Welcome to Gaia! ::

(I have a feeling no one's gonna read this post simply for the fact that it's far too long.)

My answer won't help you if your faith is lacking... but then again, maybe it will. Inspiration can be found everywhere.

But anyway, my views on this subject are VERY esoteric, so please stay with me while I explain... Also, keep in mind that these are the views that I hold, and that, while others do share these views, just because I'm presenting them as fact here doesn't mean this is how it really is.

First of all, it's a long standing view of occultists that humans can't directly speak to the One God. God created angels to act as messengers between mankind and the higher divine.

This is supported by the fact that every culture has "messenger" spirits that communicate between humans and the higher gods. I say "higher gods" because in some of these culture the messengers were considered gods themselves. A few examples would be Hermes in Greek culture, Anubis in Egyptian culture, Metatron (the angel who serves as the voice of God) in Jewish culture, and ravens in Native American cultures.

The point that I am trying to make is that humans can't talk directly to the Highest godform. They can talk to lower godforms and angels (who are on the same level, or almost so).

To clarify about the whole talking to God thing in the bible... If you reread the bible from beginning to end you will notice that, after the first few books (the oldest books) of the Old Testament, the only humans that God spoke to directly were the very important ones, who ended up leading the whole tribe of Israel. In the New Testament, the only person God speaks to directly is Jesus. From then on, it is Jesus who speaks to humans and not God.

Now, there are many clear examples of angels being the messengers of God in the bible, in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. I'm too tired and lazy to think of several different examples off the top of my head, but you can find them if you look. A couple that I do know include when the angel told Joseph that his virgin wife was to bear a child who would save people from their sins, and later on when an angel warned him that Herod was going to kill the baby Jesus.

Earlier I mentioned the angel Metatron. I'll explain a bit more about him. Certain religious scholars and many Jewish and Christian occultists believe that in every place in the bible where God speaks directly to humans, his words are being spoken to them through the angel Metatron. The reason God needs a messenger is because God in his highest form is simply inconcievable to human minds. Our brains simply could not handle the pressure of trying to understand it. Metatron is a comprehensible face of an incomprehensible being. One that can speak to us and appear to us in a way that won't litterally awe us to death. In fact, some theories say that Metatron is a lower form of the One God. (By the way, as a small side note, Metatron is, by many apocryphal legends, Enoch, the only man to ascend directly into heaven without physically dying.)

In terms of "talking to God," I believe that's one thing that Catholics got more right than other versions of Christianity. I'm not saying any form is wrong, and I'm not saying Catholics are completley right... but anyway... Catholics believe in praying to saints and having the saints pray to God FOR them. Well, I hate to say that most saints are simply dead people, granted they may be GOOD dead people... But a few of the saints, Saint Michael, Saint Gabriel, and Saint Raphiel are archangels who were canonized in the early days of the Church to emphasise their importance.

Now, to take this whole perspective in a different direction... It is also said that for every human on Earth, there is an angel in the Heavens. The more spiritual you are (in any way or form), the more "connected" you are to the angel that corresponds with you. Occultists call this the "Holy Guardian Angel."

To fully understand this, you will have to deeply study the subject, but the basic jist is this: Humans have (at least) five bodies... Physical, etheric, astral, mental and spiritual. Each of these bodies corresponds with a different plain of existance. From our physical shells, we can only really sense and understand the lower three bodies... the upper two are sort of "disconnected" but at the same time, still a part of us. At the same time, you can say angels have several bodies as well. Their main body is the spiritual body, and next is the mental body, then the astral body, etc. The angel that corresponds with you IS your spiritual body, and your body IS the angel's physical body. Our spiritual body is the part of us and the ONLY part of us that can talk directly to God. The tricky part is learning how to talk to our spiritual bodies... But like I said, the more spiritual you are, the more connected to your angel you are. Through "enlightenment" and the paths you take to reach it (be in Buddhism, Kabbalah, Philosphic study, or just simple daily meditations), you can come to communicate freely with your Holy Guardian Angel.

So that's basically (and when I say basically, no matter how complex that all seems, that's VERY basic) what I believe in terms of talking to God. I could write alot more about these same points I covered or completley new points, but I'll give it a rest for now. If you DO want to know more, I'll be more than happy to oblige.

I believe very firmly that "All is One"...

I mean that, on some level, we are all just thoughtforms of a supreme being, and on another level, this entire world and everyone in it is all in our heads, and on another level, every time we pray, no matter who we pray to, those prayers all go to the same place and on another level, all GODS are messengers to One God.

I'm surprised anyone actually read that post. eek

Yeah, that's what Metatron reminds me of too, but the name has been around since at least the 2nd century AD, and possibly since before the time of Christ...

Well, it is my understanding that it shows obedience (I have heard that it is commanded, and when I was Catholic that's what I was taught), it could also help remind yourself of what you need to do to stay on the 'righteous' path.

It also helps relieve stress that gets built up from living the life that we humans do.

Well I ((Newly Hellenic Reconstructionist)) Pray. But I only pray when I need something. I know it seems selfish but it really isn't. Most religious Christians pray daily right? Well instead of praying daily. I may say a hymn to one of my gods. And When I pray there IS a certain format I kinda should follow. And some Hellenics say you have to pray out loud. So the Gods can here you. But others say that you can talk out loud or silenty. I personally think that you have to pray out loud. And usually when praying you put your hand/hands above head and then pray. But that is also differs from Hellenic to hellenic. But finishing up. If and when you do pray. You are usually ment to give a sacrifice. Nothing big just something inreturn. It is the thanks you give. just don't give a thanks. usually a libation. Look it up if you don't know what it is. I don't have time right now...But I think i made everything clear.

*shrugs* im just lost right now. i still pray but i still question why i pray. it doesnt feel like a chore so i know im not doing it because i "have" to