girl the pattern you see is not divine or malevolent forces trying to reach you through the veil it’s just because you’re good at pattern recognition keep it moving
I believe that one of the hardest parts of worshiping the Greek gods is that sometimes you can't feel their presence. At least that's how it is for me.
I'm an anxious person by birth and although I'm working on it, I believe that part of me will always exist, so when something doesn't go exactly the way I expected, I freak out, and this unfortunately interferes a lot with my religion. Just a difficult time when I feel strangely alone or when I'm paranoid that maybe I'm praying and no one is listening, it leaves me in tatters.
But one thing my mother, a very wise woman, told me, is that: we won't always feel the presence, but it is there, and all you have to do is move forward with this certainty. No matter what religion you follow or what deity you worship, just keep going, because they are there.
(I hope this can help you, no matter when or where you are reading this)
I really needed this anddd I think a few of you needed this too. I tend to need constant reassurance because of some traumatic bs I put myself through and sometimes worship feels like I'm in a toxic relationship with a boyfriend who'd rather play games than talk to me. It can be hard to feel like they're there and as someone new to Hellenic Polytheism it can be hard to remember they even exist.
Why is it always about Orpheus turning back foolishly and never about Eurydice following him out of the Underworld, likely knowing she was doomed. That Orpheus went all this way, singing the story of their love, hopeful that he will return her to the surface and finally build their life together— but they will not. She knows her Orpheus will turn back. And yet she still follows him, all the way to the top, because the simple pleasure of seeing his back again is enough for her. Isn’t that a foolish thing to do for love?
On your dappled throne, Aphrodite—deathless,
ruse-devising daughter of Zeus: O Lady,
never crush my spirit with pain and needless
sorrow, I beg you.
Rather come—if ever some moment, years past,
hearing from afar my despairing voice, you
listened, left your father’s great golden halls, and
came to my succor,
Yoking sparrows, lovely and swift, to drive down,
leaving heaven, chariot sailing mid- sky
over black earth, feather-thick wings densely
beating the clear air—
Quick arrival. You, O my Blessed Goddess,
ageless lips then beautifully smiling at me,
asked me what had caused me such pain and made me
cry out again now:
. . . “What’s the secret wish of your crazy, wild heart?
Whom must Love compel with Her wily ruses
back into the glittering net of your arms?
Sappho, who hurts you?"
. . . “If she flees, she’ll follow you soon as I say.
If she snubs your gifts, she will give you much more
If she loves you not, then I swear she will love—
Even unwilling.”
Come to me now, free me from bitter worry,
all I long for, deep in my spirit— do it!
You yourself be, here on this field of battle,
Sappho’s lone ally.
— Sappho (the only poem preserved in its entirety that was written by her. It was quoted in full in Literary Composition by the Greek rhetor Dionysos of Halikarnassos). Translated by David Bowles.
This isn't necessarily a post where I include a list of Gods, epithets, resources, and offerings for said Gods, but rather, hopefully soothing the worries of those of us who are starting the journey into the religion. As someone who was once in a religion that made other religions sound like something absolutely terrifying, my journey into Hellenism was once which was also... pretty terrifying, and this fear was mostly just from my own mind.
Anyways, my list of Advice:
You can literally just start praying. If you want to get more formal, you can absolutely get more formal, but you very much don't have to. I've definitely had my first prayers to some Gods be "hello, [God or Goddess's name], I want to worship You! Please lead me in my journey. Thanks!" I can promise you, the Gods are much kinder and more understanding than any of us fully know.
You can also just start worshiping in general. I feel like I've seen on occasion people worried about the Gods not "calling" to them. This is definitely not something that needs to happen pre-worship. If you find them interesting enough to pray to, then that in and of itself is enough.
In a similar vein, I wouldn't be too concerned about the idea of "signs". I feel like there's a tendency for folks to be incredibly worried about everything when first starting out - the behavior of a candle, the sighting of an animal, a strange dream, all can suddenly seem to take on jarring significance. But I can promise you, the Gods don't constantly give out signs, and frequently, these strange occurrences can be attributed to the mundane. When something comes from the Gods, you will know, trust me!
You don't have to worry too much about the idea of cleanliness, be it spiritual or physical. Khernips are cool, and I'd definitely recommend integrating them into your practice sooner or later. Hygiene is cool too! But if I'm being honest, we in the modern day are far more physically clean, and a lot less likely to regularly encounter the type of pollution that would have been encountered in ancient Greece.
The Gods will be at varying distances over the course of your worship. Sometimes, They will feel close, joyfully, burningly so. And sometimes, They will feel far, and prayers may even feel a bit futile. Both of those are perfectly okay, and neither of those will be permanent.
And, once again in a similar vein, you will likely not find yourself having constant, close mystical experiences with the Gods (i.e., conversations, visions, etc.). These experiences are rare and far between, and I would advise that you not make them a central part of your worship. They will come when the Gods deem you're ready for them, and you definitely won't be expecting it. Focus on the little things!
My final thing (for now) is that you also shouldn't put undue pressure on yourself to be doing some sort of big offering to the Gods. If that's what you can afford, that's great! But if not, fresh water, a small wildflower that you came across and picked*, or a small bit of a meal also count as a good offering!
And with that, my (much longer than I was previously planning on) list of things for beginners to keep in mind! A lot of this list is made up of things which I picked up along the way, and a lot of it is also made from my own personal hindsight being 20/20. I hope this is helpful to someone, and that it maybe soothes some of the (incredibly common) worries which so often accompany those who are venturing into the world of Hellenic polytheism!
Your relationships will be richer if you also allow people to love you the way that they love, and not only in the way that you're used to perceiving love. You'll miss out on a lot if you're only looking for it in the same places you're used to giving it.
I love by problem solving, remembering small things that people like and make them happy--like little notes in the margins of our relationships, a silent squeeze on the arm to reach out and connect.
I have a friend who loves by asking if she can send me a recipe for Japanese egg and rice when she knows I'm having a bad time. I have a (cishet) friend who loves by messaging to tell me he's just finished reading He/She/They by Schuyler Bailar. I have a friend who loves by telling me "I love you" openly and as often as possible. Some love by telling you things they won't tell to another living person, some love by going six months without talking but answer in five minutes when you message them at work, and some love by not knowing how to show their love, but never leave you out in the cold when you ask for somewhere to go and a warm fire.
"Love languages" are largely bunk and were made up by a misogynist, but I can tell you that people do love differently and that it matters to learn how.
if i could take like. tiny cardboard boxes. and make tiny "bedrooms" for my deities.
im talking like little beds, maybe a book case for athena or a vanity for aphrodite or some instruments for apollon or some origami flowers for persephone or a tiny jar of rain water for zeus or even like silly little toys and pranks for loki... the possibilities are endless.
omg im so doing this!! and if any of yall do it or have done it...... share pics 👀👀👀
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