#pagans ask

[witchescollection]

witchcraft ask game

except it's actually real fucking specific and possibly shadow work in disguise idk

What are your opinions on AI in Witchcraft?

How do you feel about pop culture deities?

Opinions on fantasy depictions of witchcraft/paganism?

Thoughts on Astral pregnancy?

Do you think witchcraft is a religion or a practice? Why/why not?

What do you think of Aleister Crowley?

Opinions on Wicca?

What do you think of the divine feminine/masculine archetypes?

Do you think they're should be a set period before someone becomes a full-fledged witch?

What do you think of Gerald Gardner?

What are your thoughts on odinism?

Do you think witchcraft is inherently political?

Do you think you can hex/curse/jinx a deity? Do you think you should?

How different do you think your gods are from other religion's gods? What work have you done to deconstruct that?

Do you believe in spiritual psychosis?

How do you feel about TERF witches?

What is your moral code? How do you justify that?

Do you wish paganism were more organised?

Do you think it's okay to have a sexual relationship with a deity? What about romantic (i.e. godspousing)?

Do you research ex-pagans viewpoints with an open mind?

Have you ever been in argument/sent hate to another witchcraft blog? What was the story? Do you still think you were right?

Do you believe in closed practices?

Do you believe in cultural appropriation?

Outside of the online space, where do you get your resources from?

What makes someone a real witch?

Are you a real witch?

Are you confident in your beliefs?

What do you think happens when we die?

Why are you a witch? What need does it serve?

What do you think is a scam in witchcraft?

What post have you seen recently that makes you wanna scream?

What's your hottest take in the witchcraft space?

Do you move out of fear or love?

---

Please feel free to reblog, and send me an ask <3

[khaire-traveler]

Polytheist & Pagan Asks

🙏 - Which pantheon(s) do you actively worship?

🌞 - Which deity(ies) are you closest to/do you worship the most often?

✨ - Do you believe in patron deities? If so, do you have any that you know of?

🌍 - Which pantheons do you believe exist?

📜 - Have you ever made an oath, vow, or contract with a deity? If yes, how did it go (you don't have to share)?

📿 - What are three things you're grateful to your deity(ies) for?

🖋️ - If you could say anything to your deity(ies) right now, what would you most want to say?

💌 - What is your favorite form of deity communication?

🎭 - What is an emotionally impactful or a silly worship-related experience you've had?

❤️ - What's one memory of your practice that you reflect the most fondly on?

🥂 - What is your favorite devotional act or offering to give?

🎉 - Do you celebrate any festivals? If so, which ones?

🫂 - Do you syncretize any pantheons with one another? If so, which ones?

🔮 - Do you delve into topics like the occult or the mysteries? Do you do anything esoteric?

⭐ - What is something you wish people outside your practice knew more about?

📖 - Do you like the way your pantheon is most often portrayed in media? Why or why not?

🏛️ - Do you have a favorite statue or temple to your deity(ies)? If yes, what is it?

🔥 - Do you have a favorite myth or tale from your pantheon or others?

🧭 - What led you to your practice?

🧿 - Did you have any other spiritual beliefs before discovering your current practice?

🪽 - Do you believe in angels and/or demons? If yes, do you worship or work with any?

🪄 - Do you practice witchcraft? If yes, do you keep it separate from your deity worship?

🪦 - Do ancestors or human spirits play a big role in your practice?

🐾 - Do animal spirits play a big role in your practice?

🌱 - Does nature - plants, nature spirits, etc. - play a big role in your practice?

💀 - Do you believe in ghosts? If yes, have you ever had an experience with one?

☄️ - Do you believe in astral travel/the astral realm? If so, have you been there before?

[creekfiend]

i am grocery shopping with my mother, a woman who will put the baseball cards of her least favorite baseball team in the freezer to ensure that they have bad luck in big games. we discuss which horrific cartoon cereal box mascots would win in a fight. she shows me a trending twitter video of a man dressed as a giant pop tart dancing at a sport match

I log onto tumblr. people are claiming that white americans have no culture of their own

[rue-with-the-tarot]

Me, a well-studied polytheist: “Zeus is great he-“

Everyone: “diDnT hE rAPe a ThOuSAnD pEOpLe????!!!”

