What place does devotion take in your practice?

I read something recently about devotion and the fact that people are not really devoted to their work anymore (in general obviously things are different for everyone).
Not because they don't want to but because they're kind of forced out of devotion because of major economic and cultural shifts.
The point was that devotion can be an important source of joy and like contact with the divine. Do you use it in your practice? If you do how? Do you include specific acts of devotion to a deity? Specific periods? or more of a daily thing?
I try to see the divine in my work daily, I'm lucky to be able to sustain myself doing something that I deeply believe in and that is (hopefully) having a real visible and measurable positive impact on the world.
I does help me, especially since the work environment can be quite challenging haha

Well, what do you mean when you say devotion? If you mean emotional attachment of some type, then I do not know if it plays a particular large part in my practice.
I define devotion as that upon which I choose spend the bulk of my time, energy, resources, life and focus my intent upon. By that definition, my practice is nothing but devotion.

Let's go with Merriam -Webster : Devotion is a strong feeling of love, loyalty, or dedication towards a person, cause, or religious belief. It represents intense commitment, such as to a job or duty, as well as profound religious piety or acts of prayer

- I do . ^ all of that, in some way .

Diamond-otherkin said:

I read something recently about devotion and the fact that people are not really devoted to their work anymore (in general obviously things are different for everyone).
Not because they don't want to but because they're kind of forced out of devotion because of major economic and cultural shifts.
The point was that devotion can be an important source of joy and like contact with the divine. Do you use it in your practice?

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I use it more than I did . A lot of my previous I dont do any more , its all been distilled and essentially it has got to the core and now 'comes out' more in my indigenous path I have focused on in later life . One thing my teacher said ; ''Now you are at the stage where , if you just need something , ask ' Big Mum '. I originally thought this had to do with just their way of traditionally living in the environment ( he used to actually still teach that ; you start of naked ... with absolutely nothing and have to live 3 months in the wilderness to 'pass' ) yes, with that knowledge and skill level 'Big Mum' IS giving you all you need . But I am certainly not up for that ! But it turns out he meant it in different ways . I came to realize that had always been the case - phenomenally so ! and then I watched it still manifest . Its also a very simple way of managing things .

Diamond-otherkin said:

If you do how?

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By showing '' love, loyalty, or dedication ..., as well as profound religious piety or acts of prayer

Diamond-otherkin said:

Do you include specific acts of devotion to a deity? Specific periods? or more of a daily thing?

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yes , from 'sharing experience ' ( my theory on why the 'non-physical' want to be in contact with us ... or 'are us' -in a way ) through to making 'offerings' and verbal ('prayers' ) of appreciation and gratitude ... either a simple 'Thanks Mum ' and a (as instructed by my teacher ) ; ''Just say Booglebear all the time '' ( sort of means 'thank you' but more ; '' I appreciate this ... thing, learning, experience, etc ) . might be a sunset or a tree that pleases you , or the fact that you wake up alive in the morning ... or even thanks for just existence .

Diamond-otherkin said:

I try to see the divine in my work daily, I'm lucky to be able to sustain myself doing something that I deeply believe in and that is (hopefully) having a real visible and measurable positive impact on the world.

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Indeed! And that is something I give thanks for too . To not know or do your 'True Will '; to enact your ' khvaranah ' ( your purpose for incarnation , your work, what you love to do , a service to the world and your social environment ... all coming together ) is a true blessing and a major ingredient of finding your eudamonia ! I feel happy to hear that .

Diamond-otherkin said:

I does help me, especially since the work environment can be quite challenging haha

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I was able to do mine in a work environment I created ... ha- HARRRRR

Naze said:

what do you mean when you say devotion?

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I should indeed have started with that, I think the definition @Firetree quoted is pretty much what I mean and do.
Love, loyalty, and intense commitment, although, being honest with myself I could be more committed...

