#greek deities

[sol-niczka]

The aftermath of "God Games"

Some Epic: the Musical fanart I've done in the recent months!! I have more so I'll probs post that too lmao, but yeah, this one's my favorite so far I think <3

[al0v3w1tch]

݁݁˖ ❀ ⋆｡˚ Lady Persephone… Yesterday was Lady Persephone’s worship day. Because I hadn’t gotten much sleep the previous night, I completely forgot to make a post for her. I hope this helps teach you how to worship Her and Her mythology. ✾ Who is Persephone? Persephone is the daughter of the Olympian Gods, Zeus, and Demeter, she is the Goddess of spring, agriculture, reincarnation, and Queen of the Underworld; She is widely associated with growth, fertility, and love as well as everlasting pureness/youth. Her most famous myth is Her abduction by Hades, Her husband/uncle. ✾ Mythology. After Persephone was born, Her home was the Overworld alongside her mother Demeter. While she was picking flowers alongside the spring nymphs, the earth opened and She was abducted by Hades on His chariot. After Her abduction, Demeter struggled to keep up her divine duties and the earth started to die without Persephone, due to this, Hermes was sent to the Underworld to collect Persephone but before She left the Underworld; Hades tricked Persephone into eating pomegranate seeds. Due to this, Persephone now spends half the year in the Overworld and the other half in the Underworld which explains the seasons. Depending on the myth, Persephone is the mother of Dionysus after Zeus assaulted Her, however, the myth was changed later on as the ancient Greeks believed that having their chief God assaulting His daughter was too evil of Him. Nowadays, Dionysus was changed to Zagerus and He is known to be Hades’ son instead. Melionë was also a result of Zeus assaulting His daughter as He tricked Her by disguising Himself as Hades, although, modern interpretations of the myth have Hades be Her father, like Zagerus. Persephone also was associated with the Orpheus and Eurydice myth; when Orpheus descended into the Underworld to retrieve Eurydice, he managed to make a song so beautiful and heartbreaking that Hades became sympathetic toward him and offered Orpheus that he could take Eurydice back but the catch was he wasn’t allowed to turn back to see if Eurydice was behind him or even touch her to lead him out of the Underworld. Hades did this to test Orpheus’ love for his wife and how much he cared for her. 

✾ Symbols and Offerings. Symbols:  -Pomegranate. -Torches. -Seeds. -Flowers. -Skulls. -Bones. Offerings: -Any type of flowers (can be fake). -Pomegranate (fake, scents or food). -Found bones (Remember to thank the animal and leave an offering for them as a way of respect).  -Tarot decks you associate with her. -Nuts and seeds. -Fruit. -Anything with grains. -Anything minty. -Jewellery. -Poetry or any kind of art related to Her. -Floral/fruity scented candles. -Dried herbs or flowers. -Crystals: angel aura quartz, rose quartz, and opalite. -Drinks like tea, hot chocolate, water, milk or honey. -Bat, ram, deer or dog imagery. Persephone shares an altar with Lord Hades so if you wish to see altar inspiration, here is the post I made for Hades: https://www.tumblr.com/al0v3w1tch/766671508589477888/%E0%BD%90-%E0%BD%8B-lord-hades-today-is-lord?source=share ✾ Prayers. -Fair-haired Persephone, daughter of Demeter, friend of the nymphs, merry-hearted girls who dance bearefooted and play, carefree, in grassy fields, wreathed in bright spring flowers.

The joy of life is yours, goddess, the comfort of sun on skin, the dear bonds of friendship, the refuge of a mother’s love.

Well-crowned Persephone, bride of noble Hades, queen of the afterworld, clothed in fine silks, adorned with jewels, enthroned in glory, friend to those who have passed from this world into yours, advocate of the dead and the wronged.

Kindly Persephone, womanly one, of transformation do you know much, of the ways of the earth do you know much; of the life after life do you know much.

Gracious goddess, friend of mortals, I praise you and thank you for your gifts.

