Why learning Hellenic Polytheism (or really any other pagan current) on Tumblr aint a good idea
Tumblr is a very influential place. I wouldn't doubt the idea that many people can get lured into entering a new pagan current through this site, specially young ones. But there's a lot of things you have to know before deciding that you are a pagan because you've been following the tag on tumblr for weeks.
First of all, and I'm speaking in regards of Hellenic Polytheism because I am preparing to be a hellenist myself, there's a lot of misunderstanding of what this religion really is about. Tumblr is a place full of mostly humour, small lists on what you can offer, and it's FULL of UPG. I think anyone with a little bit of experience can conclude it's, of course, no source of knowledge. But, by the nuance of the questions I usually receive and the ones I've read in other people's blogs; it doesn't seem like you're taking this religion seriously to the core.
Why do you want to worship? Because you've always had a fascination for ancient mythology, classic literature and history? Because you're into the occult and magick? Because the “aesthetics” seem nice? Because everyone is suddenly talking about it? Because you've suffered and you want to find yourself? Or just because?
All of this are amazing reasons. In fact, there's no “incorrect” reason to start worshipping. The Gods call to us sometimes in very funny ways, sometimes in very dark and deep voices. But you need to understand your reasons personally, because they probably define the approach you're giving to this path. Is it just a side thing? Are you just trying something new? Is it occasional? Is it something you truly, desperately want to drown yourself in? Do you really want to be devoured by a God? Do daily rites? Fill your soul? The latter you won't probably find on Tumblr. The reason is, this path is incredibly intimate. Every religious path is, of course, but because most of this religions are not widesread, we have to often follow the Gods alone; there's no “moral” or “social” commitment to this anymore as it was in the ancient world, where religion was more of a political thing than anything else. And I don't want you guys to get the wrong idea of what this is about; because, trust me, it ain't easy. It ain't always beautiful. It's often sacrificial, and terrifying, and obligatory. But it's really gratifying in the end.
What you can expect to find on Tumblr:
Personal Gnosis, based on experience that sometimes has no evident validity to other people, but is of incredible importance for the individual who holds it
Amazing ideas on what to offer
Very useful guides on basic ritual formats and some information about festivals (mostly based on the athenian calendar)
Beautiful prayers and poetry written for the Gods
Lovely people that are willing to help answer your questions
Humour and sometimes interesting debates
A lot of confusion, misunderstanding and misinformation
What I recommend more than anything is to take this path seriously. If it's really meant for you, however, you will get bored of Tumblr pretty quickly and will want to expand your horizons beyond the internet. There's not a lot of information available to us, not gonna lie. This path is obsolete. People make fun of us. Your favourite authors call our practice absurd. The myths are everywhere, not even well written or understood. Everyone seems to have an “opinion” about our Gods. Artists and companies use Them to their own benefit. They turn Them into villains or childish superheroes. Normative religions ridiculize us. Our Gods are demons, nonexistent, archetypes, or just plainly Marvel or Disney one-dimensional characters. They're, for most of the world, buried deep down within the remains of Their civilizations, dead for hundreds of centuries. Believe me when I say it is a very desolated path to choose. You will not have people who will listen to you, who will share your ideas or even just tolerate them, or guide you in your new discoveries. It is a silent path, for most. Do you really want this?
And on top of all —Gods are terrifying. If you're used to the idea of the divine being inherently good, responsive and obedient, angelic and heavenly; prepare to be devastatingly heartbroken. Gods are natural, cosmic, enormous, dark and empty, full of light and galaxies colliding; they're foreign to humanity, strange, beautiful. Frighteningly beautiful.
First of all, Gods are beyond human understanding. Let me illustrate this further: do you know what an Egregor is? It is a “thoughtform”. An “authonomous psychic entity made up of and influencing the thoughts of a group of people” (quoted from Wikipedia) in short; an archetype, a type of entity that is born out of the human mind. You will find people who think of the Gods as Egregors; but guess what? They're not, and if you choose to work with One, They will probably remind you of this a lot. Gods are not bound to human expectations. They are amoral beings. You can't judge a God's behaviour by good or bad. The idea of good or bad is in itself reductionist. The Universe, even the human mind itself, is way ahead the good and the bad.
