The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum

I saw a thread that mentioned the concept of contemplation but it was a little different definition than what I learned in my Anglican background that today I am only loosely and culturally affiliated with but that still plays a big part in my spirituality (even though I wonder if "Christo-Eclectic" rather than "Christian is a more apt description of what I've evolved into).

My spirituality I think is largely or even primarily contemplative.  I've often prayed and wondered if I should enter a monastery but have opted against it because I need more freedom in my personal spiritual practice.  But I'd like to get a feel for how this practice might play into some persons' practice of neo-pagan spirituality.

As I learned it contemplation is simply being with God, being aware of his presence.  It can take many forms, but primarily it is a way of living.  As for specific practices it may involve sitting in quiet meditation that can involve a word or mantra to stop thoughts, but rather than a type of Zen focus on non-being it's more about being aware of God.  It can involve more active practices like praying on beads or gazing at a sacred image.  It can even involve active meditation -- visualizing a given scene or image, even slowly mulling over it and thinking over it, while also being aware of the Presence penetrating the whole activity.  One may offer up sufferings for other people.  Even in everyday life or during difficult tasks one tries to maintain this awareness of Presence and at some point be able to accept and be content with joy or sorrow and pain, to not let either good or bad events distract us from that inner stillness that develops.  In some ways it can feel like being in love.  And there are periods of dryness and even dark times of suffering and a sense of abandonment, but that should not be a reason to give up because while pleasant feelings and ecstasy and amazing experiences can occur, that isn't the point of it at all.

I could see how this kind of practice might not jive with some polytheistic spiritualities perhaps because there may be no concept of an omnipresent high God, I don't really know, but in my spirituality there are similar ways of communing with saints, angels, spirits, and for me at least, other gods if I'm ready to put in the extra homework of familiarizing myself with foreign practices and ideas and I'm sure that is calling to me and it doesn't just seem like a cool idea.  I'd imagine one could develop a practice of constantly remaining aware of the presence in some sense of even a limited god or spirit, particularly a guardian or patron.  I could see something like this being possible in a panentheist context as well; my own spirituality could probably be classified that way with nuances.

I'm interested if you have a similar practice centered around Deity or other gods and beings?  What might that look like for you?  Have you noticed any effects associated with it?