New at everything - could use an expert eye

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so, i always liked the idea of paganism and witchcraft but grew up in a very catholic family. when i was a preteen i realised, that in fact, i never actually believed or liked the catholic god. and that was around the time i started realising there was so much in nature - the rivers, the plants, the animals, the sky, they all had their own kind of magic. so i’ve been a firm believer in ‘the universe’ and its energy and how all everything’s connected, working together, and at times calling myself an atheist and sometimes agnostic. sorry, i’m just giving context.

the thing is, a few months ago, i got to point where i was (still am) so very tired of the way the world is going (politically, socially etc.) that i decided to go back into my spirituality and see if there’s anything in there. so i went back to my tarot deck, and not long after, i found out about lenormand decks. and because i was dipping a toe into divination. and started reading and learning about deities - especially freyja, brigid and hecate because i’ve heard of them before and thought they were pretty cool.

i tried connecting to them, but i don’t feel connected at all with the idea of going back into an organised religion, so, i am abandoned the idea. as i was talking to a friend about this, she made me read ‘rebel witch’ - which made realise i don’t need to follow a specific path and i can tailor my practice.

but

for a month or so now, i keep finding keys (2 so far), and pretty nice feathers in the weirdest places (i actually found one in the lining of a bag???), literally, inside the lining, and there are so so so so many crows around me all the time (i’ve been in the uk for almost 6y but never seem so so many). that i started research signs and deities again and i landed on frigg. i felt an instant connection, as i’m quite crafty and am learning to spin my own yarn using a drop spindle (and have been having weird, never-heard-before baby fever - i always said i didn’t want to become a mom). initially i thought it was hecate, because of the keys, but idk, frigg felt comforting - if that makes sense???

all i know is that now i’m reading about her, and i’m back to freyja as well, and omw to actually burn on wood my first set of runes. and i know i can be a polytheist and don’t need to have a close relationship with a god/deity to be able to pray and reach out to them - but i know that now. and another thing, i had a dream about this huge most beautiful raven, and i was so happy cos i’ve never seem a raven in person. and then, i was woken up by many crows cawing outside my window. and i was just having a walk and there were two crows in a window, and when i walked past they started cawing and after stopped again. i read that crows and ravens can be odin reaching? or even the morrigan?

like, i feel crazy - am i overthinking this? plz, i’d really appreciate some more expert advice.

thanks in advance! :slight_smile:

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Super Saturday Spindle :black_bird: ,

Well, since you were raised a Catholic, I wanted to give you a little on my perspective.

I was raised Athiest/Agnostic, and always thought that if I chose a religion it would be Catholic because they seemed to “have it all together and figured out”. I was under the impression that all the pomp and circumstance meant they knew what they were doing.
Now, Paganism, Wicca, Hindu, Shinto, Native cultures around the world, also have numerous deities, like the Catholics. Looking into Catholicism and native beliefs that the Roman incorporated, it is the same. The Romans took local god and turned them into saints so that it would be acceptable to venerate them. This, Easter/Ostara/Ashtar/Astarte. They are all they same in basic idea. How did Yule become the birth-day of Jesus? Think as simple as Groundhog Day, pulling the critter out of the den at Imbolc (meaning “in the belly”). Imbolc is now Groundhog Day. It is celebrated as St. Brigid’s Day? :rofl: Really? :thinking: I wonder how the Romans decided on that one?

With all this in mind, and being raised and athiest/agnostic with witch/nature leanings, but raising my children Christian, I respectfully say,

:musical_notes: Do it Your Way, Do it Your Way:musical_notes: (Burger King Jingle in America)

There are unseen forces in the world (think WorldWideWeb, the I-Cloud) that we cannot see, may not fully understand but we use it. I believe that is what the god/desses are. I assign names to give my mind a focal point on which aspect of energy I am working with. I do not necessarily see the god/dess name as a singular entity, only an energy that I can tap into. Like plugging in something to an energy source.

So, with this in mind. Use or call whatever energy or name pops into your head. I suggest looking up the mythology behind the name. I do not think mythology is all myth. The story came from something someone saw. By studying the myth you are able to determine if that is the energy, god/dess you wish to work with.

The Craft is similar to Catholocism in the veneration of differing people, but different in that you choose how you wish to practice.

That simple. No rules actually, other than remember the Wiccan Rede–loosely–and it harm none, do what you will.

I hope this helps put your mind at ease.

Lady Gene :candle: :phoenix:

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Welcome to the Forum!

Thanks for sharing your experience, you may have a Familiar from the description.

