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Dissecting the Divine

If there is one thing that puzzles most pagans it is probably the question 'what are the gods?' To some they are powerful entities, each with their own motives and attributes, while to others each god is no more than a single aspect of a multifaceted Divinity. In fact some would say there are no 'gods' at all and they simply relate to the forces they interpret as the spirit or spirits of Nature itself. So who is right?

Well in my opinion, and this is a subject where opinions are all that we can put forth, the truth is: there is no one answer.

I think I would be safe in saying that pagans all accept there is some kind of life spirit within humans and other creatures, and many would extend this spirit both into the realm of plants and also to those features of this planet otherwise classed as inanimate, rocks, rivers, the weather etc... It is my belief that this spirit permeates all things to excess and it is from this spirit that the entities we call 'gods' spring.

I do not mean to imply that there is only one Divinity after all; rather this spirit provides the substance, which gives the gods form.

So why do some see many gods while others see only one or none at all?

That I believe is down to Man, or rather to the limitations and idiosyncrasies of our minds in the interpretation of the information from our senses. Now I am not saying that you have a faulty noggin if you believe in a god only that your perception of a god is shaped by your mind.

Each of us is unique, and the workings of our mind as much a product of our experiences as our genetics. Some of us are quite happy to except things at face value while others feel the need to deconstruct things and label the parts.

Those whose first instinct is to grab a Dymo and start clacking out strips of letter embossed self adhesive plastic, are unlikely to be comfortable dealing with faceless powers whereas those who feel no need for labels or who do not accept the existence of 'gods' are more than happy to interact directly with the spirit/energy itself.

So put bluntly, what l believe is that when you seek out the Divine what you find is what you need.

If you are seeking to join with the living spirit of the planet and the natural forces themselves, you may find the Divine as a single or multiple faceless 'force'.

If you view everything in terms of balanced opposites the Divine might present itself to your senses as male and female archetypes-the God and Goddess of Wicca.

If you seek to build a relationship with the Divine but this would be hindered by dealing with impersonal forces you might find that the spirit forms that come to you take on a face and name for your convenience. This is not to imply that these god forms are only a construct for your benefit. Rather they are pre-existing beings formed from nodes of the Divine spirit. Each one a complete individual with their own attributes and motives. The form they adopt in their dealings with you is simply tailored to suit your perceptions and expectations.

So in effect whether you choose to honour the Divine as elemental forces or as a well-defined god, though the methods differ the end result is the same. Indeed when you deal with a god there is no reason that this entity may not also have dealings with others, but under a different name. There are after all, many deities that encompass similar attributes throughout the many cultures on this Earth, may be their only differences are nothing more than the variances of cultural mindsets.

So in conclusion if my assertions are true then we can easily see that the many different paths, not only within paganism but also those 'mainstream' religions, have more in common than many would suppose. Of course these are only my thoughts, and whether they are right or wrong the gods just aint saying.

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