celestialdeadpoet

[celestialdeadpoet]

Hey, don't be afraid of things that challenge your faith. Seriously, don't.

Either they'll give you a new perspective on things, or you'll become more secure and confident in your current beliefs. But avoiding the hard questions leaves you in an echo chamber with half-baked ideas and an insecurity in yourself. Step out of your comfort zone so you have room to grow.

[celestialdeadpoet]

Repeat after me, folks!!

You can't be a Hellenic pagan and be pro-Zionist.

You can't be a Hellenic pagan and be anti-Semitic.

You can't be a Hellenic pagan and be homophobic.

You can't be a Hellenic pagan and be transphobic.

You can't be a Hellenic pagan and be sexist.

You can't be a Hellenic pagan and hate on other minorities/religions.

You can't be a Hellenic pagan and be racist.

You can't be a Hellenic pagan and be an asshole.

Xenia is such a crucial part of Hellenic paganism. Anyone who disagrees with any of these points can kindly fuck off my blog.

[celestialdeadpoet]

btw "dont compare yourself to everything you see on social media" also applies to worship

[celestialdeadpoet]

Details of “Apollo & Dionysus” by Leonid Ilyukhin

In some psychological & artistic disciplines, Apollonian & Dionysian are words used to describe opposite impulses- artistic, controlled, skillful, vs hedonistic, emotional & wild.

However, anyone who knows the details of Apollo & Dionysus’ history knows they are very intertwined. They share a reputation of youth & beauty, & Dionysus was said to take domain over Delphi, Apollo’s most holy site, during the winter months. Art & music are key elements of Dionysus’ worship, representing pleasure & luxury. They’re not even two sides of the same coin, they’re puzzle pieces fitting together side by side.

[celestialdeadpoet]

A poem for Eos, Helios and Selene

I sing of early-born Eos, whose cloak is of sweet dew

Who runs her rosy-fingered hand trough the sky as the day begins anew

Casting away darkness and dispelling murky gloom

As the choirs of birds sing her praises and flowers get ready to bloom

Soft-winged goddess, mother of the morning star

Shining from among the clouds, smiling at the world from afar

I sing of Helios, crowned in rays, who rides trough the sky pulled by fiery steeds

From his glorious chariot he watches over mankind’s deeds

Those who do evil he punishes with red-hot rage, he burns to smoke and ash their wicked smiles

Those who do good he rewards with a gladdened heart, helping them trough their journeys as he watches over their lives

For he is the golden mirror of justice who makes all reap what they sow

Wether it be for better or for worse

His warm smile charms countless nymph’s hearts and makes trees bear fruit

As the flower-faced Horae hold hands and dance to his lyre’s tune

I sing of bull-horned Selene, nightly queen, decked in stars

She who weaves together days and makes time come to pass

Lover of peace and of tranquil sleep, a friend to dark-haired Nyx and Hypnos of the soothing voice

Morpheus and his train of countless dreams make her silver heart rejoice

Keeper of the late hours and their secrets, a companion to those who feel lost

For even in the darkest of moments she kindly stretches forth her luminous torch

I sing of you three, children of Hyperion and Theia, gods most high

Trough day and night, trough dusk and dawn, I pray that you shed light unto my path

Lucid ministers of Chronos, show me that which flees my sight

Reveal to me the worlds which exist around me and guide me trough the ones within my heart

[celestialdeadpoet]

at the core of my paganism is sun and moon worship. helios and apollo, selene and artemis, take the names away and i worship the natural balance of the world. of COURSE im in love with the intricacies of each individual deity. i revere the deep differing history, take care to worship them separately, and know this is a gross oversimplification.

but at my bones? i am singing to the sun and moon. i am dancing to them, praying to them, and they are cheering me on. take away my prayers and hymns and history and i can still turn my face up to them and love them and be loved back. i love my deities!

