Latest Posts by amazingariadneisnotonfire - Page 2
not sure if you're still doing these but i literally love them and if you are still doing them then I'd love to see a Gaia moodboard !
thanks !
i've been away from here for a long time, but this request of yours made my day, thank you! i hope you like it as well💚
𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒂 ; 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒉 🌸🍃
[please reblog or like if you saved]
Do you know where to find out about ancient roman festivals?
Depends on what kind of info you're looking for but for general information, any book on ancient roman religion and even the wikipedia page on ancient roman festivals will get you started.
If you're looking for references, the most straight forward book to refer you to would be H.H. Scullard's Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic, which goes through each month of the religious calendar.
I'd also suggest taking a look at:
Jörg Rüpke, A Companion to Roman Religion: this is a thorough introduction to roman religion at large, but you'll find plenty of passages on festivals.
Rasmus Brandt, & Jon Iddeng, Greek and Roman Festivals: Content, Meaning, and Practice: more focused on the greco-roman aspects but some chapters of interest for you.
Harriet I. Flower, The Dancing Lares and the Serpent in the Garden Religion at the Roman Street Corner: This is about household religion rather than big, publicly-funded festivals but important to understand as the foundation upon which everything else is built.
Jörg Rüpke, On Roman Religion : Lived Religion and the Individual in Ancient Rome: good complementary read to understand the more personal religious experience.
In term of relevant blogs, take a look at @asklepiean's religio romana tag, and check out the many resources gathered by @honorthegods
WHAT IS SPIRIT WORK?
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spirit work is how it sounds, working with spirits. these spirits can be spirits of plants, people, animals, mythical beings/creatures, familiars, and otherworldly spirits. it is communing with these spirits, building a relationship with them (forming trust) and asking for their aid (be that in protection, spell work, etc).
TYPES OF SPIRITS ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
now i should preface this with the types and branching of spirits is vast and wide, and it is dependent on culture, tradition, and religion. i am going to be focusing on animism and the undead spirits, but i will briefly touch on other important/highlighted entities.
: ̗̀➛ plant/flora spirits; spirits that are of trees, plants, flowers, rocks, etc. things found in nature that aren’t mammals or animals. most common/popular examples being nymph spirits.
: ̗̀➛ animal/fauna spirits; spirits of mammals, bugs, birds, and reptiles - spirits of the animal kingdom excluding humans.
: ̗̀➛ house/domestic spirits; house spirits have the potential and possibility to be human, but they can also be non-human. domestic spirits (in rome they’re called domestici lares) are guardians of a household and generally the protectors of the home and even the hearth (depending on mythos and region). a common/popular example being saints.
: ̗̀➛ tutelary spirits; tutelary/guardian spirits are exactly how they sound, they’re guardians. these spirits can be guardians of a specific place (like a temple or holy ground, see Shi lions), graveyards (this can be any spirit but the most famous is a gargoyle), or of a person (like guardian angels, but any spirit could be a guardian, such as gryphs)
: ̗̀➛ human spirits/shades; a human soul can and is defined many ways and varies from person to person and tradition to tradition, but human spirits (aka shades, ghosts, etc) can and do reside in our realm alongside the spirit realm (via transport, normally by liminal spots or the aid of a psychopomp, but some can travel on their own).
: ̗̀➛ vampiric spirits; vampiric spirits are spirits who drain energy in order to survive or gain strength. back in the day they were known to cause sickness, health issues, and low immune systems, etc. most common/well known spirits are vampires/vampyres, succubi/incubi, some umbra/shadow people, and as i like to call them - dream wyrms.
: ̗̀➛ infernus spirits; infernus spirits are those relating to the underworld, this can at times overlap into the demonic, but not all of the demonic are infernus. infernus spirits are mostly those who aid as psychopomps, but they can be the servants and attendants of infernal or chthonic deities.
: ̗̀➛ mythical creature spirits; mythical creatures or legendary beasts are those who are not of this plane and reside in the spiritual world. some can be worked with while some cannot (such as faer folk, a note about faer folk is that it’s best to just leave them alone, or yokai).
: ̗̀➛ familiar spirits; familiars are spirits/entities who are shapeshifters and sometimes called demons who create a pact with a practitioner/witch/mage/etc. in order to aid them in magical practice and even protection.
