My name is Zeke and I use he/him pronouns. I am a hereditary disabled witch. I practice Italian folk magic, eclectic witchcraft, deity work and worship, and am learning about the principles of Druidry and Taoism at the moment.
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I have way too many blogs. See here for a list of them all.
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I worship and work with way too many deities. For a list of those and the spirits I have relationships with (the ones that consented to being shown), see here.
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I do a lot of worship, make a lot of sigils, and do a lot of spell jars. As of now, I am very interested in and studying spirit work, mythological creatures, priesthood, and deity patronage.
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My asks and dms are always open. Don’t hesitate to start up a conversation or ask a question. I cannot promise that I will respond quickly, but I will try to respond to everything.
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See my important posts here.
If you like my content, see my Ko-Fi!
For paid spell/divination services, go here!
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I do not have a DNI, as I find people tend not to read it. I will block you if I am on your DNI list. I block freely. If I unfollow you, I will softblock you. Please do not criticize my beliefs or practices without good reason (it’s a closed practice, it’s harmful, etc; not liking it is not a good reason).
Well my list of blocked people just grew massively. Anywho, just a reminder...
• If you need medication for one reason or another, and have the means to get it, then please get it. Taking meds won't cause you to be unable to practice witchcraft or be spiritual.
• Doing shadow work can be beneficial for self-reflection and self-improvement, but it can also be harmful when you attempt to do shadow work to address trauma. Please only do shadow work in a safe environment. If that means therapy, and you have the means to get therapy, then please do. Don't put your mental health at risk.
• Essential oils can't replace medical care. Essential oils can be very toxic to animals and also harm their lungs (the lungs of your dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, etc are NOT the same as yours). Essential oils aren't edible. Please, don't be foolish. Don't put yourself or your pets in danger.
• Some of y'all really need to be doing more research on things before using them. Even if some practices aren't closed, they aren't immune to being appropriated and disrespected.
• Christians that take the Bible literally and justify their hateful words/actions with it aren't representing all Christians. No religious text or mythology should be taken literally. Don't put all Christians in the same melting pot.
Come back to the post and keep checking on it, as I will be adding onto it and send me an ask to tell me to put more on the list
@/keysatthecrossroad uses AI generated images (also white supremacy and religious intolerance to non helpol people) (this account is not being used anymore)
@/highpriestess-pinkypunjabi uses AI generated images and sometimes AI generated text
@/athenaeum-of-the-herald has been accused repeatedly of using AI to create her posts (she refutes this but there's been other concerning/fishy stuff around her blog so that isn't making me believe her much more) (more info in comments using the name Charlotte) (deactivated)
@/hekatean-path reposts the first person's posts very consistently
@/themotherofwitches reposts the first person's posts and posts her own AI generated videos
@/theangeliclibrarian posts AI generated images (thank you @dancing-with-maenads)
Now, I'm not saying what you should do in your practice, but AI in any way, shape, or form is Not Welcome at all on my blog
Generative AI has no right to be in HelPol spaces .ᐟ.ᐟ
I can say honestly that I have used generative AI in the past. I have never used ChatGPT but to say I haven’t at all would be disingenuous.
Me and my partner found a website that generated memes (awfully) and found it funny. This was about early 2024, it was a one time thing, and it hasn’t been touched since. (This Meme Does Not Exist) — I acknowledge that a year ago we probably should’ve known, I’m not sure why we didn’t think about it, we truly didn’t know.
I have also looked at Google’s AI for a quick answer before scrolling down or even closing the tab entirely. I feel so guilty about my contribution, more so that I did that at the same time I started practicing paganism, but I want to say I apologise and will not knowingly use, post, or spread AI going forward. Especially for Google, I will think about looking past the AI overview no matter how “easy” it will be to get an answer. (I mention this later)
Since last year, AI has exploded, with people encouraging it to people giving all they got to remove it. I learned very quickly how harmful AI is not only for the environment but for creators. AI is generative PURELY because it takes from others, it can never make something of its own. Talk of AI is everywhere on the internet by now, there aren’t many excuses to not have at least heard something about its negative impact.