-Persephone, glorious goddess, fair one with hair that flows like ripened grain, eyes that catch the clear blue sky, a smile sweet yet shadowed, O light-footed one who dances in flowered fields, I praise you.Persephone, lovely one who knows the feel of sun on skin, who knows as well the press of cold stone against warm flesh, in the world of the living, no maid is so alive as you.

In the world of the dead, Persephone, you reign as queen, crowned with riches unsurpassed, enthroned in splendor, honored above all others.

Goddess, child of earth, bride of the darkness, I honor you. -Persephone, glorious goddess, fair one

with hair that flows like ripened grain, eyes that catch

the clear blue sky, a smile sweet yet shadowed,

O light-footed one who dances in flowered fields,

I praise you. Persephone, lovely one who knows

the feel of sun on skin, who knows as well the press

of cold stone against warm flesh, in the world

of the living, no maid is so alive as you.

In the world of the dead, Persephone, you reign

as queen, crowned with riches unsurpassed, enthroned

in splendor, honored above all others. Goddess,

child of the earth, bride of the darkness, I honor you. ✾ Blessed be.

[boymanmaletheshequel]

Subtle ways to honor Ares 🗡️🩸

- fight against tyranny and oppression in your daily life

- learn to balance anger and joy

- learn to balance hatred and love

- defend those who are under scourge, wether that be online or in person

- learn about the history of war combat

- learn about the Trojan war

- embrace your anger and figure out how to healthily express it

- vote against unnecessary war and battle in your local elections

- visit a battlefield

- visit a war memorial

- embrace your lust

- be respectful and kind to veterans and active duty military members alike

- defend your side of an argument, especially if you know it’s what’s right.

- watch a war film

- learn how to not fall victim to wartime or nationalist propaganda

- take care of your physical body by exercising or lifting weights

- go to the gym or for a run

- embrace your masculine or butch side

- donate to a Palestinian aid or Ukrainian aid fundraiser (or to whatever victimized side of a war or genocide is going on at the time when you are reading this)

- learn how to safely and effectively use a firearm or blade, especially if you are in a country or place that may require you to defend yourself if necessary.

- don’t give up the battles that you personally are facing. Never stop fighting, no matter how hopeless it may seem.

[daesdivination]

i've also made these templates if anyone finds that cute or fun at all!

𓂃 𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗗𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗬 𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗥𝗦 ✧

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 𓈒 ◌ ‎ ‎ my morning prayers to the entities i worship.

notes/disclaimer: i currently worship lady amphitrite, lady aphrodite, and lord lucifer. things will be added and revised! this is for my personal use, but i don't mind if you use these prayers in the morning as well! all dividers found on pinterest.

⎯⎯ 𝗟𝗔𝗗𝗬 𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗛𝗜𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗘

thankful for the new dawn rising, o kind lady amphitrite, queen of the sea, great and sovereign goddess, i call to thee. amphitrite, mother of the marine, friend of fisher-folk, amphitrite, fair, tranquil, and protector of the sea, at this new beginning of day, i ask you to hear my plea, you who sits enthroned on the ocean floor. if found pleasure with my worship, as such divining,  i ask you to bring preparation for the day coming, moreover conduct of such protection as you shield the sailor. in my return, i vow to dedicate myself and education of your such glory among such affiliations.  may your will hold high as i thank thee for the kharis between us.

⎯⎯ 𝗟𝗔𝗗𝗬 𝗔𝗣𝗛𝗥𝗢𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗘

the sun rises, bringing the loss of sight as my lady aphrodite, goddess of all things beautiful, such love, and ruler of the heart, fills my morning with her loving light. with this new beginning of day, i ask you to hear my plea, upon the high pedestal of pleasure, if found pleasure with my worship as such divining, i ask you to bring preparation for the day coming, to have such relationships trail in only the warmth my lady brings. in my return, i vow to dedicate myself and share the teachings of your glamor and divine merit. may your will hold high. i thank thee for the kharis joining us.

