Not sure if this is going to make sense but here goes!

How do you communicate with your deity/deities? And how do they communicate with you?

Do you hear voices? Are there physical signals placed in your way? Do you just get a strong sense of something, or a flash of vision? Do you sit and chat to them like a friend in the room? Do you meditate and communicate that way?

I'm just curious - I know that we all have different ways of approaching this, and I know too that trying to explain to anyone non-Pagan how I do it tends to earn me a sceptical look at best and outright avoidance at worst!

I approach mine through chatting/thinking out loud, through meditation, and through ritualised approaches according to my understanding of how the ancients worshipped them. And in turn they communicate with me by placing physical symbols, or by popping up during meditation, or by my getting a really strong sense of something. Occasionally I've had a flash of vision a couple of times (Herne superimposing himself on Vert - very disconcerting!). It's all very ethereal, and very difficult to try and explain rationally, but for some reason it all makes utter sense to me.

How do you do it, or do you just "know"?

Hmmm, I believe in a single divine spirt. I talk to he/she/it fairly directly, although often silently. The replies are quite often indirect... Would you believe I once got a very, very clear message back from the devine in a game of Minesweeper!!!

Regards,
Seeker

Cool question. Chatting figures quite significantly. Mainly 'mind' chatting. But also using symbol in the otherworlds and being communicated with in the same way in the otherworlds. In this world received communication comes in quite a few forms. Images sprining to mind, phrases sprining to mind, physical symbolism appearing at an opportune moment. These are the main ones.

BB

Mike

Ooooh good one but difficult. I tend to communicate with my deities just as I would with anyone else. Their communication with me comes in all kinds of ways, but then I take notice of anything that comes to me if it has relevance to something I am thinking about. (Are you still with me or should I stop now?)

Even something daft like a song coming on the radio or suddenly deciding to watch a programme I would normally run a mile from and discovering something interesting is - well, it's them, innit?

Dreams, of course. Often it is just a thought that pops into my head unexpectedly when I know it is inspired and act on it ... and no, that doesn't include, "go and get a glass of wine!"

Depends where I am - if I've got company I tend to "mind chat", if I'm on my own I'll just talk out loud. They know what I'm saying either way!

As for them talking to me - it tends to be things put there for me to see, events happening which suddenly take on more significance, songs on the radio (as Ma said), a quote in a book which is like a slap upside the head, like they're saying "Listen, woman, will you?!"

They come to me in meditation too, or walk with me through the woods - it's quite a comfort when you're over a mile from the nearest habitation, to feel this big presence round you, and knowing you're safe!

I talk both out loud and in my mind to my gods/goddesses,
they answer by songs coming on to the radio, things in books that take on a whole new meaning to you, like being slapped in the face
things happening on tv (as it as been stated) people actually saying things (sometimes they dont even realise they have said something)
a thought or vision coming into my mind, and things and objects being placed in my way as such.
yup think thats it

I just sit, listen and think! Quiet person am I!

Hey this is great! I thought I was a bit odd, slapping the steering wheel and saying "Yes! That's the answer!" because I just heard something on the radio. I am not alone!

I feel it's like the symbol or image is a package, which is full of meaning, and I just suddenly become aware that all this new meaning has burst open inside me without words. And usually I laugh when that happens because it's so delightful. And because usually the message seems to come with an overtone of humour.

I'm glad about that too .......... because whenever I call quarters I visualise dragons (because they are easy to see and have been with me for ages) and when I just start to invite South I get this enormous red dragon thumping in (I am a Fire Sign) and it always makes me laugh. So no matter how solemn it is supposed to be, I end up welcoming the guardian of fire with an enormous grin on my face. The AM found it unnerving at first, how he just hears me start chuckling and says "South eh?"

During Ritual I do feel a strong presence when I invoke them, and oddly, Ma, I have a little todo with Water when I invoke him, called him Wind once(well one does) and every time I summon him his flame flickers, a lot.

But some while back had been in bed a few hours and woke up with the image of my statue of Epona in my head, she would not leave me, and I woke properly getting a bit concerned for my dogs, came down and had left a candle lit!!!

Had a strange event the other day, saw a swirl of cloudiness behind Isis, she's on a windowsill and a clear blue sky????

