displacedgoddess

Latest Posts by displacedgoddess

being obsessed with your god’s domain before you started worshipping is so reassuring…

like what do you mean you’ve been here the whole time? that you’ve always been a part of me lying in wait? that you, the divine, has innervated & enriched my life long before i acknowledged you were divine? SICK!!!

Reblog if you are a Pagan willing to answer any questions about your practice without hate, ridicule, sarcasm, or superiority.

When things get bad or gets me to a point of almost crying, all I can do is go and sit in front of Hades’s altar. I don’t even think sometimes he even realizes how much I adore him. Hail Hades! 🖤

You are not a bad worshipper for forgetting to pray.

You are not a bad worshipper for not having enough time to worship every day.

You are not a bad worshipper if giving offerings is inaccessible to you right now, no matter the situation.

You are not a bad worshipper for not being able to worship every god you have interest in.

You are not a bad worshiper for being imperfect.

You are not a bad worshipper.

bring back tumblr ask culture let me. bother you with questions and statements

No for real cause the amount of times people have gotten really aggressive about how you should fear the gods/guides/etc when I find the most comfort and I’m actually able to relax around them.

Frankly, I'm of the POV and opinion that you really shouldn't be scared of your spirit guides, gods or not. Yes, you should acknowledge their great, tremendous power and how that could harm you. Like it's good to acknowledge that Zeus could absolutely fuck you up if He wanted to. But at the same time... why would Zeus want to fuck you up? That's the question.

See, when you worship, work with, or otherwise interact with a spirit, you're gonna hopefully seek out a friendly relationship. Even if it's more vertical than horizontal, you're still on good terms with your spirit.

Your friends shouldn't want to hurt you. Your teachers shouldn't want to hurt you. Your coworkers shouldn't want to hurt you. Etc, etc, just fill in whatever relationship type you have. So essentially, your spirit guide shouldn't want to hurt you, and if they do, that's a problem entirely.

I kinda somewhat get the idea of fearful obeisance, where you provide humble respect but keep a healthy amount of fear. I get the concept. It just does not fit in with my preferred way to work with spirits.

This post isn't saying "If your spirit guides hurt you, you must have done something to deserve it" either. I think, personally, that's a really bad take. Harsh lessons exist, yes, but that's not the same, and the difference should be that it's being done for your genuine highest good and that your guide isn't getting some kick outta the hard parts of it. If your spirit guide is actively trying to harm you for funsies or some shit, there's a problem.

It's fine to be a bit nervous. It's fine to feel a bit of fear when faced with such intense power. But you shouldn't be scared of the person that holds the power, is my opinion. If you do feel scared, consider (A) if this is a person you want to work with, and (B) if this is even the person you think it is, because a fear response can mean a malefic spirit.

i think it’s very important to be at least be a little playful with your own religion. feeling comfortable and safe enough in your own faith to have fun with it is genuinely so, so important to me. it takes some of the pressure off of always ‘getting it right’. and besides! i like to think that the gods really do appreciate the trust we place in them when we allow ourselves to be truly ourselves—with all our vulnerabilities and flaws—in their presence.

don’t get me wrong; reverent, formal, ceremonial, worship is beautiful!! but so is being able to drop all formalities and just talk to your deities… telling them everything that’s on your mind when you need to, or maybe when you’re just too overwhelmed to worship more traditionally. it’s about being able to pray formal hymns and prayers at their alter (if that’s something that feels right for you), but also feeling comfortable enough to simply reach out and talk to them as if they were an old friend or family member that loves you dearly.

cultivating balance is so important for maintaining a healthy relationship with your religion! so just make sure you don’t forget to actually enjoy your practices. at the end of the day, worship should feel fulfilling, whatever that means for you. ♡

| Just a reminder to people : You do not need an altar for deity work. You do not need to spend a lot of money on offerings or rituals. You do not need to hold yourself to the standard of other people's practice. This is your journey and your relationship with the gods. They understand what you have and they understand whats available or any circumstance you are in. I am a strong believer that, if an offering or devotional work is with good intentions and done so from the heart, it's more than good enough and your deities will be more than happy and accepting. Even if it's not a historical offering or even if it's something simple like saying good morning in your mind, they take notice and they love you for you. Having an altar or performing rituals is great, I have an altar myself! However, it's not a necessity, especially if you cannot make one/have one.