⎯⎯ 𝗟𝗢𝗥𝗗 𝗟𝗨𝗖𝗜𝗙𝗘𝗥

as morning breaks through, i call to morningstar, lucifer, bearer of light, fallen angel from the skies, the forthcoming of enlightenment and brilliance, with this new beginning of day, i ask you to hear my plea. found the certainty of new dawns, if found pleasure with my worship as such divining, i ask you to bring preparation for the day coming, and to douse me in as much strength mortals carry. in my return, i vow to dedicate myself and my time to your worship and commerce with you; my lord. may your will hold high. i thank thee for the kharis joining us.

[gotstabbedbyapen]

It's always "Hades isn't bad or cruel, his deeds are just metaphors of the inevitable death" or "Hades kidnapping Persephone represent the premature death".

But when the argument "Zeus has numerous affairs and many children because he represent the fertile rain" is brought up, all nuance is suddenly out of the window and Zeus is just a womanizer who can't keep it in his pants.

[herballwitch]

Connecting with Gods and Deities

Hello, My name is Alva Tauri! I am an herbalist, spirit worker, tarot and oracle reader, and lunar and herbal witch dedicated to closing the education gap when it comes to herbalism and witch practices!

Today, I wanted to talk about ways in which I connect with the Gods and deities I worship in my life, to aid new witches in this task in their day to day practice. I believe that we oftentimes overcomplicated this part of our practice and that can make this task seem overwhelming and daunting when, in reality, connection can be simple.

I want to gear this post towards my new witches who do not fully grasp the concept yet or don't yet have an altar, as well as my fellow neurodivergent, mentally ill, and/or chronically ill witches who may find this task daunting for other reasons (I.E. low physical, low mental energy, physical pain, etc.) A portion of this post will be dedicated to low energy ways to connect with your Gods and/or deities to make your practice a bit easier.

Let's get started!

Day to Day Connections

it can be difficult to remember to do rituals or sit at our altar intentionally in our busy lives. here are some tasks you can do within minutes every single day to connect with your Gods and/or deities - great for days that are hectic or with minimal free time:

light a candle and simply say thank you

offer the meal or snack that you made to them

offer your drink to them

bit them goodmorning and goodnight

thank them for the things you enjoy throughout your day

dedicate a cleaning task to them (I.E. vacuuming, doing laundry, etc.)

cleanse your space spiritually and dedicate that task to them (I.E. sage burning, incense, etc.)

Altar-less Connections

we were all new or closeted witches at one point in our lives. none of us started with an altar and a fancy set up with all the tools we needed. here are some ways that you can connect with your Gods and/or deities without an altar:

read about your Gods and/or deities myths and legends

spend some time meditating and simply thinking about them

wear their colors as symbols

make a digital offering to them online

write poetry for them

pray to them

make a playlist for them and listen to it

talk to them about your day (this can be in your head if you are closeted. you do not have to pray out loud for them to hear you. they are always with you and supporting you)

Low Energy Connections

for my fellow neurodivergent, chronically ill, and/or mentally ill witches, here is a section full of little ways you can connect with your Gods and/or deities on rough days that leave you with low mental or physical energy:

pray from the comfort of your bed (they will know you mean this with good intentions. they will not be offended. trust me.)

talk to them about your day

dedicate your self-care routine (no matter how short or long it is) to your Gods and/or deities

offer them your food or drink - this can be as simple as offering them a glass of water if that is all you have the energy to get in that moment

light a candle or incense in their honor (I recommend incense if you are feeling truly exhausted, as you can leaving it burning without any major repercussions, unlike a candle)

dedicate a moment of rest to them (I.E. sleeping, taking a nap, even just taking a moment to sit in silence and rest your body and mind)

make a playlist for them and listen

make a post or pinterest board in their honor

Advanced, More Time Consuming Methods of Connection

on days that you have the time and the energy and are feeling a calling to make a bigger grand gesture, here are some tasks I like to do at my altar. NOTE: you do not have to do these everyday or even every week. if you feel a calling to do this, then do. if you do not, then these are not required. remember, at the end of the day you know your relations with your Gods and/or deities better than anyone else. trust your gut and your intuition:

COMING SOON!

