#hekate lore time

[hekateinhell]

You say Armand/Daniel weren't your first vc ship, which makes me wonder what *were* your first vc ships? Were you ride and die for Armand/Lestat from the start or did that come later?

I accidentally wrote a dissertation (but it is the holidays and I have time to kill).

The Vampire Armand was the first VC book I remember reading. I may have picked up IWTV when I was 10 or so but I didn't make it very far, because I was 10 and not that precocious so I couldn't really follow along yet. But I just had turned 12 when I read TVA, and at the time I didn't make the connection to IWTV—did not realize there was an entire TVC until I had already gotten pretty deep into the story.

My first VC ships were Armand/Marius and Armand/Lestat. It took a few more years to be able to fully appreciate Devil's Minion and the absolute psychosexual hold it would have on me. I think I was about 16-17 when it... hit.

With Armand/Marius, the savior and student/teacher tropes really appealed to me as a kid who didn't actually comprehend much of those particular dynamics, and I was simply devastated by the way they were torn apart in Venice. As I got older and understood more, I did grow out of loving Marius and that ship altogether unless it's in fic, although I do think I'm able to empathize with him more and see him as a complete character now. I don't have to like someone in real life to feel empathy for them, and that translates over into fictional stuff for me personally. Everyone's different and honestly I don't overthink it lol.

Since I was introduced to Armand via his own book, I got to meet Lestat, Marius, and the rest of the cast through his eyes. I also have a rather peculiar habit (at least people tell me it's peculiar) of spoiling myself for everything I consume. I'll read the wiki pages of every movie and tv show before I watch them; I'll skip to the end of every book before I read the beginning so I'll know who's left standing. I don't like surprises! 

Technically, this is where I met Armand and Lestat:

It was Lestat, and he was tattered and dusty as he had been on the chapel floor. No thoughts emanated from his mind as far as I could figure, and his eyes looked vague and full of exhausting wonder. He stood before us, merely staring, and then as I rose to my feet, scrambled in fact, to embrace him; he came near to me, and whispered in my ear.

His voice was faltering and weak from lack of use, and he spoke very softly, his breath just touching my flesh.

"Sybelle," he said.

"Yes, Lestat, what is it, what about her, tell me," I said. I held his hands as firmly and lovingly as I could.

"Sybelle," he said again. "Do you think she would play the Sonata for me if you asked her? The Appassionato?"

I drew back and looked into his vague drifting blue eyes.

"Oh, yes," I said, near breathless with excitement, with overflowing feeling. "Lestat, I'm sure she would. Sybelle!"

Obviously, this Lestat guy is a big deal to Armand. Then when I went back and read the book properly (binged that baby in a day, took psychic damage that's still painfully evident today), I thought��� it was so interesting that Lestat really isn't featured in TVA that much and yet Armand doesn't talk about anyone the way he does Lestat. I was enchanted.

TVL was next on my list because I am a chaos gremlin with no respect for chronological order. Maybe this is why in my head I always think of TVL and TVA as companion novels? But I also see them as being the most similar in tone and style than any other two books in TVC. And once again, baby me was riveted by the L/A dynamic. 'Confusion and desire'! A 'monstrous intimacy'! The way Lestat describes Armand as one would a living angel, with all the horror, apprehension, allure, and worshipfulness that would entail.

Just as Armand doesn't speak on anyone the way he does Lestat, the same is true with Lestat when it comes to Armand. There's something so unique to their relationship and how they see each other that's not replicated with anyone else. I was hooked for life. 😔

And like I said, Devil's Minion came later to rearrange my brain chemistry one more time! I definitely go through phases with which ship I'm feeling the most but tbh I could talk about either of them all day long if given the opportunity (proof is in the archive, RIP). 🖤

But yes, I was an L/A girlie from day one, and I'm sure that's at least in part due to the way I started with TVA and TVL. I just love them so much, okay??? It's excellent writing and I think whether Anne meant to or not, she wrote them to complement each other perfectly and I'm gonna die emotional about it 🤧

[thrashkink-coven]

Hey it's foolish to believe lilith is a goddess? Like there's no evidence to support that she Indeed a goddess

There is no evidence to suggest that Lucifer is a God, although he represented the astrological aspects of Venus in Rome and Greece as Eosphoros, he had no established cults or centres of worship. In fact he never even has a spoken line, nor any myths where he is a “character”.

There is no evidence to suggest that Hekate was an important deity, she was not revered nearly as highly as the Olympians and her cults are extremely difficult to find. While Hekate is an ancient Greek deity, the way she is conceptualized and worshipped in modern Wicca and Neopagan practices often diverges significantly from historical practices. Some aspects and rituals are entirely modern creations.

There is no evidence to suggest that Santa Muerte is a divinity, there are no myths or legends about her. She is a syncretic deity with roots in Mexican folk Catholicism, there is no historical evidence that she was worshipped as a deity in ancient times.

Many deities worshipped in modern Druidry or Celtic-inspired Paganism are reconstructed or entirely new interpretations based on fragmentary historical sources. Deities like Cernunnos and Brigid are often worshipped in ways that lack clear historical continuity with ancient practices. Various New Age movements have introduced new deities or greatly transformed ancient ones. For example, Sanat Kumara is a figure in Theosophy, considered a great spiritual being but has no historical precedent in ancient worship.

And Lilith, of course, is mentioned briefly in multiple different mythologies but had no established places of worship or known cults. The truth is a combination of a couple things:

1. Recorded history is extremely scarce. We hardly know anything about the divinities that were genuinely worshipped as major Gods, the lesser fringe deities are even more difficult to find information on. Consider that Ancient Egypt was so old that the hieroglyphs copied from different eras were mistranslated by their own people. The cannon surrounding deities like Anubis, Thoth and Set are so variable because even they weren’t entirely sure. That’s how incredibly OLD these deities are, and how incredibly clumsy language and writing are.

2. Syncretism is a hell of a drug. Deities and the relationships they have with their devotees evolve throughout time.

3. A lack of pre established cannon does not mean that cannon cannot be established right now. We are a part of history. We write myths and create legends just as our ancestors did. We are not removed from this process of theological evolution. Lilith’s associations as a Mesopotamian night demon are no more legitimate or important than her associations in Judaism as the wife of Adam, or modern wicca and paganism as the mother of demons, the feminine archetype of divine rebellion. Likewise her status as a God does not remove her from her Mesopotamian roots. All parts of this equation are necessary to create a Lilith. We are no less capable of expanding on the lore of a deity than those people who lived 10,000 years ago. We as the collective humanity will always continue to explore what these deities represent as time reveals them to us.

Is it foolish to worship Lilith, Lucifer or Santa Muerte as divinities? Well, that’s a matter of opinion. Most polytheists and pagans are not subscribed to an organized religion, which means we don’t practice in adherence to those standards. We don’t take the myths as literal facts of history, we use them as interpretations and moral lessons. So, the lack of these myths for entities like Lucifer doesn’t really pose much of a problem for most of us in our worship. My personal relationship with my deities is far more important to me than what Homer wrote in the Odyssey. A lack of recorded information does not equate to a lack of existence (Hekate isn’t even in the Odyssey, there are only like 3 or 4 myths were Anubis makes an appearance and he was one of the most important Gods to the ancient Egyptians) As important as it is to be well versed on the established lore of your deities, we can’t pretend that the ancient Greeks and Nordics didn’t have fun with their deities and myths just like we do now.

