#over here like “apollon

[arrowheadedbitch]

Perhaps the worst thing about growing up christian is the way the issues convert. What the fuck do you mean I have pagan guilt now.

[altis-of-olympia]

Khaire Altis! Any advice for building kharis?? I've been worshipping the theoi for over a year but I still as if we are not close, probably due to the fact that I don't worship consistently. Thanks in advance

Xaire, Anon!

When it comes to building Kharis, it isn't something that can be rushed. It takes time, and it has nothing to do with consistent worship. Here are some ways you can build Kharis without consistently offering things to them, and hopefully these are disability and neurodivergence-friendly.

Think about them. If you are walking past a flower stand, thank Queen Persephone for the Spring, Lady Demeter for the harvest, and Lord Pan for the nature they hailed from. If you are at the beach, thank Lady Aphrodite for the sea foam and King Poseidon and Queen Amphitrite for the waves. In the rain, thank King Zeus for fertilization and life. Simply think about them and thank them.

Talk about them. Educate others on the myths and nuances surrounding them. Tell people about the representation of Queer love and expression in some of the relationships of Greek Mythos, like Lord Apollon and Hyacinthus or Cyprus. Talk about the nuance of the relationship between Queen Hera and King Zeus. Talk about how important the home and hearth is to venerate and honor Lady Hestia. Talk about them.

Say Good morning and Goodnight. I built Kharis with Lord Apollon by saying good morning and thanking Him for pulling Helios across the sky every morning, and at sunset I'd say goodnight to Him and Welcome Lady Artemis with an esteemed "Good evening."

Pray to them. Pray to them and praise them, sing them hymns, or even just write them down whenever you remember to.

Write letters of introduction to them. I did this with Lord Hermes/Signore Ermetes recently to welcome Him into my practice on a deeper level. And He has been putting me into contact with a variety of Gods as of late - write the letter and pray over it, or leave it on an altar, or offer it to Lord Hermes to carry to the appropriate Divinity.

Listen to music that reminds you of them. Make them playlists. Write your own music in their honor. Music is an amazing way to express emotions and gratitude to the Theoi.

Dedicate parts of your routine to them. Things you already do in your day-to-day. If you're showering, or even just caring for your hygiene in the ways that you can, dedicated it to Lady Aphrodite as an act of self-care. Take your meds in honor of Lord Apollon and Lord Asklepios. Cook your meal in honor of Lady Hestia. Or rotate who you devote certain acts to. When I go to the gym, I cycle between offering it to Lord Ares, King Zeus, and Odysseus.

Dedicate your moments of rest to them. Thank them for the opportunity to rest and allowing it to be rejuvenating, or even for allowing a moment to catch your breath.

Simply talk to them. This can be more informal than prayer. Tell them about your day. Talk out loud, or think it at them. Something I do when I'm a bit frazzled in my room is, if an altar catches my eye, I say hello to the God whose space it is. If King Zeus's altar catches my eye, I take a moment to say, "Hello, King Zeus," and it calms me tremendously because I stopped to focus on one thing.

Position altars in spaces you visit frequently. If you cannot set up altars, mentally dedicate that space. I have Lord Apollons altar between my bed and desk. King Zeus's altar is next to my closet and on top of my dresser, and beside that is Lady Aphrodite's altar. I visit these spaces frequently, so I get to see them and spend time with them often.

Building Kharis does not have to be intimidating or time-consuming. It can be simple acts like these that show the Gods that you care, and that they occupy space in your brain. Thinking first about the Theoi shows that they are at the forefront of your mind. Letting them exist in your thoughts can be a simple way to build Kharis, as well. Do bigger acts when you can, of course. But don't feel like that is the only way to build Kharis. Worship is continuous. "Worshipping consistently" looks different for everyone. Recently for me, it has been thinking about them and keeping them in mind. Sometimes it's constant offerings and prayer when I have the capacity. Both are perfectly fine ways to worship.

This list was curated with the help of some of my friends, and I would like to thank them for assisting me. I am fortunate enough to be physically able, so without their assistance, I would not have been able to make such an inclusive list of methods. These are things they have done in their practice to accommodate themselves, and I am grateful that they worked with me to share these with you.

Xaire, Altis.

[endless-elysium]

Tips for worshipping in a strict household (by someone with the same struggles)

This is not a fully comprehensive list, nor am I by any means an expert on the matter, this is just a few things I do to help me avoid suspicion while I pray/do offerings.

1. Altars

I wanna preface this by saying that you absolutely do NOT need an altar to work with any deity, but in case it is possible for you to have one, here's a few ways you can make it fly under the radar:

If you have your own room, using a part of your desk would probably be the easiest option. Stack a few books relating to any subject connected to the deity(ies) you worship, or organise your jewellery in that specific spot, maybe leave out little trinkets or pictures as 'decoration' there; boom, you have yourself an innocent looking altar!

In case you share a room with a family member who is unaware of your religion, or other such circumstances, you can always use a shelf! Leave whatever reminds you of your deities on it, and add to it on occasion!

These can be great spots for leaving offerings!

2. Offerings

They don't have to be anything extravagant, nor do they have to be frequent. 'Accidentally' leaving a glass of water out, a 'forgotten' piece of chocolate, that accessory that you very rarely/never wear but that always sits on that specific spot... that poem that's been left sitting on your desk? It's history homework.

You can also say silent prayers in your head before eating any meals (Although, do remember to leave the first and last bite for Lady Hestia!) And offer a piece of it to any God(s) you'd like!

Be careful though! You shouldn't eat or drink offerings meant for Chthonic (underworld) Gods!

3. Journaling

Writing in a journal or a diary is a great and sneaky offering for the Gods! You can pick any notebook you like, and write something for or about the Gods in it whenever you get the chance/want to.

Sometimes, I'd write things in forms of letters addressed to the Gods. Just telling them about my day, or anything particular that has happened.

This both feels good, and is a great way to connect to your deities!

4. Prayers

These can be pretty tough, especially if you never really get any privacy. They are a great way to build Kharis with your Gods, but they are also not a requirement.

Saying prayers in a language that your family doesn't speak can work, and there's plenty of excuses you can use if they question you about it. (Practicing said language, talking to a friend on the phone, just reading something aloud, and so on).

Whispering prayers while they aren't close enough to hear is another way you could manage. Write your own, shorter ones, if the need calls for it.

