#hestia appreciation

[just-a-simple-wanderer]

Added my first offerings to my altar!

Surprisingly to me, they were not for Hermes, who I still feel is my main deity, but for Hestia! I suppose it makes sense, since she receives the first part of all offerings, that she would get my first true offerings. Besides, she’s helped a lot with my mom and I cleaning up our house.

Anyway, I gave her a whisker I had found from my cat after he had snuggled and purred me down from a panic attack and today I bought her a little carved pig figurine!

I hope she likes them. 😊💜

[beatingdrumspouringwine]

Dionysos Loves His Mom(s), a very long essay

Going to just preface this by saying that I may/may not have gone a bit overboard, but I hope everyone enjoys reading my rambles on how amazing it is that we still have this message even through to day, how important this is for our understanding of Dionysos, and also just a little bit of (what I hope will come across as) Semele appreciation :) Also, I did write this during finals week, so if it seems rambly, please bear with me ;-;

And for clarification, I'll be referring to Semele with capitalized pronouns because even though She was human, mythologically, while carrying Dionysos, She was also deified by Him after He brought Her up from the Underworld.

The first interesting thing is that we get our description of Dionysos, as well as the love he shows for His Mother, in Greek mythology. While myths are usually pretty good resources for understanding the Gods, they are also usually written by the people who are in power at the time - which would be specifically older men who were not slaves. Because of this, a lot of myths tend to trend towards the "male" perspective of the Athenians. Also because of this, women are frequently represented in a very negative light, or at least as being relatively unimportant.

There are no Gods who have quite a relationship with Their Mothers like Dionysos has of His. Some of the Gods technically have no mother, like Aphrodite and Athena, and others just... don't seem to have much of a relationship at all. And this isn't necessarily to say that the Gods that we worship don't love Their Mothers, but more that the popular attitude of Greek society was simply to push women off to the side, and let the men take the glory.

And then, strangely, we have Dionysos, He Who Takes No Shit When It Comes to Women, as well as Him Who Has Two Moms. He's already something of an anti-Athena in Greek mythology, for while She was born of Zeus's head, and Metis was a sort of mother-base, Dionysos was born of two mothers, and from Zeus, in a way that echoes an intimate, "maternal" sort of birth, instead of the detached birth of Athena. And we know full well that Dionysos did not forget about either of His first two mothers. Persephone and Him famously get along well enough that they shared a rite in the form of the Eleusinian Mysteries, and it is to Persephone that initiates go, telling Her that the Bakkhic One Himself has freed us!

And we haven't even touched on Semele! It's one thing to have a divine Mother to welcome us to the afterlife. It's another thing to have a once-human-become-Goddess Mother in the form of Semele-Thyone. And Dionysos loves Her as well, very much so as well! Even though He never met Her as a child, He still very clearly has a lot of love for Her. At the start of the Bacchae, when Dionysos first arrives in Thebes, you will notice that one of the very first things He mentions in His monologue is that His mother is being disrespected by King Pentheus, and that this disrespect is part of the reason why He has driven the women of the city mad, as well as the sisters of Semele, who also were disrespecting Her.

This loyalty is only further emphasized by the fact that even though Semele is dead at the time of the Bacchae (and obviously after it as well, as the myth of Dionysos traveling to the underworld is an entirely separate story). And yet we must once again emphasize that this was written in a time where mothers were so often thrown under the bus (or horse-drawn chariot), and all of these myths were notably written by men, as far as we know. It seems that there is an inherent thread which ties Dionysos to the world of women, or at least has Him incredibly sympathetic to it, and one which could not be broken with all of the hyper-patriarchal nonsense that was woven deep into the cultural fabric of ancient Greece, especially Athens.

And to finish this fun little rant off, I want to offer two significantly longer ideas than the initial thing that I wrote! One for reflection on how we relate to Dionysos (and how He relates to us), and another as a reflection on Semele-Thyone and how She relates to us, and how we should relate to Her.

To start, this sympathy that Dionysos shows with women does, in some ways, hits culturally closer to a sisterhood than to the way that a man would have been encouraged to act towards women in ancient Greece. Dionysos as God understands His band of madwomen's own self-worth, and does not question their autonomy. Instead, he seems to encourage it, especially with all of the sassing he gives Pentheus while being grilled by him. This is such a good thing for all of us. Not only is Dionysos a friend of humanity, but He is specifically a friend for the marginalized. Whoever finds themselves marginalized in society will be His "favorites", so to speak, because that is where He truly finds His followers. It's almost as if He naturally finds where there is a power imbalance, and jumps on the other side to even things out, even if it is a little bit. I also think that this same "purposeful marginalization" is something which adds further theological credence to Dionysos being also validly a trans woman and nonbinary, as He does not sit within a patriarchal "Him"-ness, but rather within a "Him"-ness that refers to a more equal world.