Before I left school, I saw my peers boast openly about how they used ChatGPT and even had a teacher of mine encourage it. I found it shocking. This isn’t a matter of struggling with school work and assignments, this is not being able to think for yourselves. Find your teacher, find a tutor, find a textbook, find online resources. That’s the issue. As said earlier, it’s easy and fast. People want answers? Want something funny? Boom. It’s there. That’s how people get sucked into it.
Back to HelPol spaces
Using AI to write posts about Hellenic Polytheism straight up rips off actual academic authors !! and other Tumblr users. Using AI to generate “art” of the gods takes from actual artists who put work and effort in, unlike you. I’ve seen so many beautiful drawings from those in the HelPol community, some that are heartfelt, amusing, or captured how I see a deity.
AI is empty, void, and cold. It doesn’t and will never have the imperfections or the lines done by the human mind. It doesn’t have the soul and determination to create.
AI takes away the freedom for a creator to post their works. If you practice Hellenic polytheism, do you not think this goes against gods of art? Of music? Of poetry? Any kind of medium. Think of what the gods stand for too: nature, animals, the world.
(I speak to those using AI who are also HelPol, but you absolutely do not need to be religious to want to protect the rights of creators and the Earth)
Please talk about the gods, create for the gods even if it isn’t pro-level art. Please write for the gods even if it’s a small drabble that has spelling mistakes and grammar issues. Do your best. But don’t turn to AI because it’ll be quick, or you’re struggling, or because you think it’ll get you pumping out a lot of posts for likes.
AI doesn’t come from a brain, or a heart, it is a machine that takes and spits out what it learned from human beings. People that put in time to write what they did, time to draw what they did.
Think for yourselves. Don’t let the machine do it for you.
@pixilatedwitchery and @dancing-with-maenads list of HelPol (and general pagan) accounts that use AI — here
I've seen one of my mutuals here post about this but i wanna say this too.
I sincerely do not reccomend new beginner pagans to ask other pagans on Tumblr for begginers help.
I assure you, it doesn't matter if a person who made that Aphrodite worship guide or Hermes resources post on Tumblr (just random examples) has 1000 or 500 followers. It doesn't matter if they are your favorite blogger on here. Or if they seem super knowledgeable. They can be, but they might have bad intentions, they might want to mislead you (un) intentionally.
Wise and knowledgeable doesn't equal good person.
This doesn't mean to stop asking questions in general... But do not blindly follow the tips and tricks, resources, advice, or "deity cheat sheets" someone gives you. Question things. Do cross research. Practice internet safety while doing so.
You are not immune to internet misinformation in spiritual communities. And beginners can be especially vulnerable when it comes to that, as they are in a stage where they are full of excitement but also fear.
Instead of looking for "beginners guides" and resources from Tumblr my advice is to do this:
On tumblr and social media:
1️⃣Engage with likeminded people about your experiences with the gods and spirits:
-share UPG AND SPG
-share altar ideas
-share hymns and poems.
(do not stray away from discussions! Not the point of this post)
2️⃣Organize cool online events and post chains.
-make tag games about your gods
-make a blog chain about sharing your favorite pagan blogs and what you love about them.
3️⃣Engage with people who think differently from you.
-voice your opinions , and hear others' opinions.
-listen to different viewpoints and pagan paths that you might not know much on
-research practices from the other sides of the world, appreciate them! Example: Shinto is a faith i find really beautiful! I will research it once i have time. Also baltic paganism and mesopotamian!
On the internet and real world:
1️⃣Look into books! Reading books on paganism doesn't have to be expensive. Libraries, pdfs, and ofc 🏴☠️😵💫
2️⃣ Look into articles online. Back to internet misinformation! Cross research. Learning how to research is a good skill lol.
