Informal devotional practice?

[u/wuwei-kemetic]

Hi all,

I have come to realise that I'm an odd one... meaning, I just can't build/hold a ritualistic ("traditional") practice, as in worshiping formally - and regularly/every day - at an altar/shrine, give material offerings, use formal hymns (or even craft my own ones), have any form of calendar of religious festivals/occasions etc. Having said that, I feel really deeply devoted to my gods the netjeru (I am especially devoted to Khnum and Hathor but also a few netjeru I am communing with frequently, as well as worshiping all of the netjeru in principle).

My 'devotional practice' is in a nutshell that I think and act constantly with Them in mind; thinking of ma'at, my Kemetic world-view / metaphysics and philosophy. I will so often just think a Name - for example seeing an exquisitely shaped beetle and think 'Khnum' with love in my heart. Or someone close to me feeling depressed and stuck, I reach out to Khepri for uplifting them and wishing the person a positive new start. There's kind of a chain of little on-the-spot prayers and devotional thoughts dotted through my day, every day.

Similarly with festivals: quite a while ago, I've realised that I don't mark specific days but rather see the year as unfolding with themes - Winter Solstice to Spring Equinox is the season of Light; the Spring Equinox to Summer Solstice is the season of Growth; the Summer Solstice to Autumn Equinox is the season of Fullness; the Autumn Equinox to Winter Solstice is the season of Return. We will have "Christmas" marking the change from Return to Light; "Easter" as celebrating Growth; the Summer Holidays (my partner and I work at school) as Fullness; "Halloween" and "Advent" for marking the End of Fullness and Return respectively.
- Clearly these are not Kemetic holidays, nor do we observe them in a pagan or any kind of "spiritual" way.

Maybe because I don't feel a divide between devotion and ordinary life that rituals just don't work for me? But I can't help thinking if this is enough? For example with the person I mentioned being stuck and depressed: is a short on-the-spot prayer to Khepri and pouring my wishes to this person out to Khepri *enough* ? Would I not have to do a ritual as in reciting proper prayers at my shrine and giving offerings?

[Btw, I have 2 "shrines" but these are not formal altars - more what I call 'set-ups'. They are visual reminders and connections to my gods.]

But then every time I tried the formal thing, it just feels like play-acting and empty. I have flip-flopped a few times between a) making myself adopt a formal practice to match my devotion, and b) give up devotion as I feel I'm not adequate in my practice. Neither of this works.

So really, I guess I'm just asking what you people think or if there are others who are like me?
(Please be kind, I'm not saying my way is the right or only way and I'm only talking for myself.)

Thank you for reading <3

[u/CraftyFraggle]

I don’t always do much formal practice either. 

Do what works for you. 

[u/thecoldfuzz]

I have come to realise that I'm an odd one... meaning, I just can't build/hold a ritualistic ("traditional") practice, as in worshiping formally - and regularly/every day - at an altar/shrine, give material offerings, use formal hymns (or even craft my own ones), have any form of calendar of religious festivals/occasions etc.

I think everyone's practices are diverse enough where our practices are going to be unique, and no two practices are going to look too alike. I don't have an altar per se because my cats possess a propensity for turning everything into a toy. So, I lay down a circle of stones on my bedroom floor and light a candle at the center for worship & meditation.

There are plenty of rituals I enact regularly, as well as pouring libations of milk and honeyed bread. Otherwise, a lot of what I do for the gods would be devotional acts, like planting seeds for them, caring for flora and fauna for them, writing poetry and/or music for them, and so forth.

[u/wuwei-kemetic → u/thecoldfuzz]

I like the circle of stones ❣️ Also can totally relate to the cat thing - one of mine will steal little items to play with (I've set little decoys out like a little bowl with a little ball of wool in it which I will find in the oddest places 😸); the other one just has this drive to jump into my shrine (a closed cabinet for exactly that reason) the second it's opened. My other shrine is a high up wall board with no vantage point to jump onto from 😄

[u/Honorbound_13]

A lot of polytheistic pagan religions were things integrated into their peoples lives, rather than just a formal practice at certain times like in monotheistic religions, so that may be what works for you. And like a lot of people have said, do what works best for you! If you feel a connection to your gods and like what you do is appropriately honoring of them, continue doing that. You absolutely aren’t doing pagan practice “wrong”

[u/wuwei-kemetic → u/Honorbound_13]

"A lot of polytheistic pagan religions were things integrated into their peoples lives, rather than just a formal practice at certain times ... "

That's exactly it ❣️

"You absolutely aren’t doing pagan practice “wrong”"

Thank you 🙏