That's all for connections with your Gods and/or Deities! I hope that you found this helpful in your spiritual journey and I hope that you are able to apply this information to your practice.

if you have any questions regarding anything discussed here or anything you feel that I have missed, please send an ask to my ask box! I appreciate all comments and questions!

For more information on my practice, witchcraft, herbalism, spirit work, and divination please check out the guide on my page (linked here)! Everything I have ever posted can be found there!

I wish you all a blessed day filled with peace, endless wealth, and eternal health! Until the next time we meet!

[apolloslyrics]

☀️Deities☀️

I see so many people criticizing others over their relationships, or lack thereof, with their deities, so here are some reminders:

Not having deities is okay.

Having just a devotional relationship with your deities is okay.

Having a working relationship with your deities is okay.

Playing games with your deities is okay.

Harmless jokes with your deities are okay.

Doing fun things with your deities is okay.

Doing devotional offerings for your deities is okay.

Giving physical offerings to your deities is okay.

Not being able to do certain offerings for deities is okay.

Having an altar for your deities is okay, no matter the size.

Not having an altar for your deities is okay.

Laughing with your deities is okay.

Crying with your deities is okay.

Having genuine conversations with your deities is okay.

Being unable to hear/see deities is okay.

Being able to hear/see deities is okay.

Not being able to communicate through divination is okay.

Using divination as a key element in communication is okay.

Not calling on deities during spellwork is okay.

Asking deities to help during spellwork is okay.

Asking deities for help in general is okay.

This is your relationship with your deities in your practice. Don't let anyone tell you what you can and can't do. 🫶

It's 2am, please forgive me if there are any mistakes!

[fabledfoxglove]

ꕥ ᴅɪᴏɴʏsᴜs • ɢᴏᴅ ᴏғ ᴡɪɴᴇ, ᴠᴇɢᴇᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴ, ғᴇʀᴛɪʟɪᴛʏ, ғᴇsᴛɪᴠɪᴛʏ, ʀɪᴛᴜᴀʟ ᴍᴀᴅɴᴇss, ʀᴇʟɪɢɪᴏᴜs ᴇᴄsᴛᴀsʏ, ᴍᴇɴᴛᴀʟ ʜᴇᴀʟᴛʜ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇᴀᴛᴇʀ ꕥ

[witness2caesar]

This is just a quick reminder that this blog is not a safe place for you if you are a terf. Especially if you try and push the fucked up idea that Aphrodite does not love trans women. I am trans myself and won't tolerate my sisters being disrespected by miserable radfems. Ty.

Lady Aphrodite loves everyone. Including trans people.

[dionysianivy]

𝐌𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐧

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙢𝙣 𝙀𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙣𝙤𝙭 🌾🍎🕯

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁

What is Mabon?

Mabon, celebrated around September 21 to September 29, marks the autumnal equinox and the second harvest of the year. It’s a time of balance, as the hours of light and dark stand equal, symbolizing the transition between summer and winter. It's a time when witches and practitioners honor the changing seasons, express gratitude for the Earth's abundance, and connect with the energies of balance and transition. The term "Mabon" for this celebration is named after Mabon ap Modron, a character from Welsh mythology. It is often associated with the mythological theme of the abducted and imprisoned child who later becomes a hero, which parallels the changing seasons.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁

Who is Mabon Ap Modron?

Mabon ap Modron, also known as Maponus, is a character from Welsh mythology. In some versions of the myth, Mabon is portrayed as a divine hero or a child who was abducted from his mother, Modron, and imprisoned. He is rescued after 3 years and plays a significant role in Welsh mythological tales. The name "Mabon" itself means "son" or "young man" in Welsh, and it is connected to the theme of rebirth and the return of the light.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁

Hades × Persephone and the Autumn Equinox

Legend has it that on the last day of summer, Hades, the god of the Underworld, saw Persephone picking flowers in a field. He immediately fell in love with her and abducted her, wanting to keep her by his side as the queen of the dead. Upon discovering the disappearance of her daughter, Demeter, the goddess of harvest, set out to find her. Unable to locate Persephone, Demeter’s sorrow and despair were so overwhelming that the flowers, trees, and all vegetation withered, bringing all growth on Earth to a halt. The gods of Olympus, who were powerless to ignore the prayers of humans, reached a compromise with Hades regarding Persephone’s return. She would spend only six months each year with Hades in the Underworld. To avenge herself, Demeter decreed that during those six months, nature would mourn, and nothing would grow on Earth until Persephone ascended again from the Underworld.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁

