This is a common question for beginners: How do I find my patron goddess or god? Those who are beginning their spiritual journey oft look to others in their religious community asking this question because they desire a mentor or deity to connect with.
My advice to you, if you find yourself asking this question, follows:
No one can answer this question for you. But it may come to you from a combination of research (to open your mind to different pantheons), ritual (because the gods respond to ritual and it also cultivates your awareness of the divine), and self-reflection (you must know yourself before you can know others, including the gods). You could design your own ritual, appealing to “Whoever will accept me as a devotee”, give an offering, and see who chooses you. It may not happen the first time, but your chances are better with persistence and the right approach.
Behave like you are applying for a job interview: clean and dress well, make an appropriate offering, approach respectfully, and be open-minded. Know what you can offer in return and include that in your ritual. Some deities accept food or libation, others accept music or art or poetry, some even accept blog posts praising them. If you have decided to approach a particular god, research what He or She is known to favor and accept (like you would when researching an employer).
If you are a poet or musician, then Apollon may be an appropriate patron and you can offer song to Him. If you are a medical technician or some sort, then Asklepios may be appropriate and you can offer your services in His name. If you are talented with crafts, then you can offer artwork, weavings, or pottery to Athena (and you don’t have to appeal to Her aspects of crafty warfare).
Like I said, it’s a lot like a job interview to find not only who matches you, but who you match with. Essentially, asking for a patron/matron is also asking to be His/Her priestess. So cultivate the qualities that would honor Them and offer your services or what you can make or earn to Them in return like you would cultivate your skills and experience to put on your resume. Make yourself a valuable devotee, and your chances of being chosen will improve.
Addendum: It’s also important to consider what kind of person you want to be and who you want to be associated with. Again, like applying for work in which the reputation of the company and your supervisor are important for your career, your patron or matron deity will be important for the cultivation of your spiritual life. If you are serious about becoming a devotee, you will be cultivating aspects that the god or goddess is known for and asking for aid in realms they have control over. So be sure to research before committing yourself to a particular deity.
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