How did Dionysus go from a ruthless death God to the party loving God of wine? How did Aphrodite go from a ruthless war deity to a lovey dovey girl boss of romance? How did Hekate go from one of the most obscure Goddesses to one of the most popular and well revered patron of witches? How did Inanna turn into Astarte and so on and so on? For the exact same reasons that Lilith is now a Goddess.

Humanity.

[breelandwalker]

Some of the time hekate wont let me blow out or smudge her candles is that normal? It usually after a talk or me giving a new offering. She lets me if a family member whos less understanding with paganism is coming but otherwise she likes me to leave them up

I don't want to talk over other people's experiences and have never worked with Hekate, but I can't help but find this a little bit dubious. There may be a sense that she would prefer you to leave the candles lit. You may have a personal reluctance to extinguish them. But as far as the goddess actually "not letting" you blow out or snuff (I'm guessing you meant?) the candles....no, fam. Fam, no.

This feels like a good time to talk about agency in our relationships with deities. We are allowed to say NO to the gods. We are allowed to set boundaries and take mundane or practical matters into account when dealing with them. Whatever they forbid or encourage is ours to consider before doing or not doing, as the case may be. Deities cannot physically induce us to do a thing or stop us from doing a thing against our own will. We are still responsible for our own actions, even if they seem divinely directed.

For instance, "I accidentally set fire to my house because Hekate told me to leave the candles burning," is probably not going to fly with your insurance company if there's a mishap.

It very well may be that Hekate would prefer those candles to remain lit as long as possible. I cannot speak on your relationship with her as a devotee or what passes between you. But you, as a person with time constraints and fire hazards to consider, are well within your rights to say, "This candle will remain lit in your honor for this short amount of time and then it will be put out to preserve my safety."

What's telling here is that she permits or "lets" you extinguish the candles if someone is approaching who might not approve of the what you're doing. If there's a sense that putting out the candles to avoid an uncomfortable human interaction is permissible, then you are damn sure able and allowed to observe fire safety to preserve yourself from potential physical harm and destruction of property.

My advice is to examine these feelings more closely. Consider whether the thought of a disapproving deity is an actual reflection of their will (as understood through lore and your individual relationship with them) or perhaps a product of your own anxiety about potentially displeasing them.

Hope this helps!

[the-fire-within0]

Hello 👋 I would love to know if Goddess Artemis or Goddess Persephone, or Goddess Hecate are my main protecting matreon Goddess's?/ Goddess. I usually say a morning prayer to my guardian deities and the ones who want to work with me and are watching over me. Thank you! N.V.W.

Hi there! For your question about your main matron goddesses, I drew the High Priestess, but it was reversed.

The High Priestess (reversed):

You might be feeling some confusion or doubt about your intuition and inner wisdom right now. This could mean that there are subconscious influences or hidden factors affecting your ability to clearly perceive which goddess is your main protector or matron.

You might need to reconnect with your intuition and seek inner guidance. The answers you’re looking for are likely within you, but it could be tough to find them right now.

When I drew the High Priestess card, it felt like Hekate's energy was strongest, though Artemis and Persephone are also heavily associated with the card itself (along with other goddesses outside of the Greek pantheon). This card suggests that instead of seeking external validation, it’s better to spend some time in quiet reflection or meditation. Try journaling about your feelings and experiences with each goddess, or ask for a sign or dream to reveal more about your connection to them. Dive deep into their lore and associations. Connect with them and consider which direction you may be drawn towards. Patience in understanding is key. But as I mentioned, Hekate's energy came through strong. That may possibly be a start, but do keep your options open, especially while studying. 🖤

🔥 [Tip Jar] 🔥

[mystical-sleepy-musings]

HEKATE

Greek goddess of witchcraft, ghosts, and crossroads

SOURCES

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

[Theoi.com|https://www.theoi.com/]

"Theogony"

Author:Hesiod

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

The triple faced goddess trailed with the howling of dogs resides amongst the crossroads lit only by a lone torch she impedes all who trample upon her grounds. She withholds the key to knowledge and gives it to only a select few whom she deems worthy.

|Who is Hekate/Hecate|

Hekate(Hecate is the Latin spelling) is the Greek goddess of witchcraft, magic, the night , ghosts, and necromancy. She also ruled over crossroads and is usually portrayed as a triple faced goddess with hounds and polecats in tow. The only child of the Titans Perses and Asteria . Hekate is shown holding torches and keys to the gates of the Underworld. Her name means "Worker from afar." Some ancient traditions (Hesoid's "Theogony") say she is a powerful Titaness who ruled over the three domains (earth sky and sea) and gave mortals wealth , luck and wisdom (she also took those gifts away when she felt the mortal did not deserve them) who then sided with the Olympians during the Titanomacy. Hekate kept her immense power even under the Olympian rulers who respected and honored her . The Romans known her by the epithet "Trivia," which was shared with Diana/Artemis, which means "Three ways" due to them being both protectors of travel and crossroads

|Myths|

Hekate was a major help to Demeter in her search for Persephone since she resided in the Underworld, so she knew what was going on . Hekate (along with Hermes) guided Persephone out of the Underworld with the help of Hekate's torches. When Persephone had to go back to the dismal place, Hekate kept her company. Another couple of myths involve the transformation of mortals into her familiars :The dog and the polecat. The female black dog was once a Trojan queen named Hekebe, who murdered a Thracian king and was stoned by the locals . The gods transformed her into the black dog and became Hekates familiar. The polecat was also once a mortal turned animal. Galinthias was a woman who was the companion of Alcmena, who was the mother of Herakles(Hercules). So when Alcmena was about to give birth the Moirai(The Fates)and Eileithyia (Goddess of Birth) witheld their help by crossing their arms in a favor to Hera who of course was jealous of Zeus being Zeus. So Galinthias fearing for her friends life and sanity told Moirai and Eileithyia that by the desire of Zeus, a boy has been born, and they uncrossed their arms, allowing Herakles to be born. Of course, the Moirai were not pleased and turned her into a weasel(polecat), which is mounted by the ears and gives birth through the mouth. Lovely. So Hekate being awesome decides to take on this writhy little creature as one of her familiars

|Worship|

Shrines to Hekate were placed at doorways to buildings since she was a liminal goddess. The home shrines were called Hekataions, which were centered around a triple faced Hekate facing in three directions on three sides of a central pillar. Dogs were her regular sacrifice animals during purification rites. The earliest documented worship of Hekate dates back to 6th century BCE in the form of a small terracotta statue of the goddess with an inscription of her name. Athens established worship of Hekate in about 430 BCE.

|Assocations/Representations|

She is associated with dogs cause in the Classical world, she is usually represented as a dog or accompanied by dogs. Hekates dogs in later times represented lost restless souls or demons, but mostly, it was a positive association connected with fertility and birth. The black female dog accompaniment comes from the myth of Hekabe. She is also portrayed with snakes and polecats as well. Hekcate was associated with plant lore , medical herbal concoctions , and poisons . Yew was very sacred to Hekate, and attendants draped yew around the necks of black bulls, which they sacrificed in her honor, and yew boughs were burned on funeral pyres "Taxus" the scientific name for Yew and " Toxos" the Greek word for yew was strangly similar to the word "Toxicon" (Greek for Poison). She is mostly represented as a triple faced goddess, but the earliest images of her were of a singluar figure. The 2nd century travel writer Pausanias said that Hekate was first portrayed as a triple faced goddess by the sculptor Alcamenes in the Greek Classical period .