BASICS OF SPIRIT WORK
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it’s important to know and note the basics of spirit work in order to start spirit work. so here are the foundations of what is needed to know for proper and safe spirit work.
section i. cleansing
let’s firstly begin with what cleansing is and why witches do it. cleansing is a way of forcing negative energy out of an area or person. cleansing is an act that is sort of like a reset button. think of it like showering! you shower because during the day you collected dust, dirt, sweat, etc. and you want to be clean so you take a shower! cleansing is similar, you collect negative energy from weeks of active or inactive craftmenship and even spirits or other entities can latch onto you and your home which then drains your energy. cleansing is needed to keep your space clean and easy to manage energies. it’s important to cleanse yourself, your space and even items. cleansing is important for all magic arguably, but especially spirit work. there are plenty of methods to cleanse, the most popular is smoke (do note it’s important to not smudge smudging is a closed practice to natives and indigenous in north america). but there are other methods such as sound, air/wind, energy work, and water.
section ii. banishing
banishing is also an important skill to have in your back pocket. banishing is is a more forceful means of cleansing. it’s to forcefully remove an entity and less “nice”. banishing can be done in rituals, spells, using fire (writing the name or being down and burning the paper), air (writing the name or being down and tossing it in the wind), earth (writing the name or being down and burying it), water (writing the name down and tossing it in the sea or river, drowning the paper, etc), etc! loads of ways to banish and more i didn’t mention!
section iii. grounding
grounding is an extremely important part of spirit work. grounding keeps you in a stable mindset and energy wise keeps you balanced. ways of grounding can be dancing, shaking your hands and feet, stomping/jumping, meditating, taking a walk, listening to music, etc.
section iv. circle casting/closing
circle casting is important, especially for beginners, it creates a wall and safe zone for yourself and the spirit. one of the easiest ways (physical circles) is to pour a circle of salt around you, candles or crystals at four points (in the position of a pentacle), etc. as far as mental/energy ones, some use their finger or a wand and do a complete circle around them, or, a circle and a pentacle (pentagram). while casting circles some people call upon and evoke deities, angels, the watchers/watch towers, spirit guides, elements, etc. for protection and ensuring safety. some believe you must cast a circle starting north and finish at west, some don’t. no matter where you start the circle you must start and end the circle at the same point, going the opposite direction than what you started with when casting, will close the circle. so if i casted my circle clockwise, i would close it counterclockwise and end at the same point i started with.
section v. further protection
casting a circle isn’t the only method of protection that should be precautioned, there are also the means of protection such as layering warding (which is a lesson in itself). some examples of warding are; energetic wards, spell jars, spell bags, charms, crystals, sigils, and house guardians to name a few. you can also veil during spirit work, but it’s not necessary.
section vi. boundaries
setting boundaries with spirits is super important, especially if they’re staying long term (but even if it’s short term have boundaries!) so say you don’t like it when spirits knock, establish the boundary politely of “i don’t like it when you knock at night or during the day, so please don’t do that.” remember, be polite, but be firm too. and if you want a spirit gone tell them sternly!
section vii. what are vessels?
vessels are what ground spirits and help to stabilize them in our plane, a vessel can be anything too, such as jewelry, dolls, a pen, bones, literally anything. an anchor is similar to a vessel, but an anchor doesn’t “house” the spirit, more so provides it a free range and source of stability. conduits channel the spirits energy, it can be symbols, sigils or other iconography to channel and then utilize a spirits energy. these are all important tools and things to know when it comes to spirit work.
SPIRIT ETIQUETTE
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In General
: ̗̀➛be assertive, but be polite
: ̗̀➛ do not forcefully bind a spirit to an anchor, vessel, or conduit alike
: ̗̀➛ always use consent when it comes to using vessels, anchors, or conduits
: ̗̀➛ ask and negotiate, come to a compromise, have firm boundaries too
: ̗̀➛don’t forget to feed and provide energy for any vampiric or even familiar spirits
: ̗̀➛ make a schedule if you really need to/set reminders on when communication is and isn’t ok
: ̗̀➛ don’t sell, show, or give away spirits
House Spirits
: ̗̀➛ be polite
: ̗̀➛ treat them like you would treat a living breathing human
: ̗̀➛ when entering a house, i normally like to whisper a quiet greeting or even in my mind saying “hello”, “good day”, “good afternoon”, “good morning” etc.