I usually get my contacts from Reality in the form of really big, really blatant coincidences. Reality is not subtle. But there's another level I sometimes have to try harder to understand. I had a very odd experience in the mountains last summer-- I found a vertebra while wandering in the woods and immediately knew it was for me. (Still don't know what kind of animal it comes from, though I suspect when I find out it will in some way be relevant.) Later I found an elk bone, and wasn't quite sure whether I should take it or not. It didn't feel like a good idea, but at the time I was growing very interested in the study of osteology, so I did anyway. And the mountain wouldn't let me down. I'd climbed up and down this thing a number of times, and essentially knew my way around, but somehow this time I ended up persistently stranded above sheer rock cliffs there was no way to get down. It was growing dark, there was a thunderstorm coming in, and it was generally a BAD time to be up there. Finally I asked whether it was the elk bone and put it in a little cavelet I found nearby to see if it was. And wouldn't you know it, I crossed the next ridge and found a nice easy slope down. Could've been coincidence, but it didn't feel like it. That place is a harsh teacher. (It's communicated with me through bones frequently, actually.) But this is the sort of thing I get. Very unsubtle. Usually I'm better at paying attention to the initial intuitive clues, though, so it doesn't have to go quite so far as danger to life and limb.

I just realized while writing this post that, while I don't have a personal belief in any anthropomorphic deities as such, I do apparently believe in the spirits of certain places. I knew this, but it had never occurred to me in those words before. Good thing I joined this forum-- I'm already formalizing my system better in my own mind.

And yeah, it can sometimes be something as simple as a song on the radio in a store, too. I sometimes feel pursued (or even persecuted) by the coincidences of a Reality that reads my mind too often and too well. But it's always nice that Somebody's paying attention.

Edit: That sounds really silly, doesn't it? I promise I'm not making it up!

I guess that fits with what I do to, it more like signs are placed that point you in the direction rather tha a complete answer. It's usually the thigs that strikes me first as amazingly (I'm going to get into trouble for using this word) coincedental, these I see (sometimes) as signs. Sometimes though it can be just by chance, or your being told the way NOT to do things, as you get that feeling that says "doing that would be quick way to win stupidest man on earth".
So random chance ( if there is such a thing) would be my answer to that question.

edit: the n key doesn't always work on this keyboard!

I usually just talk out loud to the Goddess...sometimes it's in a conversational way, other times more like a prayer. I'll also invision meeting her during meditation, basically sitting and pouring my heart out while she listens.

In terms of communicating with me, the strongest messages I get are in my sleep. This has only happened a few times, but I have woken up with very clear messages in my mind, as if someone has just stood next to my bed and said them out loud. For example, once I woke up, repeating to myself, 'be strong'. I was sure that the Mother had spoken to me and wanted me to remember this.

Sunny

I am a bit slow on picking things up at the moment but have had a few signs or sychronicities. I communicate by talking out loud or usually in my head I am tentativley discovering my relationship with them but am looking inwards at the moment so miss alot.

However when things do happen I get quite excited and have to write it down or tell someone - newbie ville or what it doesn't happen often.

My communication seems to be quite indirect at present, but then again I'm fairly new to all this. I talk to "them" (a motley collection of various entities) a lot of the time (mostly whinging, I must admit), and I now try to let my intuition speak back to me. Sometimes I try to see them whilst meditating, and that can work fairly well, but half the time I feel that I'm imagining it.

I know that my connections will get stronger with time, and I have enough on my plate that I'm not bothered about it at present. Coincidences and other "chance" happenings are increasing - the number of like-minded people coming into my life is getting ridiculous, it's as though I'm wearing a neon pentagram above my head with a sign saying "talk to me about new age hippy stuff"

I'm planning on getting a rune set soon: I have a feeling that that will be interesting on the communication front! My tarot cards are fairly strong already

Edited to say: Pomona, I know exactly where you are coming from. It's meaningful to me, even if I can't articulate it in a meaningful way to others.

good one Pomona.

Well I talk to them out loud and in my mind a lot, I pray occaisionally, I hold rituals and bore them rigid

they appear in my dreams, unbidden in meditations, as signs and portents (a robin usually crossed my path if I feel in need of encouragement or some other 'coincidence' occurs - like misreading a word or having the same image appear several times). Sometimes I feel their presence, glimpse them in passing or see them superimposed on real life or smell them (this can be a great comfort)

Andred is very good at providing not so subtle hints if I should be doing something or making some decision.

