a lil online altar

little devotional thoughts and words to my deities in a safe spot online | he/they

[teawiththegods]

I’m reading a modern retelling of Medea and it randomly hit me that while the Moon is the celestial power most associated with witches and witchcraft, in Greek mythology the two most famous and powerful witches are actually descendants of the Sun.

[darknessthateatstheshadow]

I don’t know who needs to hear this but having doubts about your practice is totally normal and actually beneficial.

Questioning everything is intelligence.

[musings-on-wisteria]

when you take warm clothes out of the dryer, that’s Hestia hugging you btw

[citrineandrosmarin]

silly question but what is psephoi divination?? (sorry if i spelled that wrong by the way!)

Not a silly question at all!

You know runes? Ogham? It's similar to that!

Psephoi were counters, stones or tiles used for casting votes, but in divination refers to 24 counters, pebbles, wood pieces, etc that each have a letter of the ancient greek alphabet on them. This divination form seems to originate in Lycia. It might be what was refered to as thriai (the word for divination via pebbles, also the name for three nymphs that taught this kind of divination to Hermes) but is commonly refered to these days as either psephoi divination or greek alphabet divination.

So each letter corresponds to a sentence (which in the original greek starts with that letter) from which you can derive meaning. Some are easy to understand and interpret, others less so, so it takes some practice.

The book "Oracles of Apollo" by John Opsopaus covers this and other forms of classical Hellenic divination.

I may make a proper post about how to actually use it if there's interest? 🤔

[beerinycee-deactivated20240817]

imagine worshipping a god of communication while having the shittiest communication skills known to men

i'm so sorry, Lord Hermes

[winged-psyche]

Me saying prayers or trying to talk to him aloud:

“Lord Hermes-uhm, our guide and messenger..uhm.. uh.. can I talk to you? Sorry.”

[citrineandrosmarin]

"So I know I've already said this like three times already in this prayer, but-"

[citrineandrosmarin]

HEY Y'ALL so I follow this therapist who does youtube and streams and he just released a video on meditation that I think will be VERY helpful. Especially if your response to this is "But Nell I can't meditate! I've tried and it just doesn't work for me!" Watch the video. Okay? Okay. It's only like 22 minutes. It's an intro, you don't have to do his course or anything, it's just like a potential starting point.

Hope it helps.

[friend-crow]

Being part of a community like witchblr where there is a large population of beginners can be detrimental to your sense of perspective.

If you yourself are not a beginner it's easy to find yourself in a position where you're assumed to be an authority on the entire, expansive subject of magic, and because most of the people around you are less informed, you might start to believe that it's true.

People pose questions about common beliefs, and even if you don't actually have definitive answers, it's tempting to just spitball. It's probably new agers or Wiccans, right? Or pop culture. Fear mongering, satanic panic, etc. Like 90% of the time you can vaguely wave your arm in one of these directions and there's a decent chance that you'll be right.

But remember, people view you as an authority now, so when you post your spitball assumptions without actually looking into the matter at all, people will assume that's all there is to it. Problem is you're seen as an authority on a subject that's way too broad for you to have actually done all of the reading and know all of the answers. So maybe it's best to just admit when you don't know.

[aesethewitch]

Meanings of fertility don't mean just "abundance," in my opinion. Fertility is the potential for abundance. It's the rich soil, not the thing that grows.

[chicken-blitz13]

Shout out to Athena

[hekateanwitchcraft]

The idea of worshipping deities being scary, difficult, and not for beginners that’s being popularized on TikTok is literally so absurd. Like these gods were worshipped by entire civilizations for millennia. WHICH INCLUDED LITERAL CHILDREN??? So no, you don’t have to be some advanced witch to start interacting with deities. If seven year olds could do it, so can you.

[spirits-child]

Completely true, just protect yourself please... 

[more-incorrect-scp-quotes-deact]

^^^ this 100%

I’m sick and tired of the amount of arrogant witches that try and say that working with deities is not for beginners. Kids thousands of years ago did it, you just have to do research, that’s it. It’s not barred from you if you’re a beginner. But do be careful!

