Dver
A Forest Door

About Dver, and this site



And the truth is that as a man's real power grows and his knowledge widens, ever the way he can follow grows narrower:
until at last he chooses nothing, but does only and wholly what he must do.*


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.




     *Quote from  Ursula K. LeGuin's Earthsea series
     
Contact: dver@winterscapes.com
      © 2008