arii

Hii everyone my names arii im bi/ genderfluid and a pagan who worships multiple Hellenic deities i love mythology and I practice witchcraft

[moth-kissed-witch]

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Ways I Work With Weather Magick

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These are all my own ways that I am mentally/physically/energetically affected by the weather! It's a fascinating topic and kind of a part two to my previous post about how to work with the moon phases and seasons!

Sunny ☀️: Bright and sunny days are always full of energy for me! If it isn't terribly cold I like to get out during this time of day, but you can also charge your spells, tools, and reagents in the sun just like you can with the moon! Spring and summer is when I'm most active to perform rituals, having my windows open and some enchanted suncatchers to spread light and positive energy throughout my room.

Sunshowers ⛅️: My absolute favorite weather phenomenon! Since I was little I've always felt so inspired by them, like a reminder of how happy and full of love the world is, especially when there's a rainbow! There's also a lot of folklore behind sunshowers, such as when it sunshowers animals are getting married, that it provides good luck when it touches you, and overall it's rain blessed by the bright, cheerful energy of the sun. I always go outside when it sunshowers and collect some water for more positive spells when I can.

Rainy 🌧: Rain is always very weird for me, likely because I already live in high mountains where air pressure is already unusual. I absolutely hate light rain/drizzles. It just makes me tired and gives me a headache so I use this as a day of complete physical and mental rest. Heavy rain on the other hand? Love it, I find great inspiration for deep critical thinking during heavy rain. Something about the earth being so heavily nourished and the sound of heavy rain is meditative. Almost the whole stretch of it I'll find myself buried in my studies and writing a ton from new rituals to philosophical theories. And the appearance of the world both before and after rain is just so enchanting to me and inspires deep introspection as I look out on the dark clouds contrasting with the suns light, raindrops on spiderwebs, and mist rolling along the streets.

Snowy 🌨: Oddly the opposite of rain, the heavier the snow the worse I feel but the lighter the snow the more inspired I feel. I imagine because snow is both physically and energetically a freezing factor I find my energy stagnated during heavy snow (which makes sense with the way my energy dulls from late November through early Februar), but lighter snow just looks much more magical. Especially when the sun hits it just right and it looks like glitter falling from the sky, it's truly an inspiration to make some magickally imbued hot chocolate, play some soft music, and just read/write away. But snow is also certainly useful for freezer spells.

Stormy 🌩: Now this is the ultimate energy provider for me. I grew up very afraid of storms, but now I practically vibrate with energy during a storm, and if I don't begin setting up some kind of ritual to do during it I feel like I'm going to bounce off the walls until I energetically crash. Besides for sunshowers I don't collect rainwater unless it's during a thunderstorm, as to me the energy of storm water is all-purpose and overall just provides a massive boost of energy to any spell I'm working on.

Foggy ☁️: Regardless if it's from after a rain or not, fog is just so enchanting especially during the spring and fall. Right in the moment when I look out at the fog I feel so nostalgic, like I've recently arrived home for the first time in ages, and just have this strong need to meditate, journal, and do some shadow work. Absolutely I'll do tarot during this when I have the time, and even if I don't have a particular question prepared.

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Even though this was a more personal descriptor of each weather type, I hope this was still useful to some! I listed all of the weather phenomenon that happens where I personally live, so I have no experience on things like sandstorms or tornadoes for example. Of course though be safe when practicing magick in more extreme weather, even if you are in your home!

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[paganinthepews]

✧ Hellenic Religion: Closed Practices ✧

Yes... you read that right. Hellenic polytheism has closed practices, many of which you probably haven't heard of or heard about in passing or maybe you even know somebody who claims these.

No worries, hellenic polytheism is generally open.

Closed practice: a practice you must be initiated, born into, or formally accepted. Knowledge and rites are restricted. Practicing without that access is considered inappropriate or invalid

✧ Mystery Cults ✧

Mystery cults weren’t closed because of ethnicity or identity. They were closed because of initiation and ritual safety.

A mystery cult (mystērion = “that which is shut or hidden”) was a religious system where knowledge was experiential, not textual, sacred actions were revealed gradually, participation required initiation, and certain rites were protected by oaths of silence.

Mystery cults changed your ritual status. After initiation you were considered: ritually altered, bound to the deity in a new way, and subject to different obligations and taboos.

Letting the uninitiated perform or witness mystery rites would break the ritual logic, collapse the symbolic transformation, and void the rite’s meaning.

The closure of mystery cults is because of integrity.

Initiates swore real oaths to gods, to the polis, and to the cult community. Breaking secrecy wasn’t just rude, it was impiety (asebeia), it endangered the cult and it invited divine punishment. This is why we have no written records of the mystery cults from initiates themselves.

