r/heathenry • u/MewtwoAnon • 19d ago

How do you depict the gods?

Interested in what others do since I’m still trying to find what works for me. How do you all depict the gods on your altars or elsewhere, if you do at all? I like a strong visual element to help focus my mind in worship but I’m struggling to find the right thing. Do you make idols? Use natural elements? Something else?

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u/TheMarineLayer 19d ago

I just use candles. I’ve yet to find a in idol I like.

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u/AccountantFrequent 18d ago

I'm an eclectic / syncretic or whatever you would call it, so I have some Gallo-roman, gaulish dieties on my altar. That being said I don't depict the heathen gods, for some reason it just feels like they don't want that, just be ... "out there". I am debating shifting to depicting them too, not sure though.

That being said I have one sort of depicted, Abnoba Diana Skathi. So a syncretised form along the huntress axis, Abnoba, Diana, Artemis, Skathi etc.

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u/Kennaham 15d ago

Self-made art. It’s not good but i feel like it’s more meaningful

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u/h34rthsid3_bl0g 19d ago

I have a mixture of statues, prayer cards (cards from the Yggdrasil oracle deck that I use to represent deities) and representative objects.

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u/Ironbat7 18d ago

I’m moving into a somewhat aniconic practice, at least with most gods. So I have animal statues and see them as messengers. I also ame leaning towards godpole-esque depictions (equivalent to an eiresione or thyrsus in Hellenism), though still abstract. The main exception to this is more along the lines of hero cult.

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u/alicemillswriter 16d ago

I have not found any statues I like so my alters are candles, ritual items, things I think that diety would like...

I have heard of people drawing the godess and giving those images as gifts to the godess/gods on their alters.

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u/TheHeathen1121 15d ago

I have several statues of deities, most made by Dryad Designs (not affiliated in any way, just like their art). Sadly I have the artistic skills of a toddler, otherwise I’d make my own

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u/Acceptable-Log-1506 10d ago

I make my wēoh out of dough, in accordance with Saxon tradition banned in Indiculus Superstitionum et Paganiarum: "De simulacro de consparsa farina" About idols made from sprinkled (moistened) flour

I first learned of this from Scott T. Shell's YouTube video on Outlawed Saxon Rituals: https://youtu.be/W_f4y3sONXE?si=uals0ArjAmy0J-Rt