What I mean by this is; no, the myths are not the Gods. Zeus is not a “bad husband” or “bad father” because the myths say so. Apollo is not “petty and vain”, Athena is not “envious and cruel”, Poseidon is not “an asshole” and Demeter is not “an obsessive mother”. The truth is, we don't know the Gods. We shall not condemn Them. Concluding that Gods are this way, or they were worshipped this way by the ancients, because you read a story on a book illustrated with romantic art, or even worse, because you watched it on YouTube, or even worse! because you read a book by a children author —it's laughable, stupid.
My advice? Don't believe this, don't judge any God, and don't limit yourself into experiencing a God because you have an “opinion” about Their behavior on a story retold by millions and millions and millions of people over centuries, mistranslated, appropriated and edited by another million.
But also don't expect anything from Them. If They can help They gladly will; and I'm not speaking of All. There's Gods that won't. They have their reasons. They're enormous Beings of autonomus identity. They have the right to not respond to you. That doesn't mean They're being rude. Perhaps it's not the time, or the place, or the Deity for you. Don't expect to have dreams They send you, or feel things, or get direct responses. They probably wont; but, again, that's on the Gods part. An “enthousiasmos”, an “epiphany” or revelation, are exceptional events. They don't happen often in a person's lifetime. Don't expect the Gods to appear or speak to you; don't expect Them to make huge changes in your life or choose you somehow. Don't put this huge standards on Them or yourself. Not because They can't happen (they can) but just because there's a possibility they won't, and I don't want you to conclude depressive things or get scared when They don't act the way you expected Them to.
But! Expect to have your moments. Expect the sudden rush of love inside your veins when They're somehow around, when you can sense their action. Expect the hypnotic type of inspiration that comes when reading about Them, finding new information, doing divination to get closer to Them. Expect the insatiable, unbearable, sensuality when thinking of Them. Expect dark emotions taking over your body and leaving you defenseless only to purify you after; expect to face your demons and never be alone in the process. Expect doubts, yes, but also stirring moments of absolute certainty. Expect rejection, and also the warmest welcoming when you feel like you have no place to call home on earth. And I ask you one more time; do you really want to be devoured by a God?
Read. Seriously. Read the Ancients A LOT. Read philosophy, metaphysics (please, start with the Ancients!!! Start with fucking Pythagoras and fucking Orpheus! Damn it!!) learn everything you can about the civilizations these Godsʼ traditions belonged to. Read academic articles on history of religions, even read about the rise of christianity and what happened to our Gods when they got removed from their cultures, excised from our minds by force, because this is also part of Their history and ours. And it's important.
Learn about the theology and metaphysical beliefs of the path you chose. A hint: if you're interested in being a Hellenist, don't use the hinduist chakra system. It doesn't belong to you nor to the path you chose. What I mean by this is respect. Respect the cultures you're learning from and also what other cultures have gifted you. Read about open and close religions.
Understand that the idea of this religions being “revived” is mostly fake. In every time, somewhere, someone was still worshipping your Gods. Respect that. It becoming more popular nowadays gives you no right to appropriate, or justification to say “so its ok bc its an open system”. If you are becoming a Hellenist, learn from the Hellenes. Drown in their knowledge.
Do not pressure yourself. Take it easy. You don't have to make this perfectly. We don't have the resources to do things like the ancients did. Use what you have, what you can get, do it the best way you can, and thats more than enough for the Gods.
Practice. Their. Virtues. I've read posts like “its amazing to be a pagan bc the gods expect nothing from u”. They do. And you should too. Honor your Gods. Act like your Gods have teached you. Be impassive, and disciplined, and curious, and natural. When one says “eat your Gods” one means exactly that. Let Them fill you. Follow Them. Be responsible. Take. This. Seriously. It's. Not. A. Fucking. Game.
But! You should have fun. Make it comfortable, but don't become lazy. Remember the Gods are not servants, you're not either. This path is based on reciprocation and balance. Please, learn to have boundaries for yourself and Them, and everyone else. Enjoy it!
See Them everywhere. In nature, in books, in schools, in words, in art, in history, in death and birth and illness and health, in chastity and sexuality, reason and madness. Be tender-hearted. Love, because They are everything.
Learn to disidentify with fundamentalism and start thinking on coherenticism. I won't tell you what these things are if you dont know. Google “coherenticism” and start studying it. It is important because polytheism is often focused on a coherentist approach to the world. It will also help you when there's someone making fun of you because “there's no scientific proof of your beliefs” and you get all frustrated.
Be a maenad but also a muse.
That's it, that's all I have to say. I really hope it makes sense.
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