Cult rites often included darkness, dramatized death, disorientation, confrontation with fear or grief, or altered states and intoxication. Initiation ensured that you were prepared, ritually clean, had guides (mystagogues), and were reintegrated afterward. Revelation without preparation was spiritually harmful or useless.

They were not closed because of ethnicity, nationality, bloodline, gender (many were open to women), or social class (slaves could be initiated). Eleusis explicitly accepted anyone who spoke Greek and had not committed murder.

Now...

Why can't we have mystery cults today?!

Yep. We can't have mystery cults in our modern times, regardless of how bad you wanna be in one.

We lack the full ritual sequence, the sacred objects (hiera), the priestly lineages, the civic sanction, and the living ritual container. So modern “mystery initiations” are symbolic, inspired-by, and/or are new religious movements.

You can still worship the gods involved in mystery cults (Demeter, Persephone, Dionysus, etc.) reflect on themes of mystery (death, renewal, liberation, etc.) but you cannot claim Eleusinian initiation, reconstruct secret rites, pretend secrecy equals authenticity, or pressure others into “initiations”.

✧ Specific Priesthood Roles ✧

Priesthood itself isn't closed. But, there are certain roles in ancient priesthood that cannot be reconstructed today.

What is priesthood?

They were a ritual office-holder, appointed by a polis, sanctuary, or lineage, bound to a specific god in a specific place, and responsible for maintaining ritual correctness, not personal gnosis. They were not freelance mystics or pagan Tumblr hoes who post long, wordy rants about historical inaccuracies and pet peeves in the community (...wait).

The Pythia is a prime example of a closed priestess role. The Pythia wasn’t just "Apollo’s mouthpiece." To be the Pythia you had to have:

The Delphic sanctuary: the omphalos, the adyton, the sacred chasm, and Apollo’s seasonal presence A full priestly system: prophets (prophētai) to interpret utterances, priests to prepare sacrifices, temple attendants, and civic oversight Formal appointment: chosen by Delphic authorities, sworn into office, serving Delphi, not herself. Strict ritual timing: only on specific days, only in Apollo’s season, and only after purification and sacrifice. Remove any of these and you're not the Pythia.

"My friend claims to have all of these, are they the Pythia?!"

Well... unfortunately Mx. Made Up Voice To Further My Point. You literally cannot have all of these things in modern times because...

The Delphic sanctuary is no longer around. No Delphi, no Pythia. Priesthoods were place-bound, time-bound, and legally defined. The Greek government doesn't elect Pythias anymore so... no Pythia.

The Pythia never claimed that Apollo chose her because she's special, she claimed that Apollo chose Delphi to speak and she was nothing more than a tool for him to speak through.

Plenty of ancients (and modern practitioners) prophesied, entered trance, received dreams, and heard gods! But that didn't make them the Pythia because the Pythia was a legal and locational role.

Other closed priesthoods include: Athena Polias (embedded in Athenian law), Hera at Argos (hereditary, state cult), Zeus at Olympia (linked to Olympian games).

You can always honor these gods and be priests for these gods but you cannot hold their ancient offices.

What you can be today: devotee, ritual leader, oracle, priest/ess of a modern tradition, medium, seer, and diviner.

Using a title like "Pythia" implies: continuity, authority, legitimacy, and public sanction.

This is why scholars and most reconstructionists push back hard on modern claims.

if someone says that "I am the reincarnated Pythia", "Apollo chose me as the new Pythia", or "Delphi moved to me"... that's their personal belief and you are not required to believe them.

Priesthood roles like the Pythia are closed because they are offices without buildings, cities, or laws anymore.

This isn't all of the closed practices, I may write a part two if requested, these are just the two I see the most claims of.

[potnia-theron]

‧₊˚ ☽ ⋅ Artemis festivals !

— a post to read about festivals revolving around Artemis in Ancient Greece !!

I’ve been wanting to make a post like this for a while, compiling all my knowledge on these festivals into one big post, and with the new year I’ve decided to make it!

First, this is every festival mentioned here, as a sort of table of contents! Listed in the same order they appear as in the post.

• Elaphebolia

• Mounykhia

• Brauronia

• Thargelia

• Delphinia

✧ Elaphebolia

Elaphebolia was an Ancient Greek festival, taking place during the month of Elaphebolion (March/April), presumed to take place on the 6th, honoring Artemis Elaphebolos, meaning “deer shooter”, as this festival focused on Artemis as a huntress and protector of hunters, the wild, and animals—particularly deer, one of her sacred animals.

Offerings given during Elaphebolia were often sacrifices of actual deer, however as deer were driven away from the city (etc) honey cakes or pastries or cookies shaped like deer — “elaphoi” — were offered.