[princessmeepa]

Can you tell the difference game from mine version or LO/RS version

Note I did not own this characters from the Greek myths and I was just doing this for fun. Astraeus is very mysterious and there is nothing about him besides he is the Husband of Eos and the father of the four winds, so I give him some personality and his likes/dislikes

Astraeus the mysterious God and Titan of Dust and Husband of Eos and the Father of the four winds/ANEMOI

Likes: sweets, drinking tea, looking at the stars, making people/the Gods and his own kind feeling uncomfortable by doing some vaguer stuff or doing vaguer things, spending some time with Eos and his family, helping those around him and making Dusks.

Dislikes: Theseus being a big A$$****, Zeus and Being away/losing the ones the loved and cared about

Friends/allies: Thanatos,Hypnos,Apollo,Hermes,Eros,Dionysus,Makaria,Ariadne,Psyche,Peitho,Pesathea, The ANEMOI, Hades,Persephone, Helios(Sometimes), Selene(His favorite sister in law, because she is the only one who can understand him),Endymion(same thing just like Selene),Hyacinth,Iasion(He likes him for some reason, not in a romantic way),Ampelos,Pan(Why not), Adonis,Crocus,Hekate(His favorite niece not in a creepy way, but in more of a father and daughter type of relationship),Demeter(because she bakes some sweets for him),Hestia(She is very warm and kind to him),Artemis(Because He thinks she is a fun and chill version of Apollo),Amphitrite(She is fun and bubbly),Thetis(He likes her girly, motherly and bubbly personality) Eos(wife), Hedone, Ganymede(because of his beauty and kindness to him), Hebe, the Oneirois, the fates and other demigods/heroes and Tithonus(enemy to friend).

Enemies:Zeus(because he r*pe his own son),Theseus, Phaedra,Hera,Poseidon(didn’t like his anger issues), Ares(because he slept with Eos),Aphrodite(because she’s the the one who cursed her to be lustful over men)Heilos(sometimes), the 13 unlucky souls.

Personally: He can be kinda rude and vaguer when you first meet him, but once you get to know him better and get to know his backstory, He is a very kindhearted young man and loves helping others and He loves his family deeply

Asclepius the Demi god/God of Medicine and Son of Apollo, p.s forgive me that I spelled his name wrong and these two are very old art, by the way.

Likes: his family, marking medications and helping people

Disliking: people and his love ones being hurt and Theseus

Personally: He is a pure cinnamon roll who loves helping everyone

Friends: Apollo and everyone

Enemies: Theseus(because he bullied him and others for no reason) and Zeus(because he killed him)

Lore Olympus version of Asclepius and Astreaeus

Dark helmet:Absolutely nothing

[theic-manic]

(Helpol blog @divine-thievery)

Helluu!! Your consent post replying to that user talking about Lord Apollo was so eye-opening for me. I named myself a devotee to Lord Hermes because I felt it was the right thing to do.

I became a Hellenic Polytheist in april 2024 and he had actually been on my mind since 2020 (possibly earlier, im bad with dates and remembering) when I first saw him in lore Olympus, to my assumption it was on purpose that i took a liking to him straight away, when I asked if it were true he pleaded the fifth 😂, anyways, so that's why i named myself a devotee, so i will be apologising to Lord Hermes after sending this ask Because as you stated in the post I hadn't asked for consent.

And I would like to thank you for making that post it's really helped me. 🧡 also, I'm Australian, too 😂

Hey mate!

All good and I am glad you appreciate it, it only took me a few hours and asking both Apollo and Hermes nicely to assist.

From my observation, Hermes is certainly a great choice for beginners as he's quote friendly and doesn't quite have Apollo's BPD-coded RSD however Hermes isn't to be taken lightly either.

One notable example

He's a trickster deity and rather amoral at that because his roles simply can't be held back by traditional morals.

I'll note here that our modern morals also don't entirely align with the societal standards of the past, which is why extra care is needed with establishing boundaries and also judging their actions through a modern lense.

This is touched upon in a decent post about rape in Greek mythology

I will also add that Apollo and Hermes just ignored the concept of consent to create this Olympus-level Maury Povich paternity test eposode event of conceiving twins together to the same woman...

Personally, Hermes became my patron deity after appearing to me as other deities... since he does participate in so many domains it's real easy for him to perform jobs for other gods.

However I had, for about a year, lightly worshipped him and included him in my daily prayers so after a while he revealed to me that it had been him all along and not Hekate and Hades those times I thought they were working with me.

While I am glad that you enjoy his portrayal in Lore Olympus (though he especially likes his visual appearances in the Hades games) the webcomic doesn't totally align with mythology...

Admittedly, I've not read much of the comic yet since I am trying to focus on more traditional portrayals of my deities for now (Blood of Zeus is somewhat decent) I did find it very nice that both the author of LO and myself interpreted Melinoe to be deaf/non-verbal (based on some comic panels I came across on tumblr featuring her anyway).

That said, Melinoe was thought to be conceived by Zeus disguised as Hades, something I assume isn't covered in the comic(?)

I'm particularly mindful to consume minimal to no fictional content about deities when I first become acquainted with their energies as I don't want my interpretation of their character to taint how I perceive them.

Even then I only consume such media as devotional acts to deities I already have a firm relationship with, but I do see modern adaptations as a way to gauge whether I'm interested in researching the original lore in-depth.

Should you decide to become a devotee of Hermes then please remember to establish firm boundaries and I hope that you represent Hermes well as one of his many "smol ambassadors" (his term).

Thanks for the ask!

I wish you luck on your spiritual journey and may Hermes guide you to the right path.

[hekateisconfused]

Okay... I need to yap about this because now that I think about it more, another thing the Miroku event hinted was how one of my most random headcanons possibly being hinted

⚠️ suicide mention!! And slight Divine Arc mentions... slight...

IGHT. SO. IF YOU DON'T KNOW, MY HEADCANON IS THAT ASURA WAS CRAZED (look at these two and TRY telling me Crazed wasn't a hybrid.)

SO. My headcanon is that somewhere during the time Momotarou was actually liked as a hero, Asura met him via a disguise and made a deal with him for power.

He didn't take the deal for selfish power, but to better protect those around him... Little did he know Asura would do the opposite.