[phemonoi]

Also can we note that all Gods seem to love children? They like that state of innocence and bliss that comes with childhood or with discovering something new. So don't be afraid of them.

[hellyeahhellenism]

Could you please elaborate on the 'protect yourself' part? What do I do? I've just been talking to deities, making offerings and smiling at their symbols. Why do I need protection and how do I get it?

[hekateanwitchcraft]

Okay so I’m not actually sure what “protect yourself” is supposed to mean. They’re gods, literal divine beings, so mortal protection isn’t going to do anything for you if you came up against a god. Which there is a near zero chance for. They’re gods, they have little reason to go out of their way to punish us. Just be respectful, keep up with offerings when asking for things, and keep your promises. You’ll be fine.

[thegrapeandthefig]

I find it so ironic that witchtok is literally spewing early Christian anti-pagan arguments without realizing it. 

It doesn’t take me long to find this when going through Augustine’s City of God (II,25): 

“To disguise the bitterness of such tragedies, and kindle increasing ardour in this monstrous warfare, these malign demons, who were reputed and worshipped as gods [...].”

Assuming that you need protection to approach the hellenic gods is a direct leftover of the early Christian idea that they are by nature dangerous and vile and the direct cause of everything that is wrong with the world in contrast to all holy “God”. Spoiler alert, Augustine: the world still sucks after 2000 years of Christianity. 

[tarotreferencesandwitchystuff]

I believe the thing they're warning about is not the gods, but the entities that may pose as gods, and may harm them

I don't agree with the overly cautious approach that many of them have, but you have to remember that most of us have to have our altars in our bedrooms as to not alert the other people in our household, and you dont want an evil entity. (I believe the gods would step in before they harmed you, but if you Invited then in, then they cant do too much)

An entity has a very different energy than a god, but if you haven't experienced something like that before you may not notice.

And there trying to find lost knowledge that used to be commonplace but isn't, so you haven't grown up with the gods in the same way and, yes, you are Impacted of the culture you grew up in and you may be more cautious.

Hell, I mistaked Dionysus for Loki in the first while, but they mostly found it a little comical

[hekateanwitchcraft]

This is a genuine question, I don’t understand what you mean by posing as gods. Like they’re gods. They’re more powerful than whatever malicious entity people are worried about. That’s why we call on their names when expelling evil spirits. I don’t see how an entity that isn’t that god would have the ability to masquerade as a god if you’re calling on the name of that deity. That’s just not how metaphysics work.

[poppyco]

It’s kind of become a common thing on witchtok that if you don’t have proper spiritual barriers set up (for example like casting a circle) that other outside entities could possibly interfere and pretend to be a god and feed off that energy. When you put it like that’s it does sound kinda silly though- I never thought about it before.

[hekateanwitchcraft]

I think it’s just a misunderstanding of what a god is

[hellyeahhellenism]

Is that a thing that happens easily? Like, if I were to stand by my altar and say 'hello, Apollo, please join me', is there any way anything or anyone else could come along?

[hekateanwitchcraft]

If you’re invoking the holy name of a god and you’re praying and giving that god offerings, no I do not believe something else can come along. The gods would not allow another entity to accept offerings or prayers to them.

[poppyco]

I don’t believe in that context it would happen, I should’ve specified more about that belief I’m sorry! I’ve only ever heard people warn about it happening during divination sessions.

[blessed-with-hope]

Yeah I used to hear that stuff a lot when I was starting with Hellenism. I honestly never thought to question it but this makes so much more sense... if we’re invoking an actual God and they do come down they’re not about to let a weak spirit take that offering or harm us.

And even if they don’t come I doubt they would let a spirit interfere anyway, of course protections are a good practice but lets get this neo-pagan/wiccan stuff out of our minds that it’s a requirement to interact with a literal God, a divine and holy being that no evil can touch like.. why did I ever fall for that stuff asdfgh

[citrineandrosmarin]

It feels a little like the Christian idea of demons lurking around pretending to be the Christian god or angels or whatever.

