#worship tag

[seaofwine]

How did you first reach out/connect with Athena for your practice? I really want to work with and learn from her, but I’m so incredibly afraid of doing something wrong

For me, I kind of feel like Athena has always been around in some way or another (but that’s for a different post), but I want you to know that it’s okay to start whenever, she will meet you where you are. I’ll share my experience in this and I really hope it helps.

During the pandemic, I mean the *early* months of them, I was really lost in my life in general. I was completely directionless. I'd switched university tracks to attend literally two months of art school before campus closed. I was in mostly studio and design classes so this basically meant everything I'd started wouldn't ever be finished.

I can't describe to you the feeling of hopelessness. I'd stepped out of a promising internship and a chance at law school to follow my dreams. This was probably the riskiest decision I've ever made and it definitely felt like it was not paying off at all. I'd hoped to see some sign that the change would be worth it and this as an answer was a blow I didn't know how to recover from.

I didn't know what to do. It was in this chaos that I connected with her for the first time as a conscious worshipper. I'd woven things for her before, had a collection of prized owls on a shelf for her, but this was when I really reached out for help. I guess you could say I was building kharis with her for a bit beforehand, but that was by no means something you have to spend a ton of time doing before reaching out. You build it along the way.

We don't really have widespread access to temples and sanctuaries anymore, and shrines are usually things we've made ourselves. Something I've been doing in my practice is going to places that fall under their domain. So for Apollon, the art studio was a place I would meditate and pray, offering my work at the end of a session or my paint water. For Athena, it was the university library (any place you feel close to her works though, this could be your room or a museum, this was just what worked for me at the time). I just went as I was in that moment. Lost, confused, needing aid. I sat there for a while and told her everything. I wasn't perfect, I haven't been perfect, but that's kind of the point. I worked at it over time, reading her myths, making offerings, a prayer journal, just telling her about my day. I thank her for all the ways she's shown up for me, all the ways I can see her in my everyday life, and that's been the way to go for me. I keep a notebook in my bag where I write notes to her when things get tough, wear devotional jewelry, and dedicate my achievements to her.

She has these really lovely epithets, Ergane, the instructor of man, or Aleia, the provider of refuge, Amboulia, of good counsel, Soteira, the savior. She's familiar with every struggle and insecurity you could have. These gods are older than we can possibly comprehend. Yes - there are guidelines for how you should behave, but the things that can make the gods genuinely upset are few and severe. Hubris for one, and defiling a temple, or killing a relative, like those are things that the average person will never really encounter. Make the mistakes, as long as you are respectful and approach the gods with good intentions, you’re okay. There are a million right ways to worship, and only very few that are historically attested as Wrong.

[kookoofufu]

One piece fans are great cause no matter who you are, where you come from, what your age, gender, sexuality, socioeconomic status is, 1 of these 4 middle aged men will inevitably become your blorbo. Margaritaville uncle, big titty mob boss, morticia addams, or assigned clown from birth. They're all hot, homeless and obsessed with a teenage boy. The world's worst polycule. Choose wisely.

[muzzleroars]

the angels were broken of self-worship, yet their need for devotion must find a place if it is left empty

[sasukeless]

wild theory but guys i think sasuke doesn’t like women

[gatoburr0]

Unfinished Marinetta anyone?

[meirimerens]

pathologic fest day 19

"In the Darkness"

where nobody dwells but the earth herself

[v3ratrix]

my love, why have you forsaken me?

if you had only wanted the crown and spared my life, i would have still been your truest, most loyal disciple.

bonus doodle. if you got narinder by sparing him but get the trophy from mystic seller afterwards haha

[narikill]

aughdhshfjjsjcjdjfjsbgsknfjs <- leshy in this art probably

[ivettaflowerblooom]

Eros and Psyche by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, 1889.

[warpedpuppeteer]

The only cake that Buck wants 😋

[thereseuwu]

Ellooo! Just made a lil' something for Apollo! (AKA an offering!!)

[ancientbygone]

I SEE HER FINGERS BENDING BACKWARDS TWIST AND TURN AND TIE THEMSELVES TOGETHER BECKONING BEHIND HER BACK WITH FINGERS DRIPPING RAINBOW PUDDLES SINGING TO ME “COME AND DRINK OF MANY WATERS”

[ilovemesomevincentprice]

Vincent Price - Bloodbath at the House of Death (1984)

[witness2caesar]

Working on it.... I unfortunately can't turn my brain off with the amount of ideas I have for them. My wallet is screaming at me, guys

[godhurts]

So I kinda like the way my ass looks in the strapon harness 🍑

[khaire-traveler]

I can't stop thinking about this quote from Futurama, of all places. In an episode where Bender meets God, he has this conversation about what it's like to be God. Two parts stuck me in the conversation:

"Bender, being God isn't easy, if you do too much, people get dependent. And if you do nothing, they lose hope. You have to use a light touch..." - God

And the end:

"When you've done things right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all." - God

It makes me think of the gods themselves and the experiences I've had with them answering my own prayers. There have been many times that I've been unsure whether or not something was influenced by the gods or just happened as a natural consequence of life. I have also found myself wondering why they seemingly chose not to take action in certain cases.

Sometimes our prayers aren't answered immediately. We want them to be, but they aren't. Other times, they're not answered in the way that we want or expect them to be, and it can be jarring when they finally play out. I've found that typically I don't notice a prayer has been answered in the moment. It usually isn't until I reflect on it later that I notice the subtle influence of the gods. Their touch is gentle and light as a feather. It can easily be overlooked. And whether we recognize their efforts or not, they answer us anyway.

When they seemingly don't answer, that's when things become difficult. We can lose hope. We can lose faith. But the thing is, sometimes the answer is "no". I've found many times that Lord Hermes will specifically not give me a gentle and subtle "no" because he wants me to trust my own judgement. Sometimes there is a lesson to be learned within a "no", and even though it feels like hell in the moment, it allows us to grow as people in the end. "No" doesn't mean "I no longer love you" or "I have abandoned you"; "no" just means "no" and can be in our best interest in the end.

If your prayers are waiting to be answered or you just worry your gods aren't listening, try to think of these quotes. We're all not sure if the gods have done anything at all, at some point, but that doesn't mean they never answered.