So all you poly/duo/monotheists - does 'worship' feature in your path?
If so - how and what do you do?
If not why not?

Might be easier if you defined "worship".

Sabats are ususally times for rituals and I guess they could be classed as worship. Depending on your path you may have certain holy days... I think Pomona mentioned one she held the other week.

Good point Ed!

No it doesnt - COMMUNE does though.

Whether it be indoors or outsied or at night or by day.

When doing workings or trying to get out of my head on calming vibes i always try to concentrate on my lady -who is currently feeling my collar as a strong roman deity (those of you who saw my intro will know i had been interested in the celtic path)

And i try to meditate on a daily basis.

In answer to your question though i am still developing so there may come a time when i prefer to use a more quantifiable structure

Hope that helps

E x

Yes, it does.

I posted a thread on the etymology of "worship" yonks ago, damned if I can find it again...

Anyway, link HERE which pretty much sums up WHY "worship". I know a lot of Pagans get very uppity about how they don't worship and why, but as far as I'm concerned I communicate with deities and they with me and because they are supernatural beings and significantly more powerful and worthy of reverence, I worship.

And it describes the actions as well - the greeting, the offering gifts, the thanks where appropriate.

Like Xalle said, I do specific things on specific festivals, and it varies depending on who and what. It helps me feel more connected to the deity and, in a nutshell, it works (for me). End of story.

Not strictly speaking. Honouring, maybe. But then, I try to live in a way that honours. Communicating certainly. Worshipping.... not really.

BB

Mike

I do agree with Cern here. What I do has more to do with honouring the old Gods, than strictly worshiping them.... thanking them sometimes, petitioning some times... hm maybe it is worship, depending on your definition of worship.

Yup, honouring ancestral spirits sounds right to me.

Worship as in attend a specific place at a specific time and go through a rota of special words, hyms, prayers etc... no I don't do that.

Worship as in taking time out to just say thanks or please, or help, or even here I am... or just being still and listening, being respectful and honouring thier part in my life / world / universe... then yes I do that.

Even in simple ways I 'worship'... the curtians are opened in the morning and almost always I greet the day... A simple thanks for a nights rest and an anticipation of what the day will bring. Rarely spoken out loud, but loud in my heart and mind... just the place that Gods are able to see most clearly.
Sometimes I will just find myself pausing in what I am doing... most often cooking or gardening and just praising the gods for the gifts around me... the sunshine, the firtile earth, the nourishment of food, the friends and family to share it with...
Equelly when I am trubbled, a quiet 'chat' with the Divine can put it all in perspective and offer comfort and help like no other thing.

I rarely do big formal rituals, circles and candles, I don't really follow the 8 festivals, do sabats or esbats, but I do note the changing seasons in my own way.

Be bright, be bold
Fillionous

The same as Fillionous really. I note the changing of the seasons in my own way.

I wake up in the morning, go downstairs look out of the kitchen window and say "good morning" and thank you for a beautiful day.

I light candles, put coins in a pot to say thanks for anything good that has happened during the day.

I don't do rituals. I am currently reading books about Celtic Goddesses and Kindling the Celtic Spirit and there are a few bits in there that I could possibly work into my daily life to say thanks at the end of the day.

gina
xx

Im not a poly/mono/duo thingy but I do celebrate the festivals as a way of saying thank you. I don't do anything formal as such, but on those days I try to reflect more and do something like drawing, maybe a bit of gardening (if i am able) also for me going to countryside is like a journey so I can feel spiritually revived. so I keep it flexible, its the thought that counts, I think.

fizzy

I dont think of what I do as worship but I supose in a way it is. I say thank you when the gods have been helpful or if i see something amazing I will reflect on how wonderous the world is and what I see as the gods part in that. If Im stuck or need help I generally ask for help from the gods and say thank you after. I do send energy out to the gods on a fairly regular basis not to ask for anything in particular but as a gift just to say thanks for me being here.

I dont feel they particularly ask for worship, although I do think they deserve respect. So a nice show of good manners is what I try and give them.

Im crap at remembering when I am supposed to be celebrating festivals and the like. Generally because I am a very busy soul with too many things on the go and it slips my mind, but I dont think they mind that much because when i do find the time to stop and consider the world and the gods I say my thank yous then. Im sure the gods understand that we have stuff to do, just as when i cant find them I understand they have other stuff to do.

temps

Like a lot of people I don't worship so much as honour (if the two amount to the same thing, then fair do's). I've never felt much inclination to do anything for the festivals (Beltaine and so on) but that may or may not change as time goes by.

