A short statement of basic concepts.
Art: “The Golden Apple of Discord” by Jacob Jordaens, 1633
Deities—in the sense of the various deities of polytheistic religion, magick, and mysticism—are complex universals. Just as as the universal “blue” is instantiated in the blue property of the sky, a deity is instantiated in instances of their bailiwick in the world. Hermes is in an instance of communication in exactly the same sense that the property red is in a ball. But Hermes is not the communication any more than red is the ball.
Despite this, I do not wish to imply that deities are only complex universals any more than I wish to say that a human being is only a psyche (mind/soul). It is clear from the evidence of the mystical experiences of people throughout history and the world that these deities, whatever else they might be, are people. They have histories, beliefs, desires, and projects, and most of all they want things from us. They want to build relationships with us. They want us to pursue certain forms of life over others, to pursue certain goals over others, and to engage with the ethical in specific ways. These complex universals are people, just like the complex particulars that we are are also people, and they must be treated accordingly.