Ancient Greek Religion & Hellenic Polytheism: A Reading Guide

I’ve been wanting to make something like this for a long while, and talking to my friend @olympianbutch today gave me the push I needed to do so. When I was starting out as a Hellenic Polytheist years ago, this is the kind of resource I needed. So I hope you all enjoy and find this helpful!

Introductory Reading:

Ancient Greek Religion by Jon D. Mikalson

Athenian Popular Religion by Jon D. Mikalson

Greek Religion by Jan N. Bremmer

On Greek Religion by Robert Parker

Hellenic Polytheism: Household Worship by LABRYS

Comprehensive Guides:

Greek Religion by Walter Burkert

Companion to Greek Religion edited by Daniel Ogden

Understanding Greek Religion by Jennifer Larson

Rethinking Greek Religion by Julia Klindt

The Oxford Handbook of Ancient Greek Religion edited by Esther Eidinow and Julia Klindt

Polytheism and Society by Robert Parker

The Gods and Theology:

Ancient Greek Cults by Jennifer Larson

Theologies of Ancient Greek Religion edited by Esther Eidinow, Julia Klindt, and Robin Osborne

Underworld Gods in Ancient Greek Religion by Ellie Mackin Roberts

Gods and Heroes of the Ancient World (Routledge Series)

Offerings and Sacrifice:

Personal Experience and Materiality in Greek Religion by K.A. Rask

Singing for the Gods by Barbara Kowalzig

Smoke Signals for the Gods by F.S. Maiden

Sharing with the Gods by Theodora Suk Fong Jim

Primary Sources:

Theogony & Works and Days by Hesiod

The Homeric Hymns

The Orphic Hymns

Sources for the Study of Greek Religion by David Rice and John Stambaugh

Greek Religion: A Sourcebook by Valerie M. Warrior

Ancient Greek Religion: A Sourcebook by Emily Kearns

trying to prove a point to the boys at school

reblog this if you believe trans men are real men like this if you dont

Does anyone else’s deities get really aggressive with ya when you are sick and not resting when you should be?

It’s like guys I know but most meds don’t work for me and I can’t sit down for more than 5 minutes without having to always be constantly doing something.. 

please i hate going to helpol blogs, only to see random queerphobic sentiment of any kind.

please reblog if;

you love your trans brothers, sisters, and siblings

you support aces and aros

you support 'weird' and 'contradictory' labels [i.e. lesboy/turigirl/etc]

you support mspec lesbians and gays

you support multigender folks

you support agender folks

you support all nonbinary & genderqueer identities

you support neopronouns and xenogenders

you support microlabels

i don't like to talk about my specific identity, but i personally use contradictory labels! i contain multitudes and that's wonderful!

we don't gatekeep the queers here.

unfollow if you feel differently

If you’re having a hard day remember that the Gods still love you.

They know every single one of your flaws and they still love you.

They have seen every one of your mistakes and they still love you.

They have loved you through every failed relationship, every bad job, every moment you are not proud of. They do not feel betrayed by you, and they do not expect you to condemn yourself forever for things you have done.

The Gods know humanity, and they know we are not perfect. Never once have they expected you to be flawless.

Hail the Gods, I am so grateful for their love and protection

On some days worship is just:

while i don't think the gods get mad at me, i do think they occasionally look at what im doing and shake their heads disapprovingly

pronouns? sorry I don't do those, not anymore. I used to have some but then this guy with winged sandals stole them from me so uh...

This is the sacred duck he got an important message:

HYMN TO HEPHAISTOS

Indomitable Hephaestos, mighty, great-hearted spirit, glittering one, shimmering one, great god who illuminates the lives of mortals, strong-handed lord who lives in your works, great craftsman of the cosmos, perfect element, highest, all-consuming, all-taming, all-commanding—you are the sun, the moon, the stars, and the sky, all the pure lights: these things are the parts of you seen by the world. You may be found in every nation, every city, every home; and you reside in the bodies of humans, mighty giver of a multitude of blessings. Hear me, holy one, as I call you to this sacred libation, please come gently to the rites of welcome, tame the savage anger of wild fire, even as nature burns in our own bodies.

