I have accumulated many names over the years, for the many
sides of my personality, aspects of my life, and masks I choose to
wear. So that it is clear that I am not trying to hide anything, I am
also known as Oinokhoe in Hellenic polytheist circles, as Kate by my
friends, as Sarah by my family, and by myriad names amongst my gods and
spirits. When I began to write about spiritwork, however, I felt
strongly that none of these names fit, and so I took a new one - or
rather, a twist on an old one, for Dver means "Door" in Russian. Some
of my ancestors came from Russia, and I have certain spiritual
interests in that area, so it seemed appropriate.
I have been a pagan since 1996, soon afterwards becoming
focused primarily on Greek polytheism. While I still consider that my
primary religious path, I am also a spiritworker, and as such I
sometimes am called upon to build relationships with gods and spirits
of other traditions. Hence I may occasionally work with Odin, or
certain Slavic gods, and often the wights of the land I live on,
regardless of their type. I do not consider myself eclectic, however,
because most of my worship is still within one tradition, and because I
have good reasons when I move outside of that, and take care to always
be respectful of the gods and spirits involved, and the traditions
themselves.
My first love was Dionysos, and He is still foremost in my
heart and in my practice, though now I also count Hermes and Apollon as
patrons (though in very different ways). I have certain personal
spirits (animal, plant, and others) I work with intimately, including a
spirit lover whom I refer to as my daimon - a large and mostly private part of my Work revolves around Them.
I pay a lot of attention to the nymphs, other land wights, and the dead
(including my ancestors). I also regularly honor Persephone, Hekate and
Trophonios, among others. My spiritual "family" is very complex, and I
am still learning how They all fit together, but I know They do.
I have been calling myself a spiritworker since the fall of
2006. Although I was doing many of the same practices before that, it
was only then that I accepted the calling as a vocation, and fully
committed myself to it. Which of course meant that my life immediately
became much more interesting, and much more intense. This is not a
hobby for me, it is not something I pursue on the side of my regular
religious practice - it is who and what I am. And I do this not only
for myself, but as a service to the gods and to those who worship Them,
that I might bridge the gap and allow for deeper communication in both
directions.
This website is the latest task They have given me, and one
that I have been avoiding for as long as I could. It is very difficult
for me to write about these matters - some things seem to me aporrheton (mysteries that should not be spoken of) and some arrheton
(mysteries that cannot be verbalized). Part of me would much rather
keep them to myself. However, it has been made clear to me that there
are people out there who need to read this, who may be receiving
similar callings but with no idea how to begin, who may be inspired by
some of what I have done (as I have been so inspired by other
spiritworkers and their writings), who may be interested in how one can
be a spiritworker in a Hellenic context (so far a pretty rare
combination, I believe). This will also be a way to reach more people
in need of the oracular services I provide, which is the focus of the
public side of my spiritwork. And perhaps there are reasons to have
this site that I do not yet foresee - I trust my gods that They are
steering me in the right direction.
As I slowly make the transition away from leadership roles
within mainstream Hellenic polytheism, to a position further on the
outskirts (from temple priestess to nympholept in the cave, as I
sometimes think of it), as I make a new life for myself where gods and
spirits are my constant companions (a life both inexpressibly wonderful
and often lonely), I have carved out this little niche where I can
speak about some of what I do, and perhaps find others like myself. I
hope what I share may do some good.