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seasaltdevotion · 4 days ago

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-> What is godspousing?

I want to start this saying I'm not godspoused to any of my deities, though I have seen the term "godspouse" flying around and some people being hostile to those who are godspoused, as if the mere notion of it was wrong or nocive somehow. And why would that be, I thought to myself? And as I read about, I got a little intrigued.

After all, what is godspouse?

First, let's look at the definition:

Godspouse - noun: (paganism, especially Germanic paganism) A mortal person who marries a deity, according to the OneLook.

As one can presume, there's different forms of relationship between a person and their Deity. For some, it's platonic, as a friend, mentor, and family member. For others, it's merely profissional, courteous, and respectful. And those are very valid!

Every relationship is different, and all of them are alright.

But Godspouse seems to get all sorts of reactions out of people. Some think it's rubbish, that it doesn't exist and people are just misinterpreting signs, most definitely it must be that, right? Or suddenly, you're working with a trickster spirit instead of the real deity.

There are a lot of forms of godspousing, and most of them are just a bond of devotion to a particular deity. This, of course, can come in the form of romantic love. I could compare it, even though it doesn't do justice enough imo, akin to being a nun, but that's not quite what it is.

It's a much deeper relantionship than just devotion. You are devoted, yes, undoubtedly, but you are also in a personal relationship with your deity, be it a God/Goddess, an angel or a demon.

Your godspouse is your main deity, the one who is always nearby, the one you're closer to than others you work with it. I saw around that you could have one or more godspouses, though by my researches that wasn't all that common - or, people don't talk about it a lot, due fear of being ostracized and made fun of, or just for preserving their own privacy, because it is a personal experience and they don't really have to divulge it unless they explicitly want to.

While some say if you're committed enough to them, you could ask your deity to take the next step with them, to be theirs. Others say if this relationship is supposed to happen, the deity would let you know and ask you to be theirs.

It seems this hatred and aversion boils down to how your theological worldview shapes your idea of such concepts. To some, marriage is a sacred union of souls; something tangible only for humans as Gods and Goddesses, demons and angels, and everything in between have no corporal bodies, and viewing them in any other form is quite blasphemous or problematic, given our clear lack of apprehension of what the truly Divine is.

It's pretty common for godspouses to be in a physical relationships or be married to someone else, despite having a relantionship with their Deity and usually, the Gods are alright with this, but some Gods may desire you not to take on other relationships.

-> Was this practiced in the past?

Godspousing wasn't practiced in antiquity, and if they were, it wasn't documented in any book or grimoire, or it got lost somewhere / erased in history. But really, it existed many different forms of long-term religious roles such as the Vestal Virgins, the Oracle of Delphi, or the galli priests of Cybele existed. Even if these relationships were not spousing, it existed.

Looking at geographically nearby comparisons, Egyptian religion did have the God's Wife of Amun during the 18th and 20th-26th dynasties, who was usually a wife, sister or daughter of the reigning Pharaoh whose job it was to tend the sacred cult image of Amun in Thebes which also included sexual rites - sex was as important to making sure a god had a healthy, normal life among humanity as bringing him meals and annually carrying him down the river to join Mut and visit Khonsu was. But that was a bureaucratic, usually royal appointment.

In Hinduism, the concept of a "godspouse" isn't a direct one. Instead, the focus is on the relationship between the divine and the individual, often through the lens of a chosen deity (Ishta-Devata).

Bhakti, a Sanskrit term meaning "devotion" or "love", is a central concept in Hinduism and other Indian religious traditions. It refers to the spiritual path that seeks union with the divine through love and devotion to a personal deity or the Absolute. Bhakti can manifest itself in many forms, including worship, devotional chanting (bhajan), dance, meditation, and devotional service.

Bhakti is often a deeply emotional devotion based on a relationship between a devotee and the object of devotion. The chosen deity can be seen as a partner or guide on the path to spiritual enlightenment.

Now, even if there's no evidence of this, or even if people think that "godspouse" is just a trendy, new thing, it's complex, to have a relationship with the divine, that is, be it platonic, familial or romantic. For some, being just comfortable with your deity without doing some big, fantastic ritual is quite unsettling.

Point is: someone will always be bothered with others' practices.

-> Clarification

Now, having said all of that, can we talk?

It’s does not look good for you when you are actively taking your time to bash and criticize people just for things that you guys think are fake, forced, unreal, or a spiritual psychosis (which is a very serious matter and should stop being throw around as if it doesn't meant anything) just because someone's practice is different than yours.

There's no right or wrong because every practitioner practices differently, worships differently, and has a different relationship with their deity.

If you can hate actively like that, you should be bettering and focusing on yourself.

For the godspouses, go and love your gods, I find so cute y'all posts on here! Your gods love you and so do I, you guys are valid asf ♡♡

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seasaltdevotion · 5 days ago

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Hello! Hope you’re having a good day!

My friend doesn’t know about my religion and that’s because I don’t choose to share it with them due to knowing they’ll make fun of me. They’ve been saying some stuff about the gods when I’ll be talking about some things. And I try to lightheartedly tell them to stop even if it doesn’t work. I’m worried because what if the gods dislike my friends behavior and that impacts my future?

