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The best photo I took at Dashcon 2

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Refining my practice bc I had a bit of disconnection and hit a wall and good lord is it a lot of work

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Stop misusing Greek terms to describe Helpol

The day people stop using “Hellenistic polytheism”, “Hellenismos”, or “Hellenism” to describe Hellenic Polytheism is the day I can rest easy

For some reason this is impossible to grasp, but Hellenistic refers to a time period in Ancient Greece. From the Oxford Dictionary: “relating to Greek history, language, and culture from the death of Alexander the Great to the defeat of Cleopatra and Mark Antony by Octavian in 31 BC”. There is no other definition stated.

Granted, this website gives a second definition; “of or relating to the Hellenists”, but once you click on ‘Hellenist’, it defines them as “a person living in Hellenistic times”

I’ve had two people try to insist that it only indicates time period if the word ‘period’ comes after it, and without the word ‘period’ it is fine to use in relation to the religion of Hellenic Polytheism. This is not true. Stop spreading misinformation. I have been given no sources for this beyond ‘that’s how I use it in classics’. Okay, I also take classics, and have never used it like that.

I do not know why it bothers people so much to just adapt their language. Why are you so attached to being called Hellenistic?

Similarly, Hellenismos also relates to that period of time, specifically the culture and the religion associated with that time period — which is, again entirely different to the generic belief systems that the very vast majority of helpols subscribe to. You are almost definitely not worshipping the gods in the Hellenistic way, and therefore you are not practising Hellenismos. Because it isn’t a term for the religion as a whole, but for the religion in that very specific time frame. Don’t take my word for it, though, here’s a post by a Greek person explaining why this is disrespectful and incorrect. It’s incredibly detailed and far more thorough than my post is, so while it is long, I really recommend taking the time to read it and listen. Helpol is an open practice but we still need to respect the people and culture where it originated.

Furthermore, Hellenism simply means Greek culture. Here is a website that discusses this in detail, but especially academically, Hellenism is the term used to describe the culture of Greek people, from language to food to religion to values to art to music. Everything, as well as the way that culture influences and is influenced by other countries. Practicing the religion of Helpol does not mean you practice Hellenism. I also really doubt an actual Greek person would say they ‘practice Hellenism’ either, they’d probably just call themselves what they are. Hellenic. Or a Hellene. I beliehe this term is more for scholarly use, however if any GREEK people have corrections for me on that and do use it in other ways, let me know. But regardless, using it for the religion is incorrect. Many Greeks find it disrespectful. Unfortunately if you search the word, the horrible AI overview, Wikipedia, and a couple of other sites all misdefine it as the religion. Additionally, r/Hellenism is also the name of the Helpol subreddit. But this is modern usage, this is not what it is academically or how it should be used.

Finally, have a vocab dictionary by a Greek person.

The correct terms for our religion are Hellenic Polytheism, as Hellenic = Greek and Polytheism = multiple gods, so it is a belief in multiple Greek gods, while Hellenic Polytheist is a person who believes in multiple Greek gods. The shortened form is Helpol, not Hellenic. You can’t say I am Hellenic, unless you are Greek.

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I will remember and not be unmindful of Apollo who shoots afar. As he goes through the house of Zeus, the gods tremble before him and all spring up from their seats when he draws near, as he bends his bright bow. But Leto alone stays by the side of Zeus who delights in thunder; and then she unstrings his bow, and closes his quiver, and takes his archery from his strong shoulders in her hands and hangs them on a golden peg against a pillar of his father's house. Then she leads him to a seat and makes him sit: and the Father gives him nectar in a golden cup welcoming his dear son, while the other gods make him sit down there, and queenly Leto rejoices because she bare a mighty son and an archer. Rejoice, blessed Leto, for you bare glorious children, the lord Apollo and Artemis who delights in arrows.

Homeric hymn to Apollo.

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That's a lot you're telling me to see over here

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what i see:

what my deities see:

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some unfinished persephone thoughts for today

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Is this a problem?

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don’t abandon joy because it is brief. don’t commit to solitude because happiness is fleeting. it’s okay that good things do not last forever. it’s okay to simply enjoy a thing for as long as you have it.

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Fuck it -- God bless the rural queers. God bless every dyke, faggot and tranny who lives in a town with less than 10k. God bless every queer living in red towns in red counties, in blue states or red states alike. God bless every queer who's also a redneck, who knows how to hunt and fish. God bless every queer living in a town where every other house is condemned. Where half the storefronts are empty.

God bless rural queers.

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Apollo waiting for me to see the signs I need to do more reconnection work

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list of mundane things that feel like ancient human rituals

cleaning or wipe your bare feet

breaking off a piece of bread and handing it to someone

putting the weight of a basket on your hip or head

eating nuts or berries while hunched over close to the ground

seeing something startling just out of your line of sight and very quickly stepping or leaping on to a larger object to get a better view

cupping your hands into running water to wash your face

the unanimous protection of a baby or child in a public space where women are present

when an elderly woman laughs and grips your forearm tightly

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"in Greek mythology, it is said that-" is it? is it in Greek mythology? is it a religious and cultural narrative? or could it be—i don’t know—an example for a philosophical argument? is it mythology or is it fucking Plato?

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HAPPY PRIDE TO MY QUEER FAT BADDIES!!!1!!!!!! FREDDIE LOVES YOU 💖🌈🍑💕🏳️‍🌈💖

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