Two good friends of mine that I respect and admire a lot wrote about the reasons as to why they serve their God. I thought that appropriate to make an article out of. I’m working a little backwards so to speak, but not really in another sense. One of these friends said something akin to Gods taking lots over a person’s crib, and sometimes I really think there’s a lot of truth behind that.
So I’m going to start about the God I was aware of first, going back to when I was a lot younger than I am now.
Ares/Mars –
My personal association with this God goes way back when I was 11. I learned about astrology, and well Mars/Ares was the ruler of my zodiac sign.
In science class in seventh grade we were studying the planets. We got to choose what planet to do a report on, and mine of course was Mars.
I even went out and eventually bought a pendant that was supposed to have been Mars’ symbol, which turned out to be the rune Tiwaz. (At the time I didn’t know that though.) Over the years, I lost contact, though whenever someone mentioned ‘Aries’, He would almost always come to mind.
I cannot stress enough how much I don’t like the Greek interpretation, saying He is a coward, and always go crying to Olympus whenever he received an injury. I have to say that I do like the ‘Mars’ version better. I also have read that Mars had to do with agriculture, before a war association. I have also read that the month of March was named for Mars.
I even loved the Looney Tunes character Marvin the Martian, and most times I would think of Mars while watching him then too.
Being one of Njord’s has really toned down the fire. I used to even think that my fire days were pretty much over.
I tried dealing with elemental deities, and I kept trying to turn to Thor for the fire element. (Thor is like a favourite uncle that I never get to see.) I couldn’t ‘get’ in touch with Thor for it though. Through dreams He’s pretty much let me know it’s all about lightning. Turning to Loki of course was definitely right out.
Coming back to Ares/Mars has definitely put the fire back in. Now I understand from research there may be no linking Ares to fire, but strictly going on my own practices, it’s there. I completely understand if other people don’t, and I am in no way shape or form claiming historical anything. I’ve been into astrology since I was 11, so it’s a hard thing to look past in my own eyes.
I can’t remember when exactly my interest in the Greek Gods resurfaced. I do remember that it was sometime in May of last year though.
I did pray to him to stop the fires when they were raging over in Greece, back in August of 2007. I researched and offered a sacrifice for Him. I offered it over an open fire, so that was awesome. I still have some sort of red meat or a sort of Spinach Pie on Tuesdays, which has been said to be His day.
I have felt His presence many times over the course of almost a year that I’ve put an altar up to Him. I got a tugging from Him in May of this year, and pretty much ignored it. October saw another tug, this one a lot stronger.
I’m not in His service officially yet, the Spring Equinox of next year will see that change made. I would love to learn how to wield/fight and even dance with a sword and spear in His honour. I hope I can find the right teacher/s someday.
All of this might make people wonder why Ares/Mars of all Gods I would choose to serve. Well the Religio Romana page on Mars has some wonderful points under their ‘How do we honour Mars today?’ section. The link to the whole article on Mars is under my links section titled ‘Mars’.
I’ve copied and pasted the part of the honouring Mars article that struck me personally. -
‘Protection has always been our gift to those we love, and a duty to ourselves. Though we no longer spend our days in the fields, the fruits of our labours still determine the quality of our life. Pray to Mars when you need to shift into another gear, to bring your purpose from wishful pondering to fruition and culmination. Look to Mars when your spirit needs reawakening and you find yourself lost in the cycle of delay, needing to summon up the courage to act.’
This all fits personally, since I’m looking for more independence, these words go right along with the attitude I need to adopt to manifest this. I also have someone to protect, so that goes along with it too.
Mars is courage/standing your ground. This part just happened to me this past Sunday.
I went to my father’s retirement party. Now keep in mind I was already peeved at not being ‘able’ to sit next to my oldest daughter because my stepmother decided (without consulting me) that I should sit at a table where my sister, brother, (who are both older) my aunt, her lifelong companion, my father and stepmother were sitting.
Now I understand the reasons behind this seating arrangement. However. I thoroughly enjoy my oldest daughter’s company. I was pissed at being seated away from her. So going there I already had a chip on my shoulder.
I got there and my aunt gave me a frosty glance, and looked me up and down like high school girls do when they find you to be no ‘kin good and look disdainfully down their noses at you. So right off the bat, I didn’t like this woman’s glance. I never really liked her anyways because the only two things this woman’s ever understood is/was status and money. If you don’t have either, you’re no ‘kin good. I could’ve just seen *that* dinner conversation. ‘So are you working?’ ‘No.’ End of conversation. Ya, right. Being unemployed has allowed me to be a lot less tolerant of people and their stupidity.
Even my mother never liked her due to that nature. To my sister’s credit, she sat with this aunt, even after getting flack over whatever just like my mother would’ve done. This aunt had also turned my sister’s invitation to come down to her wedding last year.
I don’t have that built in to be nice to be nice and put up with people because I’m expected to, outside of my profession. At work I’m paid to put up with stupid. This was not work related at all, so I’m not getting paid to deal with stupid, so gloves are off.
I even offered to go take this aunt outside and tell her exactly what I thought of her and her attitude, and while I would’ve been at it, I would’ve told her I resented her making my mother feel like she had to entertain them 2 weeks before she died, since it was her turn to do christmas entertaining and dinner. I know my aunt would’ve come back with ‘well she could’ve refused’ but my mother and I had that very same conversation. My mother said she’d never live it down and felt obligated no matter what I said, so she did her time, and I helped her at every turn.
My sister refused my offer, but I still would’ve done it, even if the aunt would’ve ‘disowned’ me, if she hasn’t already. It’s no skin off my teeth any way I look at it, so I had no qualms about making my feelings known, and putting people in their place, especially to defend someone else.
I reiterated this offer of taking people outside when our stepmother refused to let my sister speak at our father’s retirement, saying ‘there wasn’t time.’ Right, whatever. The room was rented for at least two more hours after the two speeches took place. Again, my sister refused me. So I felt good sitting at my daughter’s table, where my nephews and former brother in law were. My nephew/godson wanted to go over and tell the aunt he smoked crack for a living. He doesn’t, but he would’ve done it had I really wanted him to. I waited for someone to collar me and drag me to the table I was supposed to sit at, but my niece came in with her beau, and they sat in my place, problem solved.
So F- you and your social convention.
As all of this drama relates back to Mars/Ares it’s all about standing my ground and being willing to protect and defend those I care about, even if that shows me in an unfavourable light, or jeopardizes/compromises my safety or social standing/status.
I’m not the type to go beating anyone up for no reason. I wouldn’t go around and do that and say ‘Mars made me do it lol!’ Protection and defense is something that I take personal responsibility for very seriously, because I’m having someone else place their safety and well being in my hands. So every time I’ve offered to do this, I’ve made sure I have what it takes to defend that person.
I don’t blindly go into a fight because I’m mad, or whatever, even though it is tempting, sometimes sorely. Anger’s a powerful thing, and it’s just like a sword. A sword can be raised to protect and defend, or it can be used to just mindlessly slaughter. Anger can be used destructively to take someone/something apart, or be used constructively to motivate me to take action because I’ve had more than enough of someone/something.
