Here are some cheat sheets with general information about the Greek Gods which you might find useful in worship but not only!
There is plenty of information I did not include. These are just simple cheat sheets. I could not fit everything in there but this might come in handy if you’re just starting out or want to get to know the Hellenic Gods.
For more information about them, I highly recommend you check out the websites or books I listed in sources!
PSA: Some of the things listed in offerings and associations section are more modern, thus could be regarded as UPGs/SPGs
⚡ The Olympians ⚡
Zeus
Hera
Poseidon
Demeter
Athena
Apollo
Artemis
Ares
Hephaestus
Aphrodite
Hermes
Hestia
Dionysus
Mount Olympus - Home of the Gods
Hyperborea
🦴The Underworld🦴
Hades
Persephone
Hekate
Hypnos
Thanatos
Erinyes
House of Hades & the Afterlife
🌱 Minor deities & daimones 💫
Nemesis
Eris
Phobos & Deimos - bonus info
Eros
Nike
Asklepios
Pan
Iris
Hebe
Priapus
Amphitrite
Aristaios
Thetis
Tyche
Mousai [Muses]
Moirai [Fates]
Charites [Graces]
Anemoi [The Winds]
🌾 Titan & Primordial Gods 🌌
Helios
Selene
Hekate
Eos
Leto
Themis
Rhea
Cronus
Nyx
Gaia
👑 Heroes & deified mortals ⚔
Achilles
Heracles
Asklepios
Ganymede
Dioskouroi
Adonis
Hyacinthus
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here's your reminder to not to be afraid of your own voice
recite the spell out loud
dance and sing to raise energy
talk to your plants and your crystals
call out omens as you see them
i have a hard time with this, even decades later, so i'm here to remind you that your voice and your craft are nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed about.
Japanese spirituality and folk magick are deeply rooted in Shinto, Buddhism, and indigenous traditions that blend animism, kami (spirits), and ritual practices. While Japan does not have a historical "witchcraft" tradition in the Western sense, it has a rich magickal heritage that includes onmyodo (esoteric cosmology), shugendo (mountain asceticism), folk magick, and spiritual practices passed down through generations.
So, let's explore the key elements of Japanese witchcraft and magick, including history, deities and spirits, traditional magickal practices, and how modern practitioners integrate these elements into their craft.
Foundations of Japanese Magick
🏮Shinto (神道) – The Way of the Kami
Shinto is the indigenous spiritual tradition of Japan, centered on reverence for kami (divine spirits) found in nature, ancestors, and sacred places. Many Japanese magickal practices stem from Shinto beliefs and rituals.
Key Concepts in Shinto Magick:
• Kami (神) – Spirits or deities that inhabit all things, including trees, mountains, rivers, and animals.
• Purification (禊 Misogi & 祓 Harai) – Cleansing oneself or a space of impurities before engaging in spiritual work.
• Offerings (供え物) – Giving food, incense, or prayers to kami and spirits to seek blessings or protection.
• Omamori (お守り) – Charms that provide luck, protection, and blessings.
🏮Onmyodo (陰陽道) – The Way of Yin-Yang
Onmyodo is an ancient system of esoteric cosmology and divination based on Taoist principles of yin-yang and the five elements. Practitioners, known as onmyōji (陰陽師), were skilled in astrology, geomancy, exorcism, and protective magick.
Onmyodo Magick Includes:
• Divination (卜占) – Fortune-telling using astrology, geomancy, or sacred texts.
• Talismans (護符 Gofu / Ofuda) – Paper or wooden charms inscribed with sacred symbols or prayers for protection.
• Spirit Banishing (鬼払い Oni-barai) – Rituals to remove negative spirits and influences.
• Elemental Magic (五行 Gogyō) – The Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) used for balance and spellwork.
🏮Shugendo (修験道) – Mountain Asceticism
Shugendo is a mystical tradition that blends Shinto, Buddhism, and Taoism. Its practitioners, known as yamabushi (山伏), are mountain monks who engage in spiritual endurance training, chanting, and nature-based magick.
Shugendo Magical Practices:
• Nature-Based Rituals – Using waterfalls, mountains, and caves for spiritual cleansing and empowerment.
• Firewalking (火渡り Hi-watari) – Walking over fire as a purification ritual.
• Mantra Chanting (真言 Shingon) – Reciting sacred phrases to invoke deities and spirits.
Key Deities and Spirits in Japanese Witchcraft
🏮Major Kami Associated with Magick:
• Inari Okami (稲荷大神) – Kami of prosperity, agriculture, and fox spirits (kitsune). Often invoked for abundance and transformation magick.
• Tsukuyomi (月読命) – Moon deity, associated with night magick, divination, and intuition.
• Ame-no-Uzume (天宇受売命) – Goddess of dawn, joy, and ritual dance. Invoked for creativity and uplifting energy.
• Raijin & Fujin (雷神・風神) – Thunder and wind gods, called upon for storm magick and elemental work.
• Susanoo-no-Mikoto (須佐之男命) – Kami of storms, exorcism, and warrior energy.
🏮Yokai (妖怪) & Spirit Beings:
Japanese folklore is filled with supernatural creatures, some of which play a role in magick:
• Kitsune (狐) – Fox spirits associated with transformation, illusion, and trickery.
• Tengu (天狗) – Mountain spirits and warriors with powerful knowledge of magick and martial arts.
• Yurei (幽霊) – Ghosts and ancestral spirits that may require appeasement or exorcism.
Traditional Japanese Magickal Practices
🏮Divination & Fortune-Telling:
• Omikuji (おみくじ) – Paper fortunes drawn at shrines to reveal one's luck.
• I Ching (易経 Ekikyō) – Taoist divination practice adopted in Japan.
• Tenmon (天文) – Japanese astrology, used by onmyōji for predicting fate and auspicious times.
🏮Talisman & Charm Magick:
• Omamori (お守り) – Protective charms bought from shrines, charged with blessings from kami.