Moving on to Semele-Thyone, we have a wonderful ally in a divine woman, sympathetic to humans, who knows full well not only the sufferings of humanity, and the pain in disrespect, but also the importance of kindness and respect towards others. In Greek mythological and religious canon, Semele-Thyone became the Goddess of the Bacchic revel, which, if you really think about it, isn't just about the Bacchic revel (it's never "just about the Bacchic revels"). This also tells us that Thyone, like Her Son, is also a God of the marginalized. Like Dionysos, She oversees the safety and wellbeing of the community which Her Son has founded. In some way, Thyone has become a Mom to all of us, through Her assistance with the divine inspiration that strikes frenzied devotees. It's a caring thing, too!

Anyways, the long and short of this is - Dionysos loves His Mom, Semele-Thyone is an incredibly underrated Goddess, and Mother's Day was yesterday. So hug your mom if you've got a good relationship with her, and if not, we can all borrow Dionysos' Mom :)

[coriander-candlesticks]

I was pouring a promised libation out to Hermes, Apollo, Aphrodite, and Dionysus this afternoon (I'd asked them for help with a personal matter involving a sibling) and as I was looking up at the sky talking about the situation I saw three hawks start to circle something a little ways in the distance. Hawks aren't exactly uncommon here but it had been a while since I'd seen any, let alone three at once, so it caught my attention.

And while I was trying to figure out what type of bird they were (not an eagle, too short a neck to be a vulture, etc) one of them swooped down into a neighbor's backyard and back up along the tree in my backyard, close enough that, if a branch weren't in the way, I would have been able to see its feather markings. While hawks were somewhat usual, experiencing that certainly was not. So, of course, when I got inside I looked up if any Greek gods are associated with hawks.

And, of course, Apollo is.

I've been thinking a lot about the difference between "this is just a Thing That Happens" and a sign so it was nice to see a direct example of how something differs when it's coming from a god.

[written-in-the-starlight]

Made altars for Artemis and Hestia today. I don't have much space, so they were really small, but the Hestia one felt right. As soon as I made it, there was a similar sort of feeling to what I get from my main altar. Like, an immediate 'yeah, this is a special place' sort of vibe. It felt like an altar for Hestia. Artemis', on the other hand, did not. It just felt like a small box of stuff. And, I mean, it kind of makes sense. I was at home, I was in the place that I'd do stuff like offerings, I was in Hestia's domain. But Artemis is the goddess of hunting and wild animals. It's probably a lot more difficult to make a special place for her where I live, which is not very wild or nature-y at all, and I'm still trying to figure out how to create a sort of wild space in a small indoor area.

[cardboard-writer]

Wonder Woman by Linda Medley:

Link

[isforever-moved]

friendship over with every single helluva boss character, the problematic penguins are my new favorite.

[hearthpaw]

i do have to learn about the other gods if im only interested in worshipping hestia? i know some basic stuff about the other gods/goddesses but none of the myths

I personally dont study myths in detail. I find them interesting, but not spiritually game changing. every process is different! Studying other gods may help you to better understand the context Hestia was worshipped in, but you don't have to rush that process.

For me, I worship hestia more in an archetypal sense than literally Greek Goddess Hestia, 1 for 1, as the ancient greeks would have done. like to me she is more of a way to represent the power and emotionality of the Home and hearth, and how it relates into my spiritual/witchy beliefs.

I dont find connecting with myth to make me feel more connected to that sense of belonging and comfort in the home. I also don't find that studying other gods in detail strengthens my connection to the ones I devote to. (sorry if that doesnt make much sense, its abstract and kindof hard to explain for me, as im still figuring out my own beliefs!! )

id say experiment and do what feels right to you, if learning more about the context makes you feel more connected to Hestia, continue to go for it! if it doesnt, skipping out isnt going to like. insult anyone imo. no harm in just learning more about it, even if that knowledge ends up being minimally useful, or you don't continue it very long. good to feel things out for yourself!

[cultdionysus]

Hestia,

Protector of the home,

Goddess of the hearth,

Tender of Olympus’ flame 🕯️

Please hear my prayer:

Thank you for your protection during these difficult times.

