Hades | Persephone | Hecate | Hellenic Polytheism

FAQ/Nav Just an enby living in Portland, Oregon. (They/them pronouns.) I'm slowly getting to know Hades, Persephone, and Hecate, as well as the rest of the Theoi, and I'm loving the journey! I also take part in local community events (libations to Hecate on the New and Dark moons, as well as mid-month libations based on the Hellenion calendar), so feel free to message me if you're in the area and want info! No racists/fascists/swerfs/terfs/etc. Be kind.

[ryanthegenderfluidwitch]

I’m planning to start working with Hades as soon as I get enough energy which I’m not sure when that will be, though hopefully soon. I want to create an altar for him but I don’t really want to buy anything new until we have a more established relationship. Does anyone who works with Hades have any items that most people would already own that you have on his altar? Thanks so much in advance!

[norwayssiren]

Hey so as someone who works with hades let me help you.

So in my personal experience I find that hades like:

the colors red, black, and silver. So anything with those colors, like if you have a scarf or something you don't care to much to use a bunch you could use that as an altar cloth.

Any candles in those colors,

anything that has to do with dogs(he has Cerberus), anything with skulls on it,

if you have any jewelery in those colors you can leave those on his altar.

I find he like Altoids interestingly enough(probably the mint for mineth).

A picture or something from a loved one that had passed away(Hades does rule over the dead).

Altars don't always have to be full if anything you could always supplement with offerings(which can also be very simple). Hades is pretty chill so he won't be upset if your altar is small. Sorry this is kind of scrambled. Let me know if you have any other questions

[theia-mania-comics]

Queen of the Dead 082

The comic will now be taking a short break, since a friend will visit me next week and during that time I’m supposed to work on the comics that we draw together (not to mention I’m also doing some version of Inktober). Sorry to leave you hanging in such a tense moment, I hope I’ll be back in a couple of weeks. ^^

[rowyngoldeart]

I had to do the Draw This In Your Style for Punderworld by @sigeel !

[sigeel]

ahhh I love it so much!!! 💕💕💕💕

[bayoread-deactivated20200607]

Basic Hellenic Offering Ritual

Sourced from here. My own notes have been added in italics. Also note that this is just a >guideline<. Any step can be changed or omitted as needed.  

The key elements of a bloodless offering are as follows:

Procession (Pompe)

The participants move from a central gathering place into the sanctuary and up to the altar.

(Most modern altars will be in the home, so the procession doesn’t have to be very long. Depending on where your altar/shrine is situated you could start from outside and process inside, start from the next room, or upstairs/downstairs. You could even just walk around the house before returning to the altar. Side note – If you lack space, rituals can be done at a shrine, a separate altar does not need to be set up unless you feel the need.)

Marking the Space

The offerings and sacrificial implements are carried around the altar. There is a good deal of controversy about whether this should happen in a sunwise direction or not; as there is no consensus within the community on this issue and no incontrovertible historical evidence one way or the other, this detail can be left to the discretion of the ritual leader or group, or omitted altogether.

(My shrine is a window sill, so walking around it isn’t possible. I usually skip this step.)

Preparations for the Sacrifice Proper

Purification

In Greek, this phase of the ritual is referred to as arkhestai, meaning “to begin.” The hands of the participants are washed with lustral water (khernips). The water may be purified by plunging a piece of smouldering wood from the fire into it or salt water may be used. The water is also sprinkled over the sacrifices and altar.

(For my khernips I use plain tap water in which I extinguish a lit match or for special occasions a smouldering bay leaf. I also mix in some sea salt.)

Preliminary Offering of Barley and Prayer of Invocation (katarkhesthai)

Participants take handfuls of barely groats (oulai, oulokhutai). The sacrificer, with uplifted arms, speaks a prayer or other call to the gods. The barley is then thrown onto the altar.

(It is entirely too messy to toss loose barley at my shrine, so this offering would be fine in a bowl. You could just run your fingers through the barley and let it trickle back into the bowl while speaking the prayer.)

Final Preliminary Offering (aparkhesthai)

Using the sacrificial knife, the sacrificer cuts off a small portion of the offering and casts it into the fire. With animals, a bit of the hair from the animal’s forehead was used; a small piece of bloodless food offerings can be cut or broken off.