: ̗̀➛ depending on your belief, greet the house guardian
: ̗̀➛ light a candle to them, do divination, learn about them!
Graveyard
: ̗̀➛ don’t take what’s not yours, it’s impolite
: ̗̀➛ have manners, people from all centuries probably reside there
: ̗̀➛ greet & give offerings to the guardian at the front gate (this can be a tree, a specific spirit, animal spirits, etc.)
: ̗̀➛ treat them like they’re people
: ̗̀➛ dont step on the grass (this is respectful to the dead and their families)
Landmarks (i.e. lakes, forest, plains, oceans, etc.)
: ̗̀➛ introduce yourself & say a greeting
: ̗̀➛ spend quality time & respect boundaries
: ̗̀➛ offer things that will benefit them / the area (i.e. water, compost, etc)
: ̗̀➛ don’t be shy to strike up conversation and divination
Treating Jupiter & Zeus kindly and respectfully despite what some old myths not brought into votive acts claim of the God(s) is actually a very important step towards dismantling misogyny within certain parts of the polytheistic community or communities that worship Jupiter & Zeus.
Not letting toxic people believe that the main God(s) of the Greco-Roman Pantheon(s) would ever support criminal treatment of others is a very important step towards barring the worshipping community from people as such. It is especially prominent with Pater Jupiter & Father Zeus as embodiments of Justice, but it’s sort of like that with all bigoted beliefs when they affect Gods:
Artemis & Diana and/or Athena & Minerva would never hate men, Gods are not hateful nor hate-driven. Hating an individual for their birth-given or chosen identity is against the rules of hospitality; your identity does not bring you Their ire. Thus, we do not wish for hateful individuals within the community.
Aphrodite & Venus would never hate trans, nonbinary, intersex individuals, and those who fall out of the gender binary in other ways than that - nor would They ever support bioessentialism. Thus, we do not wish for bioessentialists within the community.
Ares & Mars would never support oppression of the mistreated or violent aggression towards others, unless it’s a fight for self-protection. The Gods are not anyone’s way to deify and excuse oppression. Thus, we do not wish for militarists and warheads within the community.
Jupiter & Zeus would never support nor promote ideas of sexual assault in any form or any non-consensual limiting of one’s self-autonomy. The Gods are not a punishing power but rather They are loving hosts accepting of us as guests. Thus, we do not with for harassers, agressors, and/or assaulters within the community.
To agree with the harmful and slandering rhetoric is to give opressors power. Jupiter & Zeus deserve better.
💖 Venus : Roman Epithets 🕊️
Venus Genetrix - Mother Venus
Venus Libertina - Venus the Freedwoman
Venus Felix - Lucky Venus
Venus Obsequens - Indulgent Venus
Venus Caelestis - Celestial Venus
Venus Amica - Venus the Friend
Venus Armata - Armed Venus
Venus Aurea - Golden Venus
Venus Cloacina - Venus the Purifier
Venus Murcia - Venus of Myrtle
Venus Victrix - Victorious Venus
Venus Verticordia - Venus the Changer of Hearts
Venus Barbata - Bearded Venus
Venus Calva - Bald Venus
Venus Physica - Nurturing Venus
Venus Anadyomene - Venus Rising from the Sea
Venus Pontia - Venus of the Sea
Venus Urania - Heavenly Venus
Disclaimer: T*RFS/g*ndercrits/r*dfems DNI.
Aphrodite
Content warning: Because of the deity being discussed in this post, there are talkings of sex and sexuality under the cut.
Who is Aphrodite?
Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love, beauty, desire, passion, pleasure, sexuality, fertility, and procreation. She has many epithets, or titles, that relate her to other aspects as well.