Please protect my home from further damage. Please grant me luck and protect me from misfortune and accidents.

Please watch over my home and protect it when no one is there.

Please allow any plumbing issues and the water damage to be fixed without further damage,

so that my boyfriend and I can return home to rest and recover 💕🧿

🧿

[personinthepalace]

Ok so as far as I remember the minor gods like Hestia or Nyx or Nemesis don't have cabins until the end of the series when Percy makes his deal with the gods

Ooh gotcha - thanks! For some reason I thought that Hestia was one of the Twelve Olympians. But I just looked it up and apparently the 12th Olympian is usually either Dionysus or Hestia

[stellacaerulea]

I don't have a witty subtitle for this

[juliandevorakshonkers]

how my conversation with hestia just went basically

me: hey hestia sorry I haven’t been practicing much but I feel up to it again!!

hestia: don’t worry my child it is ok :)

me: thank you my lady I appreciate it, I want to do stuff for Yule! Do you want me to bake anything?

hestia before I even finish that sentence: COOKIES

me: uhmmm haha you want me to bake cookies?

hestia: YES PLEASE

me: ok haha I can do that! Do you have any crystals you want?

hestia, once again before I finish the sentence: RED JASPER

me: uhhh?? Red jasper? Are you sure? It’s not really associated with you I don’t think-

hestia: RED JASPER RED JASPER RED JASPER RED-

me: OK UNDERSTOOD I GOT IT I WILL GET YOU RED JASPER AHAHHAHA THANK YOU HESTIA

hestia: thank you :D

[alyssa-the-witch]

Offerings and their Removal

Disclosure, this may not apply to everyone! Cherry pick it if that works for you, or take none at all. Just no hate or arguments in the comments!

Definition- Offering - Something given to an entity or deity to show appreciation. This can also be something done or said to show appreciation.

~~~~~Types of Offerings~~~~~

Food- In ancient tradition, specifically Greek, the first bites of food were thrown into the fire to be sent through the gods by smoke. However, this isn't an option for many people these days. Alternative methods are favored.

Fire - The old methods are still applicable if available. If one has a bon fire or fire-place/hearth, the first bite of food can still be "smoked" , per-say.

Prayer - A small prayer can be said over food before the first bite is taken. Just a simple "Entity/spirit, please accept this offering, Blessed Be" or something similar can suffice. This, for some deities like Hestia can be done at the end too. This is more convenient for a hidden practice and for those who can't afford to waste food.

Altar- If you have an altar, or ever a small bowl, they can place the first bite of food there for the deity entity too.

Objects and Trinkets- Just like us, deities/entities love little trinkets. Whether it be a few coins you find nice to a statue or an engraved candle. Whatever it my be, it can be given to an entity with a prayer and/or on an altar in their honor.

Removables - There are some things that can be placed on altar and taken off. I like to call them removables. When placed on an altar, one could say "Entity/Deity, bless this object, with your energy and blessings." let it sit for a moment or cleanse with incense. If a clothing item, accessory, or perfume, you can take it off and use/wear it. Just remember to put it back to refresh the energy and discuss before taking it off for the first time.

Actions - There are also things that one can do in offer of a deity or entity. They can be small things, like prayers, to full-on rituals.

Prayer- This is probably the easiest in my opinion. It can be a small "Hey entity/deity, I appreciate you." on the go, or reciting a hymn or a prayer by the altar. It's incredibly diverse and can meld to any practice.

Chores - This can apply more to some deities than others, but just Keeping your room and house tidy can be done in honor of a deity. Altars specifically can be cleaned or re-arranged as an offering

Art-In ancient times, arts of every kind were offered to deities ant spirits. And it can fit most anyone's style.

Music- written specifically or just a song you think reminds you of them. Drawings/Paintings- try thing that reminds you of the deity or how you see them can be drawn or painted. Others- Pottery, Dance, Crocheting or handy crafts, or even more. All can be done in offering to a deity. Specifics - If you have done research into who you're offering to, you can offer specific things. Sleep for Hypnos, Baking bread for Hestia, Rehearsing if in the arts for Dionysus, etc. Self Care- This not a lot of people think applies, however the gas most want you to be kind to your self. whether it be a bath with oils, flower petals, and all the works to just brushing your teeth at night. All would make the gods/entities very proud of you!!

~~~~~Disposal~~~~~

This is something a bit more difficult; You did the thing, you think it's time, now what do you do? A decent chunk of this section was taken from @khaire-traveler. Obviously, actions cannot be "removed" Once the action is complete, the offering is sent.