[celestialdeadpoet]

☀️ Subtle Helios Worship 🐎

Bask in the sunlight

Keep your window open or curtains drawn during the daytime

Watch the sunrise or sunset

Feed local birds, especially songbirds/morning birds

Have a candle that reminds you of him (no altar needed)

Wear jewelry that reminds you of him

Keep a picture of him in your wallet

Have a horse, eagle, or rooster stuffed animal

Have imagery of the sun, light, fiery horses, or fruit around

Eat ripened fruit

Drink herbal tea or coffee to start your day

Eat a good breakfast

Practice truthfulness, and keep your promises

Wear sunscreen when going outside with the sun out

Drink water; hydrate regularly

Make a to-do list for the day

Be kind to others, including yourself

Take care of yourself physically and emotionally

Learn about astronomy and astrology

Add honey to your drinks; drink honey or sugar water

At night, light a bonfire; gather around it, by yourself or with loved ones

Take pictures of the sunrise/sunset; draw/paint the sunrise/sunset

Try to learn ornithomancy or aeromancy

Burn incense, especially frankincense or sandalwood

Leave a glass of water on your windowsill/out in the sun

Start a garden; tend to plants

Have patience with yourself; practice self-acceptance and self-forgiveness

Collect shiny or gold items

Take a hike/walk in nature on a sunny day; ground yourself often under the light of the sun, when able

Pick flowers (not from someone's garden!!!)

Try horse riding

Be open with others; vulnerability can be a beautiful thing

Keep a self-care/self-love journal

Make a list of things that make you happy/you enjoy; practice gratitude

Notice the simple things in your day that bring you joy

Spend time with your loved ones

Make sure to wear sunscreen on sunny days

Drink lots of water on hot days

-

I'll likely add more to this later! For now, this is my list of discreet ways to worship Helios. Hope this helps someone, and take care, y'all! 🧡

Link to Subtle Worship Master list

[celestialdeadpoet]

Ἡλιος - Helios

" And now, O Muse Calliope, daughter of Zeus, begin to sing of glowing Helios whom mild-eyed Euryphaessa, the far- shining one, bare to the Son of Earth and starry Heaven. For Hyperion wedded glorious Euryphaessa, his own sister, who bare him lovely children, rosy-armed Eos and rich-tressed Selene and tireless Helios who is like the deathless gods. As he rides in his chariot, he shines upon men and deathless gods, and piercingly he gazes with his eyes from his golden helmet. Bright rays beam dazzlingly from him, and his bright locks streaming form the temples of his head gracefully enclose his far-seen face: a rich, fine-spun garment glows upon his body and flutters in the wind: and stallions carry him. Then, when he has stayed his golden-yoked chariot and horses, he rests there upon the highest point of heaven, until he marvellously drives them down again through heaven to Ocean. Hail to you, lord! Freely bestow on me substance that cheers the heart. And now that I have begun with you, I will celebrate the race of mortal men half-divine whose deeds the Muses have showed to mankind."

Homeric hymns from theoi / Images from pinterest.

[celestialdeadpoet]

Worshiping the Titans and Titanesses

After my recent post, I figured I will do some post about some deities I worship. I will follow the division I have made in this post, so now it's time for Titans and Titanesses I worship (even in a slightly/casual way).

Hekate

Hekate is a goddess of so many things, but I mainly worship Her as a goddess of Crossroads and keeper of the gates, goddess of the dead and the Underworld. I worship Her since the beginning of my practice. She helped me transition from a practice heavily impacted by Wicca to my hellenic polytheist practice. Now, i'm devoted to Her which doesn't really mean anything big, it's just that She is one of the main deities I worship daily. She guides me through multiple aspect of my life, I give Her my regret and grief so they can go to Erebos and I feel free to walk from them. I also have a UPG about Her being silence and I see Her as a mentor and a strict parental figure.

If you want to include Her into your worship, you can :

Do a meal in Her honor during the New Moon

Visit a cemetery (be respectful)

Learn about ancestors veneration

Pray to crossroads

Asteria

Goddess of falling stars and nighttime divination, I mainly worship Her as Hekate's mother, which makes me consider Her as a "grandmother", my worship of Her is mainly to show respect to Her. For Her, I just do star gazing.

Helios

God of the Sun, He feels like a "grandfather" for me. I try to do a ritual for Him (with Apollon Phoibos) each sunday, because I had to learn to love the Sun. For me, saturday is the last day of my week during which I do the rituals to cleanse my life of dead-end projects and all, and sunday is the first day of the week during which I spend time with Him and make my plan and wishes for the week.

