ABOUT THE GODS

The gods of Vilturj are diverse. They exist in the physical world and the three otherworlds. They are planets, weather phenomena, animals and states of mind. They have distinct and sometimes contradictory folklore attached to them, and can be easily accessible through worship, or difficult to access through years of loyal dedication (in the case of the weather gods).

For us, the gods are not archetypes that exist as higher energies within us, but independent entities that for the most part exist without any of our worship at all. This means that many of our gods are not dependent on us for their existence, and so have no reason to help us unless they are particularly benevolent or compassionate, or we have something to offer them, or we simply amuse them (as in the case of the untrustworthy Lesavny).

Our relationship to our gods is not hallmarked by a 'relationship of equals,' as seen in some aspects of neopaganism. Vilturj gods are often feared, and rightfully so. We appeal to them for help and aid, but without giving appropriate honour, respect and offerings, they can also turn their heads and ignore us, or worse; curse our families and our land. Years of dedication and loyalty to the Vilturj pantheon is in turn rewarded with prosperity, health, spiritual achievement and a heightened ability to travel successfully in the otherworlds. However, if we turn our backs on them, they also turn their backs on us.

Because Vilturj requires a constant sense of devotion and loyalty, it is difficult to worship all of the gods, or even many of them. After years, you may only be fortunate enough to have worked seriously or at length with maybe two or three deities. This is why certain Oraite and Ilkara'te 'specialise' in certain areas. An Ilkara'te that spent their whole life worshipping L'yuvotn'r (the rain god) may be far more equipped to work with the rains, than an Oraite who spent their whole life working with Vavale and so were more equipped to work with herbs and b'lethra (plait magic).

Just because Vilturj requires loyalty and devotion, does not mean you cannot question the gods or the beliefs within the religion / spirituality itself. During times of crisis, and natural times of detachment from our passions, it is normal for us to rail against the gods, our situation, or our 'lot in life.' At these times we may damage our relationship with the gods, but during a true crisis many deities are tolerant of what must seem to be our childish outbursts. In fact, some deities may even be facilitating the circumstances that lead to such outbursts. It is through questioning our beliefs and our gods that we temper our strength and spirit, however, we must remember that a little respect goes a long way.

Vilturj does not house a pantheon that plays well with other deities. Vilturj gods prefer exclusivity, though they have been known to call upon those who already practice other religions and spiritualities. I have worked with Sekhmet a few times in my life, but only at the permission of the gods I worship. There have been a couple of times where Sekhmet has been 'turned away' by Vavale.

In Vilturj, there is a primary Sun Goddess: Karijiana, and a Moon God: D'miezak'r. Many of the gods are celestial, or connected to weather phenomenon, and are sometimes not personified into human or animal incarnations. Some gods are connected with psychological states such as 'madness' or 'sorrow.' Some gods are connected to specific otherworlds. Almost all of them have 'houses' of some kind that can be visited in the otherworlds where petitions may be left for them.

No god in Vilturj is accountable to humankind. If we are wiped out tomorrow, almost all of them would go on existing in some form or another, as the rain, as the Arctic fox, as the moon and narwhal. This teaches us our place in the world, we are just as important or unimportant as everything else. When we give the gods respect and trust, we in turn learn that we may be rewarded with the same respect and trust. When we show our fellow companions compassion, we learn that these distant gods foster not only fear, but love, integrity and passion. The Vilturj pantheon may seem cold, but there are many benefits to maintaining a strong and loyal relationship to the gods - or indeed to any god.

If you are thinking of making an appeal to one of the Vilturj gods, please keep in mind everything you have read in this article. I would discourage anyone from contacting any of these gods if they are hoping for an 'equal and loving' relationship. While some Vilturj gods are quite benevolent and compassionate, they still require dedication, loyalty and hard work. One ritual may not even be enough to secure their attention, let alone their commitment. These deities tend to call those who have gotten their attention, and resist being 'called' by those who simply want to know what it's like to meet the maiden Vasilia, or the bountiful Karijiana.