I honour the gods by the way I think, act and conduct my daily life (often failing sadly).

Quibbling semantics here...but I struggle with 'worship' as a term. I don't doubt Pomona etymology of the term (and it pretty well describes what I actually do), I'm just a lil hung up over the term, I think its 'feels' to Christian an ideology, the idea of bowing down before your God/s and thats not the relationship I have with thim and I truly don't believe that want me on my knees tugging my fetlock (i'm not entirely sure I have a fetlock to tug to be honest with you).

Personally I venerate.

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=veneration

I don't know if its cos I like the way the word feels on my tongue, but they idea of respecting my Gods, loving my gods.

Q

Continually, privately, quietly.

Is really very good...however

Occasionally..publicly and loudly can be quite fun too *read into that what you will my lovlies*

Q

I shelved my ideas about publicly dancing naked round a bonfire, and banging me cymbals as being too much for the neighbours to deal with...

But it was a nice wee imagining whilst it lasted, and it still keeps me occupied during moments of terminal boredom/stress!

(Tas wanders off in search of kindling and matches. And contemplates a quick buff of her cymbals!)

I like that. I expresses the feelings of awe without the overtones of worship.

Frey

ED is picturing Tas buffing her cymbals!! Is that at the same time as the end of the willow rises up to give a good dowsing?



Thanks for all your thoughts....
worship (in a xian context) for me has never been self abasement, grovel, I'm an evil sinner stuff, more love, shared intimacy, relationship and gratitude - and I feel this continues into my pagan life - I love Tas' description of continually, privatelt and quietly - this for me describes the intercourse that is ongoing in my heart between me and Herne/Cernunnos and Brigit as I thanks them for the sunset, the birdsong etc

PS have you heard the song of the blackbird just now on the warm evenings - WOW!

Tsk. Thats the fun bit though.........

Well, if swearing from time to time and saying things along the lines of "You sod counts as worship, I guess I do.

But that's just one of them. The others are all different, and get treated differently. For one, it definitely matters what mood she's in.

But they all get respect (yes, even the charming sod), and we sit and drink together, and we talk. And sometimes I ask for something, and sometimes one of them does. And I toast them at gatherings and listen to what they say and have arguments, and try to figure out why they do the things they do, or want the things they want.

but I wouldn't be without them.

I was going to say honour, respect and acknowledge the God/esses but worship No! No! No! thrice times NO!.

Then I looked at the OED

as a noun a position of honour .... His Worship the Mayor etc.

and then as a verb , oh double bum ! ........................

1.
a.To honour or revere as a supernatural being or power, or as a holy thing; to regard or approach with veneration; to adore with appropriate acts, rites, or ceremonies.
b. To regard with extreme respect or devotion; to ‘adore’.
c. To engage in worship; to perform, or take part in, the act of worship.
2.
a. trans. To honour; to regard or treat with honour or respect. Obs.
b. To treat with signs of honour or respect; to salute, bow down to. Obs.
c. To honour with gifts, etc. Obs.
3. To invest with, raise to, honour or repute; to confer honour or dignity upon. Obs.


So strictly I do worship my God/esses, but not in that grovelling way that seems the main stream in other religions.

dav

Obviously, the likes of thee and me are as obs as the meaning, Davkin!

LOL!

I think that's it - people hear the word "worship" and it immediately conjurs up visions of shameful obsequience and prostrating at the ground before some omnipotent being. Which is not what I do either, but knowing the real meaning of the word "worship", I'm quite happy to hold up my hand and say that yes, I do.

Dav - fab OED definition - really helpful, thankyou!

i like to think that the gods, all of them, are made up of the same universal energy as we are. they are part of the connectedness of the web of life, i dont see them as my creator or superior, i see them as my equal. i dont worship them because i dont need to. i look to them as a source of energy and as they are wiser, to some extent , than me i respect them and their nature. i dont need to worship them because for me, my pagan path and magical practice is a way of attaining a higher self and godlike quality under my own understanding and power, like the buddhist ideas of enlightenment and realisation of innerself.

The gods are just teachers on that path and practice and to some extent lol, batteries, that give an extra boost of energy to the working. i do still give them the proper respect as you would any one teacher or parent. (lol altho i am having a few doubts with this feeling, as im too questioning of my own understanding never mind any one ellses! )