Antheia - The blooming, Friend of flowers
Anadyomene - She who rose from the sea
Ambologera - Delayer of old age
Aphrogenea - Foam born
Apostrophia - Expeller of sinful desires
Areia - The warlike
Callipygos - Of the beautiful buttocks
Charidotes - Giver of joy
Elikoblepharus - She with fluttering eyelids
Eleemon - Merciful
Eratoplucamus - Lovely haired
Gamelia - She who resides over marriage
Morpho - The fair shaped, Of shapely form
Nicephorus - Bringer of victory
Ourania - Heavenly
Pandemos - Common to all people, Of all people
Panmorphilos - Lover of all shapes
Peitho - Persuasion
Pontia - Of the sea
Philomeides - Laughter loving
Philopaneia - Lover of all
These are just some of her many names. She has many more epithets, including newer ones applied through UPG and modern practice.
Aphrodite and the Moon
This section is entirely UPG
I associate Aphrodite with the moon, more specifically, the moon's cycle. I do not see her as *the* moon goddess, but rather as having an aspect of the moon. I see her as the cycle the moon follows. There’s a few factors that contribute to this UPG of mine.
The first being that the moon’s cycle and a woman’s cycle are roughly the same length in time. I guess here it’s important to note that I am female, and a part of my work with Aphrodite has been centered around that.
The second is that the moon controls the tides. Aphrodite is considered a sea goddess. But my association goes a little deeper than that. I have always heavily associated the ocean and its movements with Aphrodite, beyond just her usual ‘risen from the sea’ aspect. I don’t see her as the personification of the sea, or *the* ocean deity, but as the movements of the ocean. The waves, the tides, the things washed up on the shore in the waves, the feeling of a wave pulling and pushing the water as you stand in it. \
I really began to understand this association when I started working with the moon phases, and learning about how to live and plan by them. A book I highly recommend to learn about this subject is Lunar Living by Kirsty Gallagher.
Offerings for Aphrodite.
Chocolate
Honey
Fresh Fruits
Cherries
Apples
Olive oil
Water
Apple juice
Wine, especially red
Teas infused with herbs associated with her
Or just any tea
Fruit and/or herb infused water
Roses
Jasmine
Myrtle
Cinnamon sticks*
Orchids*
Love letters (to yourself, or to someone else)
Jewelry
Seashells
Devotional Acts
Self care
Morning / night beauty routines
Write love letters to yourself or to someone else
Visit the ocean if possible
Practice gratitude
Practice self confidence
Listen to music that makes you feel confident
Listen to music that reminds you of Aphrodite
Practice self acceptance
Tell your loved ones you and appreciate them
An act of kindness toward a stranger
Give compliments to yourself or to someone else
Watch a romance movie
Read Sappho’s poetry
Read poetry about love, romance, or sexuality
Read poetry dedicated to her
Explore your sexuality
Learn about the important of practicing safe sex
Pleasure yourself
Read a romance novel
Read an erotica novel
Care for your mental and physical self
Learn about the ocean
Read her myths
Read modern retellings of her myths
Write retellings of her myths
Write poetry or song dedicated to her
Practice cyclical living (by the moon phases)*
Practice sea focused witchcraft
Dance
Create a playlist dedicated to her
Meditate and ask her to be present
Other Aspects of Aphrodite
People often forget, especially with the more popular and well known deities, that they can have aspects most would view as negative.
Aphrodite isn’t just the goddess of love and beauty. She also resides over the negative aspects of her associations. Jealousy, obsession, clinginess, heartbreak, self-centeredness, manipulation.
This isn’t to say that working with her will bring those things. You can work with her to get past these things or move them out of your life just as you would any other aspect of her.
Anything in this post marked with the symbol * means that it is my own UPG
they say that long ago, before Prometheus's fire shone in the sun's absence, Helios left the side of man each night and fell into slumber beneath the waters of the sea. and when the night Mother took His place, cold grief wrapped the earth. the flowers hid and the animals disappeared, patiently awaiting their Father's return. all waking creatures followed in His footsteps—sleeping through Selene's darkness to dream of the mighty rays of life. when Eos came to give rise to the mighty sun, His tears of sorrow appeared on the grass and dripped from the highest trees. some say that He filled the streams and lakes as light spilled across the lands. the rise of Helios became a time of reunion known to mortals as mourning
this tale begins as Eos lifted Him from the sea once more. His tears swelled on the leaves and His rays called out to humanity. today, His children did not come. they hid within their homes, terrified of the malevolent whom took advantage of the night. the shadows wailed and writhed, keeping His humble children awake. now, they slept through the day in exhaustion.
