Suddenly Spiritual Moments

[Annie Roonie]

So what other moments have your Gods revealed themselves in ways you didn't expect?

 
Last Thursday I could not find parking near a spot on a trail I walk and ride regularly, so I had to drive to a connection a few miles away. I thought perhaps it was meant to be even then and maybe it was a sign. That trail is where I do a great deal of spiritual work and I needed to do some questioning. So I walked a new stretch of path for the first time since last season. It felt a little strange. I'd been wondering if my draw to paganism and other things was worth continuing. I'd asked for a sign, but I am dense as brick sometimes. I'd had no signs that I could tell.

The portion of the path I was on had a rusted old train tressel going over it at one point and I decided that when I got there, I would stand under it and be very specific about my query and my thick headedness. I spoke that I would need a sign that I could not deny and that would be big and obvious enough for me to understand as a sign. I asked: Should I stick with this or should I move on again? I walked home and thought no more of it.

On Sunday I took the bike out for the first time and rode the ten miles to the same spot. It's a good place to turn around and catch my breath. I looked at the tressel and the cement holding wall on one side again and pondered what I had asked previously. Then I turned to see the other side and spray painted in letters about 3-4 feet tall was the word "Stik." Black outlined in silver or white. I tried to take a picture with my phone, but there was a glitch with the music player. I was a little stunned anyway, so I just stood there and smiled.

When I got on my bike and put my ear buds back in, the music player came on and the Yo-Yo Ma music I use during ritual played in the random shuffle. It was beautiful. I didn't want to turn around and get the photo just then. I wanted to keep feeling and listening.

I'm going to get that photo though because I have one from the Thursday when the graffiti was not there to compare. I want to remember it a long time. It was my kind of nature; the kind that includes the whims of inhabitants on their own journeys through this world intertwining with my own existence.

I rode again tonight and did not listen to music. I didn't make it to that spot again, but will. Still, tonight as I rode the frogs were croaking loudly in front and behind me. The frogs pause when they see you pass and their silence feels like acknowledgment of a sort. (It's funny, if you stop long enough they will forget you are there and will create a roaring burping symphony all around you. And if you say something, they will stop and listen. Utter silence. It's hilarious and I have always found that spiritual.) It set my senses humming.

I'm still processing it. Trying to find ways to explain the coincidences, but honestly, not caring much if I can. That was an actual sign as a sign. I'm thick but that one fit every specification. Feels like I just found a secret treasure.

[herenow]

Last Thursday I could not find parking near a spot on a trail I walk and ride regularly, so I had to drive to a connection a few miles away. I thought perhaps it was meant to be even then and maybe it was a sign. That trail is where I do a great deal of spiritual work and I needed to do some questioning. So I walked a new stretch of path for the first time since last season. It felt a little strange. I'd been wondering if my draw to paganism and other things was worth continuing. I'd asked for a sign, but I am dense as brick sometimes. I'd had no signs that I could tell.

The portion of the path I was on had a rusted old train tressel going over it at one point and I decided that when I got there, I would stand under it and be very specific about my query and my thick headedness. I spoke that I would need a sign that I could not deny and that would be big and obvious enough for me to understand as a sign. I asked: Should I stick with this or should I move on again? I walked home and thought no more of it.

On Sunday I took the bike out for the first time and rode the ten miles to the same spot. It's a good place to turn around and catch my breath. I looked at the tressel and the cement holding wall on one side again and pondered what I had asked previously. Then I turned to see the other side and spray painted in letters about 3-4 feet tall was the word "Stik." Black outlined in silver or white. I tried to take a picture with my phone, but there was a glitch with the music player. I was a little stunned anyway, so I just stood there and smiled.

When I got on my bike and put my ear buds back in, the music player came on and the Yo-Yo Ma music I use during ritual played in the random shuffle. It was beautiful. I didn't want to turn around and get the photo just then. I wanted to keep feeling and listening.

I'm going to get that photo though because I have one from the Thursday when the graffiti was not there to compare. I want to remember it a long time. It was my kind of nature; the kind that includes the whims of inhabitants on their own journeys through this world intertwining with my own existence.

I rode again tonight and did not listen to music. I didn't make it to that spot again, but will. Still, tonight as I rode the frogs were croaking loudly in front and behind me. The frogs pause when they see you pass and their silence feels like acknowledgment of a sort. (It's funny, if you stop long enough they will forget you are there and will create a roaring burping symphony all around you. And if you say something, they will stop and listen. Utter silence. It's hilarious and I have always found that spiritual.) It set my senses humming.

I'm still processing it. Trying to find ways to explain the coincidences, but honestly, not caring much if I can. That was an actual sign as a sign. I'm thick but that one fit every specification. Feels like I just found a secret treasure.

 
Great story and great attitude (“Trying to find ways to explain the coincidences, but honestly, not caring much if I can.”)
I, too, am pretty thick and have asked for clearer signs.  The signs I was given were in the form of dead animals on the trails where I hike.  I wasn’t comfortable with that and I asked to see different signs which did not involved the taking of the life of an animal.  That was about a year ago and since then all of my ‘confirmations’ now come in the form of things like unique rocks and artifacts. And thankfully, no animals have had to give their lives to show me signs.

