As usual I am long winded. Back in 1970, I was turning 13 and got my first book on Witchcraft, The Magic Power of Witchcraft, by Gavin and Yvonne Frost. I was in a baptist family, but my Grandmother believed in the old ways and my mother just followed my stepdad. I lived in the country, so I was out in the wood a lot. I read the book and ask the God to give me a sign, if it was right thing to do, despite what family believed. I don’t believe in forcing any kind of religion on another person, however, I read the bible and felt I had a friend in Jesus. I knew how it felt to be treated badly by family, because I was adopted. Anyway that night in my bed, I awoke because of something, I did not know. The room was darker than normal and I noticed the security light was out also. I got up and went to the bathroom, came back and laid back down and rolled over. It was still dark and I couldn’t sleep. I was laying on my back and looking at the ceiling. Only way I can describe it was the darkness seem to flow to one spot and it formed what seemed to be a woman. Looked like a shadow, but it could have been a hooded robe. She had glowing yellow eyes and said, “You belong to me child, I will always be with you and protect you as long as you are on this planet.” She gave me her name and told me to call on her anytime. I called her Katie, because I didn’t get her name clearly. Later I learned that it was Hekate. My question is this. Has anyone EVER had that kind of experience? I was not dreaming, because I got up and noticed the security light was back on and the nightlite in the bathroom was on also. I was extremely thirsty for some reason. As I was drinking my juice, I started to laugh and cry at the same time. Life didn’t get any easier for me, but things did happen when I needed it. I have been here for a while now, but my schedule keep me from talking a lot. Welcome to all the New Comers!!!
I have met and spoken with the Gods and Goddesses. Much like you, Hekate was the first to make contact with me. Then, it was Nyx, followed by Selene and Hades. I speak with the Gods & Goddesses of Asguard, Olympus, Egypt, Mesopotamia and the Celtics. It’s a daily occurrence ever since I opened my third eye back when I did a ritual to honor the Harvest moon. The only downside is being a target for either evil demons or Gods of trickery like Hermes or Loki. Otherwise, I’m pretty much used to it now.
I’ve had wild experiences like that too - too many to tell all of them here. I’ve had contact on that level with certain Norse, Celtic, Greek, Hindu, Native American and Buddhist deities. I often worked on some level with the deity when it approached me in this way, but not all of them were relationships that worked out long term.
All know me as a general “safe harbor”. If you treat me with respect, expect to be respected in return. It’s this reputation and my extremely strong connection to the unseen (my bloodline inheritance) that I think explains why I’ve had so many experiences.
It seems pretty rare amongst most western practitioners though. I believe it essentially comes from the sterilization of spiritual practices and a disbelief in the supernatural that cuts a lot of people off. Also that most seem to get their third eye forcibly closed once they enter western public schools due to the oppressive atmosphere and because that’s often where this secularization begins.
At least those have been my observations. In the East it’s an entirely different world!
Cheers. 
I think, from my own experiences, instead of people believing if the Gods what it that way, it is for a reason and if it seems negative, In the Name of the Goddess, it will be to meand my family’s advantage. Like Covid, many panicked, I did not. I ask my Lord and Lady, let this be to my advantage. We were having some problems with paying bills, I had faith and sure enough, here comes the stimulus checks…we got out of debt. I got threatened for not wearing a mask, it disgusted me to see someone wearing one with believe on it(Live and Let Live). If you believe then why be afraid of any virus or disease. Psalms 91 of the bible is an excellent evocation for protection. My first encounter with Brujeria, Mexican Witchcraft used this and other scripture with their rituals and spells. I was threatend to wear a mask, and I didn’t until it was a law and during that time I was around people who had it and once again, Praise the Goddess I never caught it. Coincedencse? If the world gets bad for you…own it and KNOW that the Godduess will make it to YOUR advantage. Littlefield01, I know NIX also, but I have not heard her speak. I did my first Nix Invocation in my outside circle. I heard whispering and saw shadows moving around in my yard, but nothing like my encounter with Hecate. I did not invoke her. However, after my experince with Nix, I found that I could sense things better in the darkness. For some reason Hekate seems to be slightly hostile why my interests in NIx. I have no idea to why. Proabably because if a God or Goddess claims you they can get extremely jealous, if you show more interests in another God than them. At least this have been my experience. I need a God or Goddess to represent my Northern Quarter of my Circle and my Salutation for each direction. Apollo for East, Aphrodite for South, Hecate for West and NIx for North. I modified a saluation/adoration that I read in a book by Donald Kraig called Modern Magick and the Golden Dawn by Israel Regardie. Still Hekate/Hecate is said to be a Titan and Nix is said to be a Primordial that only being that Zeus was afraid of, the strongest of the Olympians. Considering that Hecate is the Goddess of Witchcraft and Nix is the Darkness some say I thought it was a match made in heaven. It kind of sadden me, but my son decided NOT to follow my steps in witchcraft by using Greek Pantheon. He as drawn to Asian culture, religion and magic. He even went to college with a major in Asian Culture, specifically China, Japan and Korea. His Lord and Lady are the Goddess Benzaiten and God Inari. My Grandmother was interested in Japanese culture and during my exploring the wood near my house, I came in contact with Foxes quite a few time. I first seen signs of Inari sitting on his bed one evening. I looked in his bedroom and saw a huge black fox. The fox’s head was above the headboard. It saw me, I bowed my head and move on. I realized that explain a lot of the goings on in my house, which was already slap full of spirits, but Foxes are jokers, similar to Loki and believe me I have been a blunt to a LOT of jokes. I have my own Asia altar and my focus is the Goddess Quayin. The first system of witchcraft was Gardnerian, considering he revivalized Witchcraft and renamed it Wicca, but America is a wonderful place and I had many choices. Golden Dawn and Egyptian Magick(termed by Aleister Crowley), then Shamanism, because of my Cherofee ancestry and Nordic Magic because of my Germanic ancestory. Still today, the most intense encounter I have ever had was Hecate. I mean, she even let me call her Katie. Now that’s close. Ranting again…sorry.
I’ve had a lot of very wild experiences with deities, and they have taught me so many things. It took me a very long time to feel ready and initiate any workings with them, but I’m glad I did. I also work with some beings from their realms.
Wow, you’ve been down a lot of different paths!
I think the relationships between deities depends on their personalities. Not every deity I’ve encountered had a jealous aspect. (The ones that are jealous aren’t with me for long - I find that a huge turn-off.)
In my current situation two deities “claimed” me at the same time from two different pantheons. (One Hindu, One Buddhist.) Even in that very first stage, it was clear that there was no conflict between them though. They work in a fascinating sort of dance on who’s “taking the lead” on a given day.
I also have free reign to include other deities within their pantheons and even others. The only resistance I’ve felt is when I think of working with deities from outside of the East. But it’s not an angry “don’t you dare!” reaction, it’s more like a concerned “Why would you do that?” (I know why they react that way too. I’ve spent my entire life in the western occult. They know there’s no more spiritual growth for me there, having exhausted myself on it.)
Your son sounds like a great person. As someone with a Southeast Asian practice, there are some similarities, but it’s still unique to Chinese/East-Asian. Quanyin/Kannon is a beautiful goddess - I work with her male form Avalokitesvara as he’s the form she takes in Southeast Asia. I take the perhaps controversial opinion that they’re a third-gendered deity (both/neither) as I believe compassion should be genderless. Breathtakingly beautiful energy regardless.
Cheers.