My Patron Deities

A couple days ago, I completed a guided meditation with the focus of meeting your spirit guides. It was fantastic, but instead of meeting spirit guides, I encountered my patron deities. This was amazing, because while I had a name from the God, I didn't have a name for my patron Goddess. She had not revealed it to me yet. Since my breakup, I have been spending a lot of time studying my religion. I guess that's why they decides to reveal themselves to me in that sacred place.

 Cernunnos is my patron God.

And Andraste, or Andrasta, is my patron Goddess.

To be honest, this is the first time I've ever really seen my patron deities. I heard Cernunnos tell me his name before, but I never saw him the way I did that day. Even during my meditation, Andraste didn't even tell me her name, really. I just got a notion that it began with A and had an S in it. I am drawn to the Celtic pantheon, so I researched, and there she was. What was uncanny to me, in a sense that I have not grown used to this kind of closeness with the divine, is that there was also a creature there that looked at first like a wolf, but once I got closer to it, it was actually a thinner bear than I'm used to. I don't know what role that noble creature has to play. Imagine my surprise that wasn't quite surprise when I learned that Andarta, the fertility goddess that is suspected to be linked to Andraste, is associated with the bear.

This was immensely powerful experience. I cannot wait to further my study and deepen my relationship not just with my patron deities, but the divine within myself.

My Path

I grew up with an LDS mother and a Roman Catholic father. I was not oppressed religiously by any means. I'd go to church one week with my mother and the next with my paternal grandmother. I enjoyed church, but I never felt a personal connection with the Christian god.

In my teens, I explored Paganism and Wicca, but my mother cut that off with her paranoia and fear of Satan. Our lives were hard enough, she'd say, and inviting the devil inside would only make things worth. I've tried over the years to assimilate once again with the LDS church, but while I appreciate the buzz of being in a room with a bunch of people who are strong in their faith, I did not share their convictions.

Now that I am grown and run my own household, I am ready to embark upon the Wiccan path once again. I feel great about it. It resonates with me unlike anything I've ever known. There is still much I don't know, and I have yet to write my own ritual and build my altar, but I feel good.

I'm very excited for the year to come.