wild, radiant divinity, lovely one.

☼ he/they, twenty-five, polytheist ☼ patron; apollo ☼ my ask is always open if you have any questions at all ♡

[softapollo]

hey its been so long i posted anything on here. i'm not on social media much

tell me about your practice! any major changes? frustrations? things you struggle with? deity you are working with? ask me questions about mine, ask me for advice. i miss hearing about other people's experiences (:

[softapollo]

hermes was just... so nice and direct in a reading and im just kinda here like ;_; oh....

how does this keep happening lmao

[softapollo]

Got a question for you - two actually - if you don't mind~

1. I've been looking to reconnect with Apollo recently after having life majorly kick my ass. Any tips or recommendations as to getting back into the groove of things?

2. Have any blog recommendations for Apollo devotees? I don't mind deity overlaps either; they don't have to ONLY be Apollo.

Thanks again! 💛

Hi! I'll briefly touch upon 2, I don't follow anyone actually so uhm. Apollo devotee blogs let yourselves known in reblogs on this post so we can both check you out and see if we vibe c:

I'm so sorry to hear youv'e been having a rough time, and yes, reconnecting when you've been out of it can feel really overwhelming and weird. I... ramble so I am gonna put this under the cut.

A very crude summary of what I wrote below: don't worry about it being good enough. Try and gauge if you or your practice changed, experiment. No pressure, approach with an open mind.

Remember what your practice was like before; is that still something you want, or would you want changes? Does that type of practice still work for you now, is it enough, is it too much?

When I got back into my practice, my previous practice wasn't enough and I wanted more, but I also needed to build my way up to that. This is fine! I think it's good to know what you want to work up to, if at all. If you don't know, that's fine! See it as an experiment, to test the waters--see what works, see what doesn't.

More personal anecdotes, because that's kind of all we have: I had a period where I worried a lot about returning to my practice and doing "enough", and being "for real", for several reasons that are too long to go into rn. I asked Apollo about it; I pulled the Page of Cups. In that deck, it is a young child standing in a large pool of water, having some of that water scooped in their hands and offering it to the sky.

It was a very clear message for me that I shouldn't worry about it being "enough". At the time, I worried a lot about offerings being something I had to actually miss. But Apollo very clearly showed that even if it is what I have an abudance of, it is still a valid offering. So for weeks my practice was mostly me putting water on my altar for him, and also for my cats. I replaced the water once my cats had drunk it all or when I felt like it.

What this ramble is getting at; try not to get too caught up in doing it "right", or doing "enough". That has often been the reason why getting back has been tough for me personally; afraid of doing it "wrong".

Daydream about what your "perfect" practice with him would be like if there were no limitations; not what you think you should, but what you'd love to do, and then try to slowly wind that back to something that's realistic for you right now.

As always; little bits and pieces throughout the day. Talk to him while you're doing dishes. Share tea with him. Dedicate something you do a lot to him. Smile when you see the sun. If you want to get something more "substantial", write to him, journal to him. Read like... one page about him. I never felt like the little moments were "useful" or "mattered" but I think they are what eventually got me to the place where I am now. Put a picture on your phone or wall or whatever for him. Little things to like... weave him into your days.

Random idea; get a candle, dedicate it to you reconnecting with him. Light it whenever you want. Once burned entirely, that time it took will be your "reconnection" with him done. Not for him, but for you so that transition is more tangible. If that is something you feel like you need.

Do little things every day if and when you feel like it. It can take time, or it can be done immediately. It depends. Ask him, sit with him and talk and see how you feel. Little things can build up slowly, don't get too impatient with yourself, and know that small things aren't really "small". They matter.

For me, they build up to a very... overwhelming and significant moment about a week ago. I'm still very overwhelmed about it, to be honest. But I think that wouldn't have been either as intense or even like.. possible if I hadn't had those other "smaller" interactions. It mattered so much more because he is also with me in smaller, less overwhelming ways, you know?

