A Circle of Stones: Journeys and Meditations for Modern Celts - Erynn Rowan Laurie 1995
To Speak with the Gods
Rites of Devotion
How does one approach deity? Ideally, it is done with respect, openness, and a sense of the importance of your connection with the divine. Respect does not mean that you should grovel before the Gods. In fact, Celtic deities seem to singularly dislike that sort of behavior, and the moral codes of the Celts show that a certain amount of boasting and personal pride is not only to be expected but actively encouraged.
Through your meditations with the Circle of Stones, you can focus your attention upon Danu, Bile or Manannán. With their assistance and cooperation, you will be introduced to the other Celtic deities.
Treat your meetings with and meditations upon the deities as you would an audience with someone you immensely admire and wish to learn from. Praise is appropriate, but only if you mean what you are saying. False praise is as insulting to the Gods as it is to your fellow mortals, and will likely result in your requests for information or assistance being ignored or actively resisted.
Know the names and titles of the deities you are inviting. It is only natural that you will receive a more positive response if you show that you know who you are talking to, rather than addressing a devotional to the spiritual equivalent of “hey, you!” Be aware that titles can often belong to several deities at once, and that the names and titles can shift with time and geography. If you intend to work with a particular deity, use as many names and titles as you can find. This will give you a better chance of actually invoking the deity that you want to interact with. Intention counts, even if you can't specifically identify an individual deity. Working with a set of deities as a group rather than as discrete individuals, for instance deities associated with music, can be of some help, giving you an energy form to focus on without having to worry about exact names and personalities, which can be supplemented by your reading in the tales and poetry.
Precise naming is less important for the Ancestors, unless you wish to call upon some specific departed relative. You will probably want to specify that you are invoking your distant and perhaps unknown Pagan predecessors though, unless you are prepared to listen to a long lecture from your dead but devout Christian or Jewish relatives on how you are acting inappropriately. Remember that if you go back far enough in any family line, you will eventually run into Pagans. Even the relatives who lecture you about talking with spirits are likely to be happy that you are remembering and honoring them.
Land spirits often respond as a group rather than as individuals. It is still very important to be aware of the types of local land spirits that you will encounter, as they vary from region to region, both in temperament and in goals. If there is a substantial immigrant Celtic population, you may be fortunate enough to encounter Celtic land spirits who came with them, along with the native land spirits. These transplanted types will tend to be the spirits who lived on farmsteads or near households and were associated with mortals, and will almost never be the ones associated with specific kinds of places, such as wells, forests, or particular geographical features. You may run across spirits who are associated with particular families as well. Especially in following a Celtic path, it is important to acknowledge the spirits of the land in which you dwell. The land spirits can make your access to local energies easier, or they can hamper your work if they perceive you as hostile or an interloper.
In the Celtic world, hospitality is a sacred duty, and your first order of business. When inviting the Gods, Ancestors, or land spirits to your altar, it is appropriate and necessary to offer food and drink. This should be a portion apart from what you yourself are consuming, and should not be eaten afterwards. Celtic tradition has it that once the Gods or the spirits have had their fill, the toradh (TOR-ug), the “substance” or spiritual essence of the food has been taken, and the remaining physical portion would be at best non-nutritious or at worst, actively harmful.
In Irish mythology, the preferred foods of Gods and spirits are such things as milk, ale, mead, hazel nuts, wine, apples, oats, rowan berries, butter, and pork. All these are well-attested in myths and folk tales. Any of them would be suitable offerings of hospitality to the deities who are receiving your devotional rites. For local land spirits, locally grown food is the best offering. If, for some reason, none of these things is available to you, the finest portion of whatever you have will certainly be acceptable. Celtic hospitality was such that the honored guest was offered the best of whatever the household had, even if it meant that the host would not eat that night.
Music and poetry are useful in establishing the atmosphere for your devotional rites and for focusing on your work. Modern Celtic music is evocative, but we don't really know what the music of the ancient Celts sounded like. Stay with something that sounds “Celtic” to you, but don't worry overmuch about the exact music you use. What is important is that it enables you to fall into a light trance state, where you can reach into the Otherworld to call out to the deities, Ancestors, or land spirits to come to your altar and receive your devotion.
You can also use poetry and music as offerings in your devotionals. These may be selections that you have chosen for the purpose, or compositions of your own making. The latter, even if they are not technically “perfect” or even particularly “good,” are much more likely to be interesting and acceptable simply because they come from your own devotion and understanding of your relationships with the inhabitants of the Otherworld.
One very important point of a devotional is an attitude of listening and openness. We approach the Gods to grow into harmony with them, and to gain wisdom from associating with them. Information may not come during the actual time of your devotional. During the hours or days after each session, carefully observe the environment around you, watching for signs and symbols to manifest.
A final thought on dealing with deities is this: you may find yourself faced with choices of adoption by a deity or deific family, or service to them. They may impose geasa (GUESS-a, or GAY-sa), or magical bindings, upon you. Taking on a geas is serious, as the tales show time and time again. Read the tales and know that if you take on a geas, you are responsible for its fulfillment even if it should cost your life. The tales show forcefully that violation of geasa is deadly business. Do not take it lightly. Ask questions and take time to meditate and consider before replying to any such offer. Fortunately, the Gods are patient. They are willing to wait for answers to these offers.
Remember that the Celts made contracts and took oaths that had force through many lifetimes. Accepting gifts and contact from the Gods may obligate you through this life and into the next. But that obligation does not have to be unpleasant. What the Gods desire most is our love and attendance.
The cautions given here should not produce the impression that the Gods are unreasonable. Their gifts are generously given and can take the form of great spiritual insight, wisdom, creative fertility and emotional strength. True gifts can be confirmed in the material realms. Information can be verified through research. Wisdom becomes manifest in dealings with other people. Strength and insight will become apparent through your actions.