Magical Correspondences

Planets: Sun, Mercury

Season: Autumn 

Element: Water 

Time of Day: Dusk

Tarot: The Hermit 

Colors: Brown, Maroon, Red, Orange, Purple, Yellow, Gold

Herbs: Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Chamomile, Cedarwood, Juniper, Mugwort, Dried Apple

Fruits: Grapes, Apples, Pears, Plums, Blackberry, Pomegranates

Vegetables: Carrots, Corn, Onions, Pumpkin, Squash

Runes: Dagaz, Inguz, Eihwaz, Jera

Crystals: Amethyst, Agate, Citrine, Tiger's Eye, Amber, Yellow Topaz

Trees: Apple, Oak, Aspen, Cedar

Goddesses: Pomona, Demeter, Epona, Inanna, Ishtar, Kore, Modron, the Morrigan, Persephone, Banbha, Autumnus, Hestia

Gods: Dionysus, Mabon ap Modron, Hades, Dumuzi, the Green Man, Hermes, Thoth, Cernunnos, Osiris, Freyr

Flowers: Marigold, Chrysanthemum, Aster

Animals: Deer, Dog, Wolf, Blackbird, Squirrel, Salmon, Swan

Magical uses: Abundance, Accomplishment, Agriculture, Balance, Goals, Gratitude, Grounding, Harvest, New Beginnings, Reflection

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁

Activities to do:

🍎 create your own Cornucopia

🍎 make a special Mabon jar

🍎 bake an autumn recipe

🍎 eat apple pie

🍎 harvest your garden

🍎 light a bonfire and dance or tell stories with your loved ones around it

🍎 do a guided meditation to welcome the new season

🍎 clean your garden

🍎 listen to Mabon music on Youtube or Spotify(there are plenty of playlist you can find!)

🍎 spend time with your deity/deities

🍎 grab some autumn flowers and bring them into your home

🍎 rest and relax♡

🍎 read about Mabon

🍎 clean your house to prepare for the season

🍎 take a walk outside to connect with nature and be grateful for the summer that has passed and warmly welcome the beauty of autumn

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁

Food and Drinks:

apple pie, apple cider, wine, grapes, root vegetables, apples, cornbread, baked good made from wheat or grains, cakes with cinnamon or nutmeg, roasted meat, pork chops, mashed potatoes, peach jams, fruit tarts, apples in all forms, pumpkin pie

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁

useful sources: Magie Blanche by Eric Pier Sperandio

gifs credit: Pinterest

Tip jar🍎🌾

[ivettaflowerblooom]

I feel like we don't give enough appreciation to the fatherly side of the gods. How about Zeus, who taught young Artemis archery? How about Poseidon, who proudly made Triton his herald? How about Ares, who carefully brushed Eros' wings? How about Hades, who lovingly lulled baby Zagreus to sleep? How about THAT

[sol-niczka]

Badass in the arena💙✨

My take on Athena for Epic: the Musical!!

[al0v3w1tch]