If you want to include HIm into your worship, you can :

Take a sunbath (make sure to wear sunscreen though)

Contemplate nature

Make wishes and intentions for the day ahead

Drink water

Selene

Goddess of the Moon. I've started worship Her along with Nyx before I knew I was a worshiper. She was my inspiration for creativity, especially for writing. This is a UPG born with the fact that I've started worship Her because of my insomnia. Writing was something I did for the Moon. I dedicate my monday to Her and Artemis.

If you want to include Her into your worship, you can :

Celebrate Full Moon

Journaling about your feelings

Do divination

Learn how to regulate your emotions

Styx

She is an Okeanide and the goddess (daimon) of hatred. She is also a path and a gate between the living and the dead. The first time I worship Her was for inaugurate my notebook/grimoire for deities and worship.

If you want to include Her into your worship, you can :

Walk by rivers

Make (small) promises and keep them

Learn how to manage your anger

Learn how to fight injustice and hateful speech/discourse/idea

[celestialdeadpoet]

🦉Athena Masterpost🦉

This masterpost will cover very basic information with links to further posts or resources (otherwise it’s super long) and may be updated in the future. Basic bibliography at the end. I welcome you to share your UPG and resources in the comments - I won’t differentiate between mine and others’ UPG.

UPG = Unverified Personal Gnosis, SPG = Shared Personal Gnosis, H = Historically Inspired association

Last updates: 5 Feb 2025, added my ko-fi / 4 March 2025, added a link to Additional Info Posts - Athena & Minerva / 23 March, minor appearance edits

Love this post? Consider thanking me with a small donation to my ko-fi!

🦉Overview🦉

Athena is the Hellenic goddess associated most commonly with wisdom, war, weaving, and in modern times, education and knowledge. She was a goddess who occupied both masculine and feminine roles in a highly patriarchal society, standing outside the societal binary. She is a fascinatingly variable and nuanced deity who has adapted and persisted in the mind of western society until this day. This masterpost is in dedication to her.

“Through our investigation of [Athena’s] role within the pantheon, she has emerged as a power of technology and creativity who promotes creativity and order, but with another side to her power, that of the storm bringer and warmonger.” -Susan Deacy

🦉Domains🦉

Metis (Cunning, Practical Wisdom)

Skills

Crafts

Invention

War

Civilization & Civic Institutions

Hero Mentorship

Education and Knowledge [Modern SPG]

IT and Engineering [UPG]

🐍Find out More!🐍

🦉Symbols, Colors & Tarot Cards🦉

Traditional:

Owls (Specifically the Little Owl, Athene noctua)

Snakes

Horses

Olive trees

The Aegis (Fringed goat skin sometimes depicted as a shield)

The Gorgoneion (Protective symbol depicting a gorgon head)

Spindle

Spear

Helmet (Particularly with gryphons and/or sphinxes on it).

Crows (In Messenia and Boeotia, though elsewhere she was not fond of them)

Gulls

Other symbols: Spiders [Roman & SPG], Books and Scrolls [SPG], Pens or Quills [UPG], Pallas symbol [SPG], Snow Leopards [UPG], Bees [UPG]

Colors: Saffron/Yellow/Orange/Gold [H], Murex Purple [H], Hyacinth Blue [H], Red [H?], Bronze [H], Green [UPG]

🐍Find out More!🐍

Tarot Cards (All UPG/SPG of course): The Emperor, The Hierophant, The Chariot, Strength, Justice, The World, Knight of Pentacles, Queen & King of Swords, Queen & King of Wands

🦉Name & Epithets🦉

Athena has some variations in name. The Attic form was “Athenaia”, which was contracted to “Athena,” the Ionian form was “Athenaie,” the Doric form “Athana,” in Aeolic, “Athanaa,” and in epic she was “Athenaie,” shortened to “Athene.”

A few common epithets:

Areia - Warlike

Ergane - The Worker

Glaukôpis - Bright/owl-eyed.

Pallas - Refers either to the myth of Athena’s childhood friend Pallas, or of the giant named Pallas whom she slayed.

Parthenos - Maiden

Polias - Of the City

Polymetis - Cunning in many ways

🐍Find out More!🐍

🦉Offerings and Devotional Acts🦉

This section was super long! Only including a few here but check out the link!