• Ofuda (御札) – Paper talismans often hung in homes for protection.
• Shide (紙垂) – Zigzag-shaped paper strips used in purification and shrine rituals.
🏮Protection & Banishing Spells
• Salt Purification (塩清め Shio-kiyome) – Sprinkling salt around spaces to remove negativity.
• Suzu (鈴) – Small bells used to ward off bad spirits.
🏮Elemental & Nature Magick
• Waterfall Purification (滝行 Takigyo) – Ritual bathing in waterfalls to cleanse the spirit.
• Moon Rituals (月の魔法 Tsuki no Maho) – Working with lunar phases for manifestation and divination.
• Kitsune Magick – Calling upon fox spirits for wisdom, transformation, and trickster energy.
Modern Japanese Witchcraft & Contemporary Practices
While Japan does not have a strong tradition of "witchcraft" as seen in the West, modern witches and spiritual practitioners integrate traditional elements into their craft.
🏮Ways to Practice Japanese-Inspired Magick Today:
• Shrine Visits – Offering prayers and petitions to kami.
• Japanese Herbal Magick – Using plants like mugwort (ヨモギ yomogi) for protection and cleansing.
• Tea Rituals – Preparing and blessing tea with intentions for peace, health, and wisdom.
• Shinto-Inspired Spellwork – Creating small home altars (kamidana) for divine guidance.
• Combining Onmyodo with Western Practices – Blending astrology, talisman magic, and elemental balancing with modern witchcraft.
Japanese magick is deeply connected to nature, spirits, and ancestral traditions. While Japan does not have a direct equivalent to Western witchcraft, its spiritual and folk practices offer rich ways to work with energy, divination, and protection magick. Whether you are drawn to Shinto nature worship, onmyodo divination, or spirit work with yokai, Japanese magickal traditions provide a fascinating and profound path for spiritual exploration.
sorry im late. traffic was really bad at the intersection of pop spirituality and pop psychology and a horde of 23 year old self-identified life coaches couldn't decide right of way cuz their traumas and life experience were all too similar to establish a well-defined pecking order so they got in a knife fight over the approved diagnostic protocol for narcissism and whether it should be treated as an addressable condition an ensouled person can develop or a permanent state of abject spiritual evil that requires exile.
A creed for witches who respect their tools, their craft, and their damn thyme.
1. Thou Shalt Know Thy Herb Before Thou Waveth Thy Wand
If you don’t know if it’s culinary, medicinal, or mildly toxic when steeped—put it back. Research it. Ask a crone.
2. Store Thy Herbs in Glass, Not in Plastic Graveyards
Sunlight kills potency. Moisture ruins everything. Treat your herbs like spell components, not garage sale potpourri.
3. Color Fades, Scent Dies—That’s Not a Metaphor, It’s Shelf Life
If your basil’s grey and your mint smells like cardboard, stop lying to yourself. That’s not sacred. That’s compost.
4. Use With Purpose, Not Performance
Sprinkling sage everywhere without intent is no better than throwing glitter in the wind and calling it stardust. The plant gave its life—don’t waste it on theatrics.
5. Do Not Blame Capitalism for Your Lack of Airtight Containers
If your herbs are stale, look to your jar, not the economy.
6. Grow Thy Own When Possible, but Know Thy Limits
You live in a cold basement with one window and a radiator? Maybe skip the lemon balm. Choose wisely. Be realistic.
7. Dead Plants Are Not a Personality Trait
Your black-thumbed history is not an aesthetic. If you kill something, learn from it. Don’t make it a spiritual scapegoat.
8. Do Not Waste What Another Could Heal
If your herbs are beyond saving, give them to the Earth or the fire with respect—not some hollow ritual about “letting go of old energies” when you’re just clearing out expired stock.
9. If You Can't Name the Plant, You Can't Use It in a Spell
"I think it's like, yarrow or oregano or something?" No. Stop. You are not an herbalist. You are a liability.
10. The Craft is Built on Wisdom, Not Excuses
You are allowed to fail. You are not allowed to romanticize the failure to avoid accountability. There is no enlightenment in willful ignorance.
Wondering what to put in your Book of Shadows (or other occult journal) besides your spell/ritual log? Wondering why the information you're told to include is important? Here's some stuff to put in your Book of Shadows, and why:
Magical Theory and Philosophy: The basics of what magic is and how it works. There are a bunch of different theories of magic from different occult systems, and you may want to research and experiment with them to find the one that works best for you. Lots of older occult texts, like Agrippa’s Three Books of Occult Philosophy, The Doctrine and Ritual of High Magic by Eliphas Levi, and Crowley’s Magick in Theory and Practice contain detailed explanations of magical theory. There’s also ancient philosophical texts like the Corpus Hermeticum or Iamblichus’ On the Mysteries that can give your magical or mystical practice a solid foundation. More modern perspectives include philosophies like Chaos Magic or the Kybalion principles.
Correspondences: If you research witchcraft on the internet, the first thing you’re likely to see are long lists of the magical properties of crystals, plants, colors, oils, planets, elements, months, days, hours, moon phases, etc. and their relation to each other. These are called correspondences, and they have their roots in early modern natural magic. They’re super popular nowadays, and crystal shops make a ton of money selling all the appropriate ingredients. I remember feeling a bit nonplussed about how I was actually supposed to use correspondences in spellwork, but I have the obligatory long lists of them in my Books of Shadows. Once you figure out how to use them, they’re convenient to reference. Remember that you can list all of your own correspondences based on your personal associations!
Witchlore: Superstitions about “satanic” witchcraft are a gold mine for ideas about your practice, especially if you decide to take a historically-inspired or trad-witchcraft route. For example: incantations associated with curses or flying ointments, beliefs about familiars and common forms that they take, purification and curse-breaking methods, activities at the Sabbat, etc. (I recently copied over most of Isobel Gowdie’s confession.) Regardless of the historicity of these ideas, it’s easy to adapt them into something workable (and ethical) for your own practice. Also, I think it’s important to understand the original concept of the witch archetype, warts and all, and decide how you personally relate to it.