If you have any specific questions or want help with anything or just wanna vent, you can always send another ask or DM me! <3

[softapollo]

sometimes tarot with apollo is literally just. you know. him Saying Things almost painfully clearly.

[koshergf]

list of things you are loved by no matter what

the moon

the stars

your favorite books

scented candles

fairy lights

cats on the street

the wind in the trees

old libraries

freshly made tea

freshly baked bread

soft music

[thedrowningtsarevna]

The Most Beautiful God

[softapollo]

if you are a beginning pagan/polytheist (hellenic or other), or have any questions about it in general, please send me an ask! i'm curious if there are any common things people have questions about, run into, don't understand' or seem to struggle with. no questions are wrong or too simple or too much. this can be practical, mental, anything.

not sure in what form i'll reply, maybe individually, maybe collecting all questions in one document, but i feel like it might be useful to some.

[softapollo]

If you know, what exactly is a deity epithet and how do they work when it comes to deities, (can you/how do you) ask a certain epithet for assistance, do you have to worship a certain epithet or can you worship a deity as a whole (if they are whole???), and is an epithet part of the deity as a whole or are they separate (or something else entirely)? This has been something that confused me for a while

Hi! So, a deity epithet is a lot more like an adjective than it is a "separate version or aspect of a god". They indicate one specific aspect of a god, either a personality trait or just like... a specifier, a description; again, very similar to an adjective. Some various examples of Apollo's epithets could be "of the Street", "of Mice", "Loving", "with the Golden Hair", "of Poetry", and so on.

If you want to ask a specific epithet for help, simply specify that epithet in prayer! I sometimes make up epithets as I go, too, like "Apollo the Warm-Hearted". You're still praying to the same god. I don't think it's very common to only worship one epithet of a god but you can definitely focus on one aspect of a deity only, so in a way it's possible? But you can (and it is most common to) worship a deity as a whole!

As a deity has several different things they are related/connected to, you can use epithets to specify which specific aspect of that deity you want to evoke in a prayer, for example. I could want Apollo's help specifically for something creative, and in my prayer could use an epithet related to his creativity and art. Epithets could also be specific to a region or city, or we only have accounst of that epithet being used in that region for a specific period of time.

I would highly recommend looking into Jennifer Larson's Ancient Greek Cults (message me if you cannot find it, I may be able to help). She breaks down the gods based on their several different epithets used throughout history and explains how they were worshiped through the lens of that epithet. Theoi.com also has a section with tons of epithets that were used for each deity.

Epithets aren't set in stone, just like adjectives/descriptors aren't. Epithets have been taken and added throughout history. Some epithets we only have records of being used by one person (like Homer or something). So, I am very much of the opinion that you can make up your own! These are gonna be UPG-based of course, but they're definitely valid, as modern times call for modern epithets.

[softapollo]

What do you think of Joyofsatan.org ? It’s one of the largest Hellenic Pagan groups in the world, they follow Hellenic deities.

i know this is a very old ask (i just never realized i didnt respond go it somehow?) but: they're, with a very quick google search, an anti-Semitic group with horrible practices and terrible worldviews so. my view is that it's fucking horrible and you shouldn't give them any credit.

[softapollo]

Also, I forgot to mention this: I have no idea where you got them being "one of the largest hellenic pagan groups in the world" from, but they absolutely aren't as far as I'm aware.

[softapollo]

What do you think of Joyofsatan.org ? It’s one of the largest Hellenic Pagan groups in the world, they follow Hellenic deities.

i know this is a very old ask (i just never realized i didnt respond go it somehow?) but: they're, with a very quick google search, an anti-Semitic group with horrible practices and terrible worldviews so. my view is that it's fucking horrible and you shouldn't give them any credit.

[softapollo]

if you are a beginning pagan/polytheist (hellenic or other), or have any questions about it in general, please send me an ask! i'm curious if there are any common things people have questions about, run into, don't understand' or seem to struggle with. no questions are wrong or too simple or too much. this can be practical, mental, anything.

not sure in what form i'll reply, maybe individually, maybe collecting all questions in one document, but i feel like it might be useful to some.