Me: “I cannot keep having the same conversation.”

[that-one-grey-witch]

I feel like, maybe we dont talk about how mundane some practices can look? You know? As a whole im so here for the spooky vibes. But thats not my day to day practices. Thats not what makes me feel grounded and in love with my practice.

To me it looks like offering portions of my meal to my ancestors (who i generally honor as a whole unit not individuals). Pouring out pomegranate juice or whatever fun thing im drinking to the gods. Lighting the one candle i have for all of them in the morning and keeping it burning all day when im home. Picking flowers for deities. Chillin. Chatting with deities on my walks to work. Knitting as devotionals to them. Preparing food thats good for my body with them (altar in the kitchen ofc) and salting and sweeping the floors at the end of the week to bring in fresh energy for the week ahead.

Its become so ingraned in my life its begun to just feel like part of it. Not something i have to force to work.

Of course i do more elaborate spirit work.

Of course i do larger devotional practice.

But the smaller practices can have big changes. Especially when people (me) can struggle to clean or eat at all.

Big witchcraft is incredible. Please also do whatever small and humble things work for you along side the beautiful showy side of witchcraft. You deserve to be taken care of.

You deserve to show love and compassion to yourself.

Please remember that ❤

[magickrosegalaxy]

Get to know me asks 🌟

Witch edition

🌙 astrology sign?

💎 favorite crystal?

🔮 favorite form of divination?

🧘🏿‍♀️ do you look up to a guru/psychic/spiritual leader?

🧚🏻‍♀️ have you had any paranormal experiences?

🌞 are you working with a deity?

📿 describe your altar

🕯️do you have a favorite spell/ritual?

🧿 what persuaded you to start practicing?

🧝🏻‍♀️ what kind of witch are you?

🌟 are you currently manifesting anything?

🔢 do you see angel numbers?

👽 do you channel spirits/interdimensional beings?

🌀 have you had spiritual experiences under the influence?

🙏🏼 what puts you in a spiritual mood?

👁️ what are your psychic/intuitive abilities?

📌 have you ever hexed anyone?

🎶 do you chant or listen to meditation music?

🌎 what’s most profound experience spiritually?

🌑 have you experienced a “dark night of the soul” for witchcraft? How did you get back into it?

🐺 do most people know about your craft, or do you keep it a secret?

🌐 are you into spiritual conspiracies?

🐉 what are your thoughts on cryptids/magical animals?

🕊️ are you a religious witch?

🗝️ have you ever manipulated a situation to your favor using witchcraft?

🪦 do you contact your ancestors?

🫧 what’s your favorite method of cleansing?

[broomsick]

I want to ask a question. Would Freyja be considered a Goddess of Grief? Considering her tears brought amber over Odr’s disappearance. I know that is more so the realm of Hel, (alas Freyja is a death Goddess in her own right too). I just haven't noticed that aspect delved into. And I've been thinking about it a lot.

In my grief over a recent passing of my father, I immediately felt her presence and from being so tired lately from it. I used my grief and cried as a devotional to her. Healing isn't linear and I go through a lot of bad days but her immediate strength came through after.

Of course we all experience the Gods differently, I just wanted to ask your thoughts! 🐈‍⬛🪻

I love this observation, and I absolutely agree. I'm sorry for your loss, and I'm so glad Freyja has been able to guide you in your journey through grief. It's an experience that's difficult beyond words to navigate.

I've actually associated Freyja with similar concepts for quite some time. If my experience may be brought to bear, she tends to manifest in times of emotional distress, such as when you’re depressed or anxious. I suppose that’s why devotees and people who have worshipped her for a long time sometimes refer to her as a “big sister”, or any other such protective figure. My experience is the same: she’s loving and kind, reaching out to those who are experiencing intense emotions and are having trouble processing them. She will help you to feet, at your own rhythm, and walk alongside you.

Plus, you've made a very good point, and one I've always tought was too often overlooked. She is heavily associated with passing and the afterlife. In a sense, she can be regarded as a figure that welcomes the dead with open arms. While I know it's not a topic that's easy to address, the passing of a loved one can be more easily accepted with the help of spirituality. While I know different people deal with grief in different ways, that's the case for me. And worshipping a Goddess of death to help with grief is not unheard of. You're actually not the first person to ask me such a question! I think turning to figures who have a say in what goes on in the aferlife is a natural instinct for a lot of us.

