A spiritualist’s guide to Deity work, told from their lens. Before reading this or attempting to work with Divinities, please make sure you are grounded! Touch the earth with your skin, drink lots of water, eat salty foods. Let’s keep ourselves in our body before we try to touch the sky.
Deity work is one of the four pillars of paganism, but what is Deity work? Deity work involves calling on the Divine from pantheons you feel connected with (or sometimes them calling on you) in order to assist in moving your path forward. I recently heard the term Divinities used as a collective term for the guides (deities. Demons, angels and others) and I adore it, so you may see me using that word here to collectively refer to them.
Let me preface a little bit of my own journey before we deep dive into what working with the divine can look like. I have had connections to the Divinities since I was a little kid, with a strong clairaudience line. I work with Deities from multiple pantheons including Greek, Egyptian, Norse, Celtic, Sumerian, Catholicism, Roman and some that just stop by. I have an open table Policy for spirits, so any Divinity at anytime can have a seat at my table. ⚠️Not everyone will have this path, and it is not safe for every person to have an open table Policy for spirits⚠️ in fact, many people tend to work with only a handful of Divinities.
In my experience everyone has a unique relationship with their deities. There are no two people with identical ways of approaching deity relationships, though you will find people who share similar experiences.
Now, I say relationships because that’s what you have, this is reciprocal energy between yourself and a guide that either reaches out to you or that you choose to call upon. They are not mean, they are not scary, they’re not going to hex or smite you. They may show you tough love, they may push your buttons, but they will not ruin your life. The Divinities are people too, just like us, however because they operate on a different plane than we do, they have more ability to help us control the outcome of our reality.
Some may appear as mentors, as parental figures, neighbors, siblings, and yes in some cases lovers. Some may appear more strongly than others, some may come and go and not always be around. This is completely dependent on the person and their relationship to the Divinties they work with.
A divinity may show up for only specific scenarios such as when you call for protection or when you’re working on something that falls under their domain. For example, Hekate may appear when you need protection, whereas Sekhmet may appear when you need to bare your claws in a situation. Other deities may just present themselves with no clear reason at first, but it will later be revealed.
📂Types of Deity Work📂
Let’s talk a bit about the different forms of deity worship there are. I personally don’t use the word worship, as stated, because it’s a reciprocal relationship, it’s not one sided, but it’s still important to know and discuss the different sides of how people approach Divinities.
I follow most closely to ancient Greek worship, where deities were called upon and asked for a favor in exchange for an offering, but I also practice in a modernized light.
From what I’ve seen and know, there are three widespread types of deity work: Reconstructionalists, Revivalists, and modern paganism.
🏛️ Reconstructionist Deity Work 🏛️
Reconstructionists aim to revive ancient religious practices as accurately as possible, based on historical records, archaeology, and academic sources. The focus is often on replicating traditional rituals, festivals, and offerings from a specific culture or pantheon. Relationships with deities in this approach are deeply rooted in respect, tradition, and historical accuracy. It can be a beautiful and disciplined way to walk closely with the gods as they were once honored.
🔥 Revivalist Deity Work 🔥
Revivalists breathe new life into old traditions but with more personal flexibility than strict reconstruction. These practitioners often draw inspiration from historical sources but adapt them for spiritual relevance in the modern world. The bond with deities is cultivated through intentional offerings, devotionals, and rituals that are informed by tradition but not confined by it. Revivalist work honors the old ways while allowing room for the now.
🌙 Modern/Relational Deity Work🌙
Modern deity work is relationship-centered and highly intuitive. It embraces reciprocal partnerships with divine beings, with less focus on recreating ancient rites and more on living spiritual connections. Practices may include prayer, trance, channeling, dream work, divination, art, or even just conversation. Many modern practitioners treat the divine as living presences who evolve alongside us, with personality, autonomy, and the desire to co-create.
💫Ways the Divinities may show up for you: 💫
Each divinity has their own way they’ll first reveal themselves to you when you’re ready to hold them again, and I say again because since going through my awakening I have vivid memories of me playing with Hermes and Apollo as a child and seeing Hekate as a teenager. In the section below I’ll give a few examples of how deities have shown up for me. Once again, remember not everyone’s path is the same and divinities may use different ways to approach people depending on what clair skills they have open.
