moved!!!! @winenhoney-moved - Tumblr Blog

Hi guys, it’s been a while. Sorry about the unannounced hiatus, long story short the stress of college caused me to fall out of my religious practice for a couple months, but now I’m back at it again! Within that time I moved main blogs, so I’m remaking this blog as well. Find me at the same url, @winenhoney. See you there! <3

winenhoney-moved

In case ya missed it! Here’s a direct link to my new blog since tumblr won’t let me @ it: here

#one more time!

winenhoney-moved

In case ya missed it! Here’s a direct link to my new blog since tumblr won’t let me @ it: here

#personal

breathing-in-gilded-dust

Check out the Demos of Olympos community on Discord - hang out with 138 other members and enjoy free voice and text chat.

Hey, everyone! I'm making a post to offer a fresh description of the Demos of Olympos, an online community of Hellenic Polytheists (hosted on Discord). Since it's conception in February, it's truly gained an energy of it's own. We recently decided to change a few things, which included purging some secular channels to focus more on the Theoi as well as well as making the difficult decision to not allow minors into the server. We are hoping that this will help with anyone uncomfortable talking to younger people and it lifts the legal intricacies between religious discussion and the parents of minors. All in all, these changes have been very effective in creating the atmosphere we want! Of course, the mods are not infallible, so we are incorporating a few secular channels back into the server to create a balance of religion and a community that steps outside of the serious and spiritual conversations.

With this new feeling of freshness and refocusing, I want to invite all Hellenic Polytheists and those interested to join our Demos!

A little about what we do:

We create our festival calendars based on the observances of antiquity as well as some that we come up with on our own. One such festival is Ploutonia, a goal-setting and financially centered day to call upon Haides in his wealth and counsellor aspects. It's held on New Year's Day, and incorporates the modern energy of the holiday as well as activities from festivals such as the Deipnon, which we also celebrate. The calendar creation process is completely open to all members!

We have weekly discussions/prompts to promote critical thinking of why and how we practice. These can be very historical (including things such as the Delphic Maxims), very modern (such as the topic of UPG), and often consists of a blend of both. The Demos as a group is neither Recon nor Revivalist: we worship the Theoi and discuss historical as well as modern practices! All paths are welcome to join in as long as everyone can be civil.

We share resources, prayers, poems, and ideas. We have a channel for divination and often swap readings! Other than religious discussion, we share laughs, memes, recipes, and fluffy friends (or scaley, or anything else).

So, if you want to join, read these guidelines and jump right in! We'd be happy to see you there!

tiny-stark

hurricane help from a katrina survivor:

1. if your area is under mandatory evacuation, you NEED to leave. there will no no emergency services when the storm hits, this includes 911. there are no hospitals, you will be on your own. if you are under mandatory evacuation and choose to stay, write your full name and social security # on your arm so that you can be identified if you are found unresponsive.

2. fill the tubs/sinks with water, the power will be out for 2-3 days at least. fill bowls and cover them so they don’t get dust or debris in them.

3. don’t go to the attic. floods are scary, and your first instinct may be to get to higher ground once water enters your home. if you have a second floor, go there. if not, get to the ROOF. DO NOT TAKE SHELTER IN YOUR ATTIC!! the water may rise and trap you in there. always be in a place where you can escape if the water gets too high.

4. buy spray paint. this saved lots of lives in nola. if you get to the roof, you can write a message so that rescue crews can see. keep it simple, ex: “4 survivors. 1 elderly diabetic. 1 child.” if/when you escape your home, cross your message out and/or write “rescued” so that emergency crews know you don’t need help anymore. (if you have enough paint try to include your last name)

5. don’t go in the water, please. you don’t know what’s in there, you don’t know how deep it is. turn around, don’t drown. under NO circumstances should you drive a vehicle through flood waters.

6. mail important documents to relatives and take pictures of everything, and make insurance claims early. take EVERYTHING off the floor and put it on a table.

7. charge your phones, and buy an old fashioned radio and program it to the weather center.

i know it’s scary. it’ll be ok, this happened before and it’ll happen again. stay safe, don’t take any chances out there.

warp6

Reblogging bc hurricane survivors in the notes are saying this is good info. Also, remember to NEVER NEVER run a generator (or barbecue grill) in an enclosed space. Not indoors, not in a garage/shed/balcony/tent–only outdoors at least 20 feet from windows, doors, vents, basements, crawlspaces, and roof overhangs. (sources/more info link 1, link 2)

ladychraelix

@a-little-oopsie-daisy

flower-vixen

@thepastelpriestess @excellent-monster-girl-ideas @hermes-is-my-homeboy @alesbianreading @winenhoney @death-witch-envy @poison-prayer @singtoaphrodite @my-name-is-apollo @divicamped

spread the word

seafoamlovechild

My evening prayer template

A.K.A. a step-by-step guide on how to do a big final prayer of the day if you want to do it like me.