Food- khaire narrowed it into 4 options that I really like. Just remember, when on an alter, don't let it sit too long for health concerns (rotting, bugs, etc.)

Consume - After praying aver the food like I had mentioned before.

Bum - Also mentioned before, but can be done after sitting at an altar for awhile.

Bury- Food offerings. if safe for local wildlife, can be buried. "My logic in burying them (only if environmentally safe) is returning the offering to the earth in a sense." (khair-3) (Yes its MLA cited, AP capstone has rotted my brain) If that fits Your practice, it is a good option.

Dispose, - This, like everything else here, must be done with respect. Clarify with the entity/deity that you aren't doing so out of disrespect, rather because this is your preferred disposal style or your only option

Objects/Art Pieces- If you have this ability, talk to your entity/deity about it, clarify there is no disrespect in the removal, and give the deity some time to de-attach to it. Slowly, the energy will fade from the object when kept away from the altar. This doesn't need to a ritual, but can be if that's what you prefer

Thank you for reading! This is my first fore into the pagan-sphere, so if this is something a lot of people like, I'll continue! Blessed Be, Alyssa the Witch!

[royal-wren]

A little appreciation for the domains of a deity that don't get much attention/recognition. I'm making this because I do think it would be lovely if the aspects mentioned below got more attention, and additions not mentioned are welcome so long as it's an obscure part of them. This was going to be just a few and then I got carried away and did the main Twelve Olympians

A little love for:

Apollon as the God of Foreigners (the Arcadian friendship's harmony with Hermes being the god of travelers/way-god couldn't be any louder)

Aphrodite as a Goddess of the Arts (anything love-themed falls to her by default)

Ares of Civil Order, Defender, and Of Courage

Artemis as the Goddess of Dancing and equal Leader of the Mousai

Athene as the Goddess of Carpentry, Metalwork, and Sculpting

Demeter as Friend of Peace and Law-Giver

Hephaistos as the one with a delicate touch that creates beautiful works of art (It isn't so much unknown but honestly the thing I love most and not the first thing one thinks of with his talents/image)

Hera as the Skillful Bender of Language, Bender of Oaths and Promises

Hermes, God of Peace/Diplomacy, Divine Protector of All, as well as a God of Poetry and Knowledge (rightfully the other half to Athene)

Hestia of the Earth, Earth Dwelling and Delighting in the Works of Man, The One That Made Buildings

Poseidon of Fertility, the Plant Nurturer, and Holder of the Earth

Zeus of the People, Gracious and Merciful, Of Refuge, Counsellor

[morphic-mythos]

Hey friends; I'd appreciate a boost on this! I'm gathering some research material and would be very interested to know from Hellenic polytheists which deity feels the most present or immanent in your life. When I say "present or immanent," I mean the deity who feels most involved in your life, or the one who is most responsive to your prayers/offerings. The one that makes you think, "Wow, the gods are actually with me." That kind of thing.

Thank you in advance! 💜

[starless-nightz]

I saw the anon who asked for the Nico x reader and it gave my silly wlw brain an idea. Can I please request Clarisse x daughter of Hestia reader? Thank you!

Clarisse with a daughter of Hestia! S/O

note -> I LOVE CLARISSE SO MUCH AHHHHH!!!

warnings -> none.

content includes -> fluff, teasing, protective! Clarisse, more i am too lazy to add.

While Clarisse is fiercely headstrong, you balance her with calm and nurturing. While Clarisse would probably be the first to dive into a fight, you, the daughter of Hestia, are more often the one to comfort her with gentle words and warm cuddles that soothe, especially after a talk with her father.

Clarisse can't help but tease yoz a little now and then, often referring to you as "Hearth Girl" or "Little Flame" with a smirk on her face. There's always something in her eyes, though, always softer when she looks at you, and you know it's Clarisse's way of being sweet.

Clarisse is fiercely protective of you, especially since she views you as a soothing balm in her otherwise crazy world. She's always watching out for you at Camp Half-Blood, and anyone who gets in your way has to answer to Clarisse. You usually find it cute, even if you are more than capable of taking care of yourself.

You, as the daughter of Hestia, have a knack for home in a place, no matter where it is, and that is something Clarisse truly appreciates, though she may rarely say it out loud. She likes going back home to the snugly fit places her other half creates for her, be it a well-lit cabin or even an area at the campsite with a warm blanket ready.

