Interfaith Group

Because Creator is present in all living things and has a part in all spirits, we can address him/her through more concrete manifestations. I'm Panther Clan, so I sometimes I pray to Panther-with-a-capital-P. If I'm frustrated with someone or something, I'll have a word with Coyote. It's something like praying to patron saints, except there's less distance. They're family.

I pray to give thanks, to ask for healing or strength, to work through problems. Sometimes it's pure meditation, making myself open to whatever I need to know.

And then there's the Chinese kiln goddess. Both my studio's gas kilns have small images of her perched on top. Just before we start a firing, we pay our respects to her and offer her rice and flowers. (Potters all over the world do this, regardless of religion or lack thereof. It 's one of the traditions of the art.)