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☀︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆ Lord Apollon… Today is Lord Apollo’s worship day and this is a basic information post about Him, I hope you enjoy this post and make sure to check out my Hades and Persephone posts! https://www.tumblr.com/al0v3w1tch/766671508589477888/%E0%BD%90-%E0%BD%8B-lord-hades-today-is-lord?source=share https://www.tumblr.com/al0v3w1tch/767560383657607168/lady-persephoneyesterday-was-lady?source=share ✷ Who is Apollon? Apollon (or Apollo)  is the Greek God of music, prophecy, healing, and archery; He is the son of Zeus and Titan Leto and the brother of the Goddess Artemis who aided Her mother in birthing Him. ✷ Mythology. When Leto was pregnant with the twins Apollon and Artemis, Hera discovered the affair between the Titan and Her husband Zeus so she forbade anyone to allow Leto to give birth on any land, fortunately, Leto found the island Ortygia to take refuge on but Hera would continue to make the childbirth a longer process when she forced the Goddess of childbirth, Eliethyia, to have Leto wait nine more days before giving birth. Artemis was born first and even helped Her mother to give birth to Her brother, Apollon who made the island come to life with flowers, plants, and music while carrying a golden sword. At only four days old, Apollon set Himself out on a quest to avenge His pregnant mother by slaying the serpent that tormented Her as She was seeking refuge. When the python was found, Apollon managed to shoot it down with His bow and quiver. However, this angered Gaea, who is the mother of serpents who ordered Zeus to send Apollon to Tartarus, Zeus, however, punished Apollon by exiling Him for nine years. After the years had passed, Apollon fixed the problem with Gaea and was gifted the Oracular Temple of Delphi. As a way to say thank you, Apollo set up the Pythian Games in Her honour. During the Trojan War, Apollon played a role in supporting the Trojans. When Achilles had murdered Apollon’s son, Troilus, on the altar of Apollon’s temple; the God set out to kill Achilles Himself and when Paris had the chance to do it, Apollon took the opportunity to use His archery skills to hit Achilles’ tendon, killing him instantly. ✷ Lovers. Apollo has had His fair share of lovers, both male and female; the most celebrated of His lovers are Daphne, Princess Koronis, huntress Kyrene, and Hyacinthus; He had many divine, semi-divine, and mortal lovers like His father, Zeus. ✷ Symbols and Offerings. Symbols: -Bow and Arrows. -The Lyre. -Ravens. -Laurel. -Wreaths. Offerings: -Sun Water. -Wine, water, milk, herbal teas, honey. -Olive Oil. -Honey Cakes. -Orange/Lemon Pastries. -Lamb/Goat Meat. -Fruits. -Cheeses. -Bread / Wheat. -Golden Objects (Gold Bowls, Gold Wine Cups, Flakes of Gold). -Bows and Arrows (fake/real / toys). -Sun Art or Imagery. -Musical Instruments. -Wolf/Dolphin Imagery. -Yellow/Gold/White Candles. ✷ Prayers. -Shining Apollo, bright-haired son of Zeus, strong of arm and flawless of form, of all the gods none are your equal in beauty or grace.

Apollo, of Leto were you born on well-favored Delos; in Athens and in Sparta and in all the lands were you honored.

To you did men and women offer prayers for health and healing in days of old; to you did the poets call for inspiration, O leader of the lovely Muses. Apollo, driver of all ill and evil from the land, in Delphi were you severed by the faithful Pythia, with whom you shared your prophecies.

Apollo, never has your glory been forgotten; throughout the centuries have artists turn to you for light and vision.

Great god, I praise you and your gifts. -Lord Apollo Far shooter, illuminator of the mind

You have sent me Sunflowers when you were seeking to help me. You have helped me so much in this year and I appreciate you so deeply for it.

My heart swells when I see one of your flowers or see your name. Your energy fills me with hope and love.

But it has not been easy.

I ask you to be gentle with me this time. I'm seeing your flowers again and I can only brace myself.

I ask you to carry me through this next stage of my growth. I ask you for strength. Life has been too hard on me, you know this. You've been there since I was a child. You and your sister. Apollo. Artemis. Names that have followed me forever.

I don't know what's coming. I don't know what's next for me. I just pray that it's not so hard. Not so painful. I know that's not entirely up to me though, and that you know what's best. I'm just scared.

Still, I thank you. I thank you for all that you have done for me and all that will come.

I thank you.

-Shining Apollo, bright-haired son of Zeus

and tender-hearted Leto who bore you on the shores

of free-floating Delos, brother of Artemis

of the silver shafts, lover of truth who knows

what will be, who grants the gift of foreknowledge

to those who seek, patron of the wise Pythia

who sits at the center of the world. Apollo,

friend of the lovely Muses, player of sweet songs

upon the lyre, healer of plagues, defender

against all evil, ever-youthful one whose hands

are deft, whose arm is strong, whose bow-string taut and thick

looses a rain of arrows, enough to dim the sun.