Clarisse doesn’t open up nor does she show people her softer side, you are the only person who has ever seen her soft side. Often enough, she just places her head on your shoulder, allowing herself to be vulnerable in the safety of sour warmth. And you know such moments are few and fond.

People will often find you encouraging her, either with a pep talk before some big training or quietly tending to her injuries after battles. You know how to be supportive without making her feel weak, which Clarisse respects a lot.

You love showing your love in small acts, like setting aside some dessert and saving it for Clarisse, patching her armor with much care, or leaving little notes of encouragement for her. At first, Clarisse acts as though this means nothing; but you know she saves each note somewhere safe.

Although she tries to behave as if it does not matter, deep inside, Clarisse likes being domestic in your relationship. She found some sense of comfort in watching you tend to the hearth or make tea, being glad to sit nearby, pretending she wasn't just enjoying the warmth and comfort of your presence.

Many nights the two sit at the warmly burning campfire and talk deep into the night. Clarisse is not the talkative sort, but her words come with much more ease when around her are the sounds of crickets and your gentle humming, keeping her warm. She finds comfort in it.

Although Clarisse is not particularly good at revealing her feelings, she learns from you. She tries to return the favor by rearing to cook or making a little picnic around the campfire. Sometimes it may not be perfect, but you always appreciate that and reassure her that the thought counts.

[mer-acle]

The Greek Gods, described by me:

(pls take this as hc I just have vibes)

Zeus:

That uncle that thinks they're fun at parties, but actually everybody just wants them to shut up and stop talking about the shape of the earth. Knows the truth and what's best for you (hmmm)

Poseidon:

That uncle that is perpetually absent, but very loud when he does show. Teases everyone and never notices that some of it hurts. Has slightly less unhinged ideas about the world than Zeus but is just as annoying about them.

Hades:

The uncle that at least gets how unhinged everything is. Usually has the reasonable arguments but nobody listens. Has no idea what you are up to, but at least he feels bad that he's distant. Hates family gatherings even more than the second generation.

Hera:

True professional. Made bad choices (marrying Zeus) but now guess we'll deal with it. Olympus runs because of her. Being a bastard child does not serve you well, unless what you want actively annoys Zeus, or if you know not to expect a mother figure but approach her as queen.

Demeter:

Tries to fix Olympus sometimes, but it never goes well. Perfectly agreeable until you go after the environment (honestly you go girl). Is a genuinely sweet Mom who probably cries if you get her a gift because she loves you so much. Probably will get a dog to compensate for you growing up and moving out (even if you didn't get kidnapped first)

Hestia:

The best. Always has hot chocolate and a place to unwind. Honestly everyone would be happier if they spent more time with her. Possibly the only God who genuinely knows peace.

Athena:

Oh look, the oldest and gifted too. No coincidence that there was nothing about being happy in that prophecy about her. Is naturally good at pretty much anything she tries, except feelings. Will join in with the first gen's arguments even though there's nothing to be gained, it's just hard to sit by all the bullshit when you know better.

Hephaestus:

Honestly a pretty chill dude. Just wants to make things. Every few hundred years he'll make something evil-scientist-y so Olympus remembers he's not a doormat. Would have coined the word introvert if Hades hadn't beaten him to it.

Aphrodite:

Smarter than you think. Torn between being exactly what everyone sees her as and being anything but. Don't mistake love for harmony, this girl holds her ground and just bc she has emotional intelligence does not mean she won't punch where it really stings.

Ares:

They really screwed this guy over, he's just doing his job. Yes, he will kill you, but not if you're unarmed. Honest, strong, straightforward, and can be gentle as long as not on the battlefield. Give this big man some appreciation and self-esteem, by Styx!

Artemis:

A mythic bitch. Possibly the first ever activist, making a point of breaking gender norms. Smart, capable, and independent. Her views can be a little extreme at times, but you can't deny that running around the woods with a bunch of wild nymphs lesbians imo is massive lifegoals

Apollo:

Fabulous. Cannot pick a hobby to save his life. Is the most competent and put-together medic ever but outside of the tent, he cries about puppy videos. Always torn between "I am the best there ever was" and "I am a failure of a man, a god, a being!"

Hermes:

God of ADHD and we love him for it. Also a little menace who is simultaneously an amazing liar and can't keep his mouth shut when he really should (thankfully he's quick on his feet). Physically unable to take anything seriously.

Dionysus:

Does all the drugs (which is especially crazy given he can actually die) Being the youngest does actually do nothing for him. God of side quests and mayhem. Seriously mess with him and your mental health is gone forever (that explains a lot about me actually)