If none of the above are possible for you, saying prayers in your head, or simply muttering 'Good morning' or 'Goodnight' to your deities are a good substitute!

5. Devotional acts

There's plenty you could do here! Whatever domain your God(s) reside over, you can use that as a devotional act towards them. (Weaving for Lady Athena, self-care for Lady Aphrodite, language learning for Lord Hermes, playing instruments for Lord Apollon, and such).

Wearing accessories/jewellery that reminds you of them is a great one as well! If you don't have any, you could possibly buy some, and if you're questioned about it later on, you could say a friend bought it for you and you like wearing it because of them.

Reading myths, or any literature, regarding your deities is probably your best bet! Just learning more about the deities you worship and/or their family members is a way to build Kharis with them!

6. Digital offerings

This might be amongst the easier solutions, if you are a revivalist.

Collages, writing prayers, drawings, posting stuff about the deities, joining online communities; and anything of the sort can be an offering to Them.

If you're scared of getting noticed, for whatever reason, having a separate account/email address meant "for school stuff" could help you manage it.

Just remember that the Gods understand your struggle and don't hold it against you in the slightest.

As I mentioned, this is not a comprehensive list. If anybody has anything to add, I'd be happy to include it! My asks are always open if anybody has a particular situation that they need suggestions for!

I'm always open to feedback and criticism; if I had spread any misinformation or incomplete/confusing information, please do let me know!

[sunbirds-oasis]

I got a little bit of motivational boost from my friends to post that.

To Apollo, because I wouldn’t be here without you.

Phoibos Apollon, you guided me out of my darkest moments, where I thought no help was left. You helped me rediscover my spark for art. I no longer grow angry with myself over it; I trust that you guide my pen and allow my art to shine brightly.

Akestôr Apollon, you have helped me heal, even though there is still so much to mend. It was you who reassured me that I am and will be okay.

Theoxenios Apollon, you make me feel welcome in a country foreign to me. You help me open up to the people around me, even when I cannot speak their language as well as I would like. You protect me by sending understanding people my way.

You make me feel like I am finally being taken care of. You shine brightly on my path and encourage me not to face the future with fear. Xaire, Lord Apollon.

To Dionysus, because with you, I can be myself.

Androgynos Dionysus, you helped me embrace the newest versions of myself. You taught me to feel comfortable in my own body, flaws and all, and to see those flaws as part of who I am. With your guidance, I no longer feel insecure about wearing the clothes I’ve always wanted to wear but avoided out of fear of judgment.

Maenoles Dionysus, you taught me to keep my raging emotions in check, to process them in ways that don’t harm me. You bring peace to my mind in the end.

Lampterus Dionysus, you guide me through the dark when the sun has set. With you, nights are no longer frightening or full of unchecked emotions. Instead, I devote myself to moments of relaxation when I need them most after harsh days. I can take care of myself in the quiet of the night. I can simply be myself.

You make me feel alive. You teach me to live in the moment and not to care for others’ opinions. Most importantly, you teach me to be myself. Xaire, Lord Dionysus.

[poorbrokemess]

Because I have extra time tonight here's some brains

🧠 you don't need to ask a deity to make an alter or space for them in your heart or home. They will appreciate it. So long as you do so respectfully.

🧠 do what feels right. Not what is easiest.

🧠 appreciate not appropriate

🧠 your body is a temple all in itself. If you are closeted and can't openly do so with things, know you, yourself, is enough.

🧠 you yourself is enough

🧠 The deities and gods won't get mad if you mess up. Make sure to clean up your messes and learn your lessons while you do so, however.

🧠 Growth. That's it. Grow. Always. In all the ways.

🧠 You will be wrong at times. Embrace it. It's part of the process.

🧠 Never stop learning

🧠 you yourself is enough

I love you ♥️

🧠 offerings can be something as simple as

*I'm feeling this joy of the sunshine for you apollon*

*that was the best joke I have ever heard, hey Hermes, that one's for you*

*OMG I LOVE THIS CHOCOLATE LOKI COME SHARE!*

🧠 being alive right now means you are probably struggling with money. That's okay. If you can't afford things. It's fine. I promise.

🧠 make things. It's okay if you think it sucks, child you would be amazed, so are the gods.

🧠 dumpster diving *where legal*(plus the tricksters love it)

🧠 Go learn something at the library. Actually go there. Support them. They might be gone soon.

🧠 thrifting will get you some amazing finds!

🧠 Estate sales? Those places where an old couple passed and their kids don't wanna mess with it, so they sell it all off? Those have treasures beyond messure.

🧠 go for walks in urban areas if safe. All of my alcohol bottles are bottles that were littered on the street. I don't drink, but the bottles make perfect offering containers once sanitized properly. Lots of my offerings are litter I've cleaned up off the streets.

🧠 you yourself are still enough

I still love you 🥰

Yeah, even you

🧠 🌟 this one is important

🌟Are you paying attention🌟

🧠 If at any point you don't wanna any more. You don't gotta. It's always okay to start over new. As long as you start over new with all the old knowings. Don't go into something and do it all the same expecting change.

That only happens with, change.

✨️addition✨️

🧠 you don't need a *veil* to veil. I have seen quite a few people displeased they can't because of various reasons. You very much can. You can make a braid of protection into your hair. You can wear a headband. I often veil with a scarf from the dollar store wrapped about my head.

🧠 you don't have to tell people why you do the *thing*

- I just like braids

- this music helps me focus

-I'm just super into *_____* mythology.

♥️ You don't actually have to tell people *why* so long as it's not hurting anybody, why would it matter? It won't. So do it anyway if it makes you feel better. ♥️

I love you ♥️

You're still enough

[boymanmaletheshequel]

Symbolism of Hermes

🪽🩴🪽🩴🪽🩴🪽🩴🪽🩴🪽🩴🪽🩴🪽🩴

The god of messangery, communication, travel, the patron of thieves and companion of Apollon, messenger of Zeus, Apollo is one of the youngest of the olympians, a tricky, cunning, but charming and friendly god who is friendly to man and god alike. Let’s go over some of his sacred symbolism:

🌈 colors:

• Blue and White: the colors of the sky, communication, and messengery, are blue and white, as a result, these colors are the ones most often associated with Hermes. The shade doesn’t matter too much, but light blue is generally preferred to darker blues.

🌸 plants and flowers:

• Crocus: now this one is kind of confusing because the god associated with it differs on the author, but it’s said that either Apollo or Hermes accidentally killed their companion crocus in a game of discus, and that when they mourned them, their tears sprouted crocuses from the ground around their body.