Imagery of deer, water, wine, honey, incense, and fruits/vegetables are all good offerings as well!

✧ Mounykhia

Mounykhia was a festival (taking place during Mounykhion — generally on the full moon around April / May) celebrating Artemis as a goddess of the moon and as lady of the beasts. The festival is also tied to a myth surrounding the goddess!

“A she-bear entered the shrine of Artemis, where it was killed by the Athenians. Enraged, Artemis sent a plague upon the people! Her oracle revealed she would only be satisfied if someone sacrificed their daughter, and a man volunteered as long as his family was able to hold the priesthood of Artemis for life. As he led her to the shrine he hid her and sacrificed a goat dressed as a girl!”

One of the key elements / celebrations was the torch festival! This involved young girls running with torches at night, symbolizing the light of the moon and her connection to it.

She was often offered amphiphontes (meaning shining all around) which were small cakes surrounded by lit torches or candles, symbolizing the moon!

Other good offerings would be imagery of goats or pasterys in the shape of goats, reading hymns, libations, etc.

— fun fact : this festival is the origin of birthday candles !!

✧ Brauronia

Brauronia was one of the most significant festivals celebrating Artemis! It was celebrated primarily in brauron, a village near athens. This festival honored her as a goddess of childbirth and a protector of young girls! We don’t know much about this festival, which includes when it takes place, but it’s suspected to be around spring.

For the festival, young girls from the ages of 5-10 would dress up as bears, or “arktoi”, and preform a rite called Arkteia. This ritual symbolized the transition from girlhood to womanhood and highlighted Artemis's role as a guardian of women, guiding them through lifes transitions!

Another significant aspect of this festival was the many athletic activities! The girls engaged in races and contests, which were meant to honor Artemis's connection to strength and vitality. They would run, and leap, and dance through the wilderness!

Offerings given were often cakes and honey! You can also give other traditional offerings known in Ancient Greece.

✧ Thargelia

Thargelia honored the births of Artemis and Apollon. Said to be born one day before Apollon, Artemis would be celebrated the 6th, and Apollon would be celebrated the 7th! This festival is mostly focused on Apollon, along with purification and renewal. Takes place around late may - early June!

Before Thargelia took place, two people would be selected to be beaten and driven out of the city. It’s possible this represented disease being warded off! This festival honored Apollon not only for his birth, as a god of disease.

On the first day, bad things were driven out. It was dedicated to purifying the city, as it was a time for cleansing, purification, and warding off evil.

Offerings were music, dance, wine, loaves of bread, and first fruits!

✧ Delphinia

Delphinia was a festival in which unmarried women left in procession to a sacred temple, located at the llicso river in athens. It would take place around early April! It honored Artemis as a protector of young women and girls, but also honored her twin brother Apollon, as the temple belonged to both of them.

The women would carry olive branches tied with white wool as they proceeded to the temple! It’s very likely that there, they would ask for protection and blessings from Artemis, along with singing songs to Apollon.

You can offer things like olive branches (tied with wool), symbols of Artemis/of the twins, and hymns!

[hera-arii]

barnes and nobles didnt have the bacchae but i got the divine comedy instead!! xoxo

[hera-arii]

im going to barnes and nobles tomorrow!!

[alkalia]

@awordfromthegods

Prayer to Lord Hypnos to banish Insomnia (as promised)

Hear Lord Hypnos, Sweet God of Healing Slumber,

Thy Kimgdom of Poppies is my resting place tonight,

Make haste and bring me to Your Palace for I am in dire need or Deep Rest,

I have not been able to visit You as much as I would have loved to, because something out there is tampering with my desire to sleep.

Banish and keep away all negative energies, all evil vibrations, all spirits clinging to me in the Wakeness.

My body aches, my mind overthinks, my heart is burdened by mundane worries.

Allow me to ignore everything that might take me away from embracing You as I lay in my bed at night.

Blue are Your skies adorned with white fluffy clouds, purple is Your sun as it sets, red are the poppies that give sweet sleep and divine is Your care for me as I know You will not ignore my cry for help.

I beg of you rest my eyelids, make them heavy, make so I can't keep them open. Force my mind to reset and take a break so I can finally rest.

Praise be to you child of the Night and Darkness, Praise be to you Healling Rest, Praised by Thy Kingdom of Healing and Restauration!

If you so incline you can use this prayer I wrote which includes Lord Morpheus as well

Post by @merixus-noernir · 1 image

💬 0  🔁 2  ❤️ 6 · MORPHEUS in pair with HYPNOS worship arguments (a personal rant) + Personally written Prayer · So lately i realized that wo

or any prayer on my blog. feel free to use any prayers posted by me(not reblogged cuz those are not written by me).