—A Year of Pagan Prayer, compiled by Barbara Nolan

this is your reminder that you are allowed to have an abnormal religious practice or craft. i've seen so many blogs worry about being palatable and accepted and i'm here to say what happens between you, your deities, and (if you practice) your witchcraft is your business alone.

you do not have to share everything with the internet, you are allowed to do things away from the public eye without talking about it. it does not make you alone. it does not strip you of the community you have.

additionally, you are so so SO allowed to practice differently from others. you are allowed to have a nonconforming practice in anything you do, not just for witchcraft or spirituality.

it's okay to make shit strange from time to time. let people question you and make incorrect assumptions about who you are. let them be wrong about you. nobody holds more value to what you do than you, and how you see your own practice.

make things weird. don't be afraid of not being accepted. it's good for you to do things your own way, however that is.

Introduction Post

Hello! I’m displaced. You can just call me by my username. I’m 22. I lean more HelPol. I’m a devotee of Hades. Don’t mind me if you see me popping in every so often. I’m just an entity in a body that feels most at home with the gods. 🖤

Here are photos of my cats as a thank you for taking the time to pop in.

Their names are Patches, Hermes and Nightmind.

Honestly, the deities I worship and work with their energy feels like home.

I feel safe and like any and all worries just disappear in an instant. I feel like I can breathe when I sit at their altars. Especially Hades. I feel the most safe around him and that I can tell him everything. I feel I can just be me. Idk how to explain it.

Can people reblog this post with descriptions of what your deities’ energy feels like? I’m so curious.

Your deities love you. They understand you. They understand when you are overwhelmed with internal challenges that seem insurmountable. They will still be there for you when you come out of the other side. They will listen to you and validate your feelings and help you understand something if you’re having trouble.

You are not ruined. There is no difficulty that is permanent. You will be able to do whatever you need to do to see the sunshine again.

Drink some water. Maybe eat a food. Be a little silly. Know that you are loved so deeply.

I’ve seen numerous of people saying that there are beginner deities and hard deities. Here’s the thing: do not allow people to stop you from working with deities. You are allowed to work with any deities you wish, and there is no such thing as certain level deities.

Yuletide

Khaire and Good Yule Saturnalia to all syncretic Hellenic polytheists! Wassail!

🔥 Praise be to Hestia the First and Last at the Feast who protects our homes and keeps them warm in the coming winter months.

🐍 Praise be to Zeus Ktesios the Good Spirit and protector, who blesses us with his favor and protection in the new year.

🗝️ Praise be to Hecate Trivia who watches over all crossroads, including the change of seasons. May her magic and blessings be felt throughout the new year.

☀️ Praise be to Apollo Apolysis who brings the light of the returning sun to redeem the earth from these short dark days.

🌌 Praise be to Aphrodite Melaenis of the night, who watches over us and protects us on these long cold nights and always reminds us of the warmth of love.

🌞 Praise be to Helios Isodaetes Invincible Sun, who divides all seasons into equal portions and blesses the southern hemisphere on this first day of their summer season.

❄️ Praise be to Lady Khione who blankets the earth in snow, driving away all pests and protecting our gardens as they rest through winter.

⚡️Praise be to Zeus Charidotes increaser of joy and abundance, who joins us as our families gather, protects our beloved family, and brings us Yuletide cheer.

🍷Praise be to Dionysus Hestius Lord of the Feast and giver of plentiful bounty, who joins us in our Yuletide feasting, and who we graciously honor with our jolly wassail.

🎄Praise be to Dionysus Endendros who dwells within trees and blesses our Yule tree, keeping our homes joyful in these days of bare trees and whose baubles hold years of joyful memories.

💸 Praise be to Hermes Empolaios of commerce and travel who we honor with our purchase of gifts for our loved ones, and who protects those who are traveling this holiday season.

🐐 Praise be to The Yule Goat whose generosity and whimsy have blessed my family for many years, a very hearty “Oh Hell Yeah, Witches!” to him and his beautiful wife this Yule!

🎶 Praise be to Apollo Mousigetis Leader of the Muses who bless us with the joy of music, as we honor them with our Yuletide carols.

✨ Praise be to our household Tomte Ed spirit of the previous owner of our home, who protects our home, animals, and child and whose influence as a teacher in life are still felt in the world.