(Uses of bowls or plates at this stage is fine. If you’re lucky enough to be able to have an open flame big enough to burn things in then I envy you.)

The Sacrificial Moment and Ululation (he thusia kai ololuge)

The offering is cut, broken, or spilled out on the altar. At the same time, the women give a shrill trilling cry.

(If you live in an environment where shouting would draw attention or get you some funny reactions then you can skip this step or do something a little quieter.)

Distribution of the Sacrifice

A small (often inedible) portion of the offering is set aside solely for the gods; this is usually burned (for the Olympians) or placed in a pit in the earth (for the Khthonioi). Some sources indicate that the first portion of the sacrifice was offered to Hestia, and this may be incorporated into the order of the ritual. Small offerings may then be made to each deity associated with the festival. The rest is cooked (if necessary) and distributed among the people. Today this last act may take place at the concluding feast rather than at this moment.

(It is personal choice on how much of the offering you share.)

Libations

Offerings of wine, milk, oil, or other liquids are poured out onto the fire. In modern usage, potable offerings may be poured into a bowl from which the participant then sips. The remaining contents of the bowl are then poured out onto the fire or the ground.

(Offerings and libations can be left on a shrine/altar for as long as you like but be aware of rotting and evaporation.)

Conclusion and Call to the Feast

The offerings (and other food) are now shared by the participants. Traditionally all the food was consumed at the ritual site. Modern usage allows for excess food to be taken away or donated to a food bank or other charitable cause.

(I usually take the leftovers and leave them outside for the deity/deities that I’ve been honouring. If leaving foodstuffs outside is not a viable option for you, you can dispose of them in the trash, the gods will understand.)

[bayoread-deactivated20200607]

Practical tips for Hellenic Khthonic Ritual

Khthonic deities are of the earth or ‘under’ it so offerings were made outside on low altars (escharai) or into specially dug pits.

For libations wine was replaced with water, milk, honey or blood.

Animals sacrificed were black in contrast to white, which were reserved for Ouranic (sky) deities.

Rituals were traditionally performed at night.

Seeing as animal sacrifice is frowned upon nowadays and not feasible for most practitioners, votive offerings can be offered instead, i.e. black animal figurines, predominantly sheep and rams.

Other offerings may include coins as traditionally an obol or oboloi (plural) was used as currency in Hades.

Epithets were used more than plain names.  Persephone  - Kore (Maiden,) Carpophorus (Bringer of Fruit), Despoina (Mistress), Praxidice (Exacter of Justice). Hades  -  Aidoneos (The Hidden), Necron Soter (Saviour of the Dead), Eubouleus (Good Counselor), Necrodegmon (Receiver of the Dead), Plouton (Wealth), Polydektes (Receiver of Many Guests), Theon Khthonios (God of the Underworld).

Any food offerings were wholly burned or buried (holocaust), none of it was shared with the ritual attendees as with Ouranic offerings.

Gods associated with or make the Underworld their home includes Hades, Kore, Hekate, Hermes Khthonios, Kerberus, Erinyes (Furies), Kronos, Thanatos, Charon, Hypnos, The Moirae and Nyx, among a myriad of others.

Heroes and ancestors were also worshipped in this manner, thought to exert great power from their tombs and the Underworld. F’ex, Asklepios and Herakles.

Caves or deep chasms were also thought to be gateways to the Underworld though mortals were discouraged from venturing there before their time.

Disclaimer - This is solely from personal research and in no way indicative of how everyone should approach Khthonic ritual. Feel free to omit or adjust anything you see fit.

[coloricioso]

Hi everyone!! Finally the Olympian gods coloring book is here! : you can buy it here in this link in my Ko-Fi shop.

This is a coloring book of the Olympian gods. It includes 26 drawings of the 13 Greek gods of the Olympian pantheon. There is a drawing of each god with their typical animal, and a drawing of the deity on its own.

[chthonicpdx]

Where do you buy prayer candles for Persephone because I can’t find any good ones

Hi hi! I haven't bought specific candles for Persephone (or other deities), so I can't help there, unfortunately. Have you searched Etsy? I know there are several cool pagan shops on there!