Witch History: The actual history of witchcraft is fascinating and important to know if you are interested in any of the modern traditions of it, especially because there’s still a lot of misinformation about witchcraft out there. “The Burning Times” still get brought up. If you’re going to refer to history at all, you should at least know the basics. My go-to is Ronald Hutton, a historian who covers the history of witchcraft, and I have a lot of quotes from him in my notes. His book The Witch is about witch trials and the historical conception of the witch, and The Triumph of the Moon is about the history and many influences of modern Wicca.
Local Folklore: What kind of folklore exists in your area? Are there any local haunted houses, or natural formations with legends attached? Any local cryptids? Historical witch trials? Unique superstitions? Do people in your culture and community practice folk magic, now or historically?
High Magic: Ceremonial magic, rituals to summon spirits and harness the energy of planets. Much of the modern Western esoteric tradition is based on the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a nineteenth-century occult society. Its ritual structure is the basis of Wicca and many other occult groups. There’s also the grimoire tradition, medieval and early modern books of spells that were used to summon and bind spirits. Ceremonial techniques are less associated with witchcraft than folk techniques, but they’re tried and true, and a lot of witches use them.
Low Magic: Witchcraft in particular is more folk than ceremonial. There are literally thousands of spell techniques — traditional ceremonial rites, spell bags and sachets, witch bottles, poppets, candle magic, knot magic, sigil magic, herbalism, etc. etc. You have many more options than you think you do. It’s good to familiarize yourself with at least some of them so that you can start experimenting with them to figure out which one works best for you. A lot of correspondences have their roots in folklore (like, for example, the idea that amethyst can cure drunkenness). Pay attention to what folk beliefs exist around you.
Divination Methods: There are also thousands of divination methods — cartomancy (tarot cards, oracle cards, Lenormand cards), cleromancy (casting dice, bones, rune stones, sticks, etc.), scrying (with mirrors, candles, crystal balls, and bowls of water), automatic writing, dream interpretation, pendulums, dripping hot wax in a bowl of water, tea leaves, astrology, etc. Again, it’s a good idea to try out different ones to see which one works best for you, and different methods are also better suited to different kinds of situations and questions. You’re gonna need at least one to do any magic effectively.
Deity Fact Sheets: If you’re pagan and you plan to do deity work, you need to know as much as possible about the god you want to work with. What is the god associated with? What do all these different associations have in common? What are some of the other names and epithets (titles) that the god is known by? What context were they used in? What kinds of people worshipped the god, and why? What are its traditional offerings? What are its correspondences? Are there any surviving hymns to the god? You may not find answers to all these questions, depending on how much information about your deity survives, but anything you can learn is good. If we don’t know much about the god, what do we know, and where does that information come from?
Magical Alphabets: In case you want to keep your secrets, or just look cool. Some of the popular ones are the Theban alphabet, the Enochian alphabet, FUTHARK runes, Egyptian hieroglyphs, the celestial alphabet, various symbol fonts, etc. Feel free to make up your own, too!
Symbols, Magic Circles, and Diagrams: I mean, you don’t need magic circles and diagrams, but there is nothing quite like the feeling of opening up a handwritten book and going “oh yeah, this is a book of magic” just from looking at it. Grimoires have a vibe. It’s the equivalent of putting cute doodles in your diary, but so much cooler. It’s also a good idea to keep track of any symbols that might be relevant to your practice or the spirits you work with. Or, you could take the Chaos Magic approach and create an “alphabet of desire,” your own personal language of symbols.
Sabbats or Festivals: Which festivals and holy days are associated with your practice? What are they centered around? Which gods or spirits do they concern? What are their correspondences? How were they celebrated historically? How are they celebrated now?
Magical Recipes: Many witches have their go-to recipes for tinctures, teas, soups, powders, vinegars, essential oils, cakes, and other concoctions that can be used to heal, strengthen, cleanse, or curse. (IMPORTANT: Do not dabble in herbalism unless you know exactly what you’re doing. It’s as much medicine as it is magic, and many stereotypically “witchy” plants are toxic and can kill you.)
Poetry and Hymns: What do you recite when you perform rituals? There’s lots of books that can tell you what to say, but you also can write your own poetry and hymns, which are often more personal and more meaningful. Poetry also doesn’t have to be occult to be used in ritual — if you come across any poems that resonate for you, copy them into your BoS and use them as hymns.
Shadow Work: I personally think that Shadow work is a necessity, even though it can be painful. Shadow work has gotten more popular lately, and you’ll find lots of suggestions and prompts for how to approach it, but it isn’t easy, and is probably best discussed with a therapist. Still, you can use this part of your BoS as a kind of therapy journal for your interactions with yourself, especially the ones that make you uncomfortable. Writing it down will help you work through it. (It’s not called a “Book of Shadows” for nothing.)
Keep in mind, your Book of Shadows should be personal. You don't need to include all of this information, just what's most necessary for you and your practice.
Personally, I have multiple Books of Shadows. I used to just have a paper one for a spell/ritual log and an ever-growing digial one for notes, but I've recently gained an appreciation for handwritten manuscripts with cool diagrams and pictures, so I've started taking more of my notes by hand. In addition to my paper Book of Shadows for witchcraft stuff, I've got a whole separate book (with an armillary sphere on the cover of course) for notes on classic occultism, alchemy, hermeticism etc.. Get creative with it.