Now, to make a long story short, I think Freyja could very well be associated with grief. To me, she's a tribute to the fact that emotions, both good and bad, are beautiful. She's proof that even the Gods are not immune from them. You have my sincere condolences, and I pray that no matter how you choose to navigate your grief, you have a gentle journey to healing.

[divinationsanctuary19]

Hi! I would like to request for ur next PICK A CARD/PILE readings. Hope you like & choose it :)

The question: How would you describe the person I am destined to be with like?

Thank you so much<33!!

Pick a Card: How would you describe the person I am destined to be with?🥀

1. 2. 3.

🃏My services🃏

🥀Open PACs requests🥀

1. Page of Wands

This person is adventurous and curious. They like to explore and feel a lot of excitement towards life. Everything interests them, everything makes them curious. They are always ready to embark on a new journey.

They look youthful and energetic, they have a lively look, their laugh is contagious. This person’s appearance is likely to convey a sense of vitality and readiness. They are passionate, ambitious and full of new ideas. They possess a natural curiosity and a bold approach to life, often driven by a desire to experience and learn new things. They excel in roles that allow them to express their creativity and to bring fresh perspectives.

They are not bound by conventional limitations and are always seeking new experiences and adventures. Their courage and willingness to step into the unknown can be both inspiring and intimidating to those around them.

2.Knight of swords

Action oriented, driven by their thoughts and ideas, often rushing into situations. They act quickly, driven by curiosity, they tend to act first and think later about the consequences. They are intensely focused, to the point they forget their external environment. They have an admirable drive but they can become too fanatical. They have quick thinking and good analytical skills. They are passionate about their beliefs and ideas, and this intensity is evident in their emotional responses. Their presence can be both inspiring and challenging, pushing you to think quickly and act confidently. Brave risk-taker, prone to argumentativeness.

3. Four of wands

Joyful, celebratory. They may carry themselves with an air of confidence and joy, often found at the center of gatherings or social events. Their appearance is vibrant and inviting, catching your attention instantly. They are sociable, extroverted, welcoming, they make you feel warmth and a sense of communion. They have a lot of connections, they pay attention to their neighbors and friends.They thrive in environments where they can bring people together and create memorable moments.

They possess an infectious enthusiasm that draws others towards them. With their flair for socializing and knack for creating beautiful experiences, they effortlessly light up any room they are in. They have a deep appreciation for beauty and aesthetic.

[genericpuff]

I wonder why christian misrepresentation are rarely talked about if compared to other religion misrepresentation. Like, I've seen people really vocal about Greek myths misrepresentation in LO and such (and it's valid because it's a culture and religion) but I rarely saw the same thing with christian even though there are many media who use christian religion innacurately, to the point where it comes off as using it as an aesthetic and not a proper religion.

Is it because of rampant religious trauma especially in western world? No ulterior motives on this question. I'm not a christian and yet I'm curious about this. I apologize if this sounds harsh.

I obviously don't have The Answer(tm) to this but personally speaking (and I'm about to get VERY personal here so take this with MOUNTAINS OF SALT), I think it's just the obvious - Christian mythology is one of the most well-documented and strongly protected out of virtually any other religion on the planet. Especially here in the West, it's commonplace for kids to go to Sunday school, for couples to have Christian weddings even if they're not practising Christians themselves, even the American anthem references the Christian God. It's simply not as easy to 'misrepresent' it because the representation is written into our very fabric of society. Even Greece itself is primarily made up of Orthodox Christians.

So anyone that does 'misrepresent' it are either completely mislead hardcore Christians, or people who are doing it intentionally, such as with the intent to make a parody of it or to deconstruct it through a different context or whatever have you. And of course, people will still get mad at those things, if you're implying that people aren't vocal about Christian misrepresentation then frankly IDK what to tell you there LOL If you want a contextual example in the realm of webtoons, Religiously Gay was dragged to hell and back during its launch for having a very crude and insulting depiction of St. Michael, and frankly, yeah I don't disagree because what the fuck is this-

(like at best it's just terrible character design lmao that said, there's also plenty else to criticize Religiously Gay for, including its fetishy representation of gay relationships and the fact that it's still just the "naive person who looks and acts like a child hooks up with mean person in a position of power" trope, blech, but the character design is definitely the first thing you notice)

There are even plenty of hardcore Christians who will deadass claim "misrepresentation" over things that ARE factually correct but they just haven't read the actual Bible and simply cherry pick what works for their own agenda. And of course those people are routinely called out by people like myself who know for a fact that Jesus wouldn't have promoted the war crimes that many modern day Christians are committing and justifying today. So it really depends on the definition of "misrepresentation" here.

