With Anubis coming back into my life in a big way, the Pagan Blog Project has given me some inspiration to write here. I am coming late to this, so I am playing a bit at catch-up!
Anubis’ effect on my life has been profound. He came into my life in a time where I was uncertain of myself and my path, and helped set me straight. When He entered my life again some years later, calling me to His Priesthood, He pushed me to change. His Presence in my life is a constant blessing. I am learning something from Him, even when He is silent, sometimes especially so. For a recap of how where we’ve come from, look here.
He has largely been quiet these last four years since I began my Work with Odin, but now He is back in the fore of my life, and Odin is moving more to the side par the moment. My Work with my Ancestors has picked up, with prayers being made every day to Them, and offerings as often as I can. He seems pleased by this. My work with Him at the moment is largely about small prayers, and making offerings to Him. In my experience, He is not as in-your-face as Odin tends to be, and His lessons with me have been more subtle. He seems to have a kind of infinite patience as you paddle about in circles, waiting for you to get it.
A small statue of Anubis in His half-human form stands on my altar right next to my statue of Odin. He is about half a pen in height, is made from cold-cast resin, and is well-detailed with little bits of gold flecking His black face. When I give offerings of food and water to my Gods, as best as I can, I feed Him and water Him as the ancient priests would have done. While I cannot do this every day in the morning, due to my school schedule, it is powerfully connective to me. Feeding and giving my God, through this statue something to drink. Does He need to be fed, watered, or bathed as a God? No, but, it is such a connective work. I used to think it was a small thing until He asked me a question: “When someone gives you food, water, or bathes you, is that a small thing?”
I think that is a great lesson from Him: the seemingly small things belie great things. The small, everyday gestures of love, devotion, and worship are more important than the large pieces of work. The small things make the big things possible. In reorienting my life around these smaller things I’m better able to do His Work, and life comes at me in a way I can handle a lot better. I’m not scrambling around for help, or wondering what I should do. There is a foundation of Work already there, to rely on and to call on. I am just beginning to find the benefits of this slower path as Anubis has come back to the fore in my religious life. The far slower pace I have with Him this time is letting me hear His Voice much deeper, and clearer than I used to. It is a work in progress, but His patience with me and my Work taking on a more slow pace gives me room to stretch and breathe, like the difference between stretching with Yoga and speed bag training.
He is a guide, but He does not shove you through the door. He has waited, with His incredible patience, to get to the point I am at. I am just beginning to relearn about Him. To regain that deep familiarity with His Voice that I had when I was His priest full-time. To deepen my devotion work with Him. I look forward to my journey, and pray for patience.
Sarenth Odinsson 