🦌 Animals:

• Tortoise/turtle: it is said that one of the very first shenanigans Hermes got up to after his birth and escape of his cradle, was to steal and fashion a lyre out of tortoiseshell! (RIP to the tortoise but ain’t that just the way). This was the first lyre, and the first of many inventions the god would be credited with!

• Hawk: (I’m trying VERY hard not to make an ironic hawk-tuah joke but I’m afraid he would abandon me if I did, rightfully so) hawks are one of the sacred animals associated with hermes, and it is said that when he would deliver messages from the gods, he would do so in the form of a hawk!

• Ram: another sacred animal to Hermes was the ram, as he was said to ride on the back of a ram to deliver messages to and from the gods on Olympus!

💎 crystals and gemstones:

• Blue Topaz: blue topaz is often seen as a stone that helps one to overcome social anxiety and to speak and converse agaisnt their anxieties, especially in public, or during important discourse. Making it a great stone to represent Hermes.

• Celestite: the stone of messengery, Hermes’s main forte, Celestite is also a stone of spiritual and practical communication, it is also widely available and more affordable than topaz for those who may want to devote or wear a crystal for Hermes!

• Blue lace agate: a beautiful blue member of the agate group, and a stone known for its wavy and transcendent veins, it is a stone of clerical communication, fortune, and good messages both spiritual and physical! One of my favorites to dedicate to Hermes.

🪐 Planets:

• The Romans were known to have identified Hermes with Mercury, a planet of fire and mahatma closest to the sun, which makes since as Apollo, the god of the sun, in Greek mythology was one of Hermes closest Allies. He was also associated with Charon, and helped reaped souls for the underworld, Mercury is a notoriously hellish planet. It also makes the most orbits around the sun than any other planet in a year, harking to Hermes association to travel.

🌟 Astrology:

• Gemini

Probably the most obvious correspondence here, Hermes is a very social, talkative, active god who thrives on his relationships to the gods and the people he acts as a vessel for, all qualities shared with Gemini.

🪽Other iconography:

• Lyre

The lyre was the very first invention of Hermes, and it was he who first introduced it to Apollo, having crafted it out of the guts of the livestock of apollos he’d slaughtered. Apollo was so stricken with joy and appreciation for his music and his invention, that he forgave Hermes for his trespasses, and would go on to teach him his own divine knowledge.

• Traveling hat

Hermes iconic traveling hat that he would wear as he heralded his messages to the gods and mortals alike is another common asset associated with his iconography.

• Sandals

His infamous winged sandals are perhaps the most unique and renowned symbols of Hermes, having granted him the ability to fly in order to deliver his heralds and messages to and from Olympus.

Like my posts? Please consider giving me a follow to learn more about the gods of Helen, and learn about other interesting topics as well! May your day be blessed 🏛️💙

🪽🩴🪽🩴🪽🩴🪽🩴🪽🩴🪽🩴🪽🩴🪽🩴

[light-of-delphi]

On Worshipping Lord Apollo;

I've decided to start a little series about the deities I worship, have worshipped, and will worship in the future. I've always found posts like these to be more helpful and, if I can help anyone, I think this is an amazing way to to so. In this post, I'm going to cover a lot, so buckle up! And I will make a master post for all of the posts I make in this series.

First up! Lord Apollo.

Hands down, he is the deity with whom I have the most experience and personal anecdotes. Apollo has been in my life since the very beginning. I go into a little bit more detail in this post, in which I detail how I view him as a worshipper, my patron, and a godspouse. For information's sake, however, I will try to keep this post a little bit more factual than UPG. UPG stands for "Unverified personal gnosis", which refers to a spiritual belief that stems from intuition or personal spiritual experience. So, while UPG may seem to line up with mythos or just "make sense" for the deity, it varies from practitioner to practitioner and from relationship to relationship. With that being said, I'll focus mostly on the facts with some little bit of advice thrown in from your older brother :)

Correspondences!

First, let's talk correspondences. Consider this a little cheat sheet if you will.

☀︎ You can refer to him by Apollo / Apollon, typically he will clarify which. Many regard him as "Lord Apollo/n", though it is fully dependent on your relationship with him. I drop the Lord unless I'm praying or invoking him, such is the nature of our relationship. For the sake of this post, I shall be referring to him formally as Lord Apollo.

☀︎ He has... a lot of epithets. You can view them here (theoi.com) if you'd like to see a full list.

☀︎ Apollo is typically associated with Sunday, and such is associated with the Sun.

☀︎ He has many sacred animals - The raven, dolphin, swan, mouse, and wolves.

☀︎ Tarot-wise, he is associated primarily, and most commonly, with The Sun. He has also been associated with The Star, though I do not see this one in many sources.

☀︎ He is the God of a plethora of things. The Sun (he is responsible for pulling it across the sky), Light, Poetry, Music, the arts, plague, prophecy, logic and reason, truth, beauty, agriculture, and archery. I am sure I'm missing things. And if you know other deities to be associated similarly, that is okay. Many Gods can share domains and rule over certain things.

☀︎ He is associated with the colors red, white, orange, yellow, and gold!

☀︎ Symbolically, he is related to the Sun, the Lyre, the Bow and Arrow, and the Laurel Wreath.

☀︎ For incense, he is linked to frankincense, myrrh, cypress, clove, cinnamon, and bay.

But that is a lot of correspondence. What can we do with these? Why, I'm glad you asked! With this list of correspondences, we can start to worship Apollo by the book. These would be some more traditional things that would assist you in learning what you want to offer him, what to associate with him, and what you should keep an eye out for. In a later section, I go over some familial ties that can prove useful as well.

Apollo, as an individual

Lord Apollo has typically been regarded as a "beginner deity." He is very easy to work with, incredibly receptive, and is universally known as being a little more laid back with things such as offerings, prayer, and worship. Though I've found all deities to be understanding of circumstance, there is no strict schedule unless you decide to adhere to one.

At the start of our relationship, I found Lord Apollo's energy to be rather bright. I was very new to picking up on spiritual energy and the metaphysical, so his energy felt very overbearing, and we did not spend much in-person time together because of this. He was understanding of my limitations, but he did not hesitate to push these limitations as much as he could for my personal development. This is something he continues to do to this day.