To avoid main Divine Arc spoilers, let's just say Asura made a massive mind game that would eventually drive Momo to an absolute crisis, and finally possessed him in his weak, vulnerable state. This is when the Slasher period started, when Momotarou went from a beloved hero, to feared murderer.

Of course, Momotarou didn't want this. This was the exact opposite of what he ever wanted! He wanted to protect people, to only kill the oni that were actually evil! Not the innocent! And whenever Asura wasn't possessing him, whenever he could fend him off, his crisis only increased. He saw his his name had become soiled, how people thought it was him going insane, not how it was Asura in his body.

He didn't want this... He wanted to protect people... But as long as Asura was around, people weren't safe...

If Asura was using him as a vessel for possession... What if he wasn't alive... Making Asura have no one to possess....

He had attempted suicide three times (I don't know why I chose three- just go with it-) and succeed the third time.

But alas... It didn't work. It only fueled Asura's rage, and immediately revived him.

NOW. HOW THIS TIES IN TO THE SOMEDAY YOU EVENT (miroku event)

DURING THE LAST DUNGEON, THE ONE YOU FIGHT BASARA IN, MOMOTAROU USES FORCE TO BREAK THE TIME THINGY BASARA HAD CREATED AND WAS USING MUTSUMI TO FUEL.

Prior to breaking it though... An interaction between him and Miroku happened. Miroku telling him to wait, that it was incredibly dangerous, yet Momo still insisted that the barrier was broken, and he'd be the one to do it. In the moment, Miroku said, "That's justice, isn't it?".

For Divine Arc reasons, I can't say why, but know that even the word "justice" alone, is VERY important word to him. Momotarou immediately told Miroku that he was right, and went to break the barrier, knocking him unconscious.

IF HE WERE A NORMAL HUMAN, THIS ACT WOULD HAVE EITHER TURN HIM INTO A BABY, OR HAVE CEASED TO EXIST. HE LITERALLY ALMOST SACRIFICED HIMSELF TO DO SOMETHING GOOD. AND THE FACT THAT WHEN HE WAS TOLD THIS WHEN HE WOKE UP AND SAID HE WOULDN'T HAVE CARED.

HE LITERALLY SAID, "Even if I disappeared, it wouldn't have been anything to me.".... BRO. THAT'S NOT A NORMAL ASS THING TO SAY. THAT HINTS THAT MY SUICIDAL MOMOTAROU HEADCANON COULD BE TRUE. AND THAT'S CRAZY TO ME BECAUSE. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST MY BRAIN WANTING TO GIVE HIM ANGST. I DIDN'T THINK THAT IT HAD A CHANCE OF BEING TRUE. BUT LIKE.....!?????????!??!??!???????? I'M CRAZY.

Also for Mirotarou reasons I must add and address... The way Miroku looks at him when he said that... (Hekate try not to make everything about Mirotarou challenge. Difficulty: IMPOSSIBLE)

LOOK AT HOW FUCKING CONCERNED HE HIS ABOUT MOMOTAROU NOT CARING IF HE DIED.

AND THE FACT THAT MIROKU SAID HE WOULD'VE ABSOLUTELY MISSED HIM IF HE DID DIE, ASKING HIM TO NOT SAY SUCH A THING...

THE WAY HIS EYES WIDEN WHEN MIROKU SAYS THAT-- HOW MUCH HE'D MISS HIM-- I'M CRAZY ABOUT THEM I'M FUCKING INSANE--

Okay yapping done I'm still not over this event and I don't think I ever will be because LORE, I PREDICTED THIS, AND HOLY MIROTAROU BRAINROT I'll probably write a fic about how I think their first kiss went in Crystalline (It's but Divine Arc though so uh, don't read it if you don't want Divine Arc spoilers HAJAJAJA)

[buzgy]

Some Drawings of vasha, and her lore/information about them

Vasha had a past veiled in shadows and haunted by a tragic history. Born in a distant, desolate land known as the Twilight Sands, Vasha's early life was marred by the cruelty of fate. The once vibrant and bustling community of creatures in the Sands had fallen prey to a mysterious malady that claimed the lives of many, leaving behind a despondent and sorrowful atmosphere.

Vasha's family was not spared from this merciless affliction. Their parents, beloved figures in the community, succumbed to the illness, leaving them an orphan at a tender age. The once lively and joyous creature became a silent, withdrawn soul, carrying the weight of grief and loss on their small shoulders.

As the Twilight Sands became increasingly inhospitable, Vasha was forced to fend for themselves. The once-thriving community now reduced to remnants of a bygone era, Vasha wandered the desolate landscape, their bright colored wings serving as a poignant reminder of the vibrant life that once existed.

In her solitude, Vasha stumbled upon a clandestine society of rogue creatures who had survived the plague through nefarious means. These creatures, shrouded in darkness, took Vasha under their wing, exploiting their vulnerability and molding them into a skilled infiltrator and thief.

Habit's/traits

She bottles up her emotions until they inevitably hurt someone/themselve

She's a horrible liar, when they lie they play with their hands or they flick their tail anxiously.

She can't communicate to save their life.

She's strangely warm so much so that she could burn you if you touch her for too long.

At times they can be incredibly condescending.

She's incredibly temperamental and often snaps at herself and sometimes others.

It's very difficult to gain their trust, they are very wary of most people.

She's paranoid to put it plainly she always thinks someone's watching her and following her trying to bring her back to the twilight sands.

She's very insecure, and doesn't like how she looks.

She can be direct and incredibly blunt, often mistaken for being mean.

She's possessive of her things and people she likes such as velvet and crimson (velvet being her girlfriend and crimson being her brother)

She often overthinks everything she always thinks that she's not good enough for her friends and family.

Vasha's fears.

She's terrified of speaking in public despite her lovely singing voice speaking to/in large crowds scare her.

She has a fear of abandonment having been left alone by her parents more than once (this is mentioned with her worst memory as well)

Absolutely terrified of needles, if you come anywhere near her with a needle she'll bite, kick, claw and Punch you until you can hold her down and or until you get rid of the needle.

Scared of the dark having grown up in the darkness of the twilight sands, a place known for darkness and death.

She's scared of thunder and storms.

Vashas Worst memory

an agonizing period spent alone in a dim, damp cave, a cruel punishment for daring to embrace the forbidden arts of magic and worship the elusive goddess of magic, Hekat. Cast aside by her community, the once-vibrant kit found herself isolated, the cave's cold walls echoing her solitary despair.

Months dragged on with relentless monotony, as the dim light barely penetrated the cave's depths, leaving Vasha in a perpetual twilight. Hunger gnawed at her stomach, and thirst parched her throat, the meager rations provided as punishment barely sustaining her fragile form. The cave's oppressive silence weighed heavily on her, broken only by the occasional drip of water, a cruel reminder of the scarce resources she was permitted.

In the solitude of that damp cavern, Vasha wrestled with her magical abilities, practicing in secret despite the risks. The memories of the goddess Hekat's whispers and the allure of arcane energies provided a fleeting respite from the harsh reality of her confinement. Yet, each illicit incantation only intensified the punishment meted out by those who once called her kin.