devastated, Helios gazed upon His slumbering children, too tired to greet Him. each time He returned, the pastures remained unkept and the fields shriveled into dust. the day couldn't last forever, and humanity could not survive without cultivation under the sun. from divine kharis, He offered humans a hope to last through the night. as Helios fell from the sky, the last of His color collided with the frothing sea.
from the union of the radiant sun and the wine-dark ocean emerged a golden form. ripe from the sea foam and imbued with luminescence, it awoke the slumbering mortals. all who saw were beckoned by the flash, a beacon in the night, and crowded the shore where She lay. many names were uttered upon Her appearance—Amathousia, Anaduomenê, Melainis, Kallipugos, Ourania—as She lie in the sand with wafting waves kissing Her cheeks
Aphrodite, She called Herself—radiant divinity within mortal form. a Goddess given life from the love between the mortal and immortal. from Her kiss came the fertility of the sun and from Her skin the iridescence of the sea shone. Her touch harbored the purest of love while Her laughter was as contagious as the plague. She roamed the night, watching over the mortals whom Her father adored so dearly. She protected them in His absence, taught them the gifts He could not sew from afar. as Her story spread, She was beloved by all. Pandemos Aphrodite, She who loved the poorest of men and saved the most desperate souls
after many years, Her knees had became too brittle to travel and Her senses dulled with age. still, the masses lovingly stayed by Her side. when it came time for Her mortal form to expire, humanity fell to their knees and begged Helios to save Her. even so, Aphrodite was not afraid to die. She eased their weary minds, for even if She could not be with them anymore, She would live on within their hearts. Helios heard the cries of His people and extended down His hand, grateful to the Goddess. in a moment of excellence, a golden flash appeared, pulling Her soul from the jaws of Psychopompus
they say that Aphrodite did not die that day. though Her body had disappeared and Her light did not illuminate the night anymore, Her existence was poured into every living being. humanity did not weep at their loss. instead, they danced, kissed, and drank together. their hearts were full and their minds were clear, for glorious Aphrodite would never leave their side
— "The Birth of Aphrodite" Dionysianfreak, 2023
I started this story a long time ago, I'm so glad it's finally done ! I've wanted to write my own myths for a long time as I personally view them more as devotional stories that reflect personal associations and experiences.
this myth is a retelling of Aphrodite's birth. it's based on my upg that sunsets on the ocean are one of Aphrodite's most sacred places. this is because I see it as the union between the heavens and the sea, Aphrodite's abodes. i also wanted it to revolve around love that wasn't inherently romantic or sexual, but the pure love between the Divine and humanity. I hope you enjoy it and I hope it won't be my last <3
Khaire Aphrodite 🐚🫀✨🌹🌠
aphrodite doodle from this neat little comic (i didnt know her canon colours </3)
I feel very protective over the Sky Father today, so here’s a fair reminder that Zeus was never seen in a disrespectful light by the Ancients, and all of those stories of Him that involve kidnapping of individuals or taking of women never changed the fact He was always seen as Hospitable, Protective, and All-Giving. The trick to start seeing Him as such is to understand that Zeus’ aspects are representations of the idea of masculinity of the time, and His cult needs to be looked at diachronically.
Some of you have to start realizing that there’s a two thousand year gap between the time these stories were written and today’s reignited religion. Zeus never received negative titles, never was written off as cruel or dangerous, was never avoided. Sexual intercourse with a God (yes, even forced) in the Antiquity was not seen a bad because the God would be granting one the kharis of their presence. You can’t speak of the Old Times in modern terms. This alone should hint for you that these stories of forceful takings and kidnapping were seen as a norm for someone of His caliber: and of course they were, Ancient Greece is not comparable in terms of civil rights to our modern countries. He is the King of Gods, He can do what He desires.
Gods evolve, and perspectives change. The renewed Zeus wouldn’t be associated with such matters any longer, though He would still remain as demanding and as controlling as the Ruler of Gods can get. Zeus is not an assaulter or aggressor. These concepts were not seen as a crime or a punishable act two thousand years ago; but they are now. Let the God evolve with the society He is forever connected to and remember that Zeus represents the ideal of man, husband, and ruler.