Which is funny because you don't need protection to worship the Christian god or anything, so why only need it if interacting with pagan gods?

[sephsbat]

“What is the difference between a worshipper and a devotee?”

A Worshipper

A worshiper typically has a more casual relationship with their deities, compared to a devotee. A worshiper may pray or make offerings occasionally, but it is not their primary focus. This can be a good starting point for beginners who are just getting into spiritual practice, as it is less time-consuming than becoming a devotee.

A Devotee

A devotee prioritizes their worship and practice towards a particular deity or deities. A devotee will do everything a worshiper does, but more frequently and with greater dedication. This level of commitment requires more time and focus, which may not be ideal for beginners or those with very busy schedules.

Ultimately, the choice between being a worshiper or a devotee is a personal one. There is no universally "better" option, as it depends on an individual's spiritual needs, lifestyle, and level of experience. The key is to choose an approach that feels right for your current circumstances and goals.

[honorthegods]

Hellenic polytheism - free (and reliable!) resources

Updated 23 February 2022

The Homeric Hymns: http://www.theoi.com/Text/HomericHymns1.html              

The Homeric Hymns, translated by Apostolos N. Athanassakis are also available to read online for free: 

https://archive.org/details/homerichymns00home 

https://archive.org/details/homerichymns00atha

https://archive.org/details/homerichymns0000unse

The Orphic Hymns: http://www.theoi.com/Text/OrphicHymns1.html

The Orphic Hymns, translated by Apostolos N. Athanassakis:   https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780891301196

The Delphic Maxims: https://www.scribd.com/document/186693295/Delphic-Maxims

Many other primary sources from ancient Greece can be found in English translations at theoi.com, which is a fantastic resource for information about the Theoi.

Modern prayers to the Theoi:

Hearthstone: https://greekpagan.com & https://greekpagan.tumblr.com/ Note: downloads of Hearthstone’s two books of Hellenic prayers can be purchased at https://www.etsy.com/shop/HearthfireHandworks

winebrightruby: https://winebrightruby.tumblr.com/devotional

Some of the best and most essential sources to start with - and for continuous reference, in my opinion:

Adam, John. The Religious Teachers of Greece. Clifton, New Jersey: Reference Book Publishers, Inc, 1965.  https://www.giffordlectures.org/lectures/religious-teachers-greece

Adkins, Lesley and Adkins, Roy A. Handbook To Life In Ancient Greece https://archive.org/details/handbooktolifein00adki

Betegh, Gabor. Greek Philosophy and Religion. https://www.academia.edu/4990433/Greek_Philosophy_and_Religion

Burkert, Walter. Greek Religion  https://archive.org/details/greekreligionarchaicandclassical

Angelos Chaniotis, “The Life of Statues of Gods in the Greek World’” Kernos  [Online], 30 | 2017, posted on October 01, 2019. URL : http://journals.openedition.org/kernos/2492 ; DOI : https://doi.org/10.4000/kernos.2492

Dignas, Beate, and Kai Trampedach, eds. 2008. Practitioners of the Divine: Greek Priests and Religious Figures from Homer to Heliodorus.Hellenic Studies Series 30. Washington, DC: Center for Hellenic Studies.  http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:hul.ebook:CHS_DignasB_and_TrampedachK_eds.Practitioners_of_the_Divine.2008

Dillon Matthew. “Household, Families and Women” in Kindt, J. Eidinow, E. (eds) The Oxford Handbook of Religion in the Ancient World, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2015. https://www.academia.edu/7974646/HOME_AND_HEARTH._THE_CLASSICAL_GREEK_EXPERIENCE_OF_DOMESTIC_RELIGION_in_Kindt_J._Eidinow_E._eds_The_Oxford_Handbook_of_Religion_in_the_Ancient_World_Oxford_University_Press_Oxford_2015