As the days blurred into a despondent haze, Vasha clung to the remnants of her sanity, the darkness outside mirroring the shadows that consumed her spirit. The echoes of her pleas for mercy bounced off the cave walls, unheard and unanswered. The very magic that had drawn her into this abyss became both her solace and her torment.

In those long, lonely nights, Vasha's once-bright eyes lost their spark, and her spirit waned under the weight of isolation and deprivation. The cold embrace of the cave became a haunting specter, a stark reminder of the price she paid for daring to seek the forbidden and invoking the wrath of both her community and the elusive goddess whose name she whispered in desperation.

Vasha's Favorite memory

a serene night spent stargazing with Velvet in the heart of the Enchanted Grove. Beneath the celestial canopy, they lay side by side, the soft glow of Vasha’'s wings casting a gentle luminescence on the surrounding flora.

As the silver and gold stripes across Velvet's eyes reflected the starlight, Vasha found solace in the quiet beauty of the moment. Far removed from the haunting shadows of Twilight Sands, they shared dreams and whispered secrets under the vast expanse of the starlit sky.

In that tranquil embrace, Vasha discovered a new constellation of hope and love, woven into the delicate tapestry of their shared existence. The Enchanted Grove, with its magical aura, became the backdrop to a favorite memory that eternally glowed in Vasha's heart, a beacon of light illuminating their journey together.

Most expensive thing they own and how they got it?

In a daring and heartfelt gesture, Velvet bestowed upon Vasha a finely crafted leather collar, adorned with a delicate charm shaped like a crescent moon. Velvet, with her intuitive understanding of Vasha's turbulent past, recognized the significance of a tangible symbol that could anchor them in the present.

Aware of Vasha's shadowy history in the Twilight Sands, Velvet embarked on a clandestine mission through the Enchanted Grove. Guided by the soft glow of her staff, she navigated the hidden paths to a secluded corner where a skilled artisan among the woodland creatures crafted exquisite accessories.

Choosing a moon-shaped charm to represent the enduring bond between them, Velvet presented the leather collar to Vasha under the shimmering moonlight. The gesture spoke volumes, conveying not just an accessory but a promise of solidarity and a new beginning.

Vasha, touched by the sincerity of the gift, accepted the leather collar with gratitude. The crescent moon charm served as a reminder of the night they first gazed at the stars together, intertwining their destinies in a tale of stolen moments and heartfelt gestures within the enchanting embrace of the Enchanted Grove.

What easily offends them

Vasha, despite her tough exterior forged in the crucible of hardship, is particularly sensitive to being labeled as "short and cute." Such remarks strike a nerve, evoking memories of a time when her innocence was overshadowed by tragedy and her strength was born out of necessity. The comment cuts through the layers of resilience she has built, reminding her of a vulnerability she'd rather keep hidden. To Vasha, it's not just a remark about her physical stature; it's a reminder of a painful past she'd rather forget.

Vasha's biggest inspiration.

Vasha's biggest inspiration is Hekat, the goddess of magic. Despite the hardships and isolation she endured for embracing forbidden magical arts, Vasha draws strength and inspiration from the elusive deity. Hekat represents not only the mystical forces that have always intrigued Vasha but also the embodiment of resilience and defiance against societal norms.

In the quiet moments of solitude and darkness, Vasha finds solace in communing with Hekat. The goddess's mythical presence becomes a guiding light, encouraging Vasha to harness her magical abilities despite the scorn of those who rejected her. Hekat's stories of enchantment and rebellion serve as a source of inspiration, fueling Vasha's determination to rise above her tragic past and reclaim her identity as a wielder of arcane powers.

Wings

The blue spots on Vasha's wings move like the lava inside a lava lamp due to a unique biological adaptation. These spots contain specialized pigment cells that react to changes in Vasha's body temperature and blood flow. Similar to the mesmerizing movement of lava within a lamp, the spots respond to internal shifts, creating a dynamic display on her wings.

Additionally, these spots change based on Vasha's emotions as a manifestation of her internal state. Just as a mood ring changes color in response to the wearer's emotions, the spots on Vasha's wings alter their hue and intensity, reflecting her feelings. For example, they might shimmer with a vibrant azure when she's feeling joyful or pulse with a deeper cobalt when she's experiencing sadness or anger.

Furthermore, the spots glow due to a bioluminescent property unique to Vasha's species. This natural luminescence adds an ethereal quality to her appearance, enhancing the mystical aura surrounding her. The glow intensifies during moments of heightened emotion, illuminating her wings with an otherworldly radiance that captivates those around her.

Eyes

Vasha's eyes glow with an otherworldly luminescence as a result of her connection to the mystical energies she channels. This phenomenon is a manifestation of her innate magical abilities, a trait that sets her apart from others in her species.

The glow in her eyes is not merely a physical attribute but also a reflection of the potent magic that courses through her being. It signifies her affinity with the arcane forces that she both wields and respects, serving as a visual representation of her connection to the supernatural realm.

Moreover, the intensity of the glow in Vasha's eyes often correlates with her emotional state and the level of magical energy she harnesses. During moments of heightened emotion or when she taps into her powers, the glow becomes more pronounced, casting an eerie light that hints at the depths of her mystical prowess.

For those who encounter Vasha, the radiant glow in her eyes serves as a mesmerizing testament to her enigmatic nature and the profound mysteries that surround her. It is a constant reminder of the ethereal essence that defines her existence and the boundless potential that lies within.

[srfmp]

Cyclopes'

Cyclopes were gigantic, one-eyed beings with enormous amounts of strength. In Greek Mythology, there were originally three of them: Arges, Steropes and Brontes; all capable blacksmith, they were the sons of Uranus and Gaea and were also the brothers of the Titans and the Hecatoncheries.

I researched about the Cyclopes, as my character is a Cyclopes, although he doesn't look exactly like these ones; he looks less humanoid. I wanted to make sure though that I had looked at Cyclopes so I knew how to add those elements into his character, for example his model will be at quite a big scale to match the size of Cyclopes' in Greek Mythology.

Gods

I decided to look at various gods that I could take ideas from and input into my character/project, as he's like a omnipotent-being.

Hades

Hades was the god of the Underworld and the son of the Titans Cronus and Rhea. He was the brother of the two deities Zeus and Poseidon. Hades has been represented differently throughout the media over time. For example he was the villain in Disney's animated film Hercules, the story of his relationship with Persephone was told with a modern-day twist in the comic book series Lore Olympus and there's many more representations in the media of hades.

Perses

Perses was the Titan god of destruction. He was also the father of Hekate, the goddess of witchcraft, by the Titanis Asteria (Starry One) Perses' name means 'The Destroyer' or 'The Ravager'. His main purpose was to solely exist for parentage. Perses isn't as well known as most of the other Gods as, like I said, his sole purpose was to exist for parentage.

Hekate

Hekate is a goddess in ancient Greek religion and mythology, she's the goddess of witchcraft. She's most often portrayed holding a pair of torches, a key, snakes or accompanied by dogs and in much later period depicted as three-formed/ triple-bodied. One thing I know Hekate from is the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, where the 3 witch sisters worship to her.

