From: radzy@hpcc01.corp.hp.com (Lynne Radzykewycz) Date: Tue, 24 May 1994 01:47:52 GMT Subject: Re: Pan and other (male) gods hatcher@mtb.und.ac.za (Mr Brendon Hatcher - PG) (Hawaan) writes: > Being fairly new to paganism, I have been concentrating on the > Goddess aspects of my religion as I felt that I had the most to > learn there. Now I have reached the stage where I recognise the > need for balance and I would like to work with the male aspects, in > particular, Pan (dunno why, but it feels right). -and- > So, I would love to hear other people's experience of the God and > the methods they used to come into contact with those beings. > Basically any 2 cents (american or otherwise ;-) ) will be > appreciated. Here's the method that I use for getting to know any deity better. I clear a space in a room in which I spend a fair amount of time (can be bedroom or living room, just not a spare room or somewhere you don't often go). In this place, I _start_ a shrine to that deity; that is, I put down a placemat/tablecloth to mark the spot, and maybe a symbol or two that I feel is appropriate to the deity. Then over the next months (or years) as I study about that deity and work with him/her, I add objects to the shrine. These can be natural objects (pine cones, rocks), statues, pictures, drawings, candles, whatever. Just so that each object is a part of what the deity is to you. I may place one of the objects on my working altar as a reminder. The shrine is _not_ an altar; I don't leave offerings there or do workings there -- the shrine is to express and explore a relationship, not to worship. If I want to do that, I'll use my altar. I should note that that's my practice, YMMV. --Lynne lynne@hpnst.mayfield.hp.com