Gemstones & Metals - Gold, Lapis Lazuli, Onyx, Iolite

Plants - Olive, Ivy, Thyme, Rosemary, Cypress, Peppermint, Orange

Incense and Fragrances - Frankincense, Thyme, Bay Laurel, Amber, Myrrh, Dragon’s Blood, Orange, Citrus, Cedarwood, Cinnamon, Cypress, Bergamot & Sage

Food & Drink - Olives and Olive Oil, Honey, Milk, Cheese, Cereal Grains, Diluted Wine, Bread, Baked Goods, Fish, Meat, Fruit/Fruit Juice, Water

🐍Find out More!🐍

🦉Athenian Festivals🦉

Athena’s main festivals were the Panathenaia, Khalkeia, Kallynteria and Plynteria. It is up to individuals to decide if and how to include these celebrations in their practice. 

Panathenaia: The biggest festival for Athena taking place annually, but with a bigger version every fourth year. Mainly a festival with athletic, poetry and musical competitions.

Kallynteria and Plynteria: Sacred days centered around cleaning.

Arrephoria: A mysterious festival that took place at night and is theorized to have been a fertility rite.

Khalkeia: The festival of artisans, which celebrated Athena and Hephaestus.

🐍Find out More!🐍

🦉Family & Connections🦉

Parents: Athena’s father was Zeus (Except in Libya, where she was known as Poseidon’s daughter) and her mother was the personification of wisdom, Metis. In some sources she was raised by Triton alongside his daughter, Pallas.

Children: Athena had no children as a virgin goddess but she did adopt and raise Erichthonius, who later became king of Athens.

Retinue: Athena was often associated closely with Nike (Victory), an example being the famed statue Athena Parthenos, which held Nike in its hand. The aegis which Athena wore also contained the personifications Phobos (Fear), Eris (Strife), Alke (Strength) and Ikoe (Panic) as noted in the Iliad.

Companions: Pallas is perhaps the most famous of Athene’s companions, as the two girls grew up together until Athena accidentally killed Pallas and afterwards took on her name as an epithet. However, in the Homeric Hymn 2 to Demeter it is shown that Athena, Artemis and Persephone spent time together and were playing and collecting flowers before Persephone was abducted. The Greek historian Diodorus Siculus claims they were also raised together.

Heroes: Athena was a mentor of Heroes and had a hand in assisting heroes such as Herakles, Odysseus and Diomedes, but also Achilles, Bellerophon, Perseus, Theseus, Kadmos and Tydeus.

🐍More of my Info Posts!🐍

Athena and Childbirth

Athena Hippia / Khalinitis

On The Nature of Metis - Excerpts from “Cunning Intelligence in Greek Culture and Society”

On the comparison of Athena and Ares

Athena and Herakles: Excerpt from Susan Deacy’s book

Myth of Athena's Birth

Comparing Athena and Minerva

🐍Extra Links🐍

Prayers, Hymns and Poems

Homeric Hymn to Athena 11 [Tumblr - Mine]

Homeric Hymn to Athena 28 [Tumblr - Mine]

Poem for Athena [Tumblr - Mine]

Adaptation of the Orphic Hymn [Tumblr - wisdomweaver]

Ode to Athena: A Birth of Wisdom [Tumblr - panjackdaw]

Prayer to Athena [Tumblr - rue-with-the-tarot]

Hymn to Athena [Tumblr - entricacies]

Praise to Athena [Tumblr - piristephes]

Prayer for Clarity and Sound Intuition [Tumblr - crimsonsongbird]

Prayer for Athena [Tumblr - hisfleur]

Prayer for Athena [Tumblr - evilios]

Prayer to Athena [Tumblr - ranger5000]

Chin Up - A Message From Athena [Tumblr - crimsonsongbird]

Assortment of Prayers [Website - greekpagan.com]

Battle Armor Poem [Tumblr - crimsonsongbird]

A Prayer to the Wise Short Poem [Tumblr - crimsonsongbird]

Learning Short Poem [Tumblr - Mine]

Additional Links

Theoi.com [Website]

Iliad - Athena dons the Aegis [Tumblr - Mine]

