childofsol

[childofsol]

maybe it's the aromanticism but i'm so in love with aphrodite's roles outside of just interpersonal love. like the notion of her being the one who unites a community, her being the goddess of persuasion including in political contexts. obviously interpersonal love of all kinds is still important and part of her domain, but to me that's like. that comes from a wider, more existential understanding of love, as a force which brings together and mixes things into one shared being.

[childofsol]

In ancient Greek religion, an empty throne often signified the possible presence of a god, even in the absence of an image or statue. These thrones were placed during rituals and festivals, such as Theophania at Delphi, as a sign that a deity might arrive.

At times, they were reserved for gods beyond the local pantheon. In intercultural sanctuaries like Delos or Piraeus, divine visitors from other cultures were honoured with these sacred seats. Foreign deities, such as Isis (Auset), were welcomed through processions and offerings. Their presence was acknowledged by the throne left waiting.

This practice was deeply tied to the Greek value of xenia, or sacred hospitality. Welcoming the unknown god mirrored the ethical imperative to welcome the stranger. The Greeks didn't always know who would come, but they made room nonetheless. The empty throne stood as a symbol of respect, openness, and readiness.

For modern Hellenic Polytheists, this symbolism carries real ethical weight. Xenia is not optional; it’s a central religious duty. Refugees, migrants, strangers, and newcomers deserve the same care once offered to unknown gods.

As a divine law protected by Zeus Xenios, xenia calls us to wait with hope, to receive with kindness, and to respond with generosity. The empty throne is a reminder that hospitality is a virtue, custom, and sacred practice in the religion of Hellenic Polytheism.

Hail the deathless gods; Hail Zeus Xenios

My 2min 20s video on this topic Instagram, TikTok, YouTube

[childofsol]

In this post I will help beginners understand the basics of Hellenism, which is the oikos! Hope this help and I’ll explain all well! Enjoy your reading💛 (Sorry for my English if I’ve mistaken something, its not my frist language)

The sacred Household in Hellenism🏡

“The gods are not far away — they live among us, beginning at the hearth.”

When people first come to Hellenism, many expect temples, elaborate rituals, and festivals with incense drifting into the sky. And yes, those things exist, and they’re beautiful.

But in traditional Hellenic religion, the true center of worship has always been the household — the oikos. This is where devotion begins.

The oikos is more than just your physical living space. In ancient Greece, it referred to the entire household unit: the family, the home, the land, the goods, and the sacred forces that protected and sustained them.

For Hellenists, our home is a temple in miniature. It’s where you interact with the gods every day, where you make offerings, pray, purify, and maintain order. You don’t need an expensive altar, what you need is intention, reverence, and consistency.

Hestia: The heart of the Home🔥

At the center of the sacred household is Hestia, goddess of the hearth flame.

She is the first-born of the Olympians, and the first (and last) to receive offerings in every ritual.

Hestia represents warmth, safety, peace, continuity. In ancient homes, the hearth fire was never allowed to go out, and when a new household was formed, the flame was lit from the family hearth.

(I will do more about the Gods in specific in other posts)

In a modern practice, you can honor Hestia simply:

Light a candle or lamp in her name.

Offer a drop of oil, water, or wine.

Speak a short prayer:

“Hestia, keeper of the hearth, may your flame burn bright in my home.”

It doesn’t need to be elaborate!

But ancient Greeks honored her a bit differently!

As I said earlier, the hearth (estia) was a literal fire in the center of the home. It was always kept burning as a sacred flame: extinguishing it was considered bad luck or impious unless ritually necessary.

Every meal and domestic ritual began with a libation or offering to Hestia! In fact, no matter which god was being honored, Hestia received the first and last libation in any sacrificial ritual.

She didn’t have many temples, her domain was every home and public places! At city level, a sacred fire to Hestia burned in the prytaneion (town hall or public hearth), symbolizing civic unity.

And then as another ritual, when a couple got married or a new household was formed, a flame from the bride’s family hearth was carried to the new home to light the new hearth, symbolizing continuity and divine blessing!

The Household Gods are more than one!🏛️

The sacred household includes more than Hestia. Such as: Zeus Ktesios, Hermes Propylaios / Hermes Agoraios, ancestors and Household Spirits (like Agathos Daimon).

Of course, there are more Gods that protects Household but these are the most commonly honored ones!