While he does tend to carry himself rather relaxed and carefree, he has no issue being serious and stern whenever needed. If there were signs he was sending me and I would intentionally ignore them because they pointed in directions I did not like, he would respond sternly and ferociously, forcing me to face the negative sooner or figuratively shoving my nose in the signs so I couldn't avoid it. If I needed to face a brutally honest truth, he had no issue being brutally honest. This makes sense, considering he is the God of Truth and Knowledge.

Lord Apollo is also very playful. He's easily excitable. He loves seeing the people he works with make good progress. And if you take a few steps back, depending on your relationship, he is absolutely there to catch you. He is reliable and present. Additionally, he likes attention. He absolutely adores being talked about, thought about, referenced, and thanked. He adores being said good morning to, or even just getting a wave. Some people regard such deities as "high maintenance", but I really just consider it part of his character.

You have every right to decline to work with a deity, by the way. Don't feel as though there's any obligation to work with every deity that is considered "of your skill level", as there is no such thing, and you should only work with a deity once you are ready. The Old Gods do not come with stats above their head and white text that says "PREFERRED LEVEL." They are Gods. You should not get involved with them if you do not feel ready. And even if you feel ready, there is no pressure to invite them into your life.

Worshipping Tips!

This one is a bit lengthy. Apollo, being one of the twelve Olympians, has a lot of lore surrounding him. But this gives us a lot to work with! You can devote time to him in a lot of ways. This involves worshipping or leaving offerings to his family!

His mother is Leto, his father is Zeus, and his twin sibling is Artemis. Familially, he is not married to anyone, but he has had a series of lovers. One account says he was, at one point, a lover to Hekate and together they had Skylla, a sea monster. Though this is unusual. He was said to be a lover to each of the Nine Muses but married none. He fell in love with a myriad of nymphs; Aethusa who birthed Eleuther, Akakallis who birthed him twins Philanderos and Philakides, Daphne who was turned into a laurel tree, and more. There's famously Hyacinthous, a prince, who was accidentally killed. Hymenaeus, another prince, and Cyparisus, another prince, who died of grief and was transformed into the cypress tree.

This gives us a whole lot to work with. Especially for offerings! You can leave him a lot of things:

☀︎ Cypress tree leaves or seeds. ☀︎ Bay leaves ☀︎ Laurel leaves ☀︎ Sun imagery - charms, pictures, drawings, anything. ☀︎ Crystals - Sunstone, citrine, tiger's eye, amber, bumblebee jasper, orange selenite, carnelian, and other yellow, red, or orange stones. ☀︎ Coffee, energy drinks, or anything with caffeine in it. ☀︎ Citrus! Oranges and lemons! Grapefruit! ☀︎ Flowers - Hyacinths, sunflowers, orange roses, larkspur/delphinium, palm, aloe, or any plant that reminds you of him. ☀︎ Instruments - String instruments are the main thing people offer, however you can offer him any instrument. ☀︎ Art - Things you made. Drawings, sculptures, compositions, poetry, paintings, song lyrics, photography, literally anything you made with your two hands.

In terms of what you can do to worship him, there are a few things you can do.

☀︎ Maintain your physical and mental health. Go to the gym, take your medicine, and positively affirm yourself. ☀︎ Sing for or with him. Play an instrument. Learn an instrument! ☀︎ Write short stories or poetry. ☀︎ Go outside and bask in the sun for a little while. ☀︎ Say Good Morning and Goodnight; Thank him for pulling the sun across the sky. ☀︎ Write about him. ☀︎ Draw him offerings, or draw in his honor. Create in his honor. ☀︎ Do a paint-and-sip class, or follow a Bob Ross tutorial. ☀︎ Pick up a new creative hobby. ☀︎ Volunteer at a local hospital or nursing home. ☀︎ Grow some of the plants that are sacred to him! ☀︎ Go to your local museum or art gallery. ☀︎ Support small artists! Support local artists! ☀︎ Create a hymn in his name and honor. ☀︎ Wear jewelry with his symbols on it. I wear a sun necklace! ☀︎ Wear perfumes or colognes that are citrus-scented or scented like any of his preferred incense.

At the end of the day, you can really do whatever you want for Lord Apollo if it reminds you of him. And you can give him whatever you want, so long as it reminds you of him. If you think that it may not mean anything to him, let me give you a bit of brotherly insight. Offerings were left for The Old Gods as a thank you. A form of appreciation for the divine from the physical, mortal plane. People left whatever they had. And if they had nothing, they would pray and hope to be heard. While offerings are not optional, remember that your words count, as well. Even if it seems small.

And if you have any questions, as usual, please ask!! I love talking about Apollo. Not only am I godspoused to him but he's one of my biggest hyperfixations and I absolutely love talking about him and spreading his teachings and information on him. So this is me begging you to ask me questions, ask me anything, literally anything in the comments or in my inbox I will eat it up. Maybe I'll open up a brotherly advice box or something. Non lo so, ma vedremo!

Blessed be, and may the sun be your guide! A domani!

[sunlit-arrow]

About Artemis Parthenia

In my short time learning about Lady Artemis, I have encountered a lot of discussion and reiteration regarding Her virginal aspect. Since Her cult revolved significantly around this commitment to chastity, it is a topic that must be addressed by anyone interested in an in-depth worship of Her. Still, I have made my own reflections and would like to share these here.

(Please note that I am in no way an expert—just a single worshiper writing down her personal perspective on a vast topic.)

It is a lot to unpack since it is one of the main things that distinguish Her as a deity, so I'll go through the following points:

Virginity and Maidenhood

Artemis as Protector of Girls and Women

Artemis and Childbirth

Patriarchal Views on Chastity

1. Virginity and Maidenhood

Homer describes Artemis as "one of the three" who cannot be swayed by Aphrodite's power. This is how we learn that Artemis has no romantic or sexual interest. (While I acknowledge that many of Her myths and their possible reinterpretations can be read through a sapphic lens, that is not the focus of this discussion.)

What is particularly interesting about Artemis’s detachment from romantic love is that She not only rejects marriage but also actively chooses not to marry. From an idealistic, romantic, and modern perspective, we might imagine Lady Artemis declaring that love will never keep Her from the wild and that no man will ever take that from Her. However, we still get to read myths that describe the moment in which Her father, King Zeus, grants Her the wish to stay an eternal Maiden.

Virginity, in this context, does not mean actual chastity but rather a rejection of marriage to a man.