But I suppose the most direct method is when I take a meditative journey and meet them, usually in a forest. At these times they 'speak' its more a case of knowing what they are saying than hearing or seeing them talk. I must admit this is something I have neglected for a while but I have still felt them at times so I'd better get a bit more practice in before Andred gets ansty with me

hmmmm I wonder why Pomona though to post this now

Reading throough this topic I realize that my earlier post just reflected one of the ways I talk to the divine - at times when I am calm and contemplative... I also tend to talk to the divine when I am upset and angry - then I am usually speaking to the divine out loud, using the same type of language I use when someone has just cut me off while driving!!! (I usually have to apologize later and say that I really didn't mean it when I said exactly where he could stuff the universe).

Smiles,
Seeker

LOL Seeker, i do the same thing, when I get upset and cuss, at the Gods, then apologize!
~~~~~~~~~

I feel there all kinds of messages, waiting for us.. if we're just aware enough and listen.. Raven, I've gotten things, thru the radio too..

One of the weirdest ones, was driving cross country, I'd been driving about 12 hrs, and I was beat! I was going to stop, at the next town and find a motel..
then all of a sudden, some kind of bible program came on the radio.. which was really strange and I got this Very strong feeling, NOT to stop at this town and go on to the next.. those kind, of messages/feelings, I've learned to pay attention to and follow.

I'm also very into totem animals and if I see a particular animal and then see it again.. its often a sign, to find out what message/meaning that animal has.

In nature, I too, always ask, if its ok, if I take something or not..

I did a mediation awhile ago, and was told to move.. to a place, never been, turned out wonderful!!

The more, you learn to really trust your feelings, no matter whether they make sense or not.. and to act upon them... I believe, the more you are guided..

I also get dreams.. and have a really strong sense of my main totem animal.
Always there protecting me.

I always feel protected in nature..so I feel the Gods/Goddess, do communicate in alot of various ways.. and its sooo cool!! lol

Blessings
Whispered~

I communicate with them in silent.
I try to have a regular daily chat, reflecting on the day gone by and the day to come. At times during the day, when I have a problem (not necessarily large or significant) I call (silently) for their assistance.

So far they have showed themselves by their presence/energy, via symbols or animals.

Generally, meditation is most direct, though "mind chat" (I like that phrase!) happens a lot, especially when I'm up to my knuckles in the warm earth of the garden and encounter something the cats from next door have left again

Although meditation/pathworking is what I see as the most direct form of communication, the most *frequent* is when I'm just going about my daily life and He pops up, grinning over my shoulder, saying "Isn't that ridiculous? Don't you think that's ridiculous? Why are they/you doing that? Isn't this silly?"

Dunno who He is, but He's pretty good humoured and far more likely to pop up and comment on things than She is

It tends to be coincidence for me especially if I'm upset or pondering about something. Something will come on the Telly, radio or I'll read something that will be like a flash of inspiration. Even something mundane like washing up will sometimes bring something to mind. Generally washing up makes me remember something I forgot.

Also, when I relax and my mind slows down, (which is very rare as I have a tough time relaxing, my mind seems to 'go' all the time) I tend to have flashes of images that cross my mind but what those images have got to do with anything, I haven't figured out yet.

I use tools sometimes, or see visions.But before i go to bed
I sometimes talk to the Goddess/god or to my Spirit guide before
i go to bed.

-w.s

(Alexander)

i tend to talk aloud or in my head to my deities, but i also feel my communication is a nautral part of my daily life. i don't always conciously communicate but it is a natural involuntary thing.
i never see visions or even really hear words, mainly comunication from my deities comes from various signs, things i see like the shapes in the clouds or when a particular animal or bird crosses my path. or when a thought pops into my head for no apparent reason.
that happens a lot!!

i mostly have to be outside, or at least at an open window, when everything feels lush, like sunset or a full moon and stars. Then i get that lovely feeling of warmth and wonder...that and animals crossing my path or thoughts popping into my head for no reason, not much actual talking. i try to trust my instincts even when they tell me to do weird things, because i think its with our instincts and the things that don't make 'sense' that were closest to other things, powers, the earth or whatever. i always ask before taking something like flowers or food from outside...and tree huggings preety fine too