I'll also post in case followers have recs!

[stygiantarot]

Hello! Im a Hellenic Witch who recently began working with Hades! I was wondering if you had any tips on how to build kharis with him? I've got expierience with cthonic deities, (Hecate and Nyx) And i figured youd be a good person to ask

I’m honored! I worship him mostly in tandem with Persephone, so many of my devotional acts and prayers are to both of them.

You might start with this list here I created of Chthonic devotionals I do for my household Theoi.

There is the basic daily prayers and offerings (even simple ones like water, oil, or bread counts!) to build Kharis. I also recommend writing your own prayers! They don’t have to be traditional or rhyme or anything. It just has more impact when you research which epithets to use and couple them with your own words of worship.

My go-to devotional acts for Hades are sometimes more obvious actions: cemetery tending and visiting, deathwork education and research, building my own comfort with the process of death. Sometimes I go a little more towards his other epithets and associations- a lot of my business and finance stuff is tied to him.

Part of building a successful long-term worship is making it your own. I’m sure you’re going to do well!

[micromeria-deactivated20231118]

New offerings practice

So in the last few days, I am alone. Meaning, my partner is traveling and won't be back for another week or so. Of course that makes me very sad, but I tried to use this alone time to practice more freely, far from prying eyes.

So I made candles. Not exactly what you think as waxy candle making. I just grabbed tiny jars and placed in them items I felt I can relate to my Gods.

My candle for Lord Hades:

It has pomegranates seeds, mint leaves, and a tiny white skull i found laying around. Yesterday I found a ruined skull bracelet and i might add the beads as well.

My candle to Hermes:

I placed some coins, a guitar pick with a tortoise painted on it, a dice, and strawberry tea leaves. I felt like the last ingredient was not to his taste so I might add something else next time, maybe chocolate?

My candle for Aphrodite:

Two seashells, wooden heart token, red and pink beads, tiny blue hummingbird pin, a jasmine flower from my window, and a pink incense cone that I later replaced with just a white candle and lavender oil.

I really enjoyed making them, and place them in the middle of the house. I only have 3 jars but since you need to wash and replace the ingredients everytime it works for me regardless.

My next stop? Roaming the entire house for tiny token i can place in those candles, and create a basket full of those. I'm going to make this a thing.

[felidae-sapiens]

The Shadow Situations Spread is something I created for myself a little while ago. I couldn’t shake the feeling I was missing something important from my personal divinations and introspection. I created this spread to show not only what I messages I was missing, but what I was willfully ignoring, the stuff I didn’t want to face. This isn’t really a light or easy spread, but as I have used it for myself its been wonderfully enlightening. It also gives good advice.

Anyway:

The special thing about this deck is that you draw cards from the bottom of your deck, rather than the top. Just shuffle your deck like normal, while thinking of the situation or question. When it ‘feels right’ stop and start pulling cards from the bottom of your face-down deck until you have all the cards laid out as pictured.

1)Your Perception of The Situation: aka What you think is going on.

2)What You’re Missing: Pretty self explanatory

3)What You’re Willfully Ignoring: You know this is going on, somewhere, but you just aren’t facing it like you need to.

4)What Your Intuition Is Trying To Tell You: The Answer to ‘oh deer lord I feel like I’m missing something. constantly’

5)What You’re Actually Asking: I have a hard time phrasing my tarot questions to answer the question I really need. Then I did this reading for myself I actually got The Answer and not The Question thankfully.

6)The Reality of The Situation: Not influenced by your biases, this is what is really going on.

7)What Could Make This Situation Worse: aka What not to do.

8)What Could Make The Situation Better: aka What to do.

So yeah! Look at my new spread, the first I’ve ever made from scratch, I hope you like it! Any feedback is welcome and please tag me if you ever post a reading of it, I’d love to see!

If you would like me to do a reading for you check out my shop: Iced Shadows Tarot! I just added a lot of spread options over the last several days.