Firetree said:

from 'sharing experience ' ( my theory on why the 'non-physical' want to be in contact with us ... or 'are us' -in a way )

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This point of view is very interesting to me, how do you share experience? Like do you think of the spirit/entity while living the experience and somehow dedicate the experience to them? Or do you at a later time remember the experience and try to explain to them how it felt to live it? Or both? Or something else? Or is it more like creating shared experience with other beings/ entities where all partake and enjoy?

Personally I figured that when my magical goals involved creating great moments of joy for others (people) I was much more successful, but I'm not sure why, or even if I can know why (nor if really NEED to know why).

Firetree said:

Indeed! And that is something I give thanks for too

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Yeah the whole do something that you are proud of, may be kind of "cliche" but it is true. I had jobs I had no interest in at the beginning that I took just for survival, however finding a way to make them interesting to me and to like develop my skills in them so that I would be proud of the job I did even when it was literally something mechanic and repetitive that is usually done by machines has brought me both great joy and great success over the years.
I feel like when others see that you are fully involved in what you do no matter how "small" or "insignificant" the task is, at some point you get some social reward out of it on top of the internal joy and satisfaction (this should not be a motivator but I have been a nihilistic semi-depressed teenager before and I know how it feels).

It seems like devotion has also made the world a better place for me and for the beings around me and I am grateful for that.

Diamond-otherkin said:

I should indeed have started with that, I think the definition @Firetree quoted is pretty much what I mean and do.
Love, loyalty, and intense commitment, although, being honest with myself I could be more committed...



This point of view is very interesting to me, how do you share experience? Like do you think of the spirit/entity while living the experience and somehow dedicate the experience to them? Or do you at a later time remember the experience and try to explain to them how it felt to live it? Or both? Or something else? Or is it more like creating shared experience with other beings/ entities where all partake and enjoy?

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Its part sharing ; like doing something with another and having a shared experience and it is part 'possession' - making a direct link , allowing 'presence' to connect with my input, senses and reactions about them .

Sorta ; not so much explaining to a blind person what you are seeing , but allowing them inside your head so they can use your eyes .

In a more complex way its about 'downloading' experience via them to an 'outer' receptor and retaining it within in the 'immortal receptor ' that survives for a 'blending' post mortum , to allow the real learning experience of an incarnation ( other wise that dissolves as does all the rest )

( an idea common in many systems , including the ancient Egyptian ; a 'blending of aspects' , post mortum , to create continuation . )

Diamond-otherkin said:

Personally I figured that when my magical goals involved creating great moments of joy for others (people) I was much more successful, but I'm not sure why, or even if I can know why (nor if really NEED to know why).


Yeah the whole do something that you are proud of, may be kind of "cliche" but it is true.

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Its more than true , it is an essential component ! In some systems (eg Zoroastrianism ) it is one of those componants that join together in the psyche that allows transmigration of a formed soul ; the ' frahavahar '

Diamond-otherkin said:

I had jobs I had no interest in at the beginning that I took just for survival, however finding a way to make them interesting to me and to like develop my skills in them so that I would be proud of the job I did even when it was literally something mechanic and repetitive that is usually done by machines has brought me both great joy and great success over the years.
I feel like when others see that you are fully involved in what you do no matter how "small" or "insignificant" the task is, at some point you get some social reward out of it on top of the internal joy and satisfaction (this should not be a motivator but I have been a nihilistic semi-depressed teenager before and I know how it feels).

It seems like devotion has also made the world a better place for me and for the beings around me and I am grateful for that.

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Devotion is also the emotive aspect of the will and the emotive focalizer of mind and thought .... to quote 'The Beast' ;

'' Fixed thought is a means to an end. Therefore pay attention to the power of silent thought and meditation. The material act is but the outward expression of thy thought, and therefore hath it been said that "the thought of foolishness is sin." Thought is the commencement of action, and if a chance thought can produce much effect, what cannot fixed thought do? ''

- the emotions often overrule our will and intellect , so by harnessing them to an emotion like devotion can work well .