3️⃣ Real world. If you live in a larger area, go to meetups or events! Still, safety again. But if you do not have any pagan celebration events near you, celebrate with open minded , supportive friends and family. Tell them new things you've learned.
The possibilities are limited by your own creativity!
Please, be safe. Question everything. Research. Learn. Grow.
Even question me lol i am not a know it all 😵💫😵💫
I just saw someone say with full confidence that they use AI to help decipher their tarot readings and I just??? You work and worship God's of the Arts and assume it's okay to use technology that takes away from ARTISTS? And not only that, boasts about it online as if it's a good thing that you are doing when this is also scientifically proven to hurt the Earth as well. It makes no sense to me, sorry.
I got a helpol "tutorial video" against my will on my tiktok for you page this and I have to rant about, but I believe this is very important.
This person said in their comment section that hellenic polytheism IS ONLY a reconstructionist religion and someone who isn't a reconstructionist shouldn't be in the religion. And their post was about offerings to the gods and in their caption they implied that any offering that wasn't in the video (those being common offering like milk, honey, bread, hymns, etc) wasn't valid.
Here are my thoughts on that:
That's an opinion, not fact, and that opinion can fuck right off. The claim that Helpol is only a reconstructionist religion is fucking stupid, and that's coming from someone who's a borderline reconstructionist. I don't call myself that because I have to adapt to a modern way of practicing to make practicing more accessible for myself. Everyone has to. Including the overconfident poster who said that stupid thought. Unless that poster is currently building temples for the community, they can fuck off. They even told a commenter on their post who challenged that thought that they shouldn't be a part of the religion. It's fucking disgusting. Everyone also shows their love to the gods in many different ways. Just because someone decides to offer the gods something over another something does not mean they do not actually love the gods.
Now in these pictures, there are a good amount of things that I agree with. Yes, people shouldn't treat this religion like some game and treat it seriously. Yes, there is more to this religion than altars. Yes, TikTok has done a lot of damage to this community. But that includes this person's post. Stop speaking for the entire Helpol community. Stop gatekeeping. Stop policing shit that does not affect you.
I'm stressed right now and i don't know if this is a rational crash out💀 If I'm acting crazy, please tell me
Hii! Hope you're having a great day/night! I love your work, and i just had a couple of questions.
Am i able to like, begin to establish a relationship with a deity even if they haven't reached out to me if i want to work with them?
And if they have reached out to me, (i'm seeing so many rainbows, and i'm an INDOOR PERSON - hence my thoughts of maybe iris?) what should i do? how should i proceed?
Any tips AT ALL would be greatly appreciated!!
Once again, i love your work, and you're so appreciated! Your blog is such a safe space for me. ❤️
Hello! Thank you so much!
You can always do that. Deities don't have to reach out for you to start working with them. I myself have only had a couple reach out to me initially, and those were (and still are) all worship relationships! Every deity I work with, I started doing so of my own accord.
I've mentioned how to get closer to deities before for worship, and it's basically (in my experience) the same way for working relationships. Learn about Iris, make offerings, erect an altar, do devotional acts, etc. When you work with a deity, you usually want a way to talk as well. Explore that! See if you enjoy just using your intuition, getting signs from her, using tarot, etc. It's completely up to you (and her, of course)!
I always recommend having a period of just worship before working with a deity. Like you said, it's important to build a relationship with her. YMMV, but I find it's easier to build said relationship without the obligations and actions of a working relationship. Then, transition into working with her. Of course, this is just my experience! This is how I do it, but your worship and relationships with deities are completely yours!
Good luck! And please feel free to ask any more questions! I'm glad I can be of help.
Idk who needs to hear this, but the gods do not give a FUCK about race. Race is a human made social construct. Being white does not denote any special aspect of your dna, or your intelligence, or your favor with Olympus.
