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Twenty Questions
about
Numenism
What is Numenism?
Numenism is a sacred Path of community and family, accessible on multiple levels, from the personal to the divine.Do you claim ancient roots and lineage for Numenism?
No. Although we draw from some very ancient ideas and practices, Numenism didn't exist until 1946, when a group of people took the vision of a WWII soldier, and created our first family. It didn't become a formal group until 1954.What God or Gods do you worship?
Overall is the Dea Nutrix - not a God, per se, but an immanent force. This force is genderless, and everything partakes of this force - all people, all things, all other Gods, are part of the Dea Nutrix. For personal reasons, we prefer to personify aspects using a Pantheon of our choice - some choose Roman, some Celtic, some none at all. Each House is different in their approach, even if the underlying foundation is the same.I know what a God is, but what is a Numen?
Numena are spirits, Divine Beings or sacred places. Because everything is a part of the Dea Nutrix, it all has the potential to have its own personality and attributes. A Numen can be a clan or village God - often the ancestral spirit of the founder of the township. Numena can also be places which exude a special feeling or aura about them, powerful forces which affect us, famous or important deceased people, animals who interact with people in a profound way - often as a trickster or a totem. and/or emotions like mirth, anger, love, pride, fear. All individuals who die can become Numena depending on the actions of the people who survive them. Otherwise, they are absorbed back into the Dea Nutrix. There are millions of Numena, but we only interact with the ones who are meaningful to us or impact our lives in some way. For some, this may be a single Numen while others have a score of Numena and Deities.How do you treat your Deity?
Like a friend, a personal confidante, a favorite teacher. We interact with gifts, conversation, thank yous, compliments, and appreciation for lessons taught and learned.How do you communicate with your Deities?
Often, simply speaking is sufficient. But being people, we often call upon them in a formalized fashion known as ritual, where we solicit their attention, and their response.What is the structure of your worship service?
The structure is somewhat fluid depending on the reason, the season, and the number of people attending. It always begins with a cleansing of our hands and mouths. We greet the Gods or the Numena who choose to attend with us. We state why we are performing a formal ritual. We prepare the offerings. We give praise to the God or Numena we called. We present the offerings. We give blessings on those attending. We say a formal farewell to the Gods or Numena who attended. We clean up and socialize if there are several of us present.Is there a priesthood?
Yes, there is. All members of Numenism have the ability to be a priest. Since Numenism is organized in families and collections of friends who study or are involved with the same Gods (Houses), the oldest or the most knowledgeable person will be the priest for that group. Some groups choose to support a part-time cleric to do the work which can't be done by those who hold non-religious employment (securing permits, filing records, serving on the local school board, attending local city hall meetings, and other tasks that further our cause and make our lives religiously easier). There is also a group of Elders who are educated and trained in ritual, pastoral counseling and care, magic, and philosophy who are willing to guide and teach others who have commited to Numenism, and demonstrated that commitment over time.Are there sacred texts?
There are no publicly available sacred texts at this time. We do use myths and legends, and self-generated liturgies of poetry and praise. Sometimes we share those, but it's not required. Because the Dea Nutrix is immanent, nature, society, works already written by others, and those which will be written, are all available for our sacred use.Are there churches?
If you define a church as anyplace where two or more people gather to discuss religion and philosophy and to perform acts of communication with the Gods, then yes, we have LOTS of churches everywhere you look. But if you mean a specific building made just for the purpose of worship, then no, we don't have a single one.We encourage each House to purchase a house which we use as a meeting place to plan activities, socialize, and teach classes. Celebrations and religious events take place at those houses, but that is not their primary purpose. Each group is responsible for the purchase and maintainence of such houses, they are not supported by tax-exempt dollars, outside donations, dispersal of funds from a central organiztion (there is no central organziation), or fund-raisers.
Do you have personal or private altars?
Yes, we have several types of altars we use. We may also have statuary to mark where we commune regularly with a Numen or God and leave offerings. We recognize and leave offerings at places we feel are shrines, places where the spiritual force, the Numen, is strong.What do you keep on your altar?
The only requierd item is an offering bowl. Our altars are very personal, and often reflect that. The altar is a place where we can go to commune privately with our Deity or to share that communication with treasured family and friends. As such, it is a central place in our homes.What are your Holy Days?
We have many Holy Days, some are private, others are just for the immediate family, and others are community-wide. Larger celebrations include the Bacchanalia and the Winter Festivals. We follow a seasonal Mythic Cycle to celebrate the changing of the seasons, and we have a number of special days which are unique to us, such as First Fire.What are your beliefs about creation and the afterlife?
Our creation stories are the myths and stories of our Gods and Numena. Thus, while some of the stories may be similar, there are personal stories as well.As for an afterlife: we are all Dea Nutrix. After death, we can become Numena, or we can be reabsorbed back in the Dea Nutrix. Human life follows the pattern of nature, which is, after all, a Divine pattern.
Do you have hospitals or do works of charity?
Because there are so many hospitals, we do not have hospitals of our own. We do often support the hospitals in our areas via volunteer works and as employees.We all engage in acts of charity as gifts to our Gods and Numena. We also participate in the 'meal movement' - where we fast for one meal a month and donate the price of that meal to an agency engaging in disaster relief, nature preservation or restoration, or some other program we wish to support.
In a few places, we have groups large enough to support specific charity activities such as a Pagan Pantry (preparing meals for the homebound), chaplaincy services (for the local military, hospitals, prisons, police, fire, and emergency response teams), search and rescue teams, Pagan Power Project (providing electrical power to homes who have a medical need during power outages via portable generators), and other such things.
Do you do magic?
If you define magic as working to alter or shape reality and our future, then yes, we do. Everyone does, but not always consciously. Our magic is subtle, and takes advantage of the patterns about us. If you mean the oogity-boogity stuff you see on television, that's all special effects and not reality.What symbols are particularly sacred or meaningful to you?
Our most sacred symbol is the cornucopia. It signifies the eternal bounty with which we are surrounded, and the concept of sharing that bounty in joy with others. It is a symbol of love and charity.How do I become a Numenist?
You can become a Numenist by contacting one of us and studying our ways. For more information on becoming a Numenist you can visit the Clan of the Cauldron homepage, and following the links to the first year lessons.
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