| 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.
What my deities see on a daily basis (I’d say several times a day and I’m beyond happy they tolerate me ) 😄
A guide to worship of Hestia- cheat sheets
Hellenic cheat sheets
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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! 🖤
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!
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
Recon vs. Revivalism
Reconstructionism vs Revivalism
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
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
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)
Sacred animals of the gods
Theoi.com (my go-to)
Household gods
The Nymphai
On household worship
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!
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
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.
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.
🪄 Subtle Hekate Worship🕯️
Donate clothes, food, hygiene products, and the like to homeless shelters
Support food banks and homeless or animal shelters
Visit cemeteries; if allowed (please ask permission first), leave flowers on graves
Have a candle that reminds you of her (no altar needed)
Wear jewelry that reminds you of her
Keep a picture of her in your wallet
Have a stuffed animal polecat, dog, or toad
Have imagery of torches, crossroads, or magic around
Honor your ancestors; honor any spirits in your life
Volunteer at an animal or homeless shelter
Cook a warm meal for someone in need
Take care of yourself physically
Take a self-care bath/shower, especially those with herbs or candles
Visit a crossroads; walk/hike on paths that have a crossroads and pick the direction that calls to you
Take a walk during the new, half, or full moon (only if it is safe to do so in your area)
Take time to notice the phases of the moon; meditate under each one, and learn their meanings
Start a garden; tend to plants, especially herbs
Study herbalism; study the history of witchcraft
Ground yourself regularly
Include her within spell work, if you do any; practice discreet methods of spell-casting
Learn non-obvious divination methods; cartomancy, pyromancy, carromancy, etc.
Burn incense, if able; frankincense is great
Drink herbal teas; cook with herbs
Practice mindfulness and emotional regulation
Honor your home/space; keep it clean, and make it feel like your own
At the end of each month, cook a good meal and make drinks with added honey
Baking raisin and currant cakes
Practice patience and understanding
Work on your decision-making skills; what do YOU want? What do YOU need? What are YOUR goals/passions?
Making a bonfire; gathering around it, alone or with loved ones
Learning to have more confidence in your decisions and actions; you know what's best for you more than anyone else
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I hope this helps someone! I may add to it later on. For now, this is my list of discreet ways to worship Hekate. Take care, y'all, and have a good day/night. 💜
Link to Subtle Worship Master list
Books for Hellenic polytheists! 📚
For an easy overview of ancient Greek religion, read Jon D. Mikalson’s Ancient Greek Religion and Ancient Greek Cults: A Guide by Jennifer Larson.
For a complete overview of the key concepts of ancient Greek religion, read The Oxford Handbook of Ancient Greek Religion and A Companion to Greek Religion.
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!!!