In contrast to other married goddesses, one can only imagine how offensive it would have been to lust after a maiden goddess—something reflected in the many myths where Artemis punishes those who violate Her privacy. Thus, "virgin" or "maiden" became a title that imposed limits on how men perceived girls and women.

This leads me to my second point.

2. Artemis Soteira, Hêmerasia, Philomeirax & Paidotrophos.

When we look at other virginal goddesses like Hestia and Athene, we could go through their cults and analyse why their aspects as maidens are relevant to their domains, but what about Artemis?

Lady Artemis is not only, along with Lord Apollon, the protector of Lady Leto (their mother, who was abandoned in Her time of need); She is also the protector of girls—their untamed nature, their growth through puberty, and their well-being once they are married off and considered women.

Artemis, as the protector of girls and women, remains a maiden because She transcends the control that men have over girls. Her independence and fierceness as the Lady of Beasts is a power no man can overcome, and for that reason, She is a threat to those who would seek to violate what She most fiercely protects: the innocence and autonomy of young girls.

Artemis must be depicted as a maiden not because She must be pure and chaste but because She is an adult, powerful goddess who represents the right of little girls to choose their own futures.

Taking my own perspective, I can imagine Lady Artemis choosing not to marry because of Her love for the freedom found in the wild. As if She wants to share the gift of choice with all, She calls women to Her sanctuaries, offering them a refuge from forced marriages.

"Come with me and be free."

3. Artemis Orsilokhia

So, how can a virgin goddess also be the protector of mothers?

Just imagine being married to a man your father chose for you, being forced into sexual intercourse because it is your duty to bear an heir, and suddenly, you have this little baby—yours to carry, yours to nurture, yours to bring into a world that has wronged you.

Artemis understands the love of a mother, whether it comes from choice or coercion. She knows this because Her own mother suffered while bringing the godly twins into the world. One could say that She held Leto’s hand as Apollon was born.

Here is where I could go on and on into an in-depth analysis of the myth of Kallisto—since, in my opinion, Lady Artemis would never kill a pregnant woman out of rage—but I will save that for another post.

All I want to say, since this post is already long, is that if we examine how earlier civilizations viewed sex, we see that it was often directly tied to procreation. Sex frequently meant childbirth. In this sense, one could argue that Artemis is also a goddess of sex—not as an act of pleasure but as a force of nature. She is a protector against rape and sexual violence, a judge of those who mistreat their partners in intimacy, and a caretaker of those who bear the fruits of fertility.

Once again, Lady Artemis is not against sex or pregnancy. She is a goddess of freedom, and because of that, She is a goddess of choice—of the ability to decide whether to be a mother, a wife, or neither.

4. Chastity Culture and Artemis’s Priestesses

What I dislike most about the modern interpretation of Artemis as a virgin goddess is how it has been used as an excuse to police the sexual behavior of women.

Yes, Artemis’s priestesses were once required to be virgins. Yes, a vow of chastity was demanded. But based on everything I have discussed so far, doesn’t it make more sense for Her priestesses to be free with their bodies as they choose? Why do I still see people asking Artemis’s priestesses if they have taken a vow of chastity? Why does it matter?

Let me put it this way: as the Lady of the Wild and the Mistress of Beasts, how can we even begin to imagine the untamed forces of life without sex?

This may be a controversial opinion, and I don’t expect everyone to agree with me, but continuing to demand chastity vows from women as a condition to validate their devotion to a goddess who protects girls and women is an insult to much of what She stands for.

Do not let chastity culture corrupt Her worship. Teach children how to say "no." Teach them to recognize manipulation, grooming, and abuse. Teach teenagers how to have safe sex, how to ask for and give consent. Teach people to respect their bodies and that "No" is a complete sentence. Discuss sexual violence in relationships, peer pressure, and healthy understandings of sex and love.

Worship Lady Artemis by giving people all the tools they need to choose for themselves. And if their choice is to have sex, let it be in the healthiest way possible.

[t1oui]

as a hellenic polytheist (someone who worships the greek gods) i like making the pjo characters hellenic polytheists in mortal aus so uh. pjo helpol headcanons (also yeah sorry romans idk much about you in terms of worship/religion so we're sticking strictly to helpol here. aaaand we're only focusing on the 7 + will and nico bc otherwise this post will be a mile long and contain headcanons for all of chb)

percy, jason, annabeth, frank, will, hazel, and nico are all raised in hellenismos

leo and piper are converts

percy is a devotee of hestia, nemesis, amphitrite, and hermes

jason is a devotee of apollon, athena, and hera

annabeth is a devotee of athena and apollon

frank is a devotee of apollon, ares, and athena

hazel is a devotee of hekate, thanatos, and hades

nico is a devotee of hades, hermes, and apollon

will is a devotee of apollon, hygieia, and asclepius

leo is a devotee of hephestus, hestia, and artemis

piper is a devotee of aphrodite, artemis, athena, and ares

piper is terrible with the correct pronunciations of... everything, honestly (this is directed at how past me pronounced hekate)

nico and will have a joint altar to apollon

(for fellow jercy shippers) jason and percy celebrate theogamia together and get really sappy about it

annabeth makes and sells devotee bracelets and jewelry (she also makes them for all her friends)

percy and jason put anything vaguely spiritual in their house into their altar for the household gods (i... might be projecting here. just a little bit)

hazel has the most beautiful, elaborate altars known to man but she constantly forgets to clean them so they're lowkey hella dusty

frank spends a lot of time communicating with ares trying to figure out why ares reached out to him (at first he feels confused and unworthy, then he's like eh no matter why ares reached out to me he's cool asf and i like that)

leo is the king of forgetting to empty & remake his kadiskos, you better bet that bad boy sits on an altar for like three months before jason comes over and is like "ummm leo when was the last time you redid that"

meanwhile jason and percy are putting honeynut cheerios in their kadiskos and insisting they're the pinnacle of spirituality (this... might also be projecting respect my freaking cheerios man)

hazel crochets (with annabeth's help) dog and polecat stuffed animals to honor hekate

uhh yeah that's all for now happy noumenia to those who celebrate <3

[khaire-traveler]

hello! i'm not sure if you received my other ask asking about Lord Apollon worship, so i'll send it again, just to be safe.

my entire family is Catholic, and i can't worship Lord Apollo freely in my home. i have to keep him secret, and i have to pretend I'm still a "good Catholic" whenever i'm with my family, i'm scared of what they could do if they discover i'm worshiping "evil gods" (that's what my parents call them, but i don't believe they're evil at all). i am still forced to do everything a Catholic does, including praying to God.

do you think its ok to still pray to another god against your will if you're worshiping another god by will, like Lord Apollon? I'm not sure if this is ok. i'm still fairly new to this, i made a tiny altar to Apollon like 3 days ago. it's not much, just a candle (a 22 ounce candle btw, its BIG), some earrings that remind me of him, a seashell, two golden rings, and a perfume that I think he would like. as i said, it's not much, i still have to keep him kind of hidden, but I'm trying.

sorry if this was a bit long, i just have a lot to say and i think youre the perfect person to ask. thank you for your help and time!