Clean and cleanse your hands (I use blessed hand sanitizer but rarely do so because I'm most often straight out of the shower).

Light the candles (I always start with Hestia's, then go on to Aphrodite's because it's on the same altar, and then Hermes's. [Optionally, as I light the candles - you may change this in accordance to which gods you have an altar for:] "Dear Hestia, keep the flames burning as I carry out this ritual. Loveliest Aphrodite, fill the conversation between us with love. Hermes, master of communication, please assure that it flows steadily."

"Thank you, my dearest gods, for being in, and influencing, my life, as well as doing things for this world out of your godly nature regardless of my existence in it." Next, I say individual thanks to gods I specifically received favors and aid from when I asked for it if such an event had taken place.

After that, I ask for favors, blessings, or guidance from specific gods if I feel like I want to ask for their help. If I ask gods I am not devoted to, I often "pay" them in advance with an incentive offering. The three I am devoted to often either don't demand it because I give them love and gifts on the regular or have enough trust in me to know that I'll reward them handsomely when the deed is done (Hermes often makes me swear on my life that I'll bring him some strawberry candies :P ).

This is the freestyle part. Good especially for people with good godphone, but a one-sided conversation will do too. Just talk with them casually about anything you want, ask them how they are, etc. Even if they know your inner turmoils or how your day went, conversation deepens bonds and they'll be glad to hear about it straight from you.

Put out the candles in the reverse order to the one in which you lit them. Before blowing out each candle, I say "[god's name], once again thank you for everything you do for me. Good night, I love you. Khaire." When it comes down to Hestia, I also add "Thank you for your service" in reference to her keeping of the altar flame and therefore being the most important goddess in any ritual.

Here's also a shorter prayer for when I have no energy to light the candles (or am in a place where all I can do is think-pray while I lay down in bed) and speak elaborately:

"My dearest gods, thank you for being in my life [+optional individual thanks here]. Please, continue guiding me towards the path that will make me the happiest and you most content with me, and aid me in being the best, kindest person I can be. Khaire."

aly-naith

cards: Athena

#athena

steampunk-werewolf-blog

Apollo devotional water

Usually I drink it in hot summer days, when I feel His presence the most.

Anyway, there's the recipe:

🌻 Water (1 liter)

🌻 Ginger (a lot)

🌻 Rosemary

🌻 ½ teaspoon of pepper

🌻 ½ teaspoon of nutmeg

🌻 Honey

🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

Bring water to boil, add pieces of ginger (I put a lot cause I love the taste but add it as you like), rosemary and spices. Let boil for 5 minutes then cover with a rag or something (remember to turn off the gas). Let rest for 4/5 hours then remove the herbs and let cool the water in a fridge overnight.

Drink it in sunny days or when you need it.

Add honey if you want to, like one teaspoon for each glass.

ljdkhaldkfjhalkjdfhafafds

A few months ago I did a devotional portrait to Venus. Now, as He has been reaching out to me recently, I’ve made one for Apollo. I hope He likes it. ☀️ 🎶 🍋 🍊 🏳️‍🌈

This is so cute omg

This is so touching!

This is your obligatory Hermes love post

Reblog if you really love Hermes, like if you really love Hermes.

hermes-is-my-homeboy

Literally cannot ignore or I will get the shit pranked out of me.

daughter-of-artemis

this is worse than those fricking chain posts

frankincennamon-blog-deactivate

you all have looped me into a horrific cycle because I know my mutuals will likely reblog this and that means I’ll have to which means you’ll have to again and

hermes-is-my-homeboy

Still not risking it

snailslag

I choose peace thanks

liminalanarchy

I must, over and over again… and herein lies the joke, and it is on us… laugh it up Hermes, laugh it up… I love you all the more…

nolongeriamleaving-deactivated2

My heart sings for the Bringer of Luck. <3

akiraprograms-deactivated202011

fuck. trapped in the got damn circle ;-;

rosacookies

im doing this again

rosacookies

it came back again…. so

ofbloodandfaith

Prayer to Apollon, Hermes, Dionysus, and Artemis

O, Lord Apollon,

Clear my mind so I may do what is right and may your light inspire me

O, Lord Hermes,

May my footprint do no damage as I travel the world and may I treat each stranger as a friend.

O, Lord Dionysus,

May I leave stress behind so I can see the world clearly and may only constructive truth be said through intoxication.

O, Lady Artemis,

May I not damage this earth and do all I can to protect it.