Fairest of gods, long of lock and smooth of cheek,laurel-crowned one, I thank you for your blessings.

✷  Blessed Be.

[boymanmaletheshequel]

One facet of Hellenistic and Roman, /Greco Roman paganism that I’ve always found extremely interesting to me, is how inherently human and relatable it’s gods, and their correlating counterparts are, especially when compared to deities in other ancient religions. They are divine, of course, this is made clear enough, but they all have aspects and traits to them that are inherently human. Rage, lust, joy, love, conflict. They represent, if nothing else, key elements of humanity and the human condition, which is something that no other ancient religion I’ve studied quite compares to in the same way. And not only that, but their relationship to people and humans as gods is clearly very symbiotic. They rely on their subjects for their fulfillment, interact with them directly on a regular basis, and often times even respect and revere them as not necessarily always equals, but as at the very least, creatures worthy of their consideration and respect, sometimes even falling in love with, and baring children with them. This is something that doesn’t really happen in any other ancient religion I’ve seen, sure, there are aspects of it in them, but not nearly are they portrayed as objectively or centrally as they are in Hellenism and Roman paganism. Each god represents some aspect of humanity in ways that are inherently non-Devine, Aphrodite is a lover, sometimes desperate to a vulnerable degree you wouldn’t expect a god to be. Dionysus is regularly consumed by madness as a result of his addiction and mental illness, and falls into spirals of depravity that are hauntingly ungodly. Artemis hunts even though she doesn’t need to, she respects her body as a goddess woman just as much as any human woman would, and fights back just as violently as well. Apollo finds much of his joy and happiness through the humans he falls in love with, and faces much of his suffering and sadness through them as well. Persephone fucking dies. maybe not literally in the sense of human, medical death, but absolutely metaphorically, and the grief her mother Demeter experiences is so inherently human, and so shockingly, gut wrenchingly tragic, that it is pretty obvious that this is what her story is meant to represent: a divine allegory for death and grief, an element that so many religions completely separate from their deities. Even Zeus, the primary deity, is a father figure who’s connection and relativity to fatherhood as seen in human men is almost identical. and if it weren’t for the pre-established lore and status of him as a an extremely powerful deity, there are moments in his Mythos where you might even forget that he’s a god, an all powerful, all divine, objectively non human god to begin with. I think it’s what makes Hellenism so emotional and so drawing to me, and to many other pagans, it’s a relationship that is mutual, and relatable, which is an element that is lacking in so many religions, even the major ones like Christianity and Islam. Yes, there are still elements of this in those religions, but it always feels like the stories constantly hammer in the fact that they are divine, so divine, so utterly unrelatable, so inherently disconnected from their subjects and their plights as a superior enitity, that there’s a limit to how connected one can feel to them. In hellenismos, this limit doesn’t seem to exist, and that’s something that makes it so much more personal and fascinating to me than any other religion I’ve studied. The gods are us, and we are the gods. At the end of the day, I think that’s what all religions should be about, and ultimately, are about, wether we realize it or not.

[templeofelysium]

worshipping the chthonic gods

first, a note on cthonic vs ouranic: the line between these gods is one that is not really as stark as it can be portrayed. many gods have both ouranic and chthonic aspects, and neither make them any more "good" or "bad" than the other. chthonic gods are not evil gods, at least no more than any ouranic god. all deities have the capability of doing good and evil, but are largely ambivalent in nature. the advice listed below is not set in stone, simply provided as gentle guidance. if you have suggestions, feel free to add them in the comments/reblogs! :)

LIBATIONS/OFFERINGS

In Ancient Greece it was very common for offerings to the chthonic gods to be given in the form of libation--a drink (or any liquid) poured into the ground. Solid offerings, like food, were often burned in their entirety to ash or left to rot, instead of being partially shared by the offeror. Incense was not as commonly used since the smoke travels upwards, towards the heavens.