(also, side note: i believe that Lord Apollon likes frappes because i offered him some of mine and i felt warm the entire day)

Khaire, I did get your other ask, Nonny, but my inbox has been very full, sorry.

There are many, many people who have to keep their worship hidden. For hundreds of years, worshippers of the gods have had to hide their worship away, lest they be persecuted or, worse, killed. This is to say that the gods tend to be very understanding of these things. Unfortunately, this isn't something the gods have no experience with. The gods have adapted themselves, I'm sure, to all forms of worship, and they will continue to do so for the rest of time, I'd imagine.

In my experience, the gods aren't cruel. They don't hold these things against people. Apollon is very kind, benevolent, and understanding. If you haven't made him aware of your situation, I would let him know; maybe he could offer some guidance or assistance as you get through this difficult time. It sounds like you still live at home and are maybe young. Things do get much easier once you're able to move out and start choosing life more for yourself. This is a great step, however, into discovering what things you align more with, outside of your family.

It sounds like you've given meaningful and thoughtful offerings. I'm sure Apollon appreciates them. And your altar sounds lovely, too! It's great that you were able to make one, but just know that if it ever compromised your safety, you could always use a digital altar instead. 🫂

I wish you well, Nonny. It's more than ok to have to keep things hidden. I'm sure it's ok to need to pray to a God you may not even believe for your safety. I would imagine Apollon would want you to be safe, first and foremost. He's not the type of god to value his own pride over the safety of his worshippers, in my experience (if that type of god even exists at all, really). Take care of yourself, and know that you have allies in the community. Welcome to Hellenic Polytheism, friend. You're safe here. 🧡

[chthonicsides]

Emergency Tarot Readings/Beads

Hello all, I usually do not do stuff like this, but my job is cutting my hours so harshly that I am pretty much no longer working/out of a job. While I’m looking for another one, I need a bit of help to make rent and to keep my savings from going completely out. I do tarot commissions, and I also have my shop with my prayer beads. I have a listing for no card limit general readings for $10 on my shop as well. All tarot readings will be conducted over Etsy (if bought there), Instagram, or this Tumblr account. I do not do voice/video calls.

I wanted to offer a comprehensive list of my listings and services here:

• Apollon Pocket Prayer Beads: $13; Etsy

• Large Apollon Prayer Beads: $23; Etsy

• Hermes Pocket Prayer Beads: $15; Etsy

• Zeus Pocket Prayer Beads: $15; Etsy

• Large Zeus Prayer Beads: $30; Etsy

• Large Hypnos Prayer Beads: $30; Etsy

• Helios Pocket Prayer Beads: $13; Etsy

• No Limit General Question Tarot Reading: $10; Etsy

• No Limit Deity Question Reading: $10; Etsy

• Past, Present, Future Reading: $9; Venmo

• One Card Simple Reading: $3; Venmo

I plan to add Pocket Hypnos Prayer Beads along with Pocket Thanatos Prayer Beads to my shop soon.

My Venmo is: @ jsraven7

I really appreciate any and all attempts of help or anything spread by word of mouth. Thank you so, so much!

[seasaltdevotion]

i want to learn about hellenistic polytheism but i dont even know where to start. could you please give me a base? i know about gods deities n such, i know ill need to make offerings and id like to pray to the god(s) ill worship but i feel like im about to jump in the middle of the ocean without knowing how to swim so please help

Ofc!

Ive only been practicing for a few months but i can give my two sense.

A really great video series id reccomend for some more veteran help is Hellenism 101 from Fel the Blythe’s YouTube channel! I’ll like it for you here. Shes how I got started on everything.

Prayer

First thing I’d recommend is prayer! Since it’s the easiest form of devotion/communication.

Usually you start by mentioning Hestia, Goddess of the hearth who also allows us to communicate with the gods. So I tend to start by saying “to Hestia, the first and last I pray, I thank you.” And then i start praying to the gods I worship.

This can be you just thanking them for being there or for whatever they rule over. For example I might thank Apollon for my health, the sunshine etc. When you finish you thank Hestia the first and last again and then boom, you’ve prayed!

You don’t have to be formal in your prayers or you can be super formal, the gods won’t mind either way as long as you’re polite. And just by praying you’ve started to build Kharis, which is your relationship with the gods.

Kharis

You build Kharis by praying, offerings, and by dedicating things you do to the gods, for example I will just, in my mind, tell the gods that the food I eat is for them, and that counts as an offering. Or again; Apollo as an example, you can listen to music and dedicate that time to him, or for Hermes maybe you could go on a walk or write a letter to someone or even the gods themselves.

Building Kharis all comes down to setting the intention of giving to the gods, and in return they give back. You don’t even need to do physical offerings to worship. But if you’d like to, it’s good to research your gods for ideas on what you could give them. And don’t worry about not praying enough/offering enough etc. not everyone can pray every hour of the day or offer a million offerings a week, all that matters is you’re doing what’s best for you.

Other basics

- Divination is not required, you don’t need tarot a pendulum or any of that fancy stuff!

- We don’t really have sins in Hellenism!

However, on that note, it’s also good to cleanse before approaching the gods, washing off something called Lyma or general negativity that kind of builds up on the day to day. It just happens.

And how you cleanse?

You wash your hands and/or your face. Or even shower! As long as you’re clean then you’re pretty set.

- Xenia

Xenia is hospitality, which is a major benchmark in Hellenism. It’s what the religion is really based on. Basically, love thy neighbor sort of thing. Just be kind and courteous to those who are in your home and welcome those in need no matter who they are.

- What if I want to worship two gods who dislike each other in mythology?

Don’t worry about it. You can always pray to them and preface it before hand, but the gods know this is a polytheistic religion. They know you’re going to worship more than one and may end up praying to one more than the other. We’re human, and they understand that.