Aphrodite

Aphrodite is the ancient Greek goddess of love and beauty, she was identified with Venus by the Romans. She was primarily known as a goddess of love and fertility along with occasionally presided over marriage. Aphrodite is often described as a beautiful woman in every way and the most beautiful as well, however there's a dark tale to this though. Often if people were to refer to an individual as 'more beautiful than Aphrodite herself', it was said she'd curse them or bring misfortune to that individual as a way of 'warning'. Similar to Hades, Aphrodite is represented differently throughout the media.

[hekateinhell]

BIG YES FOR L/A WEREWOLF AU OMG THAT SOUNDS SO AWESOME

THANK YOU I APPRECIATE Y'ALL WHO INDULGE MY EVERY WHIM 🤧♥️

[tipsycad147]

Lavender Magic: Uses, Tips

Lavender is one of those plants that just about every witch has in their cabinet. This is because lavender is such a versatile plant ally to work with! I think it also says something about our modern world that we all tend to lean on an ally that gives us a bit of peace and calm energy,

What is Lavender?

Lavender, or Lavendula, is the name for a genus of plant with over 47 different species. Something you may not know is that Lavender is actually part of the mint family! I know I didn’t know that until digging into a bit of research myself. What we know as lavender is a common flowering plant with light purple flowers. It is common in many different climates, though often cultivated in more temperate climates. I can tell you that I have tried to grow lavender here in Florida, and though it grew, it never flowered. I’m sure the heat and the rain had a lot to do with it. We are a tropical climate, after all!

Lavender in Folklore

It isn’t just modern witches that love using lavender. There are many sources that say lavender has been used for hundreds of years for a multitude of reasons! It is even a flower that has been attributed to Hekate and her daughters, Circe and Medea.

Hecate, the Grecian goddess of the infernal regions, presided over magic and enchantment, and may fairly be styled the goddess, queen, and patroness of Witches and sorcerers. She was acquainted with the properties of every herb, and imparted this knowledge to her daughters Medea and Circe. To this trio of classical Witches were specially consecrated the following herbs:—The Mandrake, the Deadly Nightshade, the Common Nightshade, the Wolfs-bane, the Pontic Azalea, the Cyclamen, the Cypress, Lavender, Hyssop-leaved Mint, the Poley or Mountain Germander, the Ethiopian Pepper, the Corn Feverfew, the Cardamom, the Musk Mallow, the Oriental Sesame, the rough Smilax, the Lion’s-foot Cudweed (a love philtre), and Maidenhair, a plant particularly dear to Pluto. All these plants are, therefore, persistently sought for by Witches, who have not only the power of understanding and appreciating the value of herbs, but know also how to render harmless and innocuous plants baleful and deadly.

Medicinal Uses of Lavender

Lavender has been around for a really long time, so it is no surprise that it has been used medicinally across many cultures. Some of the more common medicinal uses of lavender include treating insomnia, anxiety, depression, and menstrual cramps. I’m sure it goes without saying, but please don’t treat yourself with herbs��unless under the guidance of a medical professional. Thank you!

Lavender Magical Correspondences

In my practice, lavender’s magical correspondences and medicinal uses are very similar. I have leaned on lavender for everything from depressive episodes to good sleep and calming an anxious child. Here is a list of correspondences to get you started. Don’t forget to use your intuition and connect with lavender as a plant ally. There may be more than just this list that lavender can help you with!

promoting and attracting love

aiding poor sleep

helping with insomnia

promoting peace

calming anxiety

healing both mental and physical ailments

protection against the evil eye

Mandatory Disclaimer: Nothing written here is intended to treat, cure, or otherwise diagnose any medical ailment or illness. It is written for informative purposes only and is not medical advice. Please seek the advice of a professional before ingesting or otherwise consuming any herb, tree, or flower. 

Sources and Further Reading

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lavandula

WebMD – Magnolia Uses and Risks: https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-838/lavender

Plant Lore, Legends, and Lyrics, by Richard Folkard: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/44638/44638-h/44638-h.htm

Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs: https://www.scribd.com/book/275211003/Cunningham-s-Encyclopedia-of-Magical-Herbs

[convexicalcrow]

#minecraft builds housekeeping

Now that I have three worlds I play on, I felt it was time to update the tags I've been using for this to make things a little clearer. All my minecraft builds will be posted under the #minecraft builds tag, but there are others listed below for each one. Shorter forms of these are also in my pinned, and I've expanded out some of the other tags I've used in the final tags and projects section just to make it clearer.

#bedrock co op world - This is a co op bedrock realm I play with my partner. We're playing on the hc9 seed (-3609821817241206192). We started in survival but now it's mostly creative, tho there are some farms and other things for when I am in the mood to grind resources. Being played on a Hermitcraft seed, there's a few Hermitcraft-inspired/Cub-inspired builds on here, but there's also plenty of other things too. I'm working on populating the Hermissippi river with builds to make it feel less empty lol. Our main base is around the woodland mansion which is in a different place on the bedrock seed and is closer to gigalogs island, after starting in the cave underneath it. I also have another base around a village some 400 blocks away. I do sometimes work on this alone, but it's more fun when we play on this together, and as my partner's been busy with uni stuff, it's taken a back seat. But hopefully we can get back to it over the summer.

#villa hekatea - This is a Java solo world, seed -6478546301100136766. I play in survival easy and am building up a small sanctuary town dedicated to Hekate. It's my first attempt at playing pure survival and I'm having so much fun with it. The lore is that my character was pushed to leave their home city due to Hekate worship being banned, and ran away to settle in this area and is building up a place for Hekate's worship. There's a lot of personal builds in this one that come from my own worship and work with Hekate, but it's also it's own thing, and it's so fun. I intend for this to be a fairly long-term world and project. The city I see is big and walled, and there's a significant amount of terraforming I will need to do before I get to that point. I have the Cathedral to finish, as well as it's gardens, and I have more exploration to do, including finding the woodland mansion in the mountains about 1000 blocks away. I want this to be the world where I beat the game for the first time.

#the mountain shrine - This is another Java solo world I started for 1.20, seed 3718928586175470756. I'm currently playing on survival peaceful, though I may switch to easy eventually so I can get an iron farm and xp farm going, since I've found those so helpful in my other Java world. Tho. THO. tbf. My mountains are infested with gigantic deep dark biomes, and breaking skulk to get xp is working really well as a peaceful xp farm for the moment. I have big plans for terraforming the area including building shrines on the mountain oppsite, building a river/lake between the mountains, and essentially following along with Pix's survival guide progress, just as a challenge for myself to push my survival skills a little bit further. I'm currently working on villagers at the moment, at a village a few hundred blocks away. My next build is going to be a storage build + barn that's situated on some flatter land between the village and my mountain base, bc I'm already growing out of the small storage room in my starter house lolololololol. But I see this base as being very expansive, and once I have saddles and good pathways, I'll be able to ride everywhere between the village and the other buildings I'll make around here. It's part inside the mountain, part out in the valleys, and when I go and get some cherry grove saplings, I'll plant them all over the mountains.