[wanderinglanes-deactivated20260]

Immortal Lives

The gods of ancient times

Are very much alive

Do you think immortals die?

They walk in our new lives

People still believe

In the air they breathe

So what's a mortal to say

Old divinity ever went away?

[hera-arii]

THIS IS BEAUTIFUL!!

[wanderinglanes-deactivated20260]

Really want to dive more into Apollon's role as a god of poetry but all I'm seeing is "Apollo is the god of poetry" "Apollo is the patron of poets" "Apollo is the leader of the Muses" and this is all stuff I already know. I'm really curious if there's any more information that delves deeper into it.

[5tars-of-day]

Casual connection : Apollo

: It's a common occurrence for me to struggle with connecting to my Deities--especially in ways that truly build kharis, so here's some simple ways to connect with your Deity that you can do every day!

Today is... Lord Apollon

+ . Actions

[Light of music and healing] ~ Learning first-aid or medical information | Seeing as Apollo is the God of healing and plague, this makes sense ~ Making creative work, especially music and drawing | Apollon is one of the main creative Deities, creative work, while good for any Deity, is perfect ~ Watching or reading love stories | Apollo is famous for His myths about His lovers, and I associate love stories (especially tragedies) with Him because of it ~ Learning about prophecy | Apollo is the God of prophecy, and learning about prophecy or practicing prophetic divination is good as a devotional act ~ Learning about famous prophets | Specifically Greek prophet heroes, like Tiresias ~ Using makeup | Apollon is associated with beauty--at least for me--and makeup seems like a nice devotional act ~ Interacting with a creative tool | Such as a pencil, paintbrush, eraser or paint, and more ~ Having moments of pensiveness | If you realize you've been considering the past or future, or even the present, you can devote it to Him

+ . Items

[Light of music and healing] ~ Any creative content | Pretty self-explanatory--He is a creative Deity and will be most happy with any creative work, especially if it's your own ~ Colored objects | Commonly associated with yellow, purple and white, but some UPG I have is silver and green ~ Depictions of hyacinths | Well, for reasons that are somewhat obvious, but for His role in the Myth of Hyacinthus ~ Creative tools | Such as paintbrushes, paints, pottery materials, pencils and even paper ~ Musical instruments | Such as violins, violas, cellos, pianos, trumpets, particularly string instruments and lyres ~ Anything associated with Artemis | Their duality makes Their relationship really tied together, and anything associated with one makes a good offering for the other

[ ⊹ ࣪ ﹏𓊝﹏𓂁﹏⊹ ࣪ ˖ ]

: " Khaire Apollon, son of Mighty Zeus and Motherly Leto. You of healing and plague, you of light and sun, you of prophecy and prediction. This post is dedicated to you, God of duality-ridden domain. "

[hesperiaaan]

tyche eutykhia, lady of the bountiful cornucopia, giver of plenty; bless me with good fortune and good luck; bring me success and prosperity. shining goddess, may you smile at me.

eutykhia: good fortune, an epithet of tyche.

[wanderinglanes-deactivated20260]

I love the gods. I love the gods so much. I love how they can interact with us in different ways. I love how different they are. I love how we can have shared experiences with deities. Or experiences that are different but still are them. I am so happy I began worshipping these deities.

[hera-arii]

i want to read the bacchae so bad :(

[devoted-sunflower]

Would you be okay with reading an online/PDF of the Bacchae?

[hera-arii]

its alrighttt im going to the bookstore next week to get it but thank you so much <3

[hera-arii]

i want to read the bacchae so bad :(

[twunkish-cleric]

The fact that there are gods with disabilities make me so emotional. Hephaestus, Tyr, Hodr, Odin and other disabled deities just prove that being disabled is a vital part of the human experience, not a deviation from it, and that concept alone is so moving. Just like there are deities for specific human experiences like fertility or war, there are also deities with disabilities, which just proves that we have just as much of a place on this earth as mothers and warriors do. The idea of that has genuinely pulled me through some hard times.

[wanderinglanes-deactivated20260]

I think we need more meme images like this

[divineaphrodisianmagic]

Mother Aphrodite~

A collage for my beloved goddess, inspired by the images of mother swans and their babies <3

(dividers by chrisssiren)

[hero-shrine]

Cassandra, Our lady of prophecy, Maiden of fated doom. Please bless and guide me with your priestly wisdom, O daughter of king Priam. Let me keep your image close to me, so I may shield myself from the misfortunes of the world.

Lady Cassandra, red-haired and wide-eyed, see me. Look at me with favor, enduring priestess.

So may it be.