[softapollo]

if you are a beginning pagan/polytheist (hellenic or other), or have any questions about it in general, please send me an ask! i'm curious if there are any common things people have questions about, run into, don't understand' or seem to struggle with. no questions are wrong or too simple or too much. this can be practical, mental, anything.

not sure in what form i'll reply, maybe individually, maybe collecting all questions in one document, but i feel like it might be useful to some.

[westenraskiss]

Normalize going into people’s ask boxes and ask them random ass questions.

Tumblr used to be so much fun with all the asks (anonymous or otherwise), and we need to bring those back, especially now that we finally have a half-decent blocking feature in place.

Ask people things! Message them! Don’t let tumblr inbox die! It’s one of the features that made tumblr tumblr.

[thisgameissonintendo]

omg if you feel like it you can always ask me random questions. i will answer all, this is literally the most fun thing ever (and i’m nice i promise)

[softapollo]

I need your help if you can give it

Vivid spiritual experiences and I have been hospitalized cause people thought I was going insane

They put down basically every diagnosis out there

Can I DM?? And ask some very important questions?

Uhm. Depends on the symptoms and severity of the situation. Considering you were hospitalized, I assume it will include symptoms and things that would be triggering for me, so I'm going to say no. If you have questions related to spiritual experiences in general, yes, but I am not well versed in that side of spirituality, i think.

In either case, I'm always a health and safety first kind of guy, I tend to base all my beliefs and experiences on a lot of logic and such, and am very cautious with these things. I am not a health professional, so I could never tell you if something is or isn't a mental health related problem.

For anyone reading this: Be careful and practice mental selfcare. This is slightly off topic but a little related: I do not like telling people what to do or not do, but from personal experience, I strongly believe you should not rely on religion or spiritual practices as your crutch when it comes to extremely complicated or deep mental health problems. I would suggest trying to find more grounded ways for that, or at least have multiple other ways.

Anon, I hope you will be okay--i can't say whether your experiences were spiritual or not, and i do not think that i am the person to do so in any situation ever, but either way I hope you get home soon and safe.

[softapollo]

if (big if) i ever end up making videos related to hellenic polytheism/hellenism, would you be interested, and if so, what would be your first topic of choice?

a beginner's guide/basic info on (hellenic) polytheism

misconceptions about (hellenic) polytheism

polytheism at large (what is it, which kinds are there, etc)

other (please message/send ask)

Voting ended onJun 8, 2023

[softapollo]

if (big if) i ever end up making videos related to hellenic polytheism/hellenism, would you be interested, and if so, what would be your first topic of choice?

a beginner's guide/basic info on (hellenic) polytheism

misconceptions about (hellenic) polytheism

polytheism at large (what is it, which kinds are there, etc)

other (please message/send ask)

Voting ended onJun 8, 2023

[hellenicrisis]

Hellenism Asks ☀️🕯

Which deities do you worship?

How long have you been practising Hellenism?

What's your favourite myth?

Have you had a liking in Greek mythology since you were a kid? If so, does it influence your practice?

Do you have an altar?

What drew you to Hellenism? What made you choose it over anything else?

Do you believe in past lives?

Do you believe in the Underworld? If so, do you think about it literally or as a concept?

Do you listen to devotional music?

Which deity do you turn to most in times of trouble?

Do you wear any devotional jewellery?

Do you have any food or drink recipe that is spirituality important?

Who was the first deity you started worshipping?

Who is the most recent deity you started worshipping?

Is there a deity you tried worshipping and working with, but it didn't work out?

Is there another deity you are considering worshipping?

When people ask you what religion you belong to, what do you say?

Has Christianity/Catholicism affected your practice or your views about your practice at all?

Feel free to ask me these or repost this yourself. Remember that you don't have to answer any questions you're uncomfortable with ☀️