The issue specifically with LO and Rachel that I personally call her out for (and many others) is that she's called herself a "folklorist" and claimed she's so much more knowledgeable on Greek myth than anyone else, while making a complete mockery of the original mythologies while not being honest about her intent as to whether LO is actually supposed to be a legitimate retelling OR a parody (because it sure acts like the latter more than the former, but she still seems to expect us to take it seriously and consider her knowledge of Greek myth superior?) Which leads to a lot of her teenage audience claiming shit like "Persephone went down to the underworld willingly" and "Apollo did assault Persephone in the original myths actually" and the classic "why would Lore Olympus lie or make up fake myths?"

You just can't pull off this extent of erasure with Christian mythology because we have a whole ass book of it that's been preserved, sold on shelves, and systematically integrated into society for thousands of years. Of course, there are people who will still try their damned best to twist the Bible to match their own bigotry with the whole "Jesus hates gays" bullshit (he would never), but it's met with equal amounts of 'misrepresentation' that are actually fully well-read and are intentionally subverting and changing things to either critique, parody, or restore the original intent of a lot of stories in the Bible without all the manufactured right-wing crap.

Greek myth, on the other hand, has some stories that are well preserved, and others, not so much. And in the modern day outside of the poems and hymns, you'll also rarely, if ever, see anyone use stories from Greek myth to ostracize, torture, and murder other people. "Misrepresenting Christianity" is more often done by actual Christians who are using the Bible to commit hate crimes than the people who have actually read the Bible and are just taking creative liberties with it for the sake of deconstructing / parodying / analyzing / subverting it. Veggie Tales "misrepresents" Christian stories because obviously Moses wasn't a fucking cucumber lmao but it still accomplishes its goal by retelling Christian stories in a way that's fun and educational for children.

By comparison (on the whole, I'm not comparing LO to Veggie Tales LMAO) LO just isn't clear in its intentions beyond Rachel's initial statements that she was trying to "deconstruct" the myths, while labelling herself as a folklorist. Therefore, I'm going to criticize how she does it because the way she's done it up until now has been very mishandled and has resulted in a lot of misinterpretations of the myths simply for the sake of fandom. And yes, these people exist in Christian media as well - they're called TV evangelists.

And that's my (very heavy) two cents.

[bolszaja-miedwedica]

religion is actually pretty cool its just the fandom sucks

[hellenicrisis]

Does Hellenism have a Holy Book? Or like a Bool with Rules,Customs,Offerings etc?? Kinda like a Bible :>

Hey there, sunshine! ☀️

Hellenic paganism doesn't have one single piece of holy scripture like Abrahamic religions do. Our texts are a little more scattered. We have the Homeric Hymns and the Orphic Hymns, each are a collection of hymns and prayers to the gods. There is also Hesiod's Theogony, an epic 1000+ line poem that details the genealogies of the gods, and also Hesiod's Works and Days, which is more on the subject of morality and farming, but includes good lessons on how to interact with the gods.

You can buy these online in the forms of physical books, but there should also be free pdf versions of them out there, as well as websites that have the entire collection of hymns written out.

As for a text that gives instructions regarding customs and offerings, there isn't one set, singular text that I know of. We learn from historical and archaeological research, from writings like those listed above, and from each other. There are modern books on Hellenic paganism and its practices written by scholars that you could look for. Some are expensive though, and if you do enough digging on the internet yourself, you should be able to come up with some information.

I could teach you a couple basics right now.

1. Be clean when praying

There is a line in Hesiod's Works and Days that reads, "Never pour a libation of sparkling wine to Zeus after dawn with unwashen hands, nor to others of the deathless gods."