I suggest disposing of/keeping ashes and rotted food outside or burying them, seeing as chthonic sometimes refers to "-of the earth." This would be similar to how curse tablets were treated in Ancient Greece, as Hermes, messenger of the gods, would deliver them unto their underworld-ly receiver from there.

If you can't do that, consider pouring your libations down the sink or flushing them down the toilet (ONLY do this with water-based liquids, oil and honey will clog up your sink in no time flat). It's not ideal, but it gets the job done.

Common libations include: coffee, blood (animal or your own, we'll get to that at the end), honey (instead of wine), milk

Common offerings include: meat, barley/grain, oil, cheese

PRAYER

In many cases, prayers to ouranic deities are directed upwards, into the sky or delivered unto the wind by voice, song, or some sort of poem. In the case of the chthonic gods, we should be directing them downwards, towards the underworld where they reside. This may include extending your hands with palms facing down, putting your head down, or just imagining your prayers being sent below. The only exceptions to this may be Persephone, who resides in the heavens for half of the year, and Hermes, who can be considered both ouranic and chthonic.

Other recommendations I can make are: light a candle, even if you're not going to use it for pyromancy; light some incense (I do this for focus and cleansing, not so much for the deity); and perform it at night. It's not mandatory, of course, to perform your prayers at night, it's just that in antiquity ouranic activities (festivals, prayer, etc.) were done during the day and often directly enshrouded in sunlight. We can assume, therefore, that a chthonic prayer or festival should occur during the night, especially if being directed towards Hekate or Nyx.

ALTARS/SHRINES

In Ancient Greece, temples to the ouranic gods were constructed so that their doorways would directly face the sun, thus illuminating the inside (and often the main statue(s), too). We can assume, then, that our chthonic altars/shrines should be located somewhere out of the direct sunlight. This can be in a dark spot, like a closet or isolated room--or it can just simply be in a corner furthest from the sun's rays.

Again, there may be some exceptions to this: Hermes, under his ouranic epithet(s), Persephone, for her time in the heavens, and Hekate, for her association with the moon.

DIVINATION

For the most part divination with the chthonic gods is conducted in much the same way as with the ouranic. Of course, when calling upon these deities you'll want to face towards the ground, and perhaps even conduct these sessions in partial darkness. Again, maybe you could light a candle or even pour a libation before a really big reading.

I mostly use pendulums and tarot, but I've been experimenting with meditation and have had some luck. What works for ouranic deities should work just as good for chthonic, you just might have to shift your approach a little.

Some good tarot spreads for working with chthonic deities:

"Fork in the Road" spread-- for Hermes or Hekate

"The Tower" spread-- for Hermes or Hades

"The Self Exploration" spread-- for any

"The Bat" spread-- for Hades or Persephone or Nyx

EXTRAS

--Consider offering blood if you're able! Animal blood that is sourced from ethical farms is neither morally reprehensible or illegal and can be sourced from a variety of places. Offering your own blood is also a possibility, but for this I would not recommend more than a pinprick. There are limits to how much pain you should be incurring on yourself for your deities. If you have to check your blood sugar often, maybe you can soak up excess blood with some cotton and bury it outside. Make sure to always clean your wounds properly and do not engage in this behavior for the purpose of self-mutilation. That, I can assure you, your deities would not appreciate. Don't be stupid.

--Snakes are commonly associated with almost all chthonic deities, or just the Underworld in general. We see this the most with Hermes, who is pictured with two snakes wrapped around his caduceus. The god Asclepius is also pictured with a staff with a single snake on it. Asclepius is the god of medicine, and (before being deified) was killed by Zeus for making people practically immortal.

--Chthonic deities are the best places to turn to for spirit work, protective, and baneful magic. You're looking to contact a spirit? Turn to Hades. You're looking for protection against spirits/demons? Turn to Hekate or Hermes. You're looking to cast a curse? Turn to Persephone or Hekate.

dividers by @vibeswithrenai

[squrrrrel]

Art depictions of Goddess, Aphrodite <3 part 1