CHAPTER ONE: WELCOME TO THE CONCRETE JUNGLE, WHERE MAGIC NEVER SLEEPS
magic isn’t just for the deep woods and moss-covered stones. it’s not limited to candlelit covens or ancient runes etched in a sacred grove. magic is where you are. in the humming neon signs, the flickering streetlamps, the rhythm of bus doors opening and closing, in the energy of walking amongst a crowd on a busy street.
urban magic is about finding the mystical in the mundane, harnessing the city’s restless energy, and using every graffiti tag, liminal space, cracked pavement, and forgotten coin as a tool for enchantment. the city is alive—a churning, breathing, chaotic organism—and if you listen closely, it’s whispering spells in the wind between skyscrapers.
this isn’t some high-brow, ceremonial magic doctrine. here, we work with sigils written on coffee shop napkins, metro card protection spells, and phone screens charged as scrying mirrors. this is magic for the streets, for the punks, for the witches in walk-ups and studio apartments, for the ones who find the divine in the hum of a dive bar at 3 AM.
WHAT MAKES URBAN MAGIC DIFFERENT?
the biggest shift between traditional and urban magic is the environment. instead of sacred groves, we have community gardens. instead of rivers, we have storm drains. instead of bonfires, we have neon lights and power grids pulsing with raw electricity.
but just because the setting is different doesn’t mean the magic is weaker. city magic is potent as hell, because it’s charged with movement, history, technology, and millions of lives overlapping in real-time.
ELEMENTS IN AN URBAN CONTEXT:
• earth → concrete, bricks, asphalt, parks and park dirt
• air → the wind between high-rises, the whispers of overheard conversations, the endless streams of information moving across the city
• fire → electricity, neon lights, the heat of a crowded bus, a match or lighter
• water → rain pooling in the streets, sewer systems, fountains in public squares, water dripping from rooftops
• spirit → the city itself, the collective energy of its people, the ghosts in old buildings, the echoes of everyone who’s walked these streets before you
this practice isn’t about forcing the old ways into a modern setting. it’s about adapting magic so that it fits your world, your reality, your city.
THEORY & FRAMEWORK: CHAOS MAGIC, QUEER MAGIC, AND CITY SPELLS
urban magic thrives on three key principles:
1. ADAPTATION – use what’s around you. city witches need to be resourceful as hell. your “wand” can be a pen, a drumstick, or a crowbar if that’s what speaks to you (though a crowbar is a little extreme). your “altar” can be a windowsill, a shoebox, or even temporary like the back of a bus seat where you traced a sigil in the condensation.
2. INGENUITY – urban magic is subtle, fast, and often disguised. your ritual circle might be drawn in spilled coffee, your sigils hidden in street art, your glamour spells worked through fashion choices and body language.
3. INTERACTION – the city is alive. talk to it. work with the spirits of your apartment building, the crows and raven and wandering city cats who see a lot, the graffiti messages that seem to answer your questions in cryptic scrawls, street names that feel like answers to questions. trust your gut, keep watch for the synchronicity
MAGICAL SYSTEMS THAT THRIVE IN THE CITY:
1. CHAOS MAGIC: THE DIY APPROACH TO WITCHCRAFT
urban magic truthfully falls under the umbrella of chaos magic.
chaos magic is sort of like punk rock spellwork. no rules except what works. it’s the belief that magic isn’t just about ancient texts and strict traditions—it’s about belief as a tool. hacking reality, using symbols, and experimenting with what actually gets results. if something stops working you chuck it and move on to something new.
• create sigils from street signs, corporate logos, and subway maps.
• use “reality hacking” spells—like placing intent in a QR code or whispering an incantation into a social media post before it goes viral.
• swap out outdated correspondences for modern tools—your phone can be your scrying mirror, your router a beacon for intention-setting.
chaos magic thrives in the city because cities are chaotic. they’re full of random encounters, glitches, synchronicities waiting to be tapped into.
2. QUEER MAGIC: BREAKING RULES, BENDING REALITY
witchcraft has always been the domain of outsiders, rebels, and the marginalized. queer magic embraces fluidity, resistance, and radical self-expression.
• use genderfluid deities, archetypes, and spirits in your workings.
• cast spells at drag shows, pride marches, and underground raves—because those are modern sacred spaces.
• turn self-love into a spell, defying the narratives that say queer people don’t deserve power, joy, or love.
urban queer magic is loud, unapologetic, and built on the bones of those who paved the way before.
TOOLS & MATERIALS: USING THE CITY AS YOUR SPELLBOOK
• 🪙 spare change – prosperity charms, offerings to city spirits
• 🧾 receipts – paper magic, petition spells, glamour workings
if it exists in your daily life, it can be a tool.
EVERYDAY SPELLS & RITUALS
🔮 PROTECTION SPELLS FOR NAVIGATING CITY LIFE
• “doorway ward” – rub salt along your threshold, whispering “no harm may cross this line.”
• “metro shield” – imagine a glowing energy bubble around you before stepping onto public transit.
💰 PROSPERITY & SUCCESS SPELLS
• “lucky coin” – pick up a found coin, say “bring me fortune,” and carry it for a week.
• “resume enchantment” – anoint your job applications with cinnamon for luck before sending.
💡 HACKING REALITY WITH CHAOS MAGIC
• “digital sigils” – set a sigil as your phone wallpaper and charge it every time you unlock your screen.
• “parking spell” – whisper “open the way” as you search for a spot—watch as one appears.
🌀 COMMUNITY SPELLS & URBAN COLLECTIVE MAGIC
• “city-wide sigil work” – drop the same symbol in different places and see what manifests.
• “full moon offerings” – leave a quarter at a crossroads to honor the city’s spirits.
THE CITY IS YOUR ALTAR
this is your grimoire, your spellbook, your guide to turning the city into a magical playground. don’t just live in it—work with it, enchant it, let it enchant you back.
magic is everywhere, babes. you just have to know where to look.
Finding entrances to the otherworlds in order to engage in astral travel
(At this time I don't differentiate between astral travel and hedge crossing. I define astral travel as being undertaken in a trance state where some degree of awareness of your physical body is retained. This post contains UPG)
To travel to spirit worlds or otherworlds, you typically go through a door or a passage. Some sort of 'road trip' is often required. You can't just go through the door in the tree trunk; you have to go down the trunk, and through the other door, and down the path, and down the well, and through another door.