🌲 Praise be to the ancestors whose spirits protect this land as it slumbers in winter. Our gratitude to you always for your stewardship.

🔥 Praise be to Hestia the First and Last at the Feast we dedicate these days of feasting to all of the gods and to you, in honor of you!

Hello please reblog this if you’re okay with people sending you random asks to get to know you better

Let yourself be cringe in your worship!!!

The Gods don’t find you embarrassing. The Gods don’t care about seeming cool and professional for the approval of others.

Make that fucking aesthetic photo collage for Aphrodite with cute pics you found on Pinterest .

Dress up like Hermes and go for a damn walk.

Collect random stones you think are cool and put them on your altar.

Put that photo of that cartoon character that reminds you of your deity on your altar.

Make that Minecraft temple to Hekate, domesticate those damn Minecraft wolves for Cerberus.

Make your deities in the sims!

Write soppy melodramatic poetry for Dionysus that no one else will read.

Make self insert fanfics about your favourite Gods and write them all as your best friends. Let them interact with your edgy ocs.

Create an AU where you and your Gods are all characters from your favourite anime.

Record silly little songs for them

Make them paintings that are full of clashing colors and weird forms.

Draw them a fursona

Wear that bright yellow outfit for Apollon.

Put on a dramatic makeup look for Aphrodite.

Call your closest deity that silly little nickname you have for them and let them call you one too.

Share your special interests with your Gods. Design your God as a pokémon or a crystal gem, or a sonic character.

Those losers that try to make you feel bad for being passionate will never have what you have.

In the words of the Great Lord Hermes: “Every human I have ever liked was at least a little bit cringe”

BE CRINGE. BE PROUD. THE GODS LOVE YOU.

even if you can't feel your deities, they are still here, and they still love you.

HP 101: Where to start

Hellenic Polytheism can be a bit daunting to start off - and it’s hard to know where to find the right information or what to research! Hopefully this post will help to give you a starting point - but please don’t base all your information off of one person! NOTE: I may link posts with conflicting information/methods. I leave it to you to decide what feels right and fits for you!

Websites, book lists and PDFs:

Theoi.com

Library Genesis

Hellenism resources

PDFs of myths

HP online accurate resources

Classics, mythology and modern worship

HP book list

Accurate resources

Book recommendations and online resources

Bibliography of Black-Centered Resources for Ancient Mediterranean Studies

The types of HP:

Recon vs. Revivalism

Reconstructionism vs Revivalism

The basics of practicing HP:

Making libations

Introduction to epithets

Veiling basics + a veiling primer + basic hair binding and veiling + hellenic hairstyles in religious rites

How to write a prayer

Daily prayer journal

How to pray, praise and worship the Theoi

Homeric hymns - helpful for writing devotionals, hymns, etc. (external site)

The Delphic Maxims

Basic Hellenic supplies

Oaths

Sacred places

Offerings (and whether or not to eat them)

Hellenic khthonic ritual

How to honor Ouranic and Chthonic gods

Hellenic Calendars and when to worship deities:

The days of the month

Devotions for the last day of the month

A Hellenismos calendar 

Hellenion.org calendar (external site)

Hellenic festival year (external site)

About the Hellenic calendar of festivals

Pronunciation and terminology:

Hellenic pronunciation for the Theoi + Hellenic pronunciation pt. 2 + article

Khernips + Khernips pt. 2 + pt. 3

Miasma, khernips and katharmosis

On Lyma

Hellenic terminology (external site)

Finding / Information on deities:

Sacred animals of the gods 

Theoi.com (my go-to)

Household gods

The Nymphai

Odds and ends:

On household worship

Other resources:

List of devotees on tumblr

Practical practicing of HP

This wonderful resource masterpost!

Masterpost of Hellenic polytheism and Roman polytheism resources

Shops for Hellenic polytheists

Introduction to Ancient Greek History - open Yale course

Note: Some areas are certainly lacking in the information department, please add resources if you have them! I’ve included all I could find as of mid 2020.

Links updated June, 2020. Please inform me of broken links via askbox!

You do not have to be filled with boundless faith and zero doubt 24/7. That's actually not a reasonable expectation to have for yourself. You'll feel doubt sometimes, and that's entirely ok and normal. I promise you that everyone has gone through periods of doubt, regardless of what faith they hold.