Furley, WIlliam D. and  Jan Maarten Bremer. Greek Hymns: Selected Cult Songs from the Archaic to the Hellenistic period. Part One: The texts in translation.Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2001.  https://www.mohrsiebeck.com/uploads/tx_sgpublisher/produkte/leseproben/9783161586552.pdf

Garrett, Jan. Did Socrates ‘Teach New Deities’? Or: Homer’s Gods, Plato’s Gods  http://people.wku.edu/jan.garrett/pgods.htm

Hesiod. Theogany  https://www.theoi.com/Text/HesiodTheogony.html 

Hesoid. Works and Days https://www.theoi.com/Text/HesiodWorksDays.html

Kearns, Emily. The Nature of Heroines in The Sacred and the Feminine in Ancient Greece edited by Sue Bundell and Margaret Williamson, Routledge, 1998. pp. 96-110.  http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.topic1500680.files/kerns%20nature%20of%20heroines.pdf

Kindt, Julia. “Personal Religion: A Productive Category for the Study of Ancient Greek Religion?” The Journal of Hellenic Studies, vol. 135, 2015, pp. 35–50., www.jstor.org/stable/44157346

Kitts, Margo. What’s Religious about the Iliad? Religion Compass 7/7 (2013): 225–233, 10.1111/rec3.12050 Wiley & Sons Ltd., 2013.  https://www.academia.edu/5744383/_Whats_religious_about_the_Iliad_Religion_Compass_7_7_2013_225_233_draft_version_

Koutoupas, A. “The Meaning of Reciprocity in Ancient Greek Religion.”  https://www.academia.edu/12126893/The_Meaning_of_Reciprocity_in_Ancient_Greek_Religion

Meyer, Marvin.The Ancient Mysteries: A Sourcebook: Sacred Texts of the Mystery Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean World   https://archive.org/details/ancientmysteries0000unse_p7i2

Morford, Mark, P.O., Lenardon, Robert J. and Sham, Michael. “The student companion to Classical Mythology, Tenth Edition”: https://global.oup.com/us/companion.websites/9780199997329/

Otto, Walter.The Homeric Gods  https://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.4448/page/n5/mode/2up

Petrovic, Andrej, and Petrovic, Ivana. “Introduction” in Inner Purity and Pollution in Ancient Greek Religion Vol I.  https://www.academia.edu/30262742/Introduction_in_Inner_Purity_and_Pollution_in_Ancient_Greek_Religion_Vol_I

Pirenne-Delforg, Vinciane and and Francesca Prescendi. Feeding the gods? Sacrifice and representation of the divine.   https://books.openedition.org/pulg/1604

Rask, K.A. “Devotionalism, Material Culture, and the Personal in Greek Religion.”  https://journals.openedition.org/kernos/23

Seznac, Jean.The Survival of the Pagan Gods: The Mythological Tradition and Its Place in Renaissance Humanism and Art, Princeton University Press, 1953. Chapter One, pp. 11-36. http://people.bu.edu/bobl/paganchristian.pdf

Smith, William. A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities John Murray, London, 1875. Articles on Greek and Roman religion, including divination, festivals, funerals, magic, priestly officers, and rituals: https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/secondary/SMIGRA/Religion/home.html

Von den Hogg, Ralf. “Images and Prestige of Cult Personnel in Athens between the Sixth and First Centuries BC” in Practitioners of the Divine: Greek Priests and Religious Officials from Homer to Heliodorus, edited by Kai Trampedach, and Beate Dignas. Kolloquium. pp 107-141 http://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/propylaeumdok/2166/1/vdH_Images_Prestige_2008.pdf

Webster, Michael. Reading Hesiod’s Theogany. 2005.   https://faculty.gvsu.edu/websterm/Hesiod2.htm

Webster, Michael.