This isn't just head games. You are traveling somewhere. Sometimes these entryways are blocked and require sorcerous technique (or diplomacy) to traverse.
Doors are everywhere. They are affixed within physical times and physical places. Some doors open during certain times and are fixed shut during other times. Some doors will lead to one location for a while, and then suddenly lead elsewhere. A single path, known and familiar, can one day lead to a different location, or grow longer with more things in-between.
They are fairy roads and fairy doors, if you like. They do not operate by boring rules.
The following troubleshooting is based on the assumption that in order to travel to an otherworld, you've got to find a door that leads there. Therefore if you're struggling with travel, it may help to troubleshoot your door.
Guided meditations can be useful ("...you are standing before a tree with a door in the trunk"). We can imagine that we're being guided to build our own doors and roads, which of course people have the power to do - that's what laying a compass or calling the quarters is.
In any particular guided meditation, try it a few times just to make sure you've given yourself enough chances to build the road. For the purposes of troubleshooting, consider that you're literally build-discovering your own actual portals to otherworlds. This takes time and energy. You may be too tired to do it all at once, or it may be a bigger project than expected. This is why it's useful to keep re-using the same ones once you've built them. Between various meditations, try sticking with your same old tree, or hole in the ground, and so on. It's hard to make a blanket if you start a new one every time you sit down to work.
It can be remarkably helpful to align attempts at a guided meditation with times of power. Full moons do pretty well for this. Or, give it a try at midnight.
Other methods of creating and opening your own doors include drawing a door with chalk, knocking on it, and calling forth the path. A holey stone makes a fine door, just as a braid makes an excellent ladder to climb up or down. Many enchantments can be created which either function as doors, or which facilitate travel itself.
But remember the road trip - it's not just passing through a door. You also usually have to walk a little while. Therefore, also just walking a little while can get you there.
In a trance state, while your body is at rest, send your mind walking out of your room, to the vent over the stove, and climb up into the air ducts. Keep climbing up and try to find the exit. The exit might lead to the top of your domicile, but it certainly may not.
Alternatively, climb down the plumbing. Or, mentally walk yourself out of your house, to the nearest tree, and climb up it. Or down it, through a hole in its roots. Maybe an angry gopher is at the roots. Back away and try a different tree.
Perhaps your nearby environment won't do. That's alright, there are doors everywhere. Go and find one while you're out and about. To go downwards, find holes. To go upwards, find things that are tall. Suppose there's a water tower in your town. Go there and really take a good look at it. Dwell in the present moment with that water tower, as much as you can.
At home, in a trance state and while your body is at rest, remember going to the water tower. Relive exiting transit, going closer to the tower, and looking at it. Start remembering something new. Remember how you started climbing it. Climb and remember how you climbed this water tower to find a door that would lead you to an upperworld.
Is there a door at the top of the water tower? Well, maybe not. But there might be one along the way that you'll creep into if you keep your focus on finding a door that takes you to where you want to go.
Always keep a very strong focus on finding a door that leads to your desired location. And I mean that you should know exactly where you're trying to end up at, don't insert "*desired location" as a wildcard.
They are fairy doors and fairy roads. A memory of a water tower from this morning will do. What about a memory from 30 years ago, from when you were a kid? That mountain you'll never forget at the place you'll never return to. That's fine. A good memory makes a fantastic porch for a door. Relive the memory. But when you get to the part when you looked at the mountain for the last time, don't turn away. Remember that you walked towards it. Remember that you started climbing up it.
Remember that you climbed up the mountain to find a door.
Spirit helpers can be of immense assistance in all manner of travel, including finding doors, the "road trip," navigating the otherworlds, and safely returning. I don't mean to pray to your ancestors for guidance. I mean to engage an individual spirit helper to literally walk in front of you, show you the way, and even carry you.
Just now I drew a sigil on a piece of paper. I did energy work to charge the sigil, which represents a door. I placed the paper on a tray on the rug, and knocked on it. Then I went to lie down in bed. I practiced progressive relaxation to facilitate trance. When I felt relaxed and fuzzy, I chose to remember drawing the sigil, putting it on a tray, and knocking.
I remembered that when I knocked on the paper, there was a scratch at my door. I had opened the door and my spirit helper was there. I turned around - I remember it clearly - and the paper wasn't normal paper any more. The sigil was a doorway, it appeared like magic. My spirit helper reminded me to become small, so I did and sat on xer back.
Xe walked through the portal, and we both change sizes. I sit on xer back as we pass through a dark hallway, then a natural cave, and then the cave opens into something I'm about to see for the first time---
The bed is soft underneath me and it's dark in this room, and soon for the first time I will see what's on the other side of the cave.
.
If a guided meditation door doesn't work, make one using sorcerous techniques. If that doesn't work, find a natural amulet - like a holey stone. If that doesn't work, find one in the world around you. Try a few different ones. They really can be blocked, and that's got nothing to do with your skill. If that doesn't work, try traveling during special times. If that doesn't work, try engaging the help of a familiar spirit who is willing to teach you how to travel, and who will assist you while you travel.
Remember:
Know where you are trying to get to
Keep a strong focus on trying to get there
Most people are not able to leave their body fully behind
Your level of immersion depends on travel skill and trance skill
Seeing can feel low-resolution despite Knowing remaining strong. Do not discount valid travel experiences because your spirit eyes are weak.
Always strive to go back the way you came and return through the same door. Spirit helpers can carry you out if you get too tired or are about to fall asleep. Forgetting to do this isn't the end of the world.
Astral travel is distinct from daydreaming but those who struggle with maladaptive daydreaming may want to invest in building an infrastructure of discernment between the two activities
PLEASE DO NOT USE TIKTOK AS A RESOURCE FOR HELLENIC POLYTHEISM
Tiktok is probably one of THE WORST places to learn about REAL hellenic polytheism because it is rampant with misinformation and most creators are only interested in views and parroting misinformation THEY heard. Yes there are some great and informative creators on there to learn about the hellenic gods but they are far and few in-between.
