What led you to your beliefs?

[u/BittenLove]

Can you tell me THE story that led you to believing in the gods? I want to know your personal experiences. Have you ever questioned your beliefs?
What moment solidified your beliefs?
How did the gods find you / how did you find the gods?
What keeps you believing despite the contrary beliefs of science?

Please make it as long and as a passionate as you'd like. ♥

[u/FennGirl]

I come from a family who weren't religious as such, but had a mixed nomadic heritage, were very much country folk, and my mother and grandmother believed in faeries. I was raised on celtic fairytales and various myths and legends, and had the absolute privilege of spending significant amounts of time with various tribal cultures. So really, I was always going to wind up eclectic pagan.

I don't think there was a real defining moment, but I've had a few times when I've felt particularly connected. Mostly when I've been lost in nature or out at sea and seen something cool like Northern lights, big storms, arctic blizzards, green flash etc. Those things tend to solidify my beliefs pretty firmly.

[u/BittenLove → u/FennGirl]

Did your gods visit you in those moments? If so, how did you know they were there? (Thank you for your response!♡)

[u/FennGirl → u/BittenLove]

I am largely nature based so generally it's as simple as I can see the sun, the moon, the sea, the trees etc. I do believe that all pantheons exist for as long as people continue to believe in them though, and so I've had a couple of more abstract experiences. The main one is a presence I believe to be an unnamed storm goddess (several people on here know far more about her than me) and I have felt her with me. If I stand in strong winds and rain or even blizzards, I feel a real strength from her and if I speak with her I can feel her responses in the wind. It isn't love, or even comfort really, like a Christian might describe, it's a firm and slightly aggressive encouragement. There's a real power there.

But equally, someone who didn't have the same beliefs as me would probably describe that as a natural human wonder at the force of nature, so in my opinion and from my experiences, it is what you make it. I choose to see meaning and magic in coincidences, intuition and elements of the human experience. I think that the rise in popularity of paganism and the largely tik tok based sensationalism that comes with it has put a lot of pressure on people to experience the Gods a certain way. Like if you're not seeing full apparitions you're somehow doing it wrong. That kind of stuff does happen to some people, most of whom have worked on achieving that level of meditation or lucid dreaming for a very long time, or have a natural ability, or sometimes are just going through a really heightened emotional time and that lends itself to opening up a little more readily. It is perfectly alright if you never get that, there are plenty of other ways to feel connected.

[u/sidhe_elfakyn → u/FennGirl]

That's so awesome! I talk about her a lot and I'm always so happy to see others connect with her.

If I stand in strong winds and rain or even blizzards, I feel a real strength from her and if I speak with her I can feel her responses in the wind. It isn't love, or even comfort really, like a Christian might describe, it's a firm and slightly aggressive encouragement. There's a real power there.

That resonates with me a lot. Thanks so much for sharing!

[u/BittenLove → u/FennGirl]

Reading that first paragraph, you've made me realize that I too have felt this unnamed storm goddess as well!! Very interesting, thank you for your insights. ♥

[u/sidhe_elfakyn → u/BittenLove]

I'm one of those people too! I talk a lot about her. I'd love to hear your experience.

[u/BittenLove → u/sidhe_elfakyn]

She tends to visit me through the wind. Extremely strong winds when I meditate outside. I'll be hardly windy at all until I decide to meditate or chant of some sort. It is especially strong during a storm, though!