They won’t be mad at you for having multiple gods or prioritizing one over another at a certain time.

So what now?

I’ve thrown a lot at you, so where do we go from here?

Take your time.

Research, research, research.

Understand the gods you’d like to pray to, know their myths, read literature surrounding them.

I cannot say this enough but Theoi.com is a great resource for learning about the gods. Find any sort of book you can get your hands on. And take your time. I can’t stress that enough. Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by offerings and things.

If all you can do to stay is pray? Then pray! Or even just talk to them. Just sit and tell them gods about your day either mentally or verbally, just talk to them.

Do what’s easiest and best for you and only move on when you can.

If you need help along the way, I’m always willing and there are plenty of other Hellenic polytheists who are willing to help! Everyone also has different practices and beliefs, so what I say may be different from someone else. Plus I’m still learning myself so there’s always things that I can improve on myself!

I’m so glad you reached out and I hope you enjoy the ride!!

[willowscreativespace]

AEACUS/AIAKOS/EACUS HEADCANONS!!

regular headcanons .

stories from styx by : @imcasperfox

tagging: @squipio , @literallylink--who-tf-is-ravioli

(scheduled post)

• Considering he built the walls of Troy with Poseidon and Apollon, his hands are probably very calloused.

• Cerberus loves him. Like, refuses-to-move-from-his-side level of love. Aeacus has tripped over one of Cerberus' heads multiple times, but he just accepts it.

• He once rigged Minos’ throne to creak dramatically every time he spoke. Minos responded by making all of Aeacus’ scrolls burst into flame whenever he tried to read them.

• He gets extremely flustered if someone flirts with him. The idea of being romantically pursued makes him panic, and his default response is to start listing random Underworld laws until the person gives up.

• Even in a modern setting, he talks like he's still in ancient Greece. "Hail, brother, wouldst thou pass the salt?" "Aeacus, we are in a Taco Bell. Please stop."

• If you tell him he’s doing a good job, he will physically short-circuit. "I—I, uh, merely do what is necessary! STOP LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT."

• Aeacus never lets things go. If Minos screws up a ruling, Aeacus will remind him every single time they argue. “Oh, I’m being unreasonable? At least I didn’t send that one guy to eternal damnation for stepping on your foot—REMEMBER THAT, MINOS? BECAUSE I DO.”

• Whenever someone gets off topic, he’s so done. Like, if a guy is going “Bro please I didn’t mean to commit tax fraud” and starts sobbing, Aeacus just looks at his notes and sighs. “You’re literally here because you scammed orphans.”

• He runs the best spreadsheet in the Underworld. Hades once just found a file named “Don’t Touch This Unless You Want to Ruin My Life.xlsx.”

• His brothers call him “JP” (short for Judge’s Pet) because he’s the one who actually follows the rules. Aeacus hates it. “JP, just stamp the soul and let’s move on.” “For the last time, STOP CALLING ME THAT.”

• Minos and Rhadamanthus have an ongoing bet to see how long it takes before Aeacus has a full-blown existential crisis. They just push his buttons and watch. “But what if we just… let one slide?” “WE. DO. NOT. LET. ONE. SLIDE.”

• He corrects Minos and Rhadamanthus’ grammar mid-sentence. They actively try to use the worst grammar possible just to annoy him. “Me and Minos was thinking—” “MINOS AND I WERE—”

• He absolutely hates modern slang. Minos and Rhadamanthus use it incorrectly on purpose just to watch him suffer. “This one’s going to Elysium, no cap.” “STOP.”

• He can hear one of his brothers slacking off from a mile away. It’s a sixth sense.

• He gets way too into board games. Monopoly nearly destroyed the Underworld’s balance once.

• He keeps an emergency stress ball in his robes. He has popped several.

• He gets stuck with ghosts arguing over who actually invented olives or which poet was truly the best. "Sir, I do not care if Archilochus insulted your mother. You’ve been dead for 3,000 years. Move on."

• His brothers force him to watch shows just to see him complain about the inaccuracies. "That is not how sentencing works!"

• If a particularly good dog arrives in the Underworld, he bends the rules a little to let it stay in Elysium.

• “Yo, JP, pass the chips." "I have sentenced kings to Tartarus for less."

• “Okay, but I say this guy deserves Elysium.” “Objection. Look at his financial records.” “Gods, here we go.”

• He likes reading ridiculous excuses from the other souls “‘I only robbed him because Hermes told me to in a dream.’ Gods, I love this job.”

• If a lost soul is looking for their loved ones, he will personally track them down. “I found your sister. She’s in the Asphodel Meadows.” “You what?” “Go on, go see her.”

• If a child’s soul arrives scared, he takes extra time to explain things to them gently. “You don’t have to be afraid. It’s just like starting a new journey.” “Will my dog be here?” “What was his name?” “Cerberus.” “…” “Fine. Let him pet Cerberus.”

• If a married couple is supposed to be separated, he’ll “accidentally” assign them to the same region.“Whoops. Guess you’re together forever. What a shame.” “You can’t just—” “I can, and I did.”

[serxa]

Silly little ramble to keep you guys entertained first (Deities)

I'm sure we all know deities in Greek mythology, or in any other spirituality way, but man, finding out who your deity is, it's stressful man.

As a person who has been interested with Greek mythology ever since I was 9 or so, gosh, finding out who my deity is, was surprising. Especially when I connected to my whole life, gosh.

First off, My Deity is Apollon/Apollo, God of the Sun, Music, Poetry and Medicine. I never really dug into Deities, especially being in a family full of religious people.

And I'm not saying I'm not religious, I really am, I know that worshiping other gods, especially being a Christian is so called, wrong, but nothing is wrong in God's eyes, and I hope God just watches over me, telling me that he's always there if I ever want to worship him once again. So please don't come here to tell me I shouldn't be worshiping other Gods and despising me just because of this.

I loved witchcraft, I always thought it was amazing, I wanted to collect crystals and see prophecies, so when I realized finding your deity by tarot reading, offerings and prayers, I really wanted to try.

To answer how I connected my thoughts on Apollo being my deity, it was hard. You can't assume that everything is a sign, but what draws you in and what shows in your eyes is also a sign. You also can't assume that, That God or Goddess is your deity, you have to connect it with every single trait you've had in your life, your hobbies or anything you enjoy.

Since I, Love drawing, literature, poems, (I have so many in my drafts) music, want to do archery, want to study medicine, (become a pathologist.) My favorite color growing up was blue, to purple, but now it suddenly changed to yellow? Holy shit.