INSTEAD if you're new to the religion and have no clue where to start researching/learning, here are a few phenomenal creators on here with wonderful and informative posts!
@wisdom-devotee has an amazing guide for starting out in hellenic polytheism
@seasaltdevotion also recently made a fantastic post on resources for starting out
@crazycatsiren has a SUPER long list of resources and research material
@khaire-traveler has possibly the greatest list on subtle deity worship for just about every god
Please actually learn from those of us that truly love and covet this religion and spread information that will truly benefit you.
If you use TikTok as a source for Hellenic Polytheism, I'll have to use the bonking stick on you. Seriously, please, please, PLEASE listen to OP!!!! I also have a shit ton of resources in my pinned post below the cut in "Deities & Entities" that may be useful (thank you very much for listing me, OP; that was extremely kind), and the mentioned blogs are extremely useful resources! @travelingthief (still active) and @screeching-0wl (no longer active, but amazing posts) have some great informational posts as well, and frankly, so do many, many other blogs in this community. A lot of people on Tumblr genuinely care about helpol as a religion, I've found, and it's a much better starting place than TikTok. I will bonk you, should you solely use TikTok as a resource for helpol. Take it from someone who did not use good starting platforms: you will probably regret it later (because you'll have to relearn SO much shit, trust me). Get bonked.
I KNOW this is a really long post but my intention was to just note down everything that I think is important for beginners and that’s A LOT. It took me forever to learn some of these things but they’re so important, so buckle in. I hope this helps some people.
If I’ve missed anything, please feel free to let me know what you’d like me to add. I’ve been working on this for two days, so if there are typos, I’m so sorry.
The sections I cover here are key terms, mythic literalism, deity work vs deity worship, FAQs and General Advice.
Some Key Terms
Hellenic Polytheism: Hellenic means Greek, and Polytheism means worshipping multiple gods. So, Hellenic Polytheism is the worship of the Greek Pantheon which is also referred to as the Theoi. The people who practice could be referred to as Hellenic Polytheists. Some also call themselves Hellenic Pagans, but not all people who practice Hellenic Polytheism consider themselves pagan.
Hellenistic: you may see the term ‘Hellenistic Polytheism’, but this is my PSA to ask people not to use that, as it’s incorrect. Hellenistic refers to a specific period of Andient Greece, from 323-32 BC, and your worship is almost definitely not specifically focused on that period. Additionally, here is a post by a Greek person on why ‘Hellenism’ and ‘hellenismos’ are disrespectful.
Ouranic: this is the term for the heavenly gods. Be aware that there is some overlap between Ouranic and Chthonic deities. Whether a deity is Ouranic or Chthonic will effect things like prayer position (palms up for Ouranic) and whether offerings can be eaten or drank (yes for Ouranic)
Chthonic: this is the term for the underworld gods. Be aware that there is some overlap between Ouranic and Chthonic deities. Whether a deity is Ouranic or Chthonic will effect things like prayer position (palms down for Chthonic) and whether offerings can be eaten or drank (no for Chthonic) side note - when it comes to hero worship, I personally treat them as if they’re chthonic.
Kharis: this means reciprocity, and also refers to the relationship formed between us and the gods. Arguably the most important aspect of Hellenic Polytheism is that when you ask something of a deity, you must give an offering in return. Size of what you’re asking for should correspond to size of the offering, or if you’ve given many little offerings without asking for anything you can use that as why you should be given the Big Thing.
Xenia: guest-friendship, hospitality. The idea that any stranger could be a God in disguise, so treat everyone respectfully. It’s an Ancient Greek social custom that a lot of Hellenic Polytheists see as important today. Simply put, in modern times this most often just means being kind to strangers. There’s a lot more to it than that though, so look here. Know that Xenia is a two-way thing, so you have to be generous to your guests but they must also respect your home.
Eusebeia: basically, piety. Respecting the Gods. This is really the only ‘rule’ of Hellenic polytheism. There’ll be different ideas of what is considered respectful, but as long as you have good intentions and don’t do anything you KNOW would be offensive, you’re okay. Don’t insult the gods (any of them), don’t ask for anything without offering something else, and don’t treat yourself as equal to or higher than the theoi.
Hubris: excessive pride or dangerous overconfidence, often the fatal flaw of a lot of Greek heroes in mythology. Specifically, this is when you act better than or equal to the gods. You are not.
Libations: a type of offering, in the form of a liquid. Usually poured on the ground but can be drank (unless it’s to a chthonic deity) if you’re a closeted Hellenic polytheist who can’t just pour some liquid on the floor every time you want to offer it. My advice for food offerings/libations to chthonic deities if you’re not openly a hellenist is to offer leftovers, rotting food, or something you otherwise know will go to waste.
Altar: traditionally a place used to put physical offerings and food offerings for deities. Some people have an altar to each deity, some people have one altar for all their deities. These can be as big or as small as you want. People may use shelves, drawers, boxes, windowsills, etc, and I don’t even use mine for food offerings, only for physical ones because I usually eat the food offering (I don’t like the idea of wasting food). My altars also just serve as a dedicated space for that deity in my life.
Hero worship: this is the worship of ‘heroes’ in Greek mythology, which includes literally any mortal. For example, I worship Odysseus of Ithaca, Penelope of Ithaca, Helen of Sparta, and Tiresias of Thebes. I’ve been asked a lot about how hero worship differs from deity worship, and you can find that answer here.
Devotee: there is a lot of disagreement on what the difference between a devotee and worshipper is, but for me, I’m devoted to Athena as I feel I have the closest bond with Her of all my deities and I honour Her the most. This partly comes from my feeling that She has been with me for much longer than I’ve been aware of Her presence, and that also so much of who I am and what I value comes under Her domains.
Patron: this basically means that if part of your identity comes under the domain of a deity, then that deity is your patron. There can be occupational patrons (like Hermes is the patron of merchants) or to do with things like gender (Hera is a patron for women. Yes this includes trans women, transphobes are not welcome here.) You can have more than one patron, and you don’t need to worship all of the deities who would be considered your patron.