[ofspvrta]

She had trekked all day to find this place. Started from the port and followed the directions Barnabas had given her. Kassandra had never taken stock in the gods but so much had happened that shook her beliefs that by the time her true heritage had been revealed to her, she was less shocked at the discovery as she was annoyed that she hadn't been told sooner.

A demigod, one of Zeus' bastard children. Destined for greatness and a burden that was placed upon her shoulders before she was even born. She'd wondered how much of what she'd endured was just normal bad luck or Hera having a hand in her misfortune. When the old man had suggested seeking an audience with Hekate for answers, for the first time in a long while, she hadn't immediately brushed off the idea of turning to the gods for answers.

She had waited by the crossroads for a few minutes, did everything she'd been advised to do, and then waited. Everything felt unnaturally silent. What was it Barnabas had said to listen for? A pause as a howl punctuated the quiet night air. And then another. An entire choir of canines giving praise to an unseen moon. The omen of her coming.

As she heard footsteps approaching behind her, the misthios turned on her heels, torch illuminating a hooded figure that she just knew was smiling... she couldn't even see her face.

What did one even say to a god? This was all so strange for her, but if she could face the beasts of old lore, she could face this too. Only, this wasn't a battle, it was a conversation. "I seek an audience," that sounded so unlike her to say. "I am at a crossroads of sorts, I find myself caught between two worlds and I don't know what happens next. I've got one foot among the divine and the other among the mortals... I don't know how to navigate this."

@ofspvrta requested a starter from HEKATE!

The torches lighting up the crossroads illuminate the darkness of the new moon night. This place, at this time of month, was well known to be a sacred spot to her. Already offerings were laid here, asking for luck and safety on journeys or wisdom to specific problems.

Not long after Kassandra arrived seeking audience, did the world around this place turn silent - even the crackling of the torches and rustle of the breeze seemed muted. Tension held in the air, waiting for something to happen.

Then a dog began to howl in the distance, one at first but then a chorus, all howling out together. An omen Barnabas spoke about before for the goddess.

The howl of a dog often preceeds the goddess's arrival.

Soft footsteps could momentarily be heard behind Kassandra before they settled. Upon turning, she would see a cloaked figure, face obscured behind a flowing dark veil. But somehow it can be felt that she is smiling.

"I hear your call, and finally we meet. Many have prayed to me on your behalf and now here we are. Why do you ask for me?" The voice echoes around the small valley this road runs through, yet is quiet enough to sound as if it is floating on the night breeze..

[that-sweet-jester]

Just a bunch of bad guys

A little background below ⬇⬇⬇

HA I TRICKED YOU, it's not little, it's a lot!

Alright, this was just supposed to be an attempt at character design of my own after I read bunch of Superhero AUs, but I got carried away and created some lore :')

-WILBUR-

Full Name: Both him and Techno had been adopted by Philza at young age and took up his last name, but wanted to keep something of their own. Hence, both have their nicknames "Soot" and "Blade" (not last names, they don't know what they were).

Alias: I wanted to base all names of the Syndicate on Greek mythology, however I had hard time finding something for Wilbur. I came close to calling him Apollo, but most of the things attributed to this god, aside being the patron of music, just didn't align with what I had in mind for him. Thus, ta da, "very original" Siren. Even tho, it's not really a name name - "lured sailors to their death with a bewitching song" just fits too well.

Powers: Hypnotic voice was an obvious choice, but I wanted all of them to have two main abilities. Thus, after long search I stumbled upon enhanced hearing, and hear me out. Wilbur wears mask over his eyes (he can see through it) but it gives the illusion that one of his senses is gone, and what they say when one sense is taken away? Another one amplifies >:D And I just think that someone whose powers are based on sound would be more sensitive to it. It's not like he has super hearing for miles away, he can just hear well what someone is whispering like few meters away form him :p

OK THAT'S IT. I think that's the most I've ever written on this site. To anyone who've read the whole thing: ily <333 thank for reading my rambling and sorry for any grammatical errors, English is not my first language and I was too lazy to do a spell check.

-TECHNO-

Full name: Explained before. I'm sorry, but I just can't separate those names from them, there is no Techno without Blade.

Alias: Now I spent a lot of time on this one, bc I just couldn't settle on anything. First I thought about Ares, for being the patron of blood lust and warfare, but just, it didn't work that much for me, I just think there should be more meaning behind the name. Then I searched more, I stumbled on Polemos and some other I can't remember and finally settled on Perses.

PERSES was the Titan god of destruction. He was the father of Hekate, goddess of witchcraft, by the Titanis Asteria ("Starry One"). Perses' name means "the Destroyer" or "the Ravager" from the Greek words persô and perthô. Hesiod inexplicably describes him as "preeminent among all men in wisdom"

And I just think this one's perfect. God of destruction? nice. "The Ravager"? Techno loved mc ravagers and I just can't pass this coincidence. "Preeminent among all men in wisdom"? Man's crazy smart, also as I'll explain more in a moment, Techno knows things he shouldn't really know, and he's almost always ahead of everyone, so, check. Also, my fav goddess aside form Persephone is Hecate so, additional point.

Powers: Enhanced durability is pretty explanatory. Mans could be thrown through a building and only his hair would get messy, maybe a bruise here and there and a lot of complaining, but that's it. You need someone equally powerful to bring him down. NOW, hyper awarness, man oh man, so I NEEDED to include the voices somehow. And I never saw them as something negative in his case. Of course, during combat, they start to demand bloodshed and make him sometimes loose control or result in sensory overload. BUT most of all, thanks to them he knows things - names of people or locations he never seen before, where the punch is coming at him from, answers to weird questions, who stole his food, and why is it always Wilbur, etc etc. So, yeah I thought that writing it down as hyper awarness, might work.

Additional info: His eyes are always red, but his sclera changes color to black when he's out on a mission or fighting, basically when the voices become louder the eyes become more intense in color. As civilian he wears red glasses most of the time to somehow mask the real color.

-PHILZA-

Full Name: You have no idea how much I wanted to write him down as Philza Mine Craft.

Alias: So, I also struggled to find a name for him. I was battling between Thanatos or simply calling him The Angel of Death. But then I was struck and everything became clear. I love fanfics where Phil was a hero before he saw how bad the system is and decides to become the "bad guy" who's actually kinda good, but does bad things sometimes. So, why not use it. In my version, before he became a villain, he was known as Angel, the Hero Committee wasn't as fully developed, so the heros still could stay anonymous, that's why even now they don't know his real identity. After he left he decided to take up new alias and therefore Thanatos was born. Person with black wings associated with Death, also now has a scythe??? Fits perfectly. And that's how people from calling him Angel started calling him The Angel of Death.

Powers: He has the ability to hide his wings and manifest them whenever he wants. I thought about making them just permanent, but I think it's just cooler when suddenly you see a character spring out a pair of big wings out of their back out of nowhere for the shock effect. (no i wasn't just too lazy to draw them, what are you talking about)

Avian telephaty - I also just couldn't not include the Chat. Wherever you see a cloud of crows you know the Angel of Death is nearby. He can communicate with any bird that is a raven, crow or rook. They're his eyes and ears.