Zeus Ktesios: Protector of the household, provider of goods and food. Many Hellenists keep a ktesios jar, a simple container filled with water, oil, and other symbolic items like bay leaves or coins. It’s kept in a clean corner of the pantry or home.

Hermes Propylaios / Hermes Agoraios: Hermes protects the boundaries of the home and the spaces beyond. He is honored at the threshold, by the door, as guardian of comings and goings. A small stone or figure by your door can be his marker. He’s the god who makes movement and communication possible.

Ancestors and Household Spirits: The dead are never far from the living in Hellenism. Ancestors (both literal and spiritual) are remembered with respect and offerings.

But what can we do as a devotion in our homes?

There are many ways! But I’ll offer a little simple routine:

Washing your hands (khernips) to purify

Lighting a candle for Hestia

Pouring a libation (water, milk, wine)

Speaking a short prayer

Leaving a small offering: bread, olive oil, fruit, or incense.

Remember that none of this is a RULE and necessary, but it builds Kharis and in more simple words it tells the Gods “this is your home too and may you protect it”, we make space for the Gods and its a simple yet efficent devotional act!

It reminds us that the divine is not far away! In Hellenism, this is where devotion starts!

I hope you enjoyed. I tried to explain this well enough and at the same time as short as I could!

[childofsol]

[childofsol]

Hypnos of the chronically fatigued, unable to walk for long

Hypnos of the chronic pain sufferers, stuck in bed for days

Hypnos of the recovering, having to rest for long periods

Hypnos of the comatose, protecting them in their fragile state

Hypnos of those with endometriosis, unable to get out of bed from the cramping pain

Hypnos of the narcoleptic, unable to control their sleep-wake cycle

Hypnos of the hypersomniacs, unable to stay awake very long

Hypnos of the insomniacs, unable to fall asleep at all

Hypnos of the sleep walkers, keeping them from running into something in their sleep

Hypnos of the sleep paralysis, fighting the visions off when you can’t move

Hypnos of those who faint and black out, making sure they don’t hit the ground too hard

Hypnos of the dizzy and lightheaded, who have to lie down more often

Hypnos of the sick, disabled and chronically tired.

[childofsol]

you cannot be anti-immigrant and a Zeus worshipper.

being an anti-immigrant hellenic polytheist is directly against the Gods, and you are not welcome to my blog.

[childofsol]

Common crystals and their corresponding Hellenic/theoi deities: a masterlist.