Reconstruction of Athena Parthenos statue’s colors [Youtube - Museum of Fine Arts, Boston]

Bathing of Athena in Argos [Tumblr - verdantlyviolet]

Subtle Athena Worship [Tumblr - khaire-traveler]

A response to the “Athena is a victim blamer and hates women” crowd [Tumblr - rightwheretheyleftme]

khaire-traveler on their snow leopard UPG [Tumblr]

Parthenon 3D Reconstruction [Youtube - Ancient Athens 3D]

Parthenon in AC: Odyssey [Youtube - Invicta]

🦉Bibliography🦉

Barber, E.J.W. - The peplos of Athena

Burkert, Walter - Greek Religion

Deacy, Susan - Athena

Deacy, Susan & Villing, Alexandra - Athena in the Classical World

Deacy, Susan & Villing, Alexandra - What was the colour of Athena's Aegis?

Detienne, Marcel & Vernant, Jean-Pierre - Cunning Intelligence in Greek Culture and Society

Drees, Ludwig - Olympia

Larson, Jennifer - Ancient Greek Cults

Mansfield, John Magruder - The Robe Of Athena And The Panathenaic "Peplos"

Maurizio, Lisa - Classical Mythology in Context

Mikalson, Jon D. - Ancient Greek Religion

Ogden, Daniel - A Companion to Greek Religion

Theoi.com

[celestialdeadpoet]

Homeric Hymn to Ares

Ares, exceeding in strength, chariot-rider, golden-helmed,

doughty in heart, shield-bearer, saviour of cities, harnessed in bronze,

strong of arm, unwearying, mighty with the spear, O defence of Olympus,

father of warlike Victory, ally of Themis,

stern governor of the rebellious, leader of righteous men,

sceptred King of manliness, who whirl your fiery sphere

among the planets in their sevenfold courses through the aether

wherein your blazing steeds ever bear you above the third firmament of heaven;

hear me, helper of men, giver of dauntless youth!

Shed down a kindly ray from above upon my life,

and strength of war, that I may be able to drive away

bitter cowardice from my head

and crush down the deceitful impulses of my soul.

Restrain also the keen fury of my heart which provokes me

to tread the ways of blood-curdling strife. Rather, O blessed one,

give you me boldness to abide within the harmless laws of peace,

avoiding strife and hatred and the violent fiends of death.

This is in response to people that have been implying that Ares cannot/should not be worshipped because he is an embodiment of war (and the military industrial complex is bad). This was incredibly easy to find on Google, and it was the first result that came up. It is historical fact that he was prayed to for so much more than just bloodshed. If you think that Ares is only war, then I fear you just don't understand the religion that you're practicing.

[celestialdeadpoet]

the fact that zeus is not only a paternal god but also one who has explicitly carried and given birth to his own children... i think it's beautiful & i would love to see more depictions of zeus as the patron and protector of pregnant trans men.

[celestialdeadpoet]

praise Aphrodite!!!❤️❤️❤️

I’m so tired of the demonization of Aphrodite. So often I see people, especially people of non-pagan faiths, claiming that Aphrodite’s defining feature is jealousy and deceitfulness, when that couldn’t be farther from the truth. She is so gentle and kind, only wanting the best for us. She wants us to realize our own beauty, she wants us to see ourselves the way she sees us.

She has made me feel so loved and taken care of, I couldn’t ask for a better goddess of love and war.

έπαινος αφροδίτης🐚🥀

[celestialdeadpoet]

Lord Ares appreciation post

I LOVE LORD ARES, PROTECTOR OF WOMEN, GOD OF WAR, LOVER OF APHRODITE

[celestialdeadpoet]

Is anyone else amazed by how multi-faceted the goddess is? Goddess of love & beauty, indeed, and there is nothing wrong with primarily focusing on these attributes but I just think her multitude of epithets underline how far-reaching her influence really is. Vegetation goddess, protector of sailors, lifebringer, warrior goddess and so much more. A being so endlessly joyful and alluring, but also as endlessly powerful and awe-striking.

[celestialdeadpoet]

Hermes and Dionysus (top left), Hermes (top right), Asklepios (bottom)

[celestialdeadpoet]

This is the sacred duck he got an important message: