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I think for the first two questions it depends on the god and goddess, and for the last one, I'd say no because having a relationship isn't the same thing as worship in the same way I have a relationship with Annette and Rosie but I don't worship them.


I think that some passing familiarity with the gods that are being worshiped is important- if only because it might help people avoid common mistakes. I'm not sure comprehension is needed though- I think plenty of people would say they can't comprehend their god- that it's impossible, but they do their best to follow them and worship them. I bet this is especially true for Christians and Hindus.


I don't know about living your life in a way they would completely approve of- like, Obatala doesn't accept alcohol as an offering, and I know some of his servents avoid it too- but most people who worship him probably don't have to, I know plenty of people who just space their drinking out to avoid it when they know they have to do something for him.

My definition of worship is more or less an expression of adoration. Like this one:



So a relationship with a deity isn't required to worship them. If you're expressing love or reverence by formal rite, you're worshipping them. I don't think forming a personal relationship is a requirement for that. Turning it around to answer your question, can one have that relationship and not worship? I think one can, but it's likely to turn sour if you're not going to keep up your end of things by expressing that love or by making those offerings and maintaining that bond.

The understanding them part is an interesting idea. On the one hand, one wonders how closely it's possible to understand not only any god but any person. How well do you really know the people you love? That sort of thing. And gods are deeper and older and much more difficult to understand than other mortals. On the other hand, would you want to worship without knowing the nature of the deity in question? Would that be courting danger?

My question is, can you ever hope to comprehend the gods? Thor is more simple and direct than His father or His uncle but does that mean we can comprehend Him fully?

The problem with polytheism is you'll have gods whose ideas of what you should do in this situation or that one will differ. The gods quarrel, the gods disagree. So we fall back on the advice given in the lore - we have the Havamal - and we keep in mind cultural values, and those of us who have set rules (set by the creator of a religion or by oneself) keep to them.

These are all very good points. As usual you are pointing things out that help me deepen my own thoughts. I wouldn't say I do or ever could understand Thor fully. I suppose it would be more akin to saying that I feel like we speak in the same language. He speaks, I listen and I understand. Whereas Odin and Loki speak a dialect of that language. It's fuzzier and hard to get but after enough hand gestures and yelling we bang it out.

I tend to think of the Gods as extremely individual. So, like us, you're going to get a varied response.

Worship is sort of like walking up and introducing yourself to someone. You may end up becoming best friends, or they may decide they want very little to do with you outside any 'official' role they might perform for you. Just like a person may take on a project for a stranger for love of the work or the materials, a God may accept an offering or request out of the same love for work or materials, rather than any kind of personal relationship obligations.

Many ancient cultures didn't consider it vital for worshipers to have personal relationships with their Gods. Because our culture is such a 'ME' culture, it's oft assumed that of course the Gods want personal relationships with us because it's all about us. I don't think it works that way at all, or that needs to.

I'm on the same page as others with understanding the Gods. I don't think comprehension can ever be total. For example:
When you have an invocation ritual, it's possible for a deity to manifest in more than one vessel - the lifeforce of a deity is vast and each of us can only ever hope to manifest a small piece of it at one time. In a room full of Isis, ALL of the vessels are Isis. But not all of the Isis-vessels hold identical bits of Isis. One may be filled with joy, another sorrow, another rage.

Some people may never know or even see certain aspects of their Gods. But that doesn't stop them from having a meaningful relationship with them.

Part of your experience with Odhinn and Loki may be learning to find a way to parse what they're telling you. Neither of them are the type to simply hand you an answer; unravelling a bit of mystery as you go is likely a vital part of the process.

I am 21 years old, I collected all the tools in my teen years. Like most I later realized all you really need is your brain, and your heart.ri

Definitely! Some paths have a very specific structure, especially certain branches of wicca or what have you. I personally don't have a set path with a name, and I certainly don't think you are required to have anything physical to bond with deity. But that's just me, and more power to ya if your tools help you out.