How I like to create playlists for my deities.
(Image description: A photo of an old, vaguely Grecian style stone building. There is a door covered some rust and musical notes that are painted on the surface. A couple columns are on both sides of the door, along with windows with decorative ironwork. The roof has grapes, a couple stars, and other carved motifs at the top.) Credit: Photo by Ivan Klishin on Unsplash
The idea of devotional playlists isn’t new. I heard of other devotees creating their playlists on platforms like Tumblr and Facebook. Some like to use specific musical genres for certain deities, while I tend to pull from traditional and modern sources.
For Brighid, I took many of the songs on the playlist from other devotees’ collections of songs because many of them resonate with some aspect I see within Her. Services like YouTube and Spotify are the main ones I currently know of; if you know of others you find valuable, you can add them in the comments below.
Some songs are instrumental folksongs intermingled with Brighid-related melodies. I have more than one version of “Gabhaim Molta Bride” on there, which have their similarities in melodies and lyrics; however, the musicians also have their own unique interpretations of the beloved song.
A few of the songs are from pop culture. Two tunes are from the Brave soundtrack, and a couple are by the Irish musician/songwriter Hozier. These lyrics have some aspects to them that I can connect with Brighid, but they may not be as obvious to some devotees as they are to me. In some ways, they can denote the multi-layered roles Brighid has in my life and how I see Her presence in my life and in the world.
As for Nodens, His playlist is a work-in-progress, and it largely features ambient and instrumental music. He hasn’t hinted at any modern melodies or traditional folksongs that feel right, but that can always change in the future.
In a way, I think that devotional playlists can be like a small form of pilgrimage to put yourself into the right setting or mindset, depending on what your needs are at the time.
If you’re interested in starting a devotional playlist (or these suggestions may be things you hadn’t thought of) for the deities/ancestors/spirits you honor in your practice, these are some general suggestions for possible ideas.
1. Look at other devotees’ playlists for inspiration. As mentioned, there are platforms that have allowed people to collect songs to listen to. With popular deities like Brighid, there are many playlists available. Listen through them and see if any resonate with you. It’s always good to include traditional songs in a playlist, as it creates a connection between you, the divine focus, and the culture they came from. However, there’s always exceptions to the rule, and you may not feel the need to do this.
Additionally, some deities, ancestors, or spirts may not have enough recognition to have any specific playlists for them. This is where you’ll have to think outside the box, and you can find songs or videos that remind you of them in some way. Don’t be constrained by what you think others would use for the spirit in question; follow what feels right to you and enjoy the process!
2. Consider holidays when adding songs to a collection. Many polytheists have some sort of calendar they celebrate through the year, so there’s a good chance there’s either traditional songs or ones that have been written in modern times. Even if it’s more of a general connection to the focus of your playlist, a seasonal melody for the entity in question can still appreciate it.
3. Think of looking to modern songs to include in your playlist. If there’s a connection you see between a movie, television show, themed playlist, or anything else between it and the power(s) you venerate, consider adding it in! Songs with have some underlying theme can be worth including in your collection, too.
This suggestion likely dips into the concept of Pop Culture Paganism, which is a valid avenue. For example, if there’s a song from one of the Thor film soundtracks that you connect one of the deities from the franchise to, add it to your playlist! If your collecting has the right intention behind doing so, there aren’t really any rules to making devotional playlists.
4. If you’re just getting started with a new spirit or deity, adding informational videos pertaining to them can also be useful to have on your playlist. You can skip over the video if you only feel like listening to the songs in the playlist or arrange them in a particular order if listening offline on a personal device.
5. Lastly, have fun while making playlists! Devotion of any type can have its serious moments, but joy should absolutely be involved when adding songs or videos to your playlist(s)!
May these suggestions be helpful to you when creating devotional playlists!
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