I'm a regular reader of John Beckett's blog over at Patheos; a few days ago he posted an essay exploring the nature of the gods by comparing them to water. I found it an interesting read, so I thought I'd share with my fellow resident Pagans. Here's a quick summary of the essay's main points, but it's probably best to read through the article to catch the metaphors (which I'm going to leave out):
- Adapted from The Gods Are Like Water
- The essence of the gods never changes. They may change an adapt to the times, but the central character of their being does not change.
- The way we experience the gods changes from place to place. The place and context within which we experience the gods gives them different characteristics.
- The gods are (almost) infinitely divisible. Each god can be understood through many aspects, and this doesn't diminish the original version.
- Once gods are divided, they differentiate. When a god is worshiped by different groups of people, those encounters shape both parties in that relationship.
- Gods are easily combined. Syncretism was very much a thing in historical Paganisms, and it can be a thing for modern Pagans too.
- Gods can exist in multiple states. And our interactions or encounters with them can take different forms, even though it is the same god.
- Gods have no source. We can't be certain if they come from the natural features they're associated with, from peoples or cultures, from stories, or something else entirely.