So I am an agnostic. I don't really believe in any kind of God or Goddess but I like to keep my mind open to them. I have been studying magic for about 2 years and in every book or source I've read they all seem to have one thing in common, the use of deities in rituals, spells etc. If magic is just the science and art of changing the world around you using your own will to manipulate energy why do so many sources talk about invoking deities? Since magic is the manipulation of the fundamental energies around us are the deities perhaps suppose to be some kind of manifestation of this energy?
I hope I don't sound too ignorant but I am very curious to see what you have to say about it.
You are confusing with prayer and spells. We don't always need deities on spell-casting,but they do help. When you cast a circle,if you wish,you can call a deity. A diety make help you cast the spell correctly,as well as writing a spell correctly. Hope this helps!
~Stefan~
Aren't prayer and spells very similar though? In a prayer don't you ask your said deity for something or thank him/her for something that happened? In a spell your also asking or willing something to happen, so are they not very similar or the same ? So spells don't really need deities invocations ?
Ravencaster, I kind of agree with you on this one, BUT spells and prayers aren't same. I used spell (for healing, cus I didn't know how to heal - still doing basics) only few times. I use my own chants for summoning, because they just pop up in my mind when I need to summon someone. I do believe in all the God and Goddesses, and I'm not really a praying type, but if I do pray it's to Gaia. When ever I pray to her for anything she does respond to me. Like one time I got very depressive over something and I for the first time prayed, moment I finished, so much positive energy surrounded me. It is one of the most amazing things I EVER felt. I didn't even think she would respond in any way, but I'm glad she did. People often tell me that only god is Jesus (cus most of friends and people I had/knew were Christians).. But honestly, when I was Christian myself, my life was a living hell.. When I decided to change it got much better.
But yea, I got off the point here. I don't use spells as much as almost everyone here says that we should use. I do my things without spells. If your energy manipulation is good enough you don't even need them unless it's something harder that needs much more focus. Also here and then I say random chant that pops up in my head but that is rare. But then again, it all depends on your path and way you practice and do magic. I say I'm pagan if anyone asks me for religion, but honestly, I just make up my own rules and do my own thing. Well, I do have help of spirit friends too. They are always there for me and I love them as if they all were my family. And well, basically are. All spirits I know now, I knew in my past life. They teach me and my best friend and I respect that. I simply don't follow anyone's guides over internet. So yea.. Point of what I'm saying is that some people use and some don't use spells. It's up to them. Plus 95% of spells here are fake or require way more items then what they should. I don't use any items for things I do. And it all works fine.
From what I have come to understand spells and prayers are different. All prayers to a deity where you ask them to change the outcome of something, help your life, in a ritualistic manner such as casting a circle, burning incense, an incantation, are spells, but not all spells are prayers. You could call on the powers within you to change something (powers of manifestation and the law of attraction) without calling on a deity, or calling on the powers of nature, herbs, etc. So (for the most part, talking ritualistically) all prayers are spells, but not all spells are prayers. I hope that helps.
There is no need whatsoever to involve deities of any sort in your magical workings if you choose not to do so. Spellcraft does not require the presence of the Divine at all. The reason that you see a lot about deities in many books is that the majority of magic books you find in stores are loosely based on Wicca and Wicca is a religion. If you'd like something not based on religion I'd suggest reading "Modern Magick" by Donald Michael Kraig.
Thank you all for your responses, you have given me a lot to reflect on, I will definitely check out the Modern Magic book. I'm glad to see that the invocation of deities is not a necessity in spell work! Thanks again.
I'm trying to keep an open mind about all of this. I want to learn all that I can about the Deities. Can anyone list all of them? For example: The big three gods are Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades... but they are also Jupiter, Neptune, and Pluto in that order. Can anyone help a person out? Please?
There are too many deities to list in one post. However, if you are just interested in the Greek/Roman Gods as your post let on, www.theoi.com has information on the Greek deities.