Epithets: these are titles given to deities. There are two types - cult epithets, which describe the aspect of a deity you’re focusing on (like Athena Ageleia, meaning ‘Protector of the People’) since they have a lot of domains and it’s important in prayers to specify what you want. Then there’s poetic epithets, which are adjectives, often used to compliment a deity. I like using these to make my prayers seem more sophisticated to be honest (example: white-armed Hera)
Unverified Personal Gnosis: gnosis is spiritual knowledge. If it’s unverified, that means that it has no basis in historical sources as far as the person is aware, and they don’t know anybody else who has the same experience. You will often see this abbreviated as UPG. Personally, I think UPG is really valid, considering a lot of things are unknown to us due to the loss of sources overtime.
Shared Personal Gnosis: gnosis is spiritual knowledge. Like UPG, Shared Personal Gnosis (often abbreviated as SPG) doesn’t have any historical backing as far as the people who believe it are aware, but it is shared by multiple different people and therefore seen by some as more valid than UPG (though I’d argue that all SPG is UPG before you know that other people agree)
Verified Personal Gnosis: gnosis is spiritual knowledge. It being verified means that there are historical sources to back up the belief, and this is commonly abbreviated to VPG. You are more likely to come across the terms UPG than SPG or VPG, and most of what Helpol people on tumblr discuss is UPG, even if they don’t state that directly.
Reconstructionist: these are people who try to ‘reconstruct’ the ancient religion, recreating ancient rituals as best they can and doing things as close as they can get to how the ancient Greeks did based on our historical sources. An important note here is that we will never be able to do this perfectly and that’s okay. For example, I would hope none of us are making animal sacrifices.
Revivalist: these are people who try to recreate the ‘spirit’ of the religion, though not with the exact practices that the Ancient Greeks used. Revivalists are more concerned with the values and beliefs of the ancient religion than they necessarily are with how it was practiced. I personally feel like I fall somewhere between the two, but I also think both are really valid!
Mythic Literalism
Mythic Literalism is the idea that the stories we see in any mythology actually occurred. In Hellenic Polytheism, this is not how we tend to look at the Greek myths. And it’s not how the ancients saw them either.
Greek mythology has always been interpreted as symbolic. For example, Hades kidnapping Persephone is mostly accepted to be about mothers in Ancient Greece being separated from their daughters once they marry. It does not mean that Hades, the God, kidnapped Persephone, the Goddess, and that people who worship Hades are evil because Hades is a kidnapper. This myth can also be interpreted through the lens that death separates families.
This is important because the Gods all do things that are, by today’s standards, incredibly immoral - and a lot of them were even immoral in antiquity. It is important to not take the myths literally to avoid feelings of guilt over worshipping something horrific.
And yes, this applies to Zeus. He is not a rapist, He’s a male fertility god. In myths he does bad things because he represents kings and kings can abuse their power. Things like that.
But it’s still good to research the myths! It’s good to learn the ways in which these deities were understood and what their domains can represent. Myths also help us to feel more familiar with our deities. Additionally the myths tell us not to be hubristic, and things like the Iliad tell us about Oaths and Offerings and Xenia. These are important parts of helpol.
Deity Work vs Deity Worship
I’m going to preface this section by saying that I worship deities, I don’t work with them, so even though I’m doing research on this please take everything I say about deity work with a grain of salt and note that the rest of this post might apply more to worship, because that’s what I’m familiar with. Lastly, my intention here is not to place a value judgement on either type, I just want to try and make a full explanation for anyone out there looking for one, since I’ve found it to be kind of difficult to find.
From my understanding, deity work is common among witches, and usually involves asking a deity to help with your spells or other forms of magick. When you work with a deity, you are asking them to mentor you in a sense, and there’s often a specific goal in mind that they’re hoping to achieve with help of the deity. Additionally, because of that goal-oriented relationship, deity work has deadlines(?). Like, once you’ve achieved the goal you had, the deity will stop working with you
There are similarities, as both seem to involve reciprocity and offerings, and both involve cultivating a relationship with deities, even if the nature of that relationship and the reason for offering is different.
Deity worship doesn’t have a set end-goal. You CAN stop actively worshipping a deity, but this doesn’t usually come after a specific goal is achieved because there isn’t a goal in mind. Worship is more about honouring the deity. Khakis is built out of admiration, respect and love for the deity. This is why we pray, make offerings, etc. it’s all to honour the gods. We do ask for things in deity worship, but that’s not the entire point like it is for deity work.
FAQs
Do I need to be called to worship/work with a deity?
Nope! You are 100% allowed to reach out first. You can do that by praying or making an offering. Remember to research the deity first, so you know what epithets to use, know what symbols they’re associated with, have ideas for offerings, etc. Also, if a deity calls to you, you are not obligated to worship them. Acknowledge them and move on if you don’t have time, energy, or interest in worshipping them at that time.
Where can I find information on deities?
The main site that I think everyone uses is theoi.com, which has really in-depth pages on a lot of deities, with their myths, lists of epithets, family trees, etc. it’s a really useful resource!
Do I need an altar?
No. They’re nice to have but you don’t need one straight away. It took me two years of worshipping to get any altars, and even now I don’t really use them how you’re ‘supposed’ to.
Are there any sins in Hellenic Polytheism?
No, just don’t disrespect a god (don’t disrespect any of them, even the ones you don’t worship should be respected). Also don’t show hubris.
Deity X and Deity Y don’t get along, but I want to worship both, what do I do?
Disregard mythic literalism and remember this is a polytheistic religion. The gods know they are not the only god you will be worshipping, and they are chill with that. If you really want, you can separate their altars if you have an altar per deity, but it’s up to you completely.
Other General Advices
This post is a starting point, nothing here is very in-depth. Do more research if anything on here is still confusing to you. Feel free to ask people here on tumblr, I’m sure most of us would be happy to help.
