Finding Comfort

Good question. We have two polytheist traditions in our family. The first is a kind of Orphic, Minoan reconstructionism based around Dionysos. And to be honest, He's usually the source of my personal crisis rather than the reverse (it's all rending and reforming). I can ask Him for protection against external attacks but as for internal stuff, it's all claiming the freedom to deal with my own problems.

The second tradition is Irish, focused on Brigid, and centered around my daughter. I can definitely ask Her for comfort and help, though it helps if I focus the request not on myself, but on how it helps and protects the family as opposed to just me.

I can also ask my beloved dead for comfort and protection, and since there's a range of beliefs and talents represented there, there may be various types of help.

However, I find that the results I get are related to the attention I give on a regular basis. The more regular my practicing and offerings, the more response I seem to get. And this, truthfully, is where my weakness lies.

I think I am wondering about traditional rituals, readings, or folk practices addressing suffering in specific situations.

This question interests me, too. While I have been given comfort by my gods, I usually don't look for it except for from Brighid. Most of my gods aren't traditionally comforting, though their gifts can be (for instance, Arianrhod in times of isolation and withdrawal doesn't necessarily give "comfort," yet her mysteries associated with Withdrawal transforms the experience of isolation).

Lighting a small fire to Brighid (usually a small metal bowl with 90% wood- alchohol and a bit of salt) on my altar has certainly been beneficial to me as much as it is meant as devotion to her. I unfortunately cannot do so where I am staying now without setting off a heat-alarm, and I experience this as a great loss!

When you say traditional, do you mean practices that are specific to a tradition or that are attested to in historical practice? Or both?

In the slice of Vedic tradition that I study it is recommended that we go to God for comfort. Since the divine in this tradition is conceived of as both transcendent and intimately present, we can speak to God about our problems and receive comfort, guidance, and renewed emotional strength. In order to speak with God or simply enjoy the divine presence we can go to a temple or holy place or simply hold a private ritual at home. This recommendation is both specific to the tradition and attested to in historic practice.

I know you just said that you weren't looking for something deity-related but it seems many of the people here are strongly devoted to particular gods. It is understandable that we would turn to them in time of need or at least involve them in our concerns in some way. (Or are you specifically wanting something that is polytheistic in context but lacking the gods? Or am I missing something?)