Now, I can't leave without giving some credit to the writers that inspired me:

The Oath of Hippocrates by Melatonin_High

tommyinnit's clinic for supervillains by bonesandthebees (bonesandcacti)

Welcome Home Theseus by SoulfirePhoenix

All of them are on Ao3 and are super cool, so give them a read <3

Also, I'm planning on drawing Vigilante Benchtrio but we'll see how much that'll take me xd

[koraki-pharmakis]

10 Myths About Hellenismos

Today, let's address some popular myths (and the truths) about Hellenismos and its deities. Not very surprisingly, most of these things come from Wicca or Christian colonization. You can believe these things if you want, they just aren't from the religion.

Myth 1: Deity work is dangerous

Truth: Deity work, in Hellenismos, isn't any more dangerous than worshiping the Christian god is supposed to be. This notion didn't originate in Hellenismos, and is also a largely neopagan idea. Our theoi aren't monsters or aggressive. They won't kill you over tiny mistakes. Just respect them, do what you can, and you'll be fine.

Remember that even in the mythos, people aren't smited for the wrong offering. They're smited for blatant and deliberate disrespect, which by nature can't be done accidentally.

Our deities genuinely aren't easily angered. They wont be mad if you reach out to them, if you confuse them for something else, if you give them the wrong offering, etc.

Myth 2: You need to look out for entities impersonating deities

Truth: Again, this isn't remotely from Hellenismos. Our gods cannot be impersonated by evil entities. Frankly, we don't really have entities with that desire or power in the religion. If you're contacting a Hellenic deity, and you get an affirmative response, you contacted them. The idea you didn't, or that something else is lying to you, is from outside the religion. Our deities are more powerful than random ghosts, and our religion doesn't have that concept.

Myth 3: Hekate is a moon goddess/crone

Truth: Hekate is associated with the moon, but she is not a goddess of the moon. She is the goddess of one lunar phase--the dark moon, which is on the eve of Hekate's Deipnon. She is also not a crone goddess outside of neopaganism and Wicca. Historically, she was depicted as a maiden. Her triple form was also not maiden/mother/crone, simply a triple maiden-esque figure.

Myth 4: Hestia gave her seat to Dionysos/Apollon took Helios's chariot

Truth: Honestly, it's just a difference in counting. Some deities were and weren't Olympians depending on time, culture, and locations. No seats on Olympos were "given up," it's just that sometimes one is there and sometimes the other isn't.

As for the chariot, no. Apollon didn't replace Helios. They were synchronized, but Apollon didn't "take" the chariot, and Helios was never removed. Helios is still the sun--his name is literally "sun."

Myth 5: The myths are history/Hellenic Polytheists believe in the myths

Truth: The characters in myths are real to us, and some myths are literal, but in general, Hellenic mythology is not meant to be taken fully literally. Most of it is symbolic. Additionally, a lot of the r*pe in the mythos is translation errors. We believe in our heroes and our gods, and we believe there is truth in the myths, but no, our mythology isn't like Christian mythology--it's not expected or really encouraged to believe the myths are strictly true history. The myths aren't even consistent over time and location, so it's simply impossible to believe in all of them at once. But no, our gods do not act the way they do in mythology. Myths are by and for mortals, and do not capture the divine.

Myth 6: It's disrespectful to dress up as or write fiction about the gods

Truth: This is just ridiculous and ahistoric. The majority of Ancient Greek theater was deity cosplay and fanfiction. I said what I said.

This can definitely be done disrespectfully, but isn't inherently disrespectful. You also aren't required to represent the theoi fully accurately in this.

Myth 6: X god is Y orientation/gender

Truth: While you can certainly theorize our theoi's sexuality, and none of our gods are cishet by modern standards, none of the gods can only be interpreted as one gender or orientation. The terms we ascribe to them are based on mythos, portrayals, and modern interpretation of historic social roles.

The most common of these theories are maiden goddesses as aroace (ie. Hestia, Athena, Artemis), erastes (top) gods as bi men (ie. Zeus, Apollon, Patroklos), eromenos (bottom) gods as gay men (ie. Ganymedes, Hyakinthos, Akhilleus), and Artemis as a lesbian.

None of these are wrong, to be clear. It's just not as simple as using our modern labels for them. Erastes and eromenos were both considered straight in Ancient Greece; being a 'virgin' didn't always mean celibate; Artemis can be interpreted as bi, lesbian, and/or aroace based on her myths. You can interpret them however you like--I certainly interpret my gods as queer--but there is no single right answer.

Myth 7: You need a patron or to be devoted to someone, or can only have one patron/be devoted to one god, & devotion is an oath

Truth: Patron deities are more of a principle in neopaganism and Wicca than in Hellenismos. Worshiping the theoi does not require you to find a patron or devote to a deity, ever. Patronage is not particularly important or common, unless you are thinking of a patron god of a trade (ie. if you're a blacksmith your patron is Hephaistos).

Devotion is also not exclusive, and never requires an oath. Oaths in Hellenismos are extremely serious, and should never be taken without extreme caution. If you aren't willing to die if you break the oath, don't make it--find something else. You probably wont die, but that's the necessary level of certainty. Devotion, while serious, is not as serious as being oath-bound. You can be devoted to multiple deities, and devotion can be called off if needed. You can't really call off an oath.

Myth 8: X god is a r*pist!

Truth: Please stop it. Just stop it. No. Especially if you're basing that on Lore Olympus. The mythology isn't fact, weird inaccurate mythology fanfic written by someone who doesn't know anything about the myths isn't fact.

The mythology isn't straight up history. The myths were often mistranslated (the Greek word for r*pe didn't just mean r*pe) and they aren't facts. They were also products of their culture. So. No. They are not. And their worshipers aren't r*pe apologists.

Myth 9: Titans are evil and/or Olympians hate titans

Truth: Titans are fine. Really. They're not evil, they're not going to hurt you. They're just another kind of Theoi. Many of them were actually a large part of the historic religion. Hekate's Deipnon was a monthly festival, after all. And no, Olympians don't hate titans. Remember the point about myths not being literal.

Myth 10: The gods are jealous

Truth: No, the gods will not be jealous if you worship another god. They wont be jealous if you worship another pantheon, or if you need a break. If you're a god consort, they won't be jealous if you're interested in other mortals or deities. If you're a devotee, they won't be upset if you devote to other deities.

The most jealous a god gets is upset if you break an oath, promise, or agreement with them. If you promised them a daily libation but skipped it for another deity without permission, they may get upset. But even then, that's not really jealousy.

Myth 11: If you work with X deity, you can't work with Y

Truth: This is usually based on rivalry in mythology, and isn't true at all. Related to the above jealousy point, no deity in real life hates another deity, especially not enough that if you worship both they'll be upset. You can worship Aphrodite and Persephone. You can honor Hera and Leto.

Most of these gods are actually happy if you honor other theoi. Many of them are family, or share domains.

If enough people are interested, I might make a part two, because this is barely the tip of the iceberg. RBs welcome from pagans and non-pagans alike.