He is not a dangerous God. You can’t possibly apply societal standards of Antiquity to the modern world, or vice versa, and believe you’ve done good analysis.
Artemis, mistress of animals and protector of the young.
Hermes Chthonios, guider of souls, sacred messenger and shepard of men, i honour you this holy Khytroi night. i honour those who begin their return to the underworld, guided by your grace.
Hermes Psychopompos, lord of boundaries, assist me to bid farewell to the restless souls around me. help me to celebrate their lives, to grant them peace, to continue their legacy.
Athanatos Diaktoros, messenger of the Blessed, send my regards to those i have lost and those who came before me. relay my greatest respects to *[insert names of ancestors/deceased friends or family here]*. grant them a peaceful and cherished departure from the kind of the living, and send them home with joy and blessings.
Dôtor Eaôn, immortal friend of mankind, may this night be yours.
i hope you all had a very blessed Anthesteria <3
Zeus and Hera
I’ve seen several posts defending Zeus lately and honestly I love it. Entire cultures called Zeus father; he’s a protector of the home, foreigners, and sacred hospitality, among many other things.
For me, at first he felt scary and unapproachable even as the good king of the gods. I eventually incorporated Zeus Erkeios and Ktesios into my household prayers, but not much else.
Little by little, our kharis has grown, and Hera, patient mother that she is, has guided her daughter on the path of devotion to her husband. I am still learning, but now, Zeus feels fatherly and kind.
It’s difficult to explain, but I surprised myself today by praying to “Father Zeus” extemporaneously and just sharing my feelings with him. I’m not close with my own dad, so to be able to do that means a lot.
I guess what I’m saying is that I don’t understand the negative perception of either Hera or Zeus, because in worshipping them, I feel as though I’ve found a family. I love my gods, but I’m always overwhelmed and blown away by how much they love me in return.
She who is modest, dark-veiled Leto, She who is ever gentle and full of care; Great Mother of all and twin-bearing goddess.
Queen of Great Kindness, i declare my praise to you; for you have gifted me with the ability to love those around me so strongly. you allow me to feel a love that comes from you, ever-flowing.
O She-wolf Leto, i thank you for your care. i thank you for your divine love and protection. hail, Mother of Truth, whom i promise to worship and adore. Lovely-haired Leto, i shall light candles and write letters to you; i shall love and care for those around me in honor of you.
my appreciation to you overflows from my soul, dear Goddess.
ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔪𝔭𝔦𝔬𝔫 𝔄𝔭𝔬𝔩𝔩𝔬
'' I whose rays make the lines of thunder, And whose altars the universe worships; I whose greatest gods would fear war, Can I take mortals without dishonour?
I attack in spite of myself their proud envy, Their audacity overcame my nature and fate; For my virtue which is only to give life, Is now forced to kill them.
I free my altars from these troublesome obstacles, And trampling on these brigands whom my darts will punish, From now on everyone will come to my oracles, And prevent the harm that may befall him.
It is I who penetrate the hardness of the trees, Tear from their hearts a learned voice, Who silences the winds, who makes the marbles speak, And who traces to fate the conduct of kings.
It is I whose warmth gives life to roses, And raise up the buried fruits, I give duration and color to things, And bring to life the radiance of the whiteness of the lilies.
So little that I am absent, a cloak of darkness Holds with cold horror heaven and earth covered, The most beautiful orchards are funereal objects, And when my eye is closed everything dies in the universe.''
''Apollon Champion'', Théophile de Viau, (french poet, 1590-1626)
Bust of Apollo, marble. Late XVII/ XVIII°
“This is Apollo, the soul’s darkness and the soul’s clarity. His essence is such that he can be darkness and clarity at the same time.”
