There was an earlier thread about rituals and what is it you are supposed to do.

I love candles and have them lit every evening, so, I suppose I can start with candle lighting.

The confusion comes with who am I praying to...people seem to have gods/goddesses come to them, but I have not had any such visitations. I said in my profile that I believe there is something all around, but how do you "talk" to that something?

Do I just light the candle and look into the flame..it would be nice to be able to say something, but I feel that as a total newbie anything I say would just be silly..I dont know how to say it or who to or even for what.

I probably sound like a total idiot and you are wondering what on earth I am doing here if I haven't got a clue what to do, but I just need pointing in the right direction please..I feel that I am getting nowhere.

Thanks for your help in advance

I have this problem too. I would like very much to speak to The Goddess, but who is she, where is she.
At the moment I'm just waiting and seeing. A bit like meditation or stream of consciousness. watch the flames, see what comes into your head and say it. I've always felt a prayer should be a spontaneous thing. Anything you say is not silly, and anyway, if you're doing something private, who is there to see?
Badger's Moon
xx

Well, for starters you're not silly, and you're not expected to know everything: no-one does

You don't need to "talk" to anything. Just think about what lighting the candles makes you feel, and how looking into the flames make you feel.

Does it fill you with wonder, with joy, with awe? My view is that it's enough to simply feel that, without having to necessarily say anything.

Don't stress about it. If you feel like saying something then do so, otherwise, don't worry about it. Honestly

If you want to talk, then all you need to is start talking. You're not talking to yourself, if they (Old Ones) are there, then they'll hear, and if they're not (unlikely) then, what does it matter if you're the only one around to hear?

You just say what you feel like saying - there's no script you have to stick to, if all you feel like saying is "ta" then that's what you say.

It's easy, it's only when you worry about it that it gets hard. So don't worry.

Thank you

Again, it is nice to know that you just do what you feel.

hugs

When I first started on this path (many many moons ago) and realised where that might lead me (not quite so many moons ago) I too was a bit confused as to how to 'pray' to these Gods I was finding in my life.

I concluded that there were three ways to go about it.

1. Do masses of research in to how the achients praised thier Gods and try to follow that ...

2. Find a mentor / priest / minister to guide my prayer

3. just sit, feel and go with the flow, speak the words taht came into my mind / heart and trust that the divne would know what I was trying to get at.

In the end i just followed my instincs. These told me that I would never be able to do 1., too much has been lost an what there is is deeply missunderstood due to the way modern minds have interprated it... not to mention the prevalance of live animal sacrifices and anointed priests to run the rituals. Option 2. struck me as very much the way I had been with Christanity... looking to another all the time for my connection to God. It ahd not felt right because of the way it seporated me from the Divine and any way thier way of preying and what they said on my behalf may not be the real things that I wanted to say...
So that left option 3. And tha is waht I do to this day.

Sometimes it is fancy, I make a circle, light candles, really set my self up to make a special time... but more often I just sit and if I speak at all it is like I would to a respected friend and mentor. Mostly I just say things like 'here I am' 'I listen' 'Thank you - I am at peace' 'you can see my heart mind and what is there... I offer this'. I even find myself feeling / praying / specking to the Divine in my life while I do mundane things... while I cook, clean, drive, sew... I thank them for my life, hope that I treat it well, ask for small blessings on me and mine... that kind of thing...

They are Gods, I don't need to speak in rhyme or special words for them to know me utterly, I don't need any fancy place or tools, I don't need anyone to speak on my behalf... they know me... and that is all that is needed...

and as others have posted... I am on my own so who is to know what I say... who is there to get embarised... no-one...

Be bright, be bold
Fillionous

Thank you so much

I think point 3 is the way I will go

I find myself looking out of the window when I am washing up (huzzah, the thrill of it) at the lilac tree at the end of my garden (which is small), and thinking of all those special to me. I am usually hoping that they will all have a good day at school/work and that they will be happy with their friends and that no harm will come to them.

When I am sitting at the pc, I have taken to lighting a little candle in front of a picture frame with photos of my 2 children and I just like to sit and look into the flame and think.

I must get used to the idea that I don't need anyone to tell me what to do and to follow my heart.

hugs, love, blessings and thanks
xxxx

I quite often natter to the moon. I don't honour any particular dieties, sometimes I just feel like a natter. Did this quite a lot while travelling. Other times I just sit/stand and stare at the moon letting my thoughts tumble around and letting impressions come and go.

Personally, I speak to the land, to the dieities and spirits of where I live - well I try to, being a bit distracted of late

Being outdoors is best I find, but each to their own.

The book you'll probably like is Candle Burning: Its Occult Significance by Michael Howard. It's very short but quite sweet. Sometimes see it come up on e-bay. He's also written this one but not sure if it's any good.

Just checked out ABE Books and there's a few copies.

Best wishes,

Marion.

I'm glad I am not the only one that does this - I feel a real connection with the moon, I can't explain why as I don't know! Its just so magical.

Just changing the subject slightly, is it possible to follow the Moon? I heard someone say they follow the Sun so I guess it must be?

Mistycat xx

re my first post regarding who should I be nattering away to and the fact that I didn't quite know what to say.

I found a website that has some Pagan Prayers on it from the pagan prayerbook?

I know it has been done for you and that it is better t say your own thing, but thought it would come in handy as I could change them to say what I want to say...it basically just makes it easier for me and it sounds better, lol

it is an old website called beliefnet.com and you look under Earth Based and Pagan. I think you have to go to Other Faiths first though.

Hecate is a Greek Moon Goddess ] and Goddess of Witchery (yep, I have been reading my new book ) Apparantely she is the sender of nocturnal visions and her rites were often performed at night-time.


Hope that helps Mistycat

xx

Thanks Gorgana, I too have been reading about Hecate and like the sound of her. Pan also appeals to me, not sure why, he just does!

I'm going to take a look at that website, I also feel bit of a silly billy talking to myself, and would rather have a base to work on, and add my personal bits to make it mine.

The third mention of lilac on the more recent Valley postings has just been made. I suggest you study that tree, look, smell, touch, and listen. Discover as much as you can about lilac. Maybe there is an answer nudging!

On the subject of "who" to talk to - i too like you have no particular interpretation of The Goddess.

Despite me wishing to follow a Celtic path the last few times i have been at my altar I have been visited by Ladies of the Roman Pantheon.

I am sure She will appear to you to direct you in the way She wishes you to go Gorgana.

After doing this work I did learn a valuable lesson - I wasnt supposed to CHOOSE them - they do indeed choose you!!

Best wishes

E x

(edited for rubbish spelling!)