Trying To Prove A Point To The Boys At School

I love all of you and we are not going to give up, and we are not going to abandon each other. We're going to take each other's hands and squeeze as hard as we can and never let go. We hold each other. We carry each other.

We worship deathless gods, who held their worshippers through the falls of countless empires, though colonization, through the destruction of their festivals and temples, through the raging cruelties of oppression and war. We are not alone. We will survive. Take my hand. This is not the end.

Occultists, witches and spiritualists really need to stop peddling the lie that spirituality, witchcraft, paganism, etc. isn’t a psychological phenomenon as well as a mystical one. Your psychology will in fact, fundamentally inform your experiences with spirituality.

And we also need to stop pretending that spirituality and witchcraft are somehow contrary to mental illness. Or that having a mental illness means you can’t do witchcraft.

I’ll be completely honest with you guys and say that certain people with certain afflictions are more predisposed to different “mystical” experiences than others. I don’t think it’s a great coincidence that I am so great at visualization given that I was raised in a severely neglectful household. It doesn’t surprise me that many pagans are lonely people. This doesn’t mean to say that spirituality is “filling” a hole within anyone (although if it is, that’s great for you) but more so that, well, this path is unpopular for a reason. Alternative subcultures are alternative for a reason, and outcasts and rejects usually find a home there for a reason.

This also doesn’t mean to say that people who engage in witchcraft and spiritualism are inherently mentally ill. There is still a difference between hallucinations and spiritual encounters. And there was never any rule that said that both of these things cannot happen to a single person. For the safety of yourself and others we should be aware of the warning signs of dissociation and hallucination, but that doesn’t make anyone “wrong” for experiencing those things. And experiencing those things doesn’t mean you cannot explore spirituality or do witchcraft.

I hate it when “spiritualists” who are actually just anti-vax conservatives push the narrative that people with mental health issues cannot participate in spirituality. I also despise the notion that mental health issues are inherently a sign of an energetic imbalance. We’re all walking around with a special concoction of brain soup in our heads, it doesn’t surprise me that Ares devotees tend to have BPD, that many Aphrodite devotees struggle with self harm, that many people who work with angels have paranoia or generalized anxiety.

There was never any rule that said that you cannot use your deities or magic to help you cope with your mental health. I know some people will say “the Gods aren’t here to be your friend or hold your hand through life” but I’ve seen no evidence to suggest that’s true. I see no reason why a God like Ares couldn’t help his devotee with BPD come down after a bout of rage, I see no reason why Dionysus couldn’t help his devotee with their alcoholism or substance abuse, I see no reason why Aphrodite couldn’t help a devotee with relapse or negative self talk.

Witchcraft and paganism were historically used as a tool for survival, to bring people ease, to help people feel safe and secure, blessed and protected. That applied to all people, including those with mental health issues.

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

Important Terms in Hellenism

I think learning even a few words or phrases in ancient Greek is important to connecting with the Gods! So, let's learn the most important ones

Hellenism, Hellenismos, and Hellenistic- Hellenism and Hellenismos are titles given to the religion of worshiping the ancient Greek Gods. Hellenistic is to describe the time period after the death of Alexander the Great to Mark Antony in 31 BC

Kharis- This is one of the most fundamental things in Hellenism. This word can mean many things so to really simplify, it means to give to the Gods so they may give to us. It's the act of building relationship and reciprocity with the divine

Eusebeia- Piety and loyalty

Khernips- Pure water that is used to purify the self, materials, or altars before ritual, sacrifice, and sometimes prayers

Miasma- Mortal pollution or impurity. Things like literal filth (dirt, sweat, ect.) bad or stale energies, or guilt

Ouranic- A God who is not of the earth. These types of Gods are said to live in Olympus

Khthonic- A God who is of the earth. They are typically chalked up to just being the death deities but that's not completely true. Any God who lives and/or has domain over earth are also Khthonic

Sponde- A libation for Ouranic Gods that is poured then sipped by the worshiper

Khoe- A libation for Khthonic Gods that is poured out completely

Dæmon- A spirit or ghost. Specifically NOT a demon

Khaire/Khairete [singular/plural]- Greetings, hello

Elthe deuro- Come here/come to me (this is not impolite to say to Gods, it was traditionally done)

Klue/Kluete [singular/plural]- Hear me

Eukhomai- I pray

Ei boulei- Please, if you wish

Kharin ekho- Thank you

If I missed anything or if you have questions, let me know!

“But—” Zeus smiled now “—everything else in the world is theirs to enjoy. They may travel to every corner. They can sail Poseidon’s oceans, seek Demeter’s help in sowing seeds and growing food, learn from Hestia the arts of keeping a home, discover how to keep animals for their milk, fur, and labor, and they can learn the arts of hunting from Artemis. Hermes can teach them guile, Apollo can instruct them in the arts of music and knowledge. Athena will teach them how to be wise and contented. And Aphrodite will share with them the arts of love. They will be free and happy.”

—Stephen Fry, Mythos

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

Things you could put in a devotional journal

•Their names in Ancient Greek, transliterated, translated, and pronunciation •Epithets (traditional and upg) •Favourite myths •Retelling/interpretation of the myths •Other information about Them •A photo or drawing of how They appear to you or that you think of as resembling Them •Delphic maxims •Key words in both languages and what they mean •An altar page or photo of an altar •Hymns, prayers, poems and stories •Pictures of other things you’ve made for Them •Updates on skills you’re learning in worship of Them •Letters you write to Them about anything at all (could just be telling them about your day or whatever) •Specific tarot spreads •Readings and conversations you’ve had with Them •Sacred animals/plants/colours/food/symbols etc (or just ones that make you think of Them) •Drawings/paintings/collages for Them •Experiences and encounters •Worship days/holidays/celebrations •Ideas for things you could do/make/give in offering (including low spoons devotional ideas) •Playlists •Books and movies that remind you of them •Aesthetic and word associations lists •Places that remind you of Them •Any other upg stuff •Quotes •Any signs or dreams etc you think might have been from them •Checklists for things you want to do for Them or have done and want to do again •Stick in pictures or dried flowers •Charities or other causes you can give to

*I’m mostly posting this for myself just to have the list saved but if anyone has any other ideas please feel free to add to it! I love having new things to add to my journals

When you step into sunlight, you honor Apollo. When you admire the moon, you honor Artemis. When you admire cloud shapes, you honor Hera. When you smell petrichor, you honor Zeus. When you laugh at a joke, you honor Hermes. When your body twitches to dance at a particularly upbeat music, you honor Dinoysus. When you enjoy the first bite of your breakfast, you honor Demeter. When you choose your peace over any conflict, you honor Athena. When you warm yourself up by sheltering yourself in blanket, you honor Hestia. When you listen to Ocean sounds, you honor Poseidon. When you smell flowers, you honor Persephone. When you admire the coolness of first day of Autumn, you honor Hades. When you wear your favourite jewellery, you honor Hephaestus. When you smile, you honor Aphrodite. When you exercise, you honor Ares. When you light a torch in a dark room, you honor Hekate.

Your body is a shrine to Gods, your being an act of devotion for them. You, by yourself, are enough for them.

stop villanizing disabled people. stop assuming we're just being lazy. stop assuming we could be trying harder. stop assuming that we'll "feel better" in a few weeks. stop assuming that we have the same energy levels as everyone else. thanks for coming to my ted talk.