This line refers to the custom of washing our hands before giving offerings or libations to the gods. There is a water we make, I think with burnt herbs in it, called khernips that is used to clean our hands. You don't have to use it though (I don't) and simply washing your hands normally works just as well. I believe it also symbolises being generally clean. Being ready for your day and in a good state when presenting yourself to the gods is important, I think.

2. How to pray

Here is a post I found about how to pray in Hellenic paganism. I found it very helpful and I've been pagan for years now, so I think it could help you. (Link)

Also a note, we have a version of "amen" that can be said at the end of prayers, if that sense of closing off makes prayer easier for you. I know it did for me. The word is "khaire", and as I understand it, it means "blessings" or "good wishes". You can say it to someone or to close a prayer.

EDIT: "Khaire" or "khairete" can be used. They both mean "hail" or "farewell" or "blessings". "Khaire" is to address one, and "khairete" is to address a group.

3. Ouranic and chthonic

Quick run down on ouranic and chthonic. Ouranic means celestial, and it is how we refer to gods who live on the surface and in Olympus. These include Zeus, Hera, Apollo, Aphrodite, etc. Chthonic means underground, and it is used to refer to gods who live in the Underworld. These are Hades, Persephone (half the year at least), and Thanatos.

In Ancient times, offerings to ouranic deities were either libations poured to them in a bowl or cup or the smoke of burning food. It is believed that the essence of the food would be carried up to the gods through the smoke. Looking at this in modern day, incense smoke is an excellent offering and we can leave food offerings and libations out on the altar along with a lit candle.

Offerings to chthonic deities usually went in the ground, so that it may be absorbed through the earth and reach the gods in the Underworld that way. Usually libations were poured out on the ground and food offerings buried in a dug hole. If you have a garden or pot plants and your offerings are safe for them then the practice can be replicated that way. I've also seen people use boxes on the altar, putting offerings inside and closing it, symbolising burying it.

Or you can simply treat chthonic deities the same as ouranic deities when giving offerings. Whatever works best for you, but this is what was done traditionally.

4. Read the myths

Read the myths of the gods you wish to worship. You learn a lot and can come to your own conclusions about your worship by learning about their stories and roles in society.

This may all seem like a lot now, and not having one singular piece of decisive scripture can be challenging if you're used to having one, but it does get easier. You'll settle and find your feet. Knowing these things will become second nature, and you will build your own practice based on them. No one's worship looks the same, especially with paganism, and that's as it should be.

Thank you so much for asking, sunshine! So sorry for the long response, but I figured I'd rather leave you with some starting points and things to investigate. Please feel free to send another ask or dm me in future if you have any more questions.

Khaire! ☀️

[khaire-traveler]

You are worthy of the care and love of the gods.

You are worthy of the care and love of the gods.

You are worthy of the care and love of the gods.

[mars-and-the-theoi]

Deity Letter Writing

Deity letters are, in my opinion anyways, a wonderful alternative to traditional prayer if praying is something you struggle with for whatever reason! Sometimes praying can be uncomfortable for me-for personal reasons, and also formality kind of squiks me out-but writing is something I’m very confident about! And it tends to come much easier to me than praying. I started writing letters about 3 years ago on a whim because I was just frustrated with praying not always working for me. And it’s worked wonderfully ever since! It’s a great way for me to be able to get whatever thoughts or feelings I’m having off my chest! It’s really no different than say if you were writing to a pen pal, or a friend, or whatever. It follows the same format and generally includes the same content (with some differences of course).

When it comes to formatting I keep it to, like I said, like a traditional letter. I start it with ‘Lord/Lady [insert deity name here]’ sometimes I’ll precede that with ‘dear’ but that’s totally up to you! (Which is another amazing thing about this, you can tailor it to your and your relationship with the deity you’re writing too!).

Then I follow it with a quick ‘introduction’ paragraph, I just say hello, tell Them how I’m doing, tell Them that I hope They’re doing well, little things like that. And again- you can tailor this to you and your deity! You can completely omit this section or add to it. Whatever you want.

I don’t always write to Them when I need something from Them but if you do I usually include it in the second paragraph. If I don’t I usually just tell Them what I’m up to, or that I saw something that made me think of Them, etc.

