For some context, I tend to fall into the category of polytheistic pagans known as “hard polytheists,” meaning I believe there are many gods that are real and distinct (rather than archetypes, as “soft polytheists” believe).
My one exception: Mother Earth, Gaia, Terra Mater, and Jörð are all among the names I use to refer to the same deity.
I perceive her both as the goddess spirit of the Earth, and the Earth itself.
As the Mother of All Life, Gaia is our collective original ancestor. I pray to her as the Divine Mother, the Sacred Feminine, an ancestor, and a force of nature.
When I call upon the Earth Mother, her presence feels much grander, more expansive, and less tangible compared to the presence of other deities. That is to say I do not feel her in the room with me; rather, I feel her spirit all around me, stretching well beyond the borders of my own sacred space.
Gaia does not appear to me in visions in a physical human form; instead, she appears only as the wild Earth itself or as a shapeless presence. She speaks in sensations and emotions rather than words.
The Earth Mother’s energy is highly soothing, maternal, peaceful, loving, wise, and grounding, yet in a more detached way compared to some other Mother deities.
She is incredibly ancient and has so many children to care for, after all.
I primarily tend to offer her water and seeds, as these offerings can be left outside to be enjoyed by the plants, birds, and other animals. I feel that these offerings please her more than others, such as wine.
I truly cannot imagine her responding negatively to anyone who wishes to connect with her. Stumble over your words, drop the offering on the floor, forget to light the candles—it doesn’t matter. In fact, I don’t believe she requires formal rituals at all.
Above all, I feel the best way to honor and connect with Mother Earth is by spending time outside, touching plants and dirt, speaking to trees, admiring rocks, observing animals, and caring for the physical Earth.
Artwork: Breath of Gaia by Josephine Wall
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