#apollon #hermes #dionysus #artemis

winebrightruby

I see posts pretty often in the tags about feeling disconnected from the gods, and I heartily, vociferously encourage you:

to pour a glass of water, take it outside, say “thank you/I love you, [god’s name]”, and pour it out

Make offerings. When you struggle with focus or feel unsettled or think you can’t concentrate, that’s what ritual is for. That’s what the patterns are for. Make an offering, tell Them thank you. Repeat forever.

arjuna-vallabha

Hellenic inspiration, Villa Kerylos, Nice

phemonoi

Why learning Hellenismos (or really any other pagan current) on Tumblr aint a good idea

Tumblr is a very influential place. I wouldn't doubt the idea that many people can get lured into entering a new pagan current through this site, specially young ones. But there's a lot of things you have to know before deciding that you are a pagan because you've been following the tag on tumblr for weeks.

First of all, and I'm speaking in regards of Hellenism because I am preparing to be a hellenist myself, there's a lot of misunderstanding of what this religion really is about. Tumblr is a place full of mostly humour, small lists on what you can offer, and it's FULL of UPG. I think anyone with a little bit of experience can conclude it's, of course, no source of knowledge. But, by the nuance of the questions I usually receive and the ones I've read in other people's blogs; it doesn't seem like you're taking this religion seriously to the core.

Ask yourself why.

Why do you want to worship? Because you've always had a fascination for ancient mythology, classic literature and history? Because you're into the occult and magick? Because the “aesthetics” seem nice? Because everyone is suddenly talking about it? Because you've suffered and you want to find yourself? Or just because?

All of this are amazing reasons. In fact, there's no “incorrect” reason to start worshipping. The Gods call to us sometimes in very funny ways, sometimes in very dark and deep voices. But you need to understand your reasons personally, because they probably define the approach you're giving to this path. Is it just a side thing? Are you just trying something new? Is it occasional? Is it something you truly, desperately want to drown yourself in? Do you really want to be devoured by a God? Do daily rites? Fill your soul? The latter you won't probably find on Tumblr. The reason is, this path is incredibly intimate. Every religious path is, of course, but because most of this religions are not widesread, we have to often follow the Gods alone; there's no “moral” or “social” commitment to this anymore as it was in the ancient world, where religion was more of a political thing than anything else. And I don't want you guys to get the wrong idea of what this is about; because, trust me, it ain't easy. It ain't always beautiful. It's often sacrificial, and terrifying, and obligatory. But it's really gratifying in the end.

What you can expect to find on Tumblr:

Lists like this

Personal Gnosis, based on experience that sometimes has no evident validity to other people, but is of incredible importance for the individual who holds it

Amazing ideas on what to offer

Very useful guides on basic ritual formats and some information about festivals (mostly based on the athenian calendar)

Beautiful prayers and poetry written for the Gods

Lovely people that are willing to help answer your questions

Humour and sometimes interesting debates

A lot of confusion, misunderstanding and misinformation

What I recommend more than anything is to take this path seriously. If it's really meant for you, however, you will get bored of Tumblr pretty quickly and will want to expand your horizons beyond the internet. There's not a lot of information available to us, not gonna lie. This path is obsolete. People make fun of us. Your favourite authors call our practice absurd. The myths are everywhere, not even well written or understood. Everyone seems to have an “opinion” about our Gods. Artists and companies use Them to their own benefit. They turn Them into villains or childish superheroes. Normative religions ridiculize us. Our Gods are demons, nonexistent, archetypes, or just plainly Marvel or Disney one-dimensional characters. They're, for most of the world, buried deep down within the remains of Their civilizations, dead for hundreds of centuries. Believe me when I say it is a very desolated path to choose. You will not have people who will listen to you, who will share your ideas or even just tolerate them, or guide you in your new discoveries. It is a silent path, for most. Do you really want this?

And on top of all —Gods are terrifying. If you're used to the idea of the divine being inherently good, responsive and obedient, angelic and heavenly; prepare to be devastatingly heartbroken. Gods are natural, cosmic, enormous, dark and empty, full of light and galaxies colliding; they're foreign to humanity, strange, beautiful. Frighteningly beautiful.

First of all, Gods are beyond human understanding. Let me illustrate this further: do you know what an Egregor is? It is a “thoughtform”. An “authonomous psychic entity made up of and influencing the thoughts of a group of people” (quoted from Wikipedia) in short; an archetype, a type of entity that is born out of the human mind. You will find people who think of the Gods as Egregors; but guess what? They're not, and if you choose to work with One, They will probably remind you of this a lot. Gods are not bound to human expectations. They are amoral beings. You can't judge a God's behaviour by good or bad. The idea of good or bad is in itself reductionist. The Universe, even the human mind itself, is way ahead the good and the bad.