— Karl Kerenyi, Apollo: The Wind, The Spirit, and the God
Dionysos, Apollon, and Hermes—doodles that help me stay sane in class. I'm very happy with this, though it's unfinished right now. i hope to transfer it over to some good paper and have some fun with colors <3
. please do not repost for any reason
hellenic polytheism and ethnic greeks
it has to be said and i dont really care about your feelings soooo
as a greek, some of you hellenic polytheists vex me SO MUCH. i'm NOT here to tell you that only ethnic greeks can worship the gods so do NOT get it twisted but, i AM here to say that some of you are getting too confident with talking absolute smack about the deities of my ancestors and portraying them in ways that are inaccurate to align with the political agendas of today and make you feel better about whatever religious trauma the catholic church gave you. respectfully, history doesn't care about you.
i'm sorry but what the actual FUCK are some of you on??? why am i logging onto tumblr and seeing drawings of Athena and Aphrodite kissing with comments about how everyone ships them?? are you okay?? aren't you aware of how disrespectful that is?
these are not some book characters. these are not just two actors from a film. these are DEITIES. they are not jokes. they demand your respect.
again, i'm not saying you can't worship them. they are gods, after all, and they get their power from people believing in them. but they come along with a culture and history and superstitions and traditional recipes and clothes and a language and literature and music and ideas. these gods originated in GREECE, so i dont know why everybody is discounting the opinions of modern day greeks and having the audacity to call us gatekeepers as if this isnt literally OUR history and the people before US. btw, the greeks had an empire so there are a few other countries where the gods were honoured in antiquity (select areas of italy, south albania, parts of turkey, parts of egypt, north macedonia as well as others) so i do acknowledge our shared heritage in those cases.
but, the vast majority of hellenic polytheists online are literally american teenagers. and no offence but most of you have no idea what you're talking about lmfaoo. i know it's not coming from a place of malice but it honestly angers me when i see these hugely powerful beings being portrayed as cartoon characters.
i also think that some of you have the idea that ancient greece was perfect and accepting of everything and that the stories that literal HOMER wrote are inaccurate. the one that gets on my nerves the most is the whole Hades and Persephone story. no, she did NOT go willingly. sorry that this doesn't fit into your idealised version of things, and you can interpret the stories however you want to but do not debate the literature with me and do not dismiss these details online. women were NOT respected in ancient greece. they did not have the right to vote, own land or inherit. ancient greece was not the gay utopia everyone seems to think it was. sexual violence was commonplace. so was slavery. and paedophilia. people look at these times with rose tinted glasses, forgetting to actually read and learn about the reality.
so don't tell me what Zeus and Hera stand for or against. and dont drag politics into it. because if you use the concrete evidence the ancients THEMSELVES created, it doesn't really help your arguments. it all contradicts itself anyway if we're being real here.
and dont debate terms with me. greek is my mother tongue. i dont need people to 'educate me' by what the differences between hellenic, hellenism, hellenismos and hellenes means. i dont think ive ever actually seen a post thats 100% correct on that front lol
and for the last time, i want to reiterate that im NOT saying you can't worship them because i know how people like to twist things and call me a gatekeeper. but. be respectful. and remember these are the gods of a nation.
𝓐pollo is most famous for such aspects of His as healing, art, and music. However, while valid, those are some of the latest inventions of the Apollonian cults. Some of the oldest found archeological evidence allows us to tie Apollo to very primal, nature-tied aspects of the world such as the heat of the Earth, prophetic fumes, and the Underworld.
Apollo Soranus is one of the least spoken of incarnations of the God and one of the most curious ones. As Soranus, Apollo was closely associated with the Underworld, given human sacrifices to, and worshipped alongside Dis Pater, the Lord of the Dead.
Continua a leggere
Just wanted more Apollo with puppies in my life.
Little prayers for dionysus
Try using these in conjunction with prayer beads! Each bead should remind you of an epithet.
“Dionysus Nyktelios, lull me to sleep.”
“Dionysus Lyaeus, brighten my day.”
“Dionysus Taurus, help me stand my ground.”
“Dionysus Lampter, guide me through dark places.”
“Dionysus Lyseus, free me from my worries.”
“Dionysus Psilas, grant me the freedom to be myself.”
I will create a full list of epithets with meanings for your enjoyment in my next post.
jack grayle, the hekataeon
Zeus is a wonderful God! (Aka he and his worshippers don't deserve hate, ever) I mostly worship him as Ktesios and Astrapaios but he's many things:
Zeus is a god of fate, of law and justice.
Zeus is a protecter, he is a king, he is a god of hospitality who protects fugitives, strangers and all who need it.
He is a just and fair God (even if we can't see it), he is the lightning, the thunder and the rain.
He is, many things but he is: The Good God