Every single trait is connected to Apollo. I am a person who wakes up early, prepares for school and learns, with the sun always beaming on me. Countless times, I go to school really early, where the sun is at its peak. (around 6:30 or so)

And I never really thought about Apollo being my deity, especially being a religious person. I never thought of worshiping other Gods or Goddesses until now.

Countless of times, I am always under the sun, ever since I was an infant and a baby, my family loved going to the beach. Sunrises and sunsets are my favorite. And gosh, how I look with gold jewelry, I love it.

The first trait I developed was drawing(if you'd even count that as a trait) I've been drawing ever since I was a toddler, seeing my older sister draw, and create lively designs and OC's, I wanted to experience them too.

Second was music. I've wanted to learn the guitar or violin, and Apollo is known for his lyre, which is a instrument with strings, just like guitars and violins, but my mother never got be into lessons, nor buy me one. And I listen to music, almost every single day, I have earbuds, earphones, headsets, and headphones all piled up because I have to many spares. I loved music, and it's where I found peace, and how melodies sound and how I immediately recognize the song just by the first note.

Third was my interest and Literature and poetry. I loved writing stories, and day dreaming, to the point I maladaptive day dreamed (till now I am, but I need to stop it. 🥹) And what I'm doing right now, all of my stories and all of my fics, I never even knew that I could write this much. And my love for Poetry was so random. I write poems that add up to 20 stanzas all because I'm in love, and or, feelings. If I feel lost, I write about it. If I feel annoyed or angry, I write about it. Different emotions, I write poems or stories about it. I always found a love for literature, loving how I could express myself with just simple words.

Fourth was my thirst for archery. Again, my parents never signed me up for classes in archery, thinking it's too expensive even though we could afford it. Archery bows and archery arrows, my mom didn't say yes to, and how much I itched to fight in sports competitions at my schools for archery, yet they only offered it to others that are said 'professionals'.

Last is my dream to learn medicine. I am one to fix people's wounds, whether it's their mental, physical, or emotional state. My emotional intelligence is through the roof, that I give the best advice, I help people with their mental health, yet I can't fix my own, and I help people patch up after they get hurt. I dream of being in the medical field, whether it be a pathologist or doctor.

Once I connected all the dots, from when I was little, to now, it's surprising to think that Apollo might've been following and guiding me. I just realized it today, and I'm contemplating whether or not to make an altar. But I probably will. Hehe. And rn, I'm too scared to assume that it's him, I am doing research!!

And again, please don't come after me for worshiping a different God, I know there are a lot of religious people, but please don't attack me. I still get religious guilt for even thinking about worshiping other Gods, but I really want to thank Apollo with all of the blessings and talents he has guided me to.

That's all, yippeee, bye bye🩷🫶

[gotstabbedbyapen]

Do these two not have the same energy?

"The son of Leto for love of the youth promises to give him all he possesses for permission to associate with him; for he will teach him the use of the bow, and music, and understanding the art of prophecy, and not to be unskillful with the lyre, and to preside over the contest of the palaestra, and he will grant to him that, riding in the chariot drawn by swans, he should visit all the lands dear to Apollon. Here is the god, painted as usual with unshorn locks; he lifts a radiant forehead above eyes that shine like rays of light, and with a sweet smile he encourages Hyakinthos, extending his right hand with the same purpose. The youth keeps his eyes steadfastly on the ground, and they are very thoughtful, for he rejoices at what he hears and tempers with modesty the confidence that is yet to come." - Philostratus the Younger, "Imagines"

*cues A Whole New World*

[tgrailwar-zero]

He can't be that scary. We fought Moby Dick and won!

SUZUKA GOZEN: "...Fine. Fine. Maybe it's better if I show you. C'mon!"

She walked off. It seemed fit to follow. You reached one of the shrine gates surrounding the Imperial Palace.

SUZUKA GOZEN: "Come out, Apollo!"

You felt an instant shift in the air. Heavy and intense.

You saw a shape.

Small and round, slowly floating into view.

A sheep.

KUKULKAN: "That's him? The guard?"

SALIERI: "He doesn't seem that impressive."

NERO: "No, if this is truly Apollon, then he is not a god to be taken lightly… even if he possesses such a disarming form."

APOLLO: "Do I gotta send in the lasers again, lady? Last time you came in trying to fight, I smited you real good. That talisman really does a number on your fighting ability, doesn't it? Apparently doesn't break your spirit, though. Shame."

SUZUKA GOZEN: "I'm not here to fight you! Not this time. I'm just showing them what's standing between me and getting out of this place. If they say yes, then they'll be the ones doing the fighting."

APOLLO: "They don't have to fight me. They can just answer my riddles three. Get all three right, and they win."

SUZUKA GOZEN: "What? Why?"

APOLLO: "Because it'd be in the pain in the butt, duh. They're not being reduced to a complete and total weakling like you. Now, about my riddles three--"

SUZUKA GOZEN: "Dick."

APOLLO: "Riddles four."

SUZUKA GOZEN: "Come on!"

APOLLO: "Look upon me, mortals. If you're willing, then I shall test your wits. Or you can leave. She's really not worth the trouble, I think. Plus, you know, Tamamo will be really pissed off if this fake fox does leave, and that becomes a you problem. You're on pretty thin ice already, right? If you still want to answer the riddles, you can still do that and not get the Talisman too. That seems like a win for everybody. Suzuka stays, you don't get in trouble, and you get a free trivia minigame. Besides, it's not like she can chase you if you ditch."

APOLLO: "I mean, you know she's a demon princess, right? That's right, behind that well-styled hair and charm-covered shoulder bag is a real nasty customer. You could set her free, and then the whole Solar Cell is plunged into evil and chaos and darkness. Then that's on you. That's pretty bad. Plus, she's got mind-controlling Mystic Eyes. Who knows if you or your Servants aren't being super duped here? It's not even the type of situation where you can ask 'are you lying to us or not', because if there's one thing she's good at, it's lying. She's an Assassin, after all. Lots of things to consider. Just saying."

SUZUKA GOZEN: "You're such a douche."

APOLLO: "Anyway, you don't have to say out loud what your intending to do if you pick the riddles. I'm a pretty smart god, so I can tell intent real easily even if everyone else doesn't pick it up. Nobody else here will know what you chose until it's over, so it's not like there's any pressure."