What skin color they are depicted as, where you are from, what color your skin is, it means nothing to them, because they are not from our society. The ancient Greeks did not consider themselves white, & were not considered white by others. You will not get favor with the gods by being racist.
How TF is Apollo x Hyacinthus pedophilia 💀💀 Zeus x Ganymede is pedophilia Apollocinth isnt
Artemis has a pack of wild lesbians and Callisto was her girlfriend, Apollo had many boyfriends and ignored that, and calling him a pdf file is straight-up homophobic and erasing gay history
This is what Google said
In ancient Greek mythology, Apollo was a bisexual god who had both male and female lovers. He is considered a patron of same-sex love and is often associated with homosexual unions. While Apollo's primary association is with the sun and music, his role in Greek mythology is also intertwined with same-sex relationships.
"PATRON OF SAME-SEX LOVE"
Apollo was skinny and hairless in his statues so HE WAS A TWINK. Hermes, Dionysus, Hades are skinny and hairless too so it isn't just for gay people
WHERE DID I SAY APOLLO'S RELATIONSHIP WITH HYACINTHUS IS PEDOPHILIA, HELLO? I said it was a pederastic relationship, which it categorically was. If you conflate pederasty (a social institution) with pedophilia (a paraphilia), that's your problem. Not mine.
Hyacinthus was a young boy (eromenos) and Apollo was his immortal, elite lover (erastes). It doesn't matter that Apollo is himself a youthful-looking god. He's still fucking deathless, and he occupies a socially powerful role—a role WAY above Hyacinthus's—which made their relationship unilaterally unequal. That's pederasty, babe.
I don't give a flying fuck what Google AI says. Show me a secondary scholarly source where Apollo is described as the patron of same-sex relationships because there isn't a single cultic institution from the ancient Greek world in which that was the case. He isn't described as such in ancient Greek literature, or even depicted so in ancient Greek art. Him having a male lover doesn't make him any more a patron of same-sex relationships than Zeus, Dionysos, Poseidon, or Hermes, who all engaged in homosexual relationships with beautiful youths.
I said it before, and I'll say it again: you clearly aren't a gay man, because you wouldn't be speaking so foolishly.
Being skinny and hairless ≠ being a twink. "Twink" is explicitly queer slang for skinny, hairless gay men, which Apollo is not.
You know how I can tell you have not a single fucking clue what you're talking about? You include HADES in your list of "twinks."
Hades is entirely portrayed as bearded and muscular in ancient Greek and Roman art.
You are out of your element.
You brought your casual interest in ancient Greek mythology and surface-level knowledge to a fight with a lesbian classicist whose current research focus is divine sexuality.
“This is what google said” as a source is sending me. We don’t have to listen to some anonymous person with a degree in Google. We don’t even have to take you seriously or dignify you with a response. This is like a flat earther arguing with an astrophysicist who works at NASA.
Y’all need to STOP normalizing random ass people with 0 qualifications, 0 degrees, 0 experience beyond 1 google search and some fanfiction, thinking they have earned the right to debate FACTS with experts in that field.
There are historical facts and then there is shit people make up, based on shit other people made up, based on vibes. Anon, you qualify as the second of those two and unless you are going to start speaking about facts you don’t have the right to be in my friend’s DMs like this.
hellenic polytheism: good resource posts from tumblr
tumblr should not be a one stop shop for information about hellenic polytheism! however, these are some amazing posts i've found that come with a wealth resources from across the site.
hellenic witch and magic reading list
ancient greek religion and hellenic polytheism: a reading guide
What are utility pages and how would one utilize them in terms of digital grimoires?
Utility pages are just pages that you can actively use in your grimoire! For example, having a pendulum board written on a page of a grimoire or taping a thin scrying mirror in. I'm honestly not sure how one would utilize them in digital grimoires! Maybe including an online tarot program or even random number generator (for things like die divination)? Or a sigil-producing program? I'd be interested in knowing if you can come up with more ideas!