What I mean by this is; no, the myths are not the Gods. Zeus is not a “bad husband” or “bad father” because the myths say so. Apollo is not “petty and vain”, Athena is not “envious and cruel”, Poseidon is not “an asshole” and Demeter is not “an obsessive mother”. The truth is, we don't know the Gods. We shall not condemn Them. Concluding that Gods are this way, or they were worshipped this way by the ancients, because you read a story on a book illustrated with romantic art, or even worse, because you watched it on YouTube, or even worse! because you read a book by a children author —it's laughable, stupid.

My advice? Don't believe this, don't judge any God, and don't limit yourself into experiencing a God because you have an “opinion” about Their behavior on a story retold by millions and millions and millions of people over centuries, mistranslated, appropriated and edited by another million.

But also don't expect anything from Them. If They can help They gladly will; and I'm not speaking of All. There's Gods that won't. They have their reasons. They're enormous Beings of autonomus identity. They have the right to not respond to you. That doesn't mean They're being rude. Perhaps it's not the time, or the place, or the Deity for you. Don't expect to have dreams They send you, or feel things, or get direct responses. They probably wont; but, again, that's on the Gods part. An “enthousiasmos”, an “epiphany” or revelation, are exceptional events. They don't happen often in a person's lifetime. Don't expect the Gods to appear or speak to you; don't expect Them to make huge changes in your life or choose you somehow. Don't put this huge standards on Them or yourself. Not because They can't happen (they can) but just because there's a possibility they won't, and I don't want you to conclude depressive things or get scared when They don't act the way you expected Them to.

But! Expect to have your moments. Expect the sudden rush of love inside your veins when They're somehow around, when you can sense their action. Expect the hypnotic type of inspiration that comes when reading about Them, finding new information, doing divination to get closer to Them. Expect the insatiable, unbearable, sensuality when thinking of Them. Expect dark emotions taking over your body and leaving you defenseless only to purify you after; expect to face your demons and never be alone in the process. Expect doubts, yes, but also stirring moments of absolute certainty. Expect rejection, and also the warmest welcoming when you feel like you have no place to call home on earth. And I ask you one more time; do you really want to be devoured by a God?

What I recommend:

Read. Seriously. Read the Ancients A LOT. Read philosophy, metaphysics (please, start with the Ancients!!! Start with fucking Pythagoras and fucking Orpheus! Damn it!!) learn everything you can about the civilizations these Godsʼ traditions belonged to. Read academic articles on history of religions, even read about the rise of christianity and what happened to our Gods when they got removed from their cultures, excised from our minds by force, because this is also part of Their history and ours. And it's important.

Learn about the theology and metaphysical beliefs of the path you chose. A hint: if you're interested in being a Hellenist, don't use the hinduist chakra system. It doesn't belong to you nor to the path you chose. What I mean by this is respect. Respect the cultures you're learning from and also what other cultures have gifted you. Read about open and close religions.

Understand that the idea of this religions being “revived” is mostly fake. In every time, somewhere, someone was still worshipping your Gods. Respect that. It becoming more popular nowadays gives you no right to appropriate, or justification to say “so its ok bc its an open system”. If you are becoming a Hellenist, learn from the Hellenes. Drown in their knowledge.

Do not pressure yourself. Take it easy. You don't have to make this perfectly. We don't have the resources to do things like the ancients did. Use what you have, what you can get, do it the best way you can, and thats more than enough for the Gods.

Practice. Their. Virtues. I've read posts like “its amazing to be a pagan bc the gods expect nothing from u”. They do. And you should too. Honor your Gods. Act like your Gods have teached you. Be impassive, and disciplined, and curious, and natural. When one says “eat your Gods” one means exactly that. Let Them fill you. Follow Them. Be responsible. Take. This. Seriously. It's. Not. A. Fucking. Game.

But! You should have fun. Make it comfortable, but don't become lazy. Remember the Gods are not servants, you're not either. This path is based on reciprocation and balance. Please, learn to have boundaries for yourself and Them, and everyone else. Enjoy it!

See Them everywhere. In nature, in books, in schools, in words, in art, in history, in death and birth and illness and health, in chastity and sexuality, reason and madness. Be tender-hearted. Love, because They are everything.

Learn to disidentify with fundamentalism and start thinking on coherenticism. I won't tell you what these things are if you dont know. Google “coherenticism” and start studying it. It is important because polytheism is often focused on a coherentist approach to the world. It will also help you when there's someone making fun of you because “there's no scientific proof of your beliefs” and you get all frustrated.

Be a maenad but also a muse.

That's it, that's all I have to say. I really hope it makes sense.