[Annie Roonie]

The signs I was given were in the form of dead animals on the trails where I hike.  I wasn’t comfortable with that and I asked to see different signs which did not involved the taking of the life of an animal.  That was about a year ago and since then all of my ‘confirmations’ now come in the form of things like unique rocks and artifacts. And thankfully, no animals have had to give their lives to show me signs.

I can see where that would be uncomfortable and it is fortunate that it has stopped!

I see dead animals on the trail frequently, and since the trail I ride is paved, I feel compeled to grab some sticks or leaves and move them to the grassy sides. Not a task I relish but it is a time I stop and contemplate on a spiritual level. But as a sign, I'd be apt to make the same request you did!

[herenow]

I can see where that would be uncomfortable and it is fortunate that it has stopped!

I see dead animals on the trail frequently, and since the trail I ride is paved, I feel compeled to grab some sticks or leaves and move them to the grassy sides. Not a task I relish but it is a time I stop and contemplate on a spiritual level. But as a sign, I'd be apt to make the same request you did!

 
Moving them off the trail, unpleasant as it would be, is showing great respect for the dead critter. And that stuff pays back threefold!

[earth_dragon]

As  I look back in my time here, I realize how many spiritual moments I have had on this Earth. A very large horned owl that swooped in front of my car just across the windshield 24 years ago, the extremely large buck with a head of antlers so large I could not count them that stood in front of my car for 5minutes looking at me, the two wolves walking In tandem that stood approximately 30 feet from me at the boundary of our property looking at me in the half moon lit area. They just stood and looked, never did I fear any of them, wasn't 100 percent on the path at those times, but I believe came to show me the way. I marvel at the sunrise and sunsets now, at crows, and how they always seem to travel in three's, at the moon and all her cycles. I believe spiritual moments happen daily, between people and animals and life. I notice things more as I age I think. So the message is, doesn't matter what your path, there are so many moments. Just watch.  Luna

This is very beautiful, Luna. Exactly the way I look at things. I don't know so much about deities, to be honest, but I connect so very deeply with nature. And I've had countless spiritual experiences in nature; each one a treasure!

[Sharysa]

Today I was feeling very drained, what with having five epiphanies in as many days and trying to deal with all the (conscious) knowledge I now have.

I skipped choir and went home, and when I got to my apartment building, I saw a crow hopping around. Normally I'd just greet it and head home, but it had one or two feathers sticking out from its wing and I was rather curious as to whether they'd fall off.

I watched it flutter off onto the trunk of a nearby car, so I went over only to have it fly off again into the next building's oak tree. I followed to see if there was anything I was supposed to find or if the crow had a message for me.

And then it started pouring rain for about five minutes. Keep in mind that the weather was still quite fair, so I was dressed in a normal shirt and jeans with a light coat.

This is probably the Morrigan's way of saying "Buck up, I've got you covered."

[marwolaeth]

So what other moments have your Gods revealed themselves in ways you didn't expect?

 
So i will tell mystory from last week. I was sitting in my house and think about me and gods.Then i was realize i love winter becouse in winter im feeling very strong bond to the gods.. and i told myself... it can be cool even that is spring now if was some snow . I woke up in next day.. and yes.. it was snowing.. so i had gone to the forest.. medita betwen trees and prey to Cernunnos and then a stag jumped from forest.. run before me and jumped back tothe forests... that my best moment ever.. i hope you will understand what i wrote here with my terrible english

[Aine Llewellyn]

So what other moments have your Gods revealed themselves in ways you didn't expect?

 
When I was very little I had my first experience with Antinous after I had the wind knocked out of me (so I'm not sure if it was a divine meeting or my head having been knocked about too much!). I find it hard to describe it, because it really just seemed like a first meeting with the both of us going, 'Oh, you're the one I'm looking for'. (Not a 'you are THE one' on Antinous' part, but more a, 'You're mine'.)  

Back when I was working with my friend, her and I went walking through the stream bed near her home. There was a bit of water in it, enough to get our ankles wet (and knees wet in the pools), and we hopped along the rocks. We came across these two sycamores and just stared up at them before placing our hands on the tree trunks and singing, asking them to open for us because it just felt like a gate. We stepped through and walked a few spaces and a bunch of tiny yellow butterflies exploded out of a bush as we approached. The mindset we were in just made it seem - like a sign, I guess. The whole walk was very beautiful and thought-provoking.

Also, this feels mostly on topic so I'll go ahead and write it: I'm not a big 'spirit animal' person, just because I've never been connected to the idea of spirit guides and totems and what not (didn't connect with me very well). However, I had a very strange moment when I was looking at some artwork done for my family and realized I've always been represented by the butterfly. My mother is a dragonfly, my brother is an elephant, and I'm a butterfly. It's made me reflect on the idea of creatures tied to our soul (or life or person) and made me feel a little giddy.

[Sharysa]

So what other moments have your Gods revealed themselves in ways you didn't expect?

Yesterday, I found out that I used the Imbas Forosnai ritual, which is how I know that I will be cast in Spring Awakening despite everyone telling me no.

I'm just so happy that the experience I've gone through finally has a NAME. And that means I can do it again when I want to, not just when I have to.

I just have to keep from laughing at everything because HOLY SHIT, I'M NOT CRAZY. So I'll keep it to contented sighing for now.