Restarting Practice After a Series of Bad Moves

Welcome to the board. We're not a hugely talkative lot (I'd like to change that, tell your friends!) but I hope you get a number of excellent responses. Here are a couple of thoughts off hand:

First, the universe sure does have a sense of humor.

Second, the Deities aren't perfect, just bigger. They have their own failings and foibles and quirks. Whatever it is that makes a person able to tune into the Gods' messages, my experience is that They can get pretty excited when a person shows both that inclination and interest. It's gotta be pretty rare these days and there can be a tendency to try to pile on. I know I've gotten visits from various Deities, sometimes because of friends' relationships and sometimes seemingly at random. So I figure by now you realize you have to know your limits and only take on what you can handle.

Here's what I'd suggest moving forward (and if this sounds like relationship advice after a bad fuckup, well, there are a lot of similarities):

* Yes, make an offering to each of the Gods you've offended. Apologize sincerely and correctly (be specific, no excuses, no explanations, no promises). Make the offering outside your home. Clearly you have the knack for having them come when you call, so keep it outdoors and away from your space for now.

* Make a special offering and apology to the particular Goddess (again correctly, no excuses etc.). Do it at your altar and ask for as sign as to whether you need to dismantle the altar, reconsecrate it, or leave it. Look for your sign and do as She asks.

* If She decided you aren't Her person, take Her at Her word. Clean, cleanse, and deconsecrate everything. Start fresh.

* If She decides that you can keep working with Her (and you want to) go slow and expect Her to as well. You have to rebuild Her trust.

* If you are starting fresh, don't feel badly. If She thinks you aren't a good match, you probably aren't. That doesn't mean you aren't a PERFECT match for someone else. Make general devotions to "the Gods," giving and thanking more than asking, and when you feel ready, ask whether there's anyone who might want to contact you, given the person you are and what you can offer.

The truth is that we're not all cut out for intense Deity relationships. I know I have a job and a family and while, yes, devotion to the Gods colors all those things, I can't give the 110% that some people I know do. I've decided that I'm OK with that and the Deities I work with need to be as well.

I try to be honest, but sometimes I want to do better and can't. Better to approach it and Them honestly about what you can give. And then give what you can. I'm devoted to one primary Deity. The strength of this devotion ebbs and flows over time and I've seen that this is in line with Their nature and mythology for some of us (some are all in all the time, but again I can't give that right now). I'm devoted strongly to a second Deity on my daughter's behalf. This is critical in helping their relationship run smoothly. And I'm cultivating a relationship with a third, who I've felt strongly called to and who has a connection with the first.

This is plenty and when others come calling I'm polite but that's it. Not everyone operates that way. Some people are devoted to huge lists of Deities and that's fine for them. I can't make that work in my life right now.

Hang in there and do please stick around.