Don’t believe everything you see on tiktok/tumblr. We’re all still learning, a lot of us are wrong about stuff. Do other research and let yourself form your own beliefs. As I’ve said, even parts of this post should be taken with a grain of salt. I’m no expert, I just want to try to help.
If you’re going to make your own posts about helpol stuff, advice I’ve seen before that really stuck with me is ‘keep some things scared’. You don’t have to post everything. I, at the moment, don’t post my prayers or photos of my altars. Those things are what I keep scared, you should have your own things. They don’t have to be the same as mine.
You have nothing to be afraid of. The gods can be intimidating when you’re starting out, but they know we don’t have as much readily available information about this stuff as the ancient greeks did. They also know you’re new, and they will be patient with you. Don’t be scared.
You can offer anything. Digital offerings are as valid as physical offerings. Devotional acts are valid too.
Know that you will never be done learning. Accept this and commit to trying to learn anyway.
Know how to tell signs from the gods apart from just General Happenings of the world. Here is a good post on that. I have a series on my blog tagged #signs from deities, to show the kinds of things I personally recognise to be signs and to show how frequently/infrequently those can occur. I would suggest keeping your own record of those, whether or not you share it is up to you. The reason is to reflect on your journey and, if you ever doubt your gods, you can look at those lists to remind yourself of how they’ve been there for you previously.
Doubt is healthy, it’s okay to doubt things. Don’t feel bad for this, the gods understand. Let yourself question everything you feel the need to question.
Similarly, anger is healthy. It’s okay to be angry at the gods, but don’t disrespect them because you’re upset. Handle your anger well. You won’t get punished for being upset.
The Hellenic Gods aren’t generally believed to be all-knowing, however it is believed that they can hear us when we call their names, which is why prayers start with invocation of a deity’s name and an epithet.
A Few Methods of Reading Cards: Storytelling or Narrative
Narrative Method:
This tends to be more common with readings that have 'past/present/future' tones. The past card, or the card behind the Person/Query card, represents the circumstances that the person card is set in. The second card, or the Person Card, refers to the state of the past as it is now, but to the person or query.
A set tarot might provide context, but we can also provide a general understanding that if the significator faces the left or passive form, then it refers to a person involved in their past. If a card faces the right, they're looking away from their past.
You could also look at it like hieroglyphics, where the images face the beginning of a sentence. So where the card faces is where actions are taken and can thus reference the future.
Finally, the third card represents the Future, or the possible avenues where the energy of the present concept and its past roots move.
So we have a narrative, and the cards act like words in a sentence that form that narrative.
A question about love, for example, featuring a past Three of Cups, High Priestess and Four of Pentacles might be interpreted as follows:
Three of Cups (Water) - Frivolity, Celebration, Drunkedness, Happiness, Good Harvests
High Priestess (Moon) - Spirituality, Initiations, Internal Work, Unsolved Mysteries, Dreams, Visions
The Four of Pentacles (Earth/Stable) - Financial Stability, Hoarding of Resources, Financial Growth through Saving, Stinginess, Frugality.
So our narrative could be something like this:
The Querent is most likely a Knight of Cups figure in their past, visiting clubs, parties and other areas. Though their relationships were fun and abundant, they were often limited and short (like how a harvest is only limited to certain seasons unless sustained and adapted). Despite the joy that the Querent felt at the Three of Cups, there was still a desire for something more outside of the Sphere. Currently, the Querent is taking the energy of the Three of Cups and working inwards to try and find a sustainable harvest of joy and happiness. The High Priestess can also talk about a spirit worker, they may be renewing their commitments and are advised to not partake in relationships as they would've before. Some spirits are possessive. The High Priestess is often associated with Virginity so this can also be taken as a 'time out' to analyze and try and see the world and oneself through a fresh set of eyes.
With the Four of Pentacles, the High Priestess becomes a force of intellect. She adjusts her understandings and her resources to develop herself rather than spend it recklessly. This may refer to someone becoming more 'serious' in their attachments, looking for someone to settle down with or trying to obtain some form of stability in work or career. The basic premise is the delegation of resources, and this might also refer to (as Pentacles are related to the Earth Element) taking energy from unhelpful tracks and putting it into helpful tracks.
If the High Priestess represents introspection, then our querent may have come across flaws in their life, and so the Four of Pentacles becomes the allocation of resources to the self rather than to relationships and other persons. It is thus a glowup, stop looking for your soulmate and look for your soul, mate.
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Don't fixate on the notion of being "called" by a particular deity or "claimed" by them. It'll only lead to confusion, misinterpretation, or disappointment. Instead, pay attention to your gut. What feels right? What names, symbols, or spheres of influence resonate with you or intrigue you?
Sometimes, we are presented with or drawn to gods we may not expect. In this case, we often need to look past the superficial aspects of a deity to understand why we feel drawn to them.
You will develop an insatiable appetite for knowledge, but let yourself digest information and experiences before proceeding to something new. Set aside time to reflect on your learning. Journaling is the perfect complement to research.
Make sense of your own perceptions and ideas before digging too deeply into the perceptions of others.
Our paths will inevitably wander into unfamiliar fields. Enjoy the journey. Make room for new modes of belief.
You will feel like a beginner for a long time. This is a good sign; it means you're growing something profound...and staying humble.
You are almost always overthinking things.
Feeling stressed out over your spirituality is not a good sign. Adjust accordingly and convey your thoughts to the gods as you go.
It's okay to release a deity from your practice. This does not make you a failure or a terrible person. Relationships change, and so do you.
You will need breaks from your practice. Spirituality is not a side hustle; let go of your guilt and rest.
Doubt and skepticism will be steadfast companions on your journey. Question everything.
In the end, your path belongs to you alone. No one else has power over what you practice.
Just because you cannot see the strings the Fates weave doesn't mean you should stress. The future may be terrifying, but the Gods work to forge us into the people we're meant to be.
