my practice with others with the hope to inspire polytheist and pagan mamas (and non-mamas who are reading) out there is what this blog is about. I figured the first way to do this is the clarify who I honor and worship and why. The who is partially answered slowly in my 30 Days of Devotion to Frigga posts. The why is, in part, answered here.

Orr says, "To be in company with Pagans whose relationships with their gods and ancestors are evident, who are communicating with other entities within nature’s mind instead of talking to themselves, is a true delight."

I agree. I love that Dver is posting this challenge and people are accepting it. I love hearing about the relationships some Polytheists build with the Gods they worship. Not only does reading about these relationships make me feel a little less alone and crazy but it also inspires me to dig deeper. Reading the practices of others either inspired by text and lore or by UPG, inspires me to develop my practices further. Such inspiration can only be for the better when it comes to community.

Why do you honor the Gods?