[welcometohadestown]

Hades and Persephone by DonLagarto (x)

[bleedingsymbollic-deactivated20]

before the earth opened to swallow her, before hades and persephone were wed, how can you think them strangers? what gardener does not know death? who can nurture all that grows and not know that all grows towards death? guide of spring, of the bud, of the blossoming, when all leaves her charge, it is to hades’ hands she knows she will be leaving them. they have touched fingers many times before. 

which body has not known death? whose skin has not felt it brush them, unable to know if this is their time? some of us cannot pretend that death is only a door at the end of our growing. some of us know how quick growing can be cut short. persephone, dragging new life over and over into an embodied work, knows this well. how can persephone not know each and every one who crossed to hades’ care from her charge? call her mother, teacher, creator, whatever— she was never ‘just’ a girl. (what girl is ever ‘just’ a girl?)

how can she not have grown tired of losing life, short or long? and if Hades offered her a chance to see it all again, to watch over all that she had grown, even when the growing might be strange and subterranean, hidden, illusive, why should she say no? and when her mother came, to remind her that, long or short, the growing is needed above as well to support the below, the sideways and the circleways, how could she say no, having seen that long or short is not over? that ends are all new kinds of beginnings and beginnings run to kiss their ends. 

how could you think any of us strangers with death, who patiently awaits us all?

[bleedingsymbollic-deactivated20]

before the earth opened to swallow her, before hades and persephone were wed, how can you think them strangers? what gardener does not know death? who can nurture all that grows and not know that all grows towards death? guide of spring, of the bud, of the blossoming, when all leaves her charge, it is to hades’ hands she knows she will be leaving them. they have touched fingers many times before. 

which body has not known death? whose skin has not felt it brush them, unable to know if this is their time? some of us cannot pretend that death is only a door at the end of our growing. some of us know how quick growing can be cut short. persephone, dragging new life over and over into an embodied work, knows this well. how can persephone not know each and every one who crossed to hades’ care from her charge? call her mother, teacher, creator, whatever— she was never ‘just’ a girl. (what girl is ever ‘just’ a girl?)

how can she not have grown tired of losing life, short or long? and if Hades offered her a chance to see it all again, to watch over all that she had grown, even when the growing might be strange and subterranean, hidden, illusive, why should she say no? and when her mother came, to remind her that, long or short, the growing is needed above as well to support the below, the sideways and the circleways, how could she say no, having seen that long or short is not over? that ends are all new kinds of beginnings and beginnings run to kiss their ends. 

how could you think any of us strangers with death, who patiently awaits us all?

[theoi-crow]

I woke up with the biggest need to draw Demeter and Persephone taking care of Gaia because that's what they do and the lack of art for them taking care of Gaia by styling her hair or doing her nails makes me sad.

Gaia is the grandmother of Demeter and Great Grandmother of Persephone, so this is basically one of those popular family generational memes the internet likes to do.

[breathing-in-gilded-dust]

My Personal Haides’ Epithets

I love epithets! I also love creating and finding my own to use for worship. Here are a few I use in my hymns, poems, and prayers to Haides. 

Father of Snapdragons - have you seen the little seed capsule things? They look like skulls. I feel like He and Persephone collaborated and created a flower child. 

Solemn King of Ages - He’s been there through the years, the ages, He has seen people from every generation. 

Flower-Wreathed King - I feel like Haides has a certain flair for His beautiful wife’s gift to the world. When they’re together, I view it blooming and when they’re apart… 

King of Broken Petals - This is the more morose aspect of Haides I worship. It’s the Haides I picture with a withered flower crown, bent over in His throne, humming a sad melody that reminds Him of a song Persephone sang once. 

The Dreaded Son of the Shadows - This is the epithet I use to describe His strength, power, and His darker side. I like to honour the deathly part of Haides, the King of death. 

Bone King - This is pretty self explanatory, He is the King of the dead. 

Overseer of the Dead - Just a similar title to Host of Many. 

Dragon King - Dragons are often viewed as creatures who treasure shiny, valuable things. Sometimes I offer crystals and pieces of jewelry to Him under this title. 

Scout of Light - He waits for Persephone each Spring and Summer, constantly scouting for her divine light. 

King of Soft Smiles - I picture His expression unwilling to change, but does on occasion. In particular, to the soft smile Persephone inspires. 