In the last paragraph I thank Them for well…anything really. Maybe for being in my life, or like with Zeus I may thank Him for any rain we’ve had, etc. to me this is the most important part as it kind of builds this certain…reciprocity (idk if that’s the right word but it’s the best way I can describe it) and also it’s just kind to do! I may also ask if There’s anything in particular they want from me or anything like that. But again- you can omit or include this as you please. It’s not a must.

I don’t always do a like…’sincerely Mars’ part but if you wanted to you totally could! Sometimes I’ll just do a little doodle or maybe a funny joke that I think They’d like, or a book quote that made me think of Them, etc. whatever you want really!

Now I know a major concern is ‘do They receive these?’ And my response is a resounding yes, at least in my experience. If you talk while you write you could totally treat it as a prayer! But I usually don’t and just like…’hear’ the words in my head as I write which is good enough! I usually just call whichever deity it id I’m writing to beforehand in the same way you would before praying or giving an offering! I usually just say ‘Hear [insert deity name] as I write this letter to you’ then go for it! And of course, you can alter this to whatever works best for you. I also may light (or turn on, I use electric candles) their candle and bring it over to wherever I’m writing or listen to Their deity playlist. Just whatever I need to do to ‘get in the zone’.

As far as ‘disposal’ goes, I have a little wooden locked box that I have that they go into! Then when my aunt and uncle do a bonfire I just take it over and toss the letters into the fire. But this part totally depends on you and your situation. You could rip it up, or shred it. Or set it on their altar. If you wanted to you could just write them in a notebook and keep them in there. Or you could do it on your phone! In your notesapp or whoever else.

[temple-of-hermes]

Welcome to the Temple of Hermes

Who We Are

My name is Judas, the one who runs this temple. I use he/him pronouns. I've never run a temple before, so please be respectful. If there's something I need to change/do differently, bring it up nicely in asks or dms.

This a temple dedicated to the worship of the Great Lord Hermes. Any asks, offerings, devotional acts, prayers, and such are welcome here. You may also request prayers, e-offerings, rituals, or whatever you may need.

Who is Welcome Here

I have signed and fully support the Xenia Declaration. Everyone is welcome here, as long as you aren't harming anyone. This means anyone with any mental and/or physical disorders/disabilities. Including all cluster a, b, and c disorders and systems. All LGBTQ+ folk are welcome here. People of any color. Any sort of bigotry is not allowed here. The only requirements to be here are to 1) worship Lord Hermes and 2) cause no harm.

Resources

Hermes theoi.com

Hermes

Hermes Deep Dive

Hermes Offerings and Devotional Acts Masterlist

Deity Journaling Masterlist

Hermes Devotional Journal Prompts

Temples of Olympus Discord Server

*divider by @vibeswithrenai

**inspiration taken from @to-hypnos-we-dream

***temple logo by @hyakinthou-naos

[tam-shade-song]

tell me about the how practice of women covering their hair in ancient greece worked?? 👀

I was gonna write a whole ass essay but my post got deleted twice so you get the shortened version

It was called Himation, a very long piece of fabric shaped like a rectangle. For men it was draped over the left and clasped over it under the right shoulder. Married women, priestesses and people currently praying to the Theoi* (more notes at the end) would wear them as veils* covering their hair or face in front of strangers. In art, priestesses are often depicted wearing them. Specifically those to Hestia and Hera. Beta’s priestesses were married women, who Usually held the position their entire lives, while priestesses to Hestia usually served a year before getting married.

The first image is a picture of the Oracle of Delphi, one of the most famous priestesses. You can see how himations were usually styled, either with the draped like I previously explained, or left draped down the middle. Unlike modern religions that involve veiling, like Islam and Orthodox Judaism, there isn’t the same requirement to cover the arms, neck and chest. While it was the norm for dresses and chitons on women to cover all the way to the ground, in Sparta women wore much shorter dresses, to their thighs.

the Himation, wrapped around the shoulders, usually went up to the crown of the head, leaving the roots and top of the head exposed.

Notes:

*1 Theoi: Greek root for gods. Theo was singular and thea was feminine.

*2 Veiling definition in this context

yes that is a screenshot idc

if someone wants to repost this into Pinterest or something find that one cosplayer who wears a himation for a real-life reference image.