Hey Anon! Good timezone!

This is a very valid question! First and foremost I want you to think how many people there are in the world. A lot. Hellenic polytheism itself is certainly not the main religion. Plus there are also so many movies, books and shows etc. that write the gods in a negative light. Theres so much media and conversation that only view them as mythos or stories to be told. They have much more important things to worry about than their image to those who do not care.

The gods are not going to be upset with you for the actions of your friend. Especially because they don’t worship them. I’m sorry that your friend isn’t very understanding, unfortunately there isn’t much we can do but try to educate them and request they’re kinder in the future. However the gods most definitely will not take the actions of others out on you. It’s good that you’re even attempting to correct them. Your actions are your own and their actions are their own, the gods understand that. As long as you’re being bc respectful and kind that’s all you can control!

#helpol #hellenic polytheism #hellenic polythiest #hellenic paganism #hellenic worship #hellenic polytheist #beginner hellenic polytheism #beginner helpol

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seasaltdevotion · 6 days ago

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I've seen some posts circulating recently that made me want to comment on this topic.

Tolerance is key when approaching practices that differ from your own. In any religious practice, there will always be those who deviate from the norm. This isn't a bad thing. Deviation also doesn't mean that someone isn't allowed to call themselves a Hellenic Polytheist. You don't need to be a scholar to practice this religion. Not every Christian is extremely studied in the history of Christianity. Not every Buddhist is extremely studied in the history of Buddhism. Not every Hindu is extremely studied in Hinduism. Despite HelPol also being an incredibly old religion, people seem to hold other worshippers to a ridiculously high standard (I've been held to this standard myself).

Yes, practicing ancient traditions feels important, but at least some change is inevitable. It has been THOUSANDS of years. THOUSANDS of years of this religion being practiced have gone by - many of those years have been spent in hiding by worshippers, practicing behind closed doors in fear of being persecuted. Practices HAD the change. They HAD to adapt. Practices are still adapting and changing, otherwise no one would be practicing at all.

Beliefs and customs evolve naturally throughout the years, in every religion and culture and practice. This is a natural thing for humans. We change; time changes us. We evolve; life evolves us. Things won't be the stay even just ten years from now, and it's not realistic to expect them to be.

Back in ancient Greece, there were cults and people who practiced WAY different from the norm. Some of those people even led to a change in beliefs later on. Today, we Revere and respect these people. People who were likely shunned and shamed in their own time. Why can't we uplift and respect each other today? What makes it so different?

You don't have to take on these practices that differ from you own. You don't even have to believe in them. What you should at least do is gain a sense of maturity and learn how to approach others with curiosity and not animosity. We worship the same gods, we form relationships with them, and we all already experience judgement from outside people as well. Hatred, judgement, and gossip do nothing to further this community. All it does is further one's own ego. Practice tolerance, understanding, and curiosity. Be willing to hear other perspectives. Don't immediately assume that just because someone isn't doing things the "ancient way" that their practices and beliefs mean nothing at all. They clearly mean something to that person. You don't speak for the gods when you claim that they have poor relationships with the gods that they worship. You don't speak for the gods when you claim that someone is practicing the wrong way. You don't speak for the gods when you judge someone harmfully in private groups of people. You don't speak for the gods when you make passive aggressive posts aimed at someone else. If you feel called to do all of these things, I encourage you to pause and ask yourself why that is. I encourage you to ask why you hold yourself to such unrealistically high standards.

We can respect ancient traditions, but we cannot replicate them to perfection, and that's ok, actually. It's also ok if someone wants to try something that's never been done before. Clinging so tightly onto the past that if fogs your vision with disgust and hatred for new ways of worship IS a harmful practice. That IS harmful, even if you don't outwardly speak on it. It's harmful to yourself.

Take care, everyone, and please be kind to your fellow worshippers. Worship is an incredibly personal thing, and when you attack someone's practice, you often attack something incredibly dear to them. Something incredibly special. Consider that before you go off on a stranger you don't know.

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seasaltdevotion · 6 days ago

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Reblog this post to ask mutuals to tell you their weirdest theory about u

EDIT: Fair warning this post is cursed and predictions are 7/10 times correct, play at own risk

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seasaltdevotion · 6 days ago

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I get this so so so much. The feeling of not doing enough, not going fast enough, hesitating too much in the comparison of others. You don’t mean to compare or to falter or to stall but you do.

Oathsworne paths are not linear and identical. Some people work swifter than others, some take it much more slow. Your path is going to be so much different from your neighbor or your neighbors neighbor. Thats okay. The gods understand we all work differently at different paces.

My practice and training period has been slow moving at best, but with the period of my life I’m in its difficult, but Poseidon and the gods understand.

To whomever this needs to reach, you are never going to read every text. You are not going to know and understand all. It may take you a week to make progress or it may take you years but the fact that you’re trying and working when you can makes it enough.

Journal Entry #1

To say this post has been a long time coming would be a lie, stretching a truth. However, the message behind