Ways of Interpreting Myths

. 2005.   

https://faculty.gvsu.edu/websterm/ways.htm

Weddell, Poly. Touching the Gods: physical interaction with cult statues in the Roman world. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/555/1/Touching_the_Gods.pdf?DDD3+

Whitmore, Emily. Personal Religion in ancient Greece.  https://www.academia.edu/8729313/Personal_religion_in_ancient_Greece

Woodward, Roger D. The Cambridge Companion to Greek Mythology https://archive.org/details/TheCambridgeCompanionToGreekMythology/page/n1/mode/2up

____________

Find more information at my Masterpost of Resources for Hellenic & Roman Polytheism: https://honorthegods.tumblr.com/masterpost

Please feel free to ask me questions or contact me about books/articles on specific topics related to ancient Greek religion and modern Hellenic polytheism!

[honied-bumblebee]

Lady Hestia

Hestia is warm. Warm like apple cinnamon, warm like a quilt sewn together with love. She is warm like the fire that she tends, warm like fall in the south. Orange brown and yellow.

Hestia is a home cooked meal. She is a warm embrace. She is chai and pumpkin spice. She is the crunch of autumn leaves and the warm breeze of summer. She is a warm bath after a long day, she is a hot cup of tea. She is the coffee in the morning and the honeyed wine at night.

She is everything I hold dear.

[for-the-love-of-hestia]

I begin to sing of Hestia, first among the deathless gods;

Beloved goddess, who dwells in the midst of every home with your vast everlasting flame.

last among the deathless gods, for without your grace mortals hold no banquets. revered daughter of strong-spirited Rhea, ethereal and blessed, gentle-minded saviour.

Holy maiden, breathe upon us safety and love.

divider by @\graphics-cafe

[stratus-and-the-theoi]

Low energy Devotional Acts for when you don’t have a lot of energy (or time, or money, etc.) pt. 9

🔥Hestia🔥

- put on one of those fireplace videos, or light a candle, or if able light your own fire in the fireplace (or have a bonfire)

- listen to a devotional playlist for Her

- if able do some cooking/baking

- if unable to do that gather some recipes either online or in any cookbooks you may have!

- watch a cooking/baking show

- try your hand at making bread

- watch home renovating, decorating, etc. shows/videos

- if able do some cleaning- doesn’t have to be anything huge just something small like maybe just picking some socks up off the floor or something

- enjoy a hot drink (tea, coffee, hot cocoa)

- watch your comfort movie/show

- if able learn how to knit, crochet, etc. or do some if you know how and are able

- if unable watch knitting or crocheting videos/tutorials

- if able (in every sense of the word here) spend some time with your family or text/call them can be your blood family or chosen family or even your good friends! (Family can be anything you want it to be imo)

- look up important home keeping skills! And watch videos or tutorials on them if you don’t know them (like mending clothes, ironing, etc.) which are all good skills to have ((I add this one because I know at least in America home ec classes have been cut and are pretty much nonexistent like I went through it in middle school but then they got rid of it once I went to high school and in hs it wasn’t mandatory like it was in middle school))

- read up on how to be a good host or guest

- if you like hosting events plan your next gathering

- go through photo albums or pictures and reminisce on the happy, funny, and joyful moments

- if able donate to a food bank (I personally go through my kitchen about 6 times a year-I do a lot of the kitchen work/organizing in my family as I do the cooking so y’know I’m already there so I may as well-and whatever I haven’t used or no longer have plans for I donate! Ofc make sure it’s not expired first and also if able include things like a manual can opener and such! So even though I don’t have too much money myself this system enables me to still be able to help which personally makes me feel good as I grew up utilizing those things so it’s nice to help!)