Or at least an Animal Spirit Guide. I was also born RC, and still ‘dip into’ that tradition

fifty years later for the concept of Divine Feminine and Patron Saint for my own ‘patheon’.

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Hi Lady Gene,

Yes, it does ease my mind a bit! So funny you say that you assign names to the energy to help your mind. I was very recently reflecting on this. What I mean is, I recently had an “epiphany” that a god’s name is basically the type of energy they represent to certain people, and the more you tap into this energy, the more familiar it becomes. And I really liked that, ngl!!

Also, so funny that out of all available religions, you’d choose Catholicism? I mean, yeah, the aesthetic is on point, but that’s about it :rofl:

x

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Heya, thank you!

That’s interesting. I’ve never looked much into these, especially Animal Spirit Guides, but only because I know close to nothing about shamanism. What gave you that impression? Sorry, I really like to look into specifics. :sweat_smile:

Wait… what? I never realised RC had the concept of Divine Feminine in it? I’ll defo look it up!

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Stormy Saturday :cloud_with_lightning_and_rain: Spindle :black_bird: ,

Growing up here in Vegas, Baby, Vegas, I was exposed to Mormon (they actually settled Vegas first) or Catholic (the MOB)…Mormon did not make sense, that left Catholic at that time, all the other Christian stuff kinda fell in with that, and other religions with the pantheons fell into that category too. The more I learned about the craft, they ended up all the same to me. Back in the 80’s when people would say New Age, I would always rephrase, Old Religion, New Packaging.

Knowing this, and how the Latins incorporated so many local beliefs, I find it mind-boggling that people (especially Catholics) are so against the Craft/Wicca/Spiritualism…

Lady Gene :candle:

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The Crow/Raven is a very well known spirit guide, it just seemed like that was the case from you.

RC has ‘Virgin Mary’ and her veneration it’s not much but better than many other denominations.

The Trinity which RC more or less invented looks a lot different if the ‘Holy Spirit’ is the Divine Feminine.

But I’m not a Trinitarian, and I come from the Hebrew language perspective and it’s subtle clues.

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Welcome Spindlecrow!

Thank you for sharing your story.

When I hear keys my first thought is always Hecate, but the spinning leans me towards Frigg or the Weavers (the Norns or Moriai).

If you ask me, it doesn’t seem like Odin. Male deities in the Norse pantheon that are associated with keys isn’t really a thing. Keys are always associated with goddesses in the Norse pantheon because in Nordic culture keys were a prominent symbol of feminine power.

Ravens are a less common association with Hekate - but some do associate ravens with her actually. Black dogs are the most common animal people witness with her though.

The Morrigan I know less about, as I haven’t studied Celtic traditions very deeply, and I have no experience with her, so I can’t really add any insight there…

I recommend you read this topic on familiars if you want to rule that out:

It’s hard to tell you for sure unless you get a direct signal. Usually it will happen in a dream, in a vision, or meditation. Continue to keep your eyes and mind open to all possibilities. Try putting out a request before going to sleep.

I hope some of this info helps.

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I know exactly who this is, but I can’t tell you, and there is a reason for that.

If others suggest different names than the one that calls out to you, and you choose one of those names instead, that is what a path is meant to be.

If you discover that you strongly click with someone that is not the one originally calling you, that too is what a path is supposed to look like. A path is not a straight line to a single, predetermined destination.

And if many years from now, you return to this moment to reconnect, look deeper, and finally discover who they truly are, that is also part of your journey.

A path is not just about identifying anyone, it is about discovering more about yourself through every choice, every connection, and every realization along the way.

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Beautifully said, Keldan! :lotus:

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ha! I’d never think of Mary as ‘divine feminine’ but I guess you’re right?

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this helped a lot, many thanks!

I just want to clarify, I didn’t think the keys were Odin, I also think more of Hekate, but turns out Frigg also has keys as one of her symbols! I mentioned Odin because of the crows I’ve been seing/hearing and the dream I had

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ah? now I’m curious, but I do appreciate your reply. I think you’re right and I’ll focus on the small steps - I do struggle with anxiety though, so that’ll be a bit of a challenge, but on we go :four_leaf_clover:

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You’re welcome!

Indeed! Based on what you’ve told me, and the deities I know, the signs appear to be pointing in Frigg’s direction. But like Keldan said, it’s important to follow your own intuition. It’s also possible you’re being approached by more than one deity at once. It’s happened to me before, and that started off as a wild time too!

If a lot of time passes before you get a direct sign, I suggest doing a targeted meditation on the deities you think it is, by meditating on their images and seeing which one you feel the strongest pull towards, and feel best connecting to.

Glad I could help! Cheers. :lotus:

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