Hello! So, I (21F)have known about Wicca but have never done much research on it before. I have a question regarding Patrons, if anyone is willing to answer, but I will give some long winded context first. Anyone who doesn’t really care about context, can find the question underneath the line. [DISCLAIMER, I do not want to burden anybody, nor upset anyone. I am aware that what I will tell you, maybe I shouldn’t have done, as I have not put in enough time/research/preparation, etc. But I don’t think I did anything inherently bad either? If I did, I will be more than happy to delete this post. But I am genuinely curious and do have a question that I can not seemingly find answers to by looking it up. So, I do apologize for the ignorance and naivety. Thank you in advance if you do take time to read and reply!]

Two things occurred recently that sort of brought me to this place of curiosity. 1) My interest in Greek mythology had returned last month and has been something I’ve thought about frequently, and 2) I’ve seen a lot of witches on TikTok in the past week. These witches had altars set up and talked about interacting with their Patrons.

I was super intrigued by this because I had just recently been thinking about attachment to greek gods and goddesses. So, I did a little research on Patrons, and became extremely curious about maybe reaching out. (I am not Wiccan or Neo-Pagan(?), so I understand that much more goes into this than what I am about to describe. And that this may have potentially been dangerous(?))

Not claiming any god or goddess, as I no longer follow Christianity, but just sort of throwing out a thought/prayer into the air to anyone open to helping, I requested help with my sleep and protection last night. While praying, I had remembered that some people mentioned offering things to their Patrons, and in one article they had mentioned food. So, I was like “I don’t know who is willing to help, but if you do I will offer you... I will share an apple with you.” First thought was apple. I don’t especially love apples, but it was the first thing that came to mind and I knew we had it at home. That’s it.

So, I go to sleep, and I am a little on edge, because I have never prayed so vaguely before. But I do go to sleep at the time that I wanted to. I do end up waking up a lot through the night, presumably because my sleep schedule has been incredibly messed up since quarantine. Still, I get through the night without much issue, and wake up feeling fine and before 12, which is when I usually have been waking up.

I don’t know at that point how to feel, because my sleep was sort of full of fits, but regardless I did go to sleep and get up at the time I had wanted for the most part. So, whether someone actually intervened or tried to help or do something, I already knew that I wanted to offer that apple I promised anyway.

So, I got up and sliced up an apple. Since, a lot of the TikTok people had candles for their altars, I figured that I could use one too. All of the candles that I typically use were stored away, so I scrounged around my moms stuff in the kitchen, because I thought she might have at least a tea light. I am unsuccessful, but as I’m leaving the kitchen I pass by this hallway table, and lo and behold, there is a green apple scented candle.

I kind of chuckle because, what are the odds? I know that some things are coincidence and make sense, but it lined up so prettily, that I was like “what if?” So I set up my apple in a bowl and candle, next to my window. I lit the candle, thanked whoever may have helped me, and then proceeded to eat the rest of the apple that I didn’t offer up. Nothing spectacular happened for the most part. I am leaving the apple over night before disposing it and put out the candle after a bit.

I must reiterate, I did not know what I was doing. Did I do some research? Yes. Was it enough to go creating mini offerings to Gods and Goddesses that I don’t know but tried to talk to anyway? Definitely not. But I used to be very spiritual when I was younger and not unaccustomed to prayer of this form. So I was wary, but not completely afraid. My biggest fear was accidentally connecting with some negative spirit that was not a God or Goddess. I don’t believe that happened, but time will tell!

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Anyway, after all this rambling haha, my actual question is, can someone have connection and or attachment to Patron Gods/Goddesses without being Wiccan? For the most part my research has only pointed to Patrons being attached to Wicca or Neo-Paganism. While I am not attached to any current belief or practice, I am open to exploring. But I am curious whether I cannot have Patrons unless I am Wiccan or Neo-Pagan. Will the Gods and Goddesses not interact with me if I’m not?

I will continue to do more research, but I thought I’d get a straightforward and potentially quick answer here, if anyone was willing! So thank you again, if you interact with this post, especially because it was such a mess and jumbled lol. And I also apologize again for potentially doing something out of line.

(If anyone is curious, I looked up apples, and the Norse Goddess Idun came up, as well as Aphrodite. I am going to research them more, regardless of whether being Wiccan influences attachment to Patrons, just because I think mythology is cool. I’m currently most intrigued by Aphrodite because I also have a sparrow and rose tattoo. But again, just potentially silly coincidence things haha.)