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Prayer and Worship

Pagan Prayer and Worship

Prayer and Worship

Types of Prayer

Multiple types of prayer exist, beyond the categories of prayer, which are primarily petition and worship (to which one could add thanksgiving and contrition as subcategories). The types of prayer are published prayers, personal and original prayers, formal prayers, spontaneous prayers, and traditional prayers, hymns, or mantras. …

Offerings

  1. As aforementioned, laity are permitted to offer prayer, incense of universal appeal or quality (frankincense, myrrh, nag champa, etc.), wheat or honey cakes, part of their meals, and music sanctioned by the Temple or one’s religious tradition. Laity may not make higher offerings or sacrifices, which are acceptable only from Priests, as this is their sacred office in the theocratic social structure connecting us to divinity, as they are purer vessels, and as they can best ensure the suitability of the specific offerings given to the deity. For, the offering of an inappropriate substance to a god is a transgression and disrespect to the god. The offering of a work of art or a written work (such as poetry) may only be offered under the guidance and permission of a Priest in order to ensure the work is suitable to the God.
  2. Laity may make these ordinary offerings within their homes in a respectable space, ideally on a shrine, hearth, or in a bowl, or they may make these offerings outside in a respectable space.
  3. Temple members of all kinds may also make a specific offering to a deity as delineated by a liturgical festival, such as literature, athletic or theatrical performance, or wine.
  4. The use of iron and plastic in the worship of the gods is forbidden.
  5. Sacrifices and specific offerings are to be given by the Priests according to the instructions given in the Book of General Liturgy and outlined in Temple references. These often occur on days of worship such as festivals or sacred lunar days or occur alongside a significant petition.
  6. Priests and laity must ensure that no public worship occurs on the inauspicious days of the lunar calendar unless otherwise permitted by the lunar calendar or their religious tradition’s calendar.

Regular and Festival Worship

  1. Worship may occur on a variety of days: weekdays associated with a planetary deity, lunar days sacred to a deity or set of deities, liturgical festivals, and seasonal celebrations. The Book of Lay Worship will guide you in determining these days, especially the Temple Liturgical Calendar included therein. The lay member should also seek guidance from the priests of their specific religious tradition.
  2. Regular worship should be done publicly at the temple or sanctuary of one’s fellowship whenever possible, as religion is a communion not just of self with divinity but of community with divinity and of self with community. Private worship, within the confines of acceptable lay offerings, is acceptable if one is unable to attend the public service or if a public service is not held that day.
  3. The fellowship should undergo study and center itself in one or two spiritual traditions, as determined by both the community with their Chief Priest and by Temple sanction (it must be an pagan tradition deemed orthodox by the Temple). 
  4. All members should observe the karmic law of reciprocity by regularly donating to and serving the Temple and their fellowship, ideally as much as their budget can afford (after adjusting for savings, familial support, and unexpected expenses).
  5. Daily prayer and biweekly attendance of a public service are strongly recommended. All members are required to attend Seasonal Celebrations if possible, under penalty of spiritual shortcoming or transgression.
  6. Festival worship is either conducted at the level of the fellowship or the prefecture, depending on the festival. Lay participation is encouraged, especially on festivals denoted as major festivals on the Liturgical Calendar. 
  7. Worship shall be suitable to the gods and shall not be degenerate in form or content. Festivals, however, allow for a freedom of expression to realize divinity through levity, and certain festivals are very primal and ancient and contain a sexual component which should remain present but should be conducted by the Priest or Priestess and not be exercised in a way that is degenerate or violates sexual morality or the sanctity of marriage.

Temple Resources

  1. Upon induction as a Neophyte, the lay member receives a Book of Lay Worship, which includes the following parts:
    • The Major Greek Gods Reference, to guide worship and understanding of the gods.
    • The Divine Domains and Epithetical Reference, to guide prayer and understanding of the gods.
    • The Liturgical Calendar, to guide worship and participation in the Temple and one’s fellowship.
    • The Temple Prayers, which provide formal prayers to suit one’s everyday spiritual needs.
    • The Catechism, for reference of Temple doctrines, rules, protocols, and guidance.
  2. The Chief Priest can connect you with other Temple resources, and you may mail (or e-mail) the Temple to request other resources, such as exemption letters.
  3. Your fellow communities (fellowships, Chapters, etc.) shall provide other resources and networking for your needs.