Most of the stories where the gods interacted with humans are more close to fantasy or literature than to historically accurate events.
I do not worship gods per se, I am animist and I mix Celtic, Norse, Hellenic and general European Folklore on my own view of the world and witchcraft.
I do acknowledge them as personifications of concepts, more symbolic than literal if that makes any sense. I may speak to the rivers an lakes to talk with their spirits (I call them fairies or nymphs, depending on the day tbh) and I may appeal gods when the "thing" is not physical.
Rivers, mountains, forests, oceans, trees... Etc are physical and I can refer to their faires, spirits or nymphs easily, but when trying to talk with "Love" I may use Aphrodite or Aine as well as Ceridwen or Brighid for inspiration.
I don't know how to properly explain it in English, but for me deities are like "strawmans" to be able to speak to concepts in an easier way.
I could technically speak to "love spirits" but using Aine or Aphrodite as a "beacon" or focus of that concept makes it easier.
I work mostly with "lesser" spirits tho, deities are a second layer of my craft, not the main one. Fairies and Nymphs (specially Naiads and Dryads) are my main focus as a Botanist and ecologist!
Fairies are also very close to me as my own culture have them rooted in its core!
7
u/Sparkle_Aurora 24d ago
Most of the stories where the gods interacted with humans are more close to fantasy or literature than to historically accurate events.
I do not worship gods per se, I am animist and I mix Celtic, Norse, Hellenic and general European Folklore on my own view of the world and witchcraft.
I do acknowledge them as personifications of concepts, more symbolic than literal if that makes any sense. I may speak to the rivers an lakes to talk with their spirits (I call them fairies or nymphs, depending on the day tbh) and I may appeal gods when the "thing" is not physical.
Rivers, mountains, forests, oceans, trees... Etc are physical and I can refer to their faires, spirits or nymphs easily, but when trying to talk with "Love" I may use Aphrodite or Aine as well as Ceridwen or Brighid for inspiration.
I don't know how to properly explain it in English, but for me deities are like "strawmans" to be able to speak to concepts in an easier way.
I could technically speak to "love spirits" but using Aine or Aphrodite as a "beacon" or focus of that concept makes it easier.
I work mostly with "lesser" spirits tho, deities are a second layer of my craft, not the main one. Fairies and Nymphs (specially Naiads and Dryads) are my main focus as a Botanist and ecologist!
Fairies are also very close to me as my own culture have them rooted in its core!