Feeling their energy:
When Apollo and Hekate first revealed themselves to me fully, I felt their anger. Their anger wasn’t directed towards me, but towards a situation I was dealing with at the time. It was full body anger, heat, rage and nothing like I had previously felt. It was heavier, louder and the energy was clearly not mine. It felt like they were standing directly next to me.
Dreams or mediation states:
Apollo, Hermes, Hekate, Sobek, the Morrgian, Uranus and others have shown up for me in dreams. All in different ways. Apollo showed up borrowing a coworker’s body, but it was unmistakably Apollo. Hermes first showed up wearing Apollo’s energy signature (this is a whole story for another time), and then eventually showed up as himself, but his favorite signature to wear is a boy I had a crush on for most of my teen years. Hekate showed up as a neighbor, I went to visit her house, but she was fully human, in black clothes and had a black poodle. Sobek and The Morrgian show up in animal forms as they are dream guides for me. Uranus was just a man and he surprised me because he’s not a deity I very often see.
Signs:
The first deity that spoke to me was Iris, goddess of rainbows and messages. Through a rainbow cloud shaped like a DNA strand, an activation of spiritual awakening.
Apollo sends me black swallowtail butterflies constantly because that was a sign he used while courting me, but also peaches.
Hermes was putting feathers and snakes in my path before I even realized it was him (again a story for a different day, we didn’t start off on the right foot 😂).
Aphrodite draws me to look at blooming flowers or sends bees.
Isis makes her appearance known through the Ankh.
Brigid shows herself through Celtic imagery as well as tying my candle wicks into knots.
The fae leave interesting insects in my car, The biggest surprise being a green lacewing.
That’s just to give a few examples.
Specific songs or repeated phrases :
For me this is very common with Divinities I’m not as familiar with stepping in, but it’s also common with Apollo and Hermes who are around extremely frequently. Each divinity has their own music preference or phrases they use. I’m strongly clairaudient so this was how they first got my attention.
When Belpeghor stepped into my field, I knew a divinity had made their presence known, but not having dove into demonology, I couldn’t name him. He gave me his identity through multiple children in classes I teach repeating sloth as an animal.
Technology Glitches:
When Lucifer first stepped into my field, it was a Morningstar. He just showed as yellow energy and I couldn’t place him. Suddenly I was getting post after post after post about people who worked with Lucifer, despite never having interacted with any posts of that nature before.
Being called to do a specific task / having a specific craving:
The first divinity that revealed themselves to me was actually Loki. I had a never lit apple cinnamon candle and I felt called to ask if he was there through lighting the candle. He was, in warning. Loki also calls for me to use dice in divination when he wants to talk and he’ll make it known.
For Hermes when he was able to step fully into my field I didn’t want to drink anything but chocolate milk and sweet tea for like 2 weeks. Hermes also strongly pushes me into trying new foods, especially pickle flavored things.
Claircognizance about symbols or ideologies:
Sometimes you might hear a name or know something about something you don’t recall learning about. This happened to me with scarabs, as the Egyptian pantheon was the first to step fully into my field. I had a sudden knowing of names I didn’t remember learning as well as what scarabs represented as an activation.
There are other ways that Divinities may reach out to you or attempt to get your attention, but I find these to be the most common through what I’ve experienced in my practice.
👥How do I build a Relationship with The Divinties?👥
Like anything, there is a number of ways to do this and they will answer when you speak if they are there.
Divination:
Tools such as tarot, pendulum, oracle, spirit boards, automatic writing and others allow you to connect on a level with the Spirit team that you have. Each divinity will have a preference for how they talk or want to be talked to through divination.
For example, for me Apollo has a tarot deck he specifically has me use when I’m talking to him. He will also respond through the pendulum and dice, but card divination is his preferred method.
For Loki, he prefers dice divination. Rolling dice to get yes or no answers, but he will also answer through (and mess with) the pendulum.