- if you have pets spend some time with them! They’re important family members as well! Maybe spoil them with their favorite treat and/or activity! Cuddle with them! Just let them know they’re valued and loved family members as well

- be kind to the homeless (yes, even the “bad” ones they’re ppl too and unnecessarily cruelty isn’t helping anything)

- look up ways to help the homeless and if you’re able help out or volunteer or donate (I might make a separate post on stuff to donate as there’s a lot of stuff some folks don’t think about when it comes to giving donates and such)

- hell you could even volunteer or donate to an animal shelter! If that’s more for you and something you’re more comfortable with! They’re homeless too are they not? (I do some volunteer work at the animal shelter myself so I’m very passionate about this)

(and if you have to utilize anything like food banks or government assistance in any capacity work on not feeling bad for needing those things. I know, easier said than done trust me I know again I grew up using those things. But you’re simply getting what you need to survive. And there’s nothing wrong with that. You’re not bad, you haven’t failed, you’re not a leech, etc. you’re just someone trying to survive and there’s no shame in that. There’s no shame in needing help. And not only is that a great devotional act in itself, it’s also just great in general. I do a lot of activist work and such and trust that there’s people who care and people who-again, like me-get it. You’re okay. You’re still a good person. And still deserving of good things.)

[ts-witchy-archive]

Hestia Devotional Activities

I was cleaning my room last night and found this list on a random piece of paper. I've been worshipping/working with Lady Hestia for roughly 2 years now so I have no idea when these ideas are from but I hope you enjoy!

Pick up rubbish in communal areas

Offer the first or last bites/portions of food your to her

Cooking/baking for yourself or others

Having a candle lit whenever possible (electric or real)

Alternatively, playing a video of a fire place. (This is my favourite)

Volunteering at or donating to homeless or DV shelters

Setting healthy boundaries with friends and family

Tea/Coffee magick is always a great devotional opportunity

Get involved with your local community in anyway possible.

Additionally, getting involved in politics! Advocating for policies you believe will better the community is absolutely in alignment with Hestia and her role in ancient Greece.

Allow yourself to rest (this is UPG but i've always found that she just wants you to take care of yourself more than anything).

Do a chore you've been putting off for a long time and dedicate it to her

Organise to hang out with some friends and/or family

Be kind to others AND YOURSELF!!

Veil or bind your hair!

Wear something red or orange (I normally opt for a red hair tie and bind my hair with it. 2 birds, 1 stone)

Make a devotional playlist for her

While we're on the topic of digital witchcraft, make a pinterest board or a mood board for her

Learn about kitchen witchery

[khaire-traveler]

🔥 Subtle Hestia Worship 🥖

Clean your room/house; keep your home in good condition

Make your space your own; decorate your room/home in a way that makes you feel good

Help out with household chores

Bake pastries for those you love, especially those topped with honey or cinnamon

Drink a soothing tea or hot chocolate; any sort of comfort drink; add honey to it if you can

Eat comfort food, especially from childhood

Have a picture of her in your wallet

Make a bonfire for her; gather around it with loved ones

If you have a fireplace, spend time around it

Have a candle that reminds you of her (no altar needed)

Wear jewelry that reminds you of her

Have a stuffed animal of a pig, cow, or donkey; have any stuffed animal, really

Have imagery of cranes, fire, or kettles around

Try veiling in honor of her, if able

Try growing poppy or hollyhock flowers

Volunteer at a homeless shelter

Make a warm meal for someone in need

Give baked goods to neighbors

Learn how to cook or bake

Care for yourself physically and mentally

Be as kind to yourself as you are to others

Practice modesty (this does not mean never celebrating or taking pride in yourself)

Host parties/celebrations at your home, especially those that welcome in family (found family works just as well)

Read a book to relax

Wear comfortable clothing; robes, slippers, sweaters, etc.

Learn how to make homemade bread

Learn how to crochet, knit, sew, etc.

Support local food banks; donate to them, if able

Donate toys to children in need

Donate clothes to others in need, especially warm clothes

Cook yourself/loved ones a delicious meal

Practice body positivity

Relax and decompress after a long day

Watch comfort movies or shows; engage in media that comforts you

Seek out wholesome stories online; humans helping one another, rescue animal turnarounds, cute puppy/kitty vids, etc.

-

May add more later on! For the time being, this is my list of discreet ways to worship Hestia. I hope it helps someone, and take care, everyone! May your hearth fires always be kept warm. ❤️🔥

Link to Subtle Worship Master list