💎🏛️💎🏛️💎🏛️💎🏛️💎🏛️💎🏛️💎🏛️💎🏛️

Amethyst: Clymene, Circe, Eirene, Mnemosyne, Zagreus, Athena, Dionysus

Agate: Kratos, Ares, Demeter, Pan

Aventurine: Demeter

Aquamarine: Britomartis, Tyche, Tethys, Amphitrite, Aphrodite, Hermes, Poseidon

Amazonite: Gaia, Artemis

Amber: Aristaeus, Apollo, Dionysus, Hestia

Bloodstone: Asklepios, Tyche, Kratos, Ares, Demeter, Dionysus

Bornite: Iris, Hera, Persephone, Uranus

Citrine: Deipneus, Hebe, Apollo, Eos, Demeter, Hestia

Carnelian: Aglaea, Kratos, Ares, Hestia, Pan

Chrysocolla: Gaia, Athena, Artemis, Zeus

Celestite: Morpheus, Melinoe, Hermes

Coral: Britomartis, Amphitrite, Poseidon

Diamond: Clymene, Cronos, Theia, Aphrodite, Hera, Uranus, Zeus

Emerald: Artemis, Demeter, Hera

Fluorite: Iris, Persephone

Garnet: Asklepios, Kratos, Nike, Ares, Dionysus, Persephone

Goldstone: Aether, Hebe, Apollo, Hestia, Hephaestus

Hematite: Nyx, Heracles, Ares, Hades, Hephaestus

Howlite: Aeolus, Morpheus,

Iolite: Chione, Athena, Zeus

Jade: Demeter, Dionysus, Pan

Jasper: Aristaeus, Deipneus, Eos, Nike, Ares, Pan

Kunzite: Antheia, Hygeia, Aphrodite

Kyanite: Mnemosyne, Zagreus, Athena, Zeus

Labradorite: Astraeus, Coeus, Proteus, Nike, Hekate, Uranus, Zeus

Larimar: Britomartis, Amphitrite, Poseidon

Lapis Lazuli: Coeus, Athena, Zeus

Malachite: Proteus, Nemesis, Demeter, Hermes, Pan

Moss agate: Gaia, Artemis, Pan

Moonstone: Circe, Endymion, Proteus, Artemis, Hekate

Moldavite: Cronos, Heracles, Hekate, Uranus

Opal: Iris, Theia, Dionysus, Hera, Hephaestus, Uranus

Obsidian: Deimos, Nyx, Hades, Hephaestus, Persephone

Onyx: Melinoe, Nyx, Heracles, Ares, Hades, Hekate

Peridot: Nemesis, Apollo, Hermes

Pearl: Britomartis, Tethys, Amphitrite, Aphrodite, Hera, Poseidon

Pyrite: Aether, Apollo, Demeter, Hephaestus, Persephone

Quartz: Coeus, Circe, Cronos, Theia, Athena, Hera

Rhodonite: Aglaea, Aphrodite,

Rose Quartz: Aglaea, Epione, Hygeia, Aphrodite

Rhodochrosite: Antheia, Aphrodite

Ruby: Clymene, Heracles, Ares

Sapphire: Zagreus, Athena, Zeus

Sunstone: Aether, Endymion, Eos, Apollo,

Selenite: Endymion, Mnemosyne, Artemis

Smoky Quartz: Deimos, Nemesis,

Serpentine: Heracles, Apollo

Topaz: Aristaeus, Hebe, Hestia

Tourmaline: Melinoe, Nyx, Heracles, Hades, Hekate

Tigers eye: Dysnomia, Nemesis, Nike, Ares, Artemis, Dionysus, Hades, Hermes, Pan

Tanzanite: Athena, Zeus

Turquoise: Chione, Athena, Zeus

Unakite: Gaia, Artemis

Vanadinite: Eos, Aphrodite

Zircon: Asklepios, Ares

[childofsol]

Hello! Also raised pagan and have thoughts, but prev summed them up *wonderfully* so I thought id give a resource for the research!

This is a wonderful grimoire that has a great list of basics for worship/prayer/etc etc and more abstract stuff about hellenistic polytheism as well.

I hope this helps, and I hope you can find a practice that works for you.

i’m trying to get into hellenic paganism (specifically devotion to hades, persephone, and apollo). if anyone has any tips, pls lmk!! i’m trying to do little acts as much as i can without angering my christian family.

[childofsol]

praise Demeter and Hestia this cereal is really fucking good

[childofsol]

This is the best artistic rendition of Mother Hera I've ever come across. She's so beautiful I can barely move my eyes. So gentle and loving. Btw this is not my creation. The creator has their name in the corner and they're in devianart so all credits to them and a load of gratitude cuz this is very very accurate to how I see my Mother in my mind. I found this pic on Pinterest so yep. BUT MOTHER DO I LOVE YOU?!!!!! I could cry just by looking at this.

[childofsol]

[childofsol]

<333

[childofsol]

hellenic polytheism: good resource posts from tumblr

tumblr should not be a one stop shop for information about hellenic polytheism! however, these are some amazing posts i've found that come with a wealth resources from across the site.

hellenic witch and magic reading list

ancient greek religion and hellenic polytheism: a reading guide

hellenism resources

hermes google drive

hellenic polytheism - free (and reliable) resources

added:

hellenic polytheism - free (and reliable) resources: updated

hellenic polytheism grimoire

would love to see if others have posts they suggest as well.

[childofsol]

How to Pray?

Quite important — and there are many things to keep in mind. There are actually many ways to do it; it’s a very personal act. However, in ancient Greece, one or two things were commonly considered.

Posture, mainly, and attitude. You must feel confident when a deity approaches. With your palms facing the sky, and your hands apart.

Identify the God: They are usually addressed by saying, “Hear me, [Name of the God].” After that, if you wish, you can recite their titles and end with “Or however you wish to be called.”

Then, begin your prayer or request, which can be anything you need. You may also offer something in return, for example: “In exchange, I will bring you rainwater.” But always make sure these offerings don’t harm you — such as giving up certain foods, or similar acts.

For the chthonic (Underworld) deities, prayers are usually said with the palms facing the ground.

