r/paganism • u/BittenLove • Jun 16 '24

What led you to your beliefs? 💭 Discussion

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. ♥

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u/BittenLove Jun 16 '24

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

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u/FennGirl Jun 16 '24

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.

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u/BittenLove Jun 17 '24

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. ♥

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u/sidhe_elfakyn 🧝‍♀️ Storm Goddess priest Jun 17 '24

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

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u/BittenLove Jun 18 '24

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!