How do Pagans determine what to do to please their patron God or Goddess?

Question

Do you look up the ancient rituals or do have you found your own?

Answer 1

Doing things to please my deities is very important to me. I try to study and learn about them as well as learning through interacting with them. I give offerings of food, drink, items found, and items that I create for them. I sing praises to them every day. Sometimes I write poetry to praise them. Ancient rituals for my deities don't exist anymore so I read what I can to learn about them and those who once worshiped them. I read about archaeological finds connected to them for inspiration. I look for hints from myths in nearby areas. I feel that my efforts are noticed and that they know in my heart that my only wish is to honor them. Without them, I would have no reason for a religion---they are the center of my religious beliefs and I feel blessed to have a connection with them.

I know that my way of life isn't for everyone but I feel such fulfillment from giving. My faith isn't about me but it's about them. I don't feel that they need my praises and gifts. I see it the same way that a parent would see a small child who toils and works hard to do something or make something to make their parent happy. The parent can buy whatever they want, but it touches their heart when they see the effort and love that the gift from their child shows. No matter how unskilled the gift is, if it is carefully and thoughtfully given in love, the parent understands and is pleased.

Answer 2

For a place to start, I look up what's available on the ancient rituals. That's always going to be the basic foundation.

Where there's gaps, I look to similar religions, anthropology, and the rest of the Celtic culture to see if there's hints on what might fit in there. There's a certain amount of trial-and-error in this step, since it's (effectively) rediscovering what the Ancestors might have done.

And, last but not least, direct revelation. If one of my deities suddenly decided that they wanted offerings of cherry kool-aide, I'd sorta have to listen.

Answer 3

What LabGrrrl said. :-)

There are very few geniunely ancient rituals out there, and those that you CAN find are so alien in context that it's almost impossible to do them with a modern mindset. Myself, I find the best way to please the Gods (as far as I can tell) is to approach Them with an attitude of love and respect. Be clean when you approach Them, and wear clean clothes. Light candles to Them and offer Them the pleasing odor of incense -- sometimes customizing the incense to the God/dess (for example, roses for Aphrodite, or catnip for Bast). Speak to Them sincerely and, if the occasion is appropriate, with beautiful words. Research Them so that you know Them.

The Gods know what is in our hearts, and I sincerely believe that They love us as Their children (depending on the God/dess, of course; some are quite dark and not particularly given to loving in the standard human sense). Approach Them honestly and openly, give Them the best you have to offer, and They will smile upon you.

Answer 4

Speaking only for myself, when I worship I like to develop my own prayers, and rituals, however in doing so I look at the past and how my ancestors gave honor to a God or Goddess,or even to ancestors and spirits. I then modify it to fit my personal style and desire. Stories and folklore help to give me understanding, of the deities that I worship. This helps to reinforce or reject personal gnosis that I feel is coming for the deities and spirits I give worship and honor to.

That said, something that seems to be a large part of my personal worship practice is the offering of libation to the deity or spirit I am worshiping and giving honor to.

Answer 5

As a Witch (Pagan) I don't have to do anything special to please or appease my Gods or Goddessess.
I meditate, take care of my little corner or Mother Earth and the animals that come within this area, but basically that's it. Living my life in an ethical manner, learning what I can, and being accepting of others is more a part of who I am than trying to "please" by God/desses.

Answer 6

I'm not so worries about "pleasing" my gods, as I am being intune with and working with them. I am one with the gods, thus what's pleasing to me, is pleasing to them, as long as I follow the Rede within reason. Each day though I begin with a daily devotion to my patron deities. This usually entails some form of offering, be it food or energy. I've done many hours of study on my deities, and spent probably just as many hours in meditation with them. I "talk" with them throughout the day, and recognize their actions in my everyday life. So it's not like I'm performing some action in hopes that it will work. I KNOW my gods as I know myself, and can therefor do things in accordance with their ways. Its my belief after all, that you dont pick your gods, they pick you.

Answer 7

I like pleasing my Gods by developing rituals based on older stories and however I feel my Gods want me to honor them.

Answer 8

We Pagans don't think of worship as being about pleasing or submitting to the gods so much as honoring them and building a relationship with them. We may pray, meditate, recite hymns either ancient or self-written, and give offerings in the form of incense or libations. I have set up a shrine in my backyard with a statue of Pan, some ferns and hosta, and a small hole with a stone over it that I call my "offering well." I use this well to give offerings of coins, crystals, beer, wine, olive oil, or honey, depending on the deity I am honoring. Research is very important to me, and I try to follow the spirit of the ancient rituals as much as is possible and appropriate in our modern culture. Also, reading up on the mythology will help me to determine the best offering for a particular Deity. So, based partially on research, partially on intuition, and in large part on what I feel the gods are requesting of me, I will design my own rituals.

Some Pagans are uncomfortable with the word "worship," and I feel that this is baggage from negative experiences in the religion of their upbringing. I worship my gods, but as said it is more out of love and honor than out of fear or servitude. I also see the gods as spiritual entities separate from myself. Some Pagans see the gods as archetypes or aspects of themselves. Also, while I will give offerings and worship to various gods of my choice, depending on season and situation, I have a Patron God who chose me, to whom most of my prayers and regular adorations are addressed. Again, this is about building a relationship, giving respect honor and love, and gaining guidance, protection, and wisdom.

Answer 9

It depends on the situation. For example we put up pine tree and decorate it around December 25th to please the goddess of the earth. Which is a practice that dates back far beyond that of using it to remember Jesus's birth.

Answer 10

Eh... I've not yet encountered a Pagan teaching that comprised of "pleasing" anyone, dieties nor man. There is much emphasis on responsibility, and working for the good of all, but no, no "pleasing". We have choice, we do.

I do, however, receive instruction and training from time to time... little suggestions of what I might do to make my life "better". If I choose not to implement those suggestions, my life usually becomes unmanageable, until I understand the wisdom and the rightntess of the only choice I have. But still... that's not about "pleasing" any dieties or guides or guardians. They do not care what I do. They only work for the cogwheels of the universe. I can choose to be part of that whole or be the cog in the wheel.