Religion on the Road (Again)

While some religious practitioners might not feel comfortable dropping in to a local church or temple with people they don't know, as modern Pagans, the entire world is our potential temple, and so it should not be a problem for us to carry out our devotions in almost any location we might find ourselves in. Just as paying attention to the literal elements when they are before us is just as important as the symbolic qualities of those elements in our rituals, prayers, meditations, and other practices, so too do I think that these matters which are taken as metaphorical of spiritual life and practice are just as important to pay attention to and take care during as it is to understand and promulgate them as metaphors. The same could be said about that most important dimension of what we do as Pagans and polytheists: the gods themselves, who are not just metaphors!

So, when you find yourself "on the road again," take a moment to remember your gods, thank them for their blessings, ask for their protection, and be mindful on your journey of their continued presence with you, and be ready for their sudden and unexpected emergence as you are on your way. It only takes a few seconds to recall them and even speak a short prayer under your breath when you turn the keys of your car and wait for it to warm up, as you wait for an elevator, as you queue for your row to be called to board the plane, or as you drop your coins into the bus fare collector. The gods are there for all of this, and it is our role to be mindful of this fact, no matter how stressful traveling might seem to be.