For Hermes he won’t speak directly through tarot but he does respond to automatic writing, drawing and the pendulum.
All of this is dependent on the person and their relationship to the Divinities. Just like we have preferences for communication, so do they.
Altar spaces:
You may build an altar where you put offerings to your guides. Many people have separate altars. For me personally, I have one altar and the space reflects myself and the connection I have to each divinity that has been around. I have an individual altar for Apollo, due to my godspousal to him, as well as a travel altar for Hermes for the same reason.
Talk out loud (or in your head) to them) in a space you feel connected to them:
This works especially well if you have strong clairaudience, as they can directly speak back to you. They may speak in full sentences, they may give you a song to listen to, they may offer a sign in front of you to let you know they are listening. Apollo loves flickering the lights, Loki loves giving me thoughts I know aren’t coming from me.
Acts of Devotion:
This is specific to each deity, but can include singing, dancing, performing a specific ritual like lighting a candle, wearing a scent that you associate with the deity. This can also include preparing meals if your ancestors or offering plates to the deities. It may be seeing something at a store and going they would love this in their altar space. Devotional acts are truly dependent on the person.
Devotional Jewelry:
People wear devotional jewelry for all kinds of reasons. Some wear it as a symbol of devotion, learning, or guidance. Others, like me, wear it as a reminder of a deeper bond. I wear mine to honor the connection I have with the two deities I am spoused to: Apollo and Hermes.
For me, godspousal means a deity has chosen to form a committed relationship in any capacity, in my case both spousals are rooted in a romantic nature.
Apollo approached me first. He took on a protector and provider role, like a soldier, while I carry out his aspects of healing, music, prophecy, and truth that cuts through illusion. He handed me a soul contract in a dream, courted me gently for a little over a week, and subtly prior, and then we had a quiet ceremony. It included a full body cleanse, a specific body butter on my arms and neck, soft piano music, and the removal of all other jewelry except for his carnelian necklace.
Hermes was much more chaotic in energy. He courted me for months through dreams, using Apollo’s energy signature first to get close to me before revealing himself. His spousal ceremony ended up being a ten-hour round trip to deliver spare keys (because of course it did). It made sense for him. Hermes supports me through quick wit, charm, communication, protection during travel, as well as his role as a psychopomp. I carry that psychopomp energy in my work, walking between worlds, guiding spirits, and translating between realms. I wear an anklet with a small turtle charm for him, to remind me I carry my home on my back.
I’ve also worn devotional jewelry for deities I was not in a spousal with, like Lucifer, who helped me reconnect with myself. Once he stepped back, I stopped wearing that piece. For me, these items are living reminders of each relationship and the way it shifts over time.
Just like with any connection all of these are ways the bond between you and the divinity is deepened and strengthened over time.
⏳Do Divinties Ever Really Leave? ⏳
The short answer is no, they don’t ever fully leave. They may step back as a lead guide, but they’re always watching over you and will be there if you call them back. I love thinking about this in terms of waiting in the wings of the stage for their queue.
Let’s end this with the question everyone is afraid to ask: How do I know it’s real? 😨
The answer is. You’ll know. Whether through experiences validated by others with similar gnosis, unexplainable events, dream sequences or some other manner. You will, without a doubt, know it’s true.
My truest experience with this being real was with Apollo when he was courting me and asked me to create his own altar for him. I said I would, so long as I got the money for the items for it. The next day I was offered over time at my job of three years, where I had never had to work overtime, as well as a $200 gift card for the work I had to do.
Another clear experience was someone I did not know having Hekate tell her I was one of hers without mentioning anything about doing deity work. This was at a metaphysical shop in New Jersey.
Another experience was working with my mom who is a highly clairvoyant medium, whereas I am not. I was able to name who of our relatives were in the room in spirit form. She was able to see them while in a trance state.
These were honestly some of my favorite experiences because they showed how real this truly is. If you are doubting, someone will validate your experience, especially if you’re not looking for it.
As always, blessed be on your journey.
With shadow, light and integration
-Allie 💛
Aligning to Allie 
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