[childofsol]

“all of Apollo’s partners end up leaving or dying, isn’t that weird? why is that?” BECAUSE WHO ELSEEEEE?! WHO ELSE COULD SHOULDER ALL THAT GREIF BUT THE GOD OF POETRY AND ART?!

the stories and myths are lessons, and to me the lesson of all Apollon’s lovers is that art, poetry, music, and light can all carry you through life no matter the heartbreak that comes.

[childofsol]

Friends, several people in my life, including myself, have had a tough time with their mental health lately. Writing this prayer to Lord Apollo helped me, and I am hopeful that it will be answered.

Lord Apollo, God of Medicine, Divine Healer, and Bringer of Justice- hear my prayer.

May you shine your light upon everyone feeling down, depressed, and hopeless.

May you comfort the anxious, paranoid, and overwhelmed.

May you bring rest to the insomniacs and freshness to the hypersomniacs.

May your warmth quiet racing thoughts, ground dissociated minds, and bring clarity to the delusional and otherwise psychotic.

For those of us healing from trauma, I ask that you bring justice and closure.

I trust you to aid the afflicted, and I feel gratitude towards you for doing so.

May you guide me to do the same.

[childofsol]

Grimoire - Hellenic Polytheism

Hellenic Polytheism In General: HP 101: Where to start Hellenic polytheism - free (and reliable!) resources Things Every Baby Hellenic Should Research/Know Adult Home Study for Hellenic and Roman Polytheists Considering the Hellenic Pagan as an Identity 10 Myths About Hellenismos The Thing About Myths A Clash of Tales: How to Reconcile Conflicting Myths The Gods are not their myths! Some points on Orphism The difference between "religion online" and "online religion" Lets have a chat: about research in recon How to determine if a book on mythology is legit? Hellenic Polytheism: Evaluating “How-to” Books Why learning Hellenic Polytheism (or really any other pagan current) on Tumblr aint a good idea

Concepts And Practices: Khernips A follow-up on pollution and purification Miasma vs. Lyma Thoughts on cognitive hygiene and pollution Spiritual protection in the Greco-Roman world The Hellenic Gods Aren’t Malicious Towards You. Deepening your relationship with a deity Why personal devotion matters Things the Gods Get Mad at Mortals For On Household Worship Zeus Ktesios and the Kadiskos Children in Ancient (Athenian) Festivals Basic Prayer Formula Dissecting the Anatomy of Prayer Kharis: The Reciprocal Relationship with the Gods Invoking Kharis Xenia, and why it is our duty as Hellenic polytheists/pagans to be anti-racist and anti-fascist The Pillars of Hellenic Worship Pillars of Hellenismos Oaths and Hellenic Polytheism Hellenic polytheism and witchcraft Witchcraft in Hellenismos Magic in Hellenismos: An Introduction Ingredients of Ancient Greek style reconstructed magic Magic idea: using the Iliad (and Odyssey) for magic Popular Divination Methods in Ancient Greece Introduction to The Underworld as Understood in Ancient Hellas Practical tips for Hellenic Khthonic Ritual Necromancy- a learning journal Things you could put in a devotional journal Moral and Ethical Guidelines food & worship.

Religious Offerings: Extravagant Offerings Are Unnecessary Libations Effects of Libations in the Garden Basic Hellenic Offering Ritual Historical Hellenic Offerings How to Make an Offering as a Hellenic Polytheist (based on historical methods) dolls as votive offerings Traditional Offerings: water, barley, hair, fruits and nuts, Jewelry, salt

Hellenic Pantheon: Pantheon of the Greek Gods Resources for Cult Epithets of the Greek Gods Theogony What Are Epithets? Choose Your Starter Theoi Modern Hellenic Polytheist Household Deity Worship Agathos Daimon Household rituals for the Agathos Daimon The forgotten ones: on honouring obscure gods Nymph Worship Honouring the Nymphai - The maidens of nature. Ourea: The Mountain Gods Potamoi: The River Gods Offerings to local river gods (potamoi) Hero Worship Hero worship 101 - The basics Hero Worship 101 - Which hero should I worship? How do I contact them? Worshipping Zeus: part I, part II, part III

Festivals And Sacred Days: Libation days in Hellenismos The Attic Calendar Hekate's Deipnon Noumenia Noumenia Agathos Daimon Deipnon, Noumenia and Agathos Daimon Prayers Attempting to set up a "holiday decoration" box Example Modernisation of an Ancient Greek Festival Calendar manipulation in Ancient Greece

My personal posts and resources: My Posts Related to My Practices