Master of Plenty - This is an epithet of abundance. 

[inlightofolympus-deactivated202]

Pillars of Hellenismos

As there is not a large, agreed upon set of pillars in Hellenic Polytheism, I will be using ones I am going to start using, based off my own research. A common theme from each pillar is the avoidance of *hubris*, which is excessive pride and the belief that you are better or equal to the Gods. (This is quite possibly the only “sin” in all of Hellenic Polytheism, as a lot of the stories against mortals in Hellenic myths deal with mortals with *hubris*.)

Arete - living to your fullest potential

Arete, meaning “excellence” or “valor”, is the belief that one should live up to the fullest potential of yourself. When one lives up to their fullest potential, and not comparing yourself to others, it is aimed to bring happiness to the individual. It is also about putting things in your own hands, and not being a bystander, watching life go by. It is such a core part of Hellenic ethics that almost every philosophical and religious work about ethics contains it.

Ethike Arete - live an ethical life

Ethike Arete, meaning “moral virtue” or “character virtue”, is the belief that one should follow ethics and an ethical life, and the word from the Gods. This is usually in relation to follow the Delphic Maxims, 147 maxims given to oracles of Delphi, said to be given by Apollo himself.

Eusebia - piety and love to the Gods

Eusebia, meaning “pious”, is the belief that one should have respect towards the Gods and praise and honor them, via festivals, prayers, sacrifice, and devotion. It also relates to knowing *why* you should be doing the ritual and how it helps the Gods.

Hagneia - purity before the Gods

Hagneia, meaning “cleanliness”, is the belief that in the presence of the Gods, one should be clean. This is related to the concept of miasma, meaning “pollution” but not akin to sin, and removing it before praying to the Gods, as not doing is so is considered highly disrespectful.

Kharis - giving to the Gods and our relationship with Them

Kharis, meaning “grace”, is the belief that one should always give to the Gods but do not expect things in return, but if something is given in return, be thankful for it. In Hellenic Polytheism, when you ask a God for something, you *always* leave an offering. You give so that They can bless you with something in return, but do not expect them to. It can also mean the relationship between the Gods and us, with many saying it is like how much trust a God has with you. If you have good kharis with a God, They will be more inclined to fulfill your request, as they can trust you. But, if your kharis is low, They probably won’t trust you due to thinking you won’t do anything with it.

Nomos Arkhaios - being as close to the original religion as possible

Nomos Arkhaios, meaning “ancient ways”, is the belief that the religion should not change that much over the time. It is the belief that even when governments and society changes, the religion will always remain the same and gives a sense of structure and belief. This is probably the biggest difference between reconstructionism and revivalism. 

Sophia - pursuit of wisdom

Sophia, meaning “wisdom”, is the belief that in order to not offend the Gods, you should always be trying to learn and understand more. This is to help get rid of an ignorant mindset and better prepare yourself before the Gods.

Sophrosyne - having self-control

Sophrosyne, meaning “temperance”, is the belief that you should do things in moderation. It is also the belief that one must moderate yourself so you do not cross the other pillars and become inflicted with hubris.

Xenia - hospitality

Xenia, meaning “hospitality”, is the biggest pillar here. It is the belief that one should always help someone out and treat them as a friend in the house, even if they are a complete foreigner. Many myths have the Gods punishing mortals for the lack of xenia.

(I hope y’all enjoy this! I’ve been thinking about making a Guide to Hellenismos series?)

[hermesmystic]

petition for all ex-christian neo pagans to stop saying “Abrahamic faiths” “monotheistic faiths” “big 3 faiths” and worse of all “judeo-christian”

I know what you’re trying to convey in these posts, i really do. I know you have good intentions and are trying to bring awareness. I used to do the same thing! But please just say christianity.

99% of the time you dont mean christianity AND judaism AND islam. You just mean christianity! Because some of the shit you describe is NOT at all a thing in judaism and islam! And its okay if you didn’t know that but now you do so just. Say. Christianity.

Please continue to call out toxic aspects of christianity, just dont lump the other two into it. Dont forget that some of the biggest perpetrators of anti semitism and islamophobia are christians.

Thank youu sincerely a tired jewish pagan