Today's Question: Service

[qos]

How do your spiritual practices give direct benefit to others (including nature, animals, spirits or anyone/anything else beyond yourself) or in other ways make you better able to serve, help, enlighten, heal, or do whatever it is you may do to benefit others?

Or is that question not applicable to your path?

This is something I've been pondering lately. I don't have time to post about it here at work but will try to do so soon.

Comments

[erl-queen.livejournal.com]

This is definitely an important concept for me, as I know all to well how easy it would be to slip into total solipsism on my path.

I'd say that my main act of service to humans is by doing the oracular work regularly. My function is to become a conduit whereby humans and gods can speak to each other, so that's the most obvious way I do that. I am also, in that Work, giving the gods a way to communicate to those who might not otherwise hear them.

There are other ways I serve, too, such as leading ritual, writing articles and books and blogs, making art, etc.

However, I'd say the majority of my Work is geared towards the gods and spirits themselves, doing Their work in the world, feeding Them, giving Them a voice, etc. None of it is completely selfless though, since I get a lot out of those interactions too.

[queenofhalves]

they make me more present and centered and give me more access to my own energy for massage, teaching, or counseling. they also make me more likely to be able to receive information and help from allies when i need it.

[lupagreenwolf.livejournal.com]

A lot of what I do is for the benefit of the spirits I work with, whether it's helping the spirits in animal skins and bones to a better afterlife, or acting as a guide to other people in a place where the Land has asked me to. I also do donations and volunteering with nonprofit groups to serve the Land and its denizens. And I do my best to teach through workshops, books, articles, and talking shop.

[die-uberfrau.livejournal.com]

OK, hmm, where do I start?

In January of this year, Frey asked me to build a website to publicly document information on the Vanir, etc. I was very reluctant to do so for several reasons, but the information has reached a lot of people who thought they were the only ones experiencing certain things, etc. I also write of my experiences and practices in book form; other people don't have to do exactly as I do but if it helps them to find a way to connect more deeply with their Gods, esp. the Vanir, then that's great.

Beyond that, I am figuring it out. Right now I primarily serve by giving information and inspiration to those who want it. There may be more hats I put on over time; I'm dipping my toes into oracular work this upcoming Lammas.

My devotional and maintenance practices, though, are mostly for my own benefit because they keep me sane. ;P

[stiobhanrune.livejournal.com]

Well...

It is my opinion that once a witch has finally passed that "I'm a witch, no really!" phase of their growth, and are fully aware of their witchdom, the only place to further define themselves is how they serve their environment.

However, it isn't always humans that one helps as a witch.

Personally, it is for me. I teach witches, I perform divination, and I remind them every day just exactly what a witch is. By doing this, and by doing other things, I remind others that the world is a big and weird place, and that they do NOT know everything, and ought to be more respectful.

This helps people. It teaches them how to better comprehend their role and position in the world; above some, below others, and never invincible.

Does that help? *smiles*