Working With Multiple Deities

While I was perusing social media I came across a post that was talking about Hoodoo and its tenets. I was intrigued at what the writer had to say until I got to the point where they started talking about Orisha. It was at this point that nothing else said was credible to me because there are no Orisha in traditional Hoodoo practice, at least for the Gullah-Geechee people of which I am a descendant of and were taught by. In fact, Hoodoo has more of a Congo base to it than a Yoruba base. Many of the books written about Hoodoo I have put down and won't recommend because they start mixing in deities from other traditions. Hoodoo has its own pantheon of deities that are available to be worked with, and those should be respected for the power that they hold before mixing in deities of other traditions. But this post isn't about Hoodoo, so I am going to get off of this soapbox and get to the reason for this post today.

When elders, teachers, and practitioners of traditional religions tell you to "start with your ancestors" it is for a good reason. Whether you've had a good relationship or not with the ancestors that you know is irrelevant. It is the ancestors that you don't know that hold keys to what deities you should be working with and how you should be working with them. Your 5x great-grandmother may have been initiated to an Orisha or your 9x great-grandfather may have been a Druid. We as Black people in the diaspora, especially the United States, have a unique genetic and spiritual make up in that we have not 1 or 2, but the potential for several ethnic groups to be present within us. When we are told to go and work with our ancestors we will often start with the ones that we know and focus on the Afro-indigenous ancestors in our lineage often forgetting about the fact that theres a percentage of ancestors that are Euro-indigenous or even Asia-indigenous. And, when you're truly open to working with your ancestors for your greatest and highest good during this lifetime you can't control who steps up to help you.

But, what happens when one ancestor was in the Orisha tradition, another was in the Palo tradition, another was a Druid, another was Hindu, and you have this melting pot of ancestors and deities? First, this is why divination is important. Because just because its in your DNA doesn't mean that you're meant to practice that tradition in this lifetime. You can get a divination within the traditions that are coming forward and believe it or not, even if the tradition is or is not for you it can point you in the direction of the traditions that you're supposed to practice. Second, there is a way to work with those energies without practicing the tradition THROUGH your ancestors and your work with your ancestors (this is a whole class in itself. that I may or may not teach). But, what I want to focus on is working with the deities that you are meant to work with in this lifetime.

I'm going to hold your hands when I say this, If you cannot give the deities and the traditions that they are a part of the attention and respect that is due then leave them the entire hell alone! Deities are not your errand boys and girls. They are not here at your beck and call to do your bidding just because you said a prayer or lit a candle. A relationship MUST be formed. You talking about you're working with Oshun and meanwhile Oshun don't even know your name because you haven't taken the time to form a relationship with her and go to her through the proper channels. You think Hekate is showing up just because you attempted to summon her for your spell but you haven't taken the time to get to know her and her power for yourself? Even if you call yourself paying for their work...good luck. Because you may write a check that your ass can't cash trying to pay a deity. (I want to note here that there's level to spirits and you can absolutely pay lower level spirits and demons to do your bidding...if you know what you're doing...but don't try that with deities, especially those within initiatory practices.)

Even after you've formed a relationship with your deities, please understand that your spiritual practice should not be a deity gumbo pot. I'm going to use myself as an example. I am initiated in multiple traditions and I have relationships with deities in traditions that I am not yet initiated into. When I want to do some work I am not putting Olokun, Mami Wata, Kalunga, and La Sirene all together to get the work done. Yes, they are all water deities. Yes, they all have similar energies. But, I have to respect them as an individual deity and I have to respect the traditions that they come from. If I want to go to Olokun and ask her for her assistance then I go to her within her tradition and use the ways of her tradition to speak to her. If I want to go to Kalunga then I have to go to her within her tradition and use the ways of her tradition to speak to her. Also, please don't go to multiple deities for the same problem. That's insulting to the deity. Either have the discernment to know what deity needs to be petitioned for what problem that you have or when all else fails...divine on it. Hell, even if you think you know divine on it to be sure. If your problem is big enough that you need multiple deities from multiple traditions then its time to call in your community, coven, ile, church, etc. because you need assistance.

Last but not least. please understand that just because you practice witchcraft does not give you the license to work with whoever you want to. Witchcraft in Orisha practice is different from witchcraft in Palo is different from witchcraft in Celtic practice is different from witchcraft in Voodoo, is different from witchcraft in Hoodoo is different from folk magic. I will go further and say that ATRs and in fact many traditional religions and practices are indeed not witchcraft at all. They are spiritual traditions and ways of living. Witchcraft at its most basic definition can be found within them, but you can find witchcraft within any religion or tradition. That does not make the practice of that religion or tradition witchcraft unless you are actually practicing the craft part and not the religious/traditional parts.

If you're a practicing witch its important for you to find your lane and your craft, then know your craft and stay in your lane. Stop trying to run before you even know how to sit up on your own. Also, just because one practitioner has the license to do it doesn't mean that you do. Don't do what I do, because what I do I've been given permission from my elders, spirits, and deities to do and it works for me. It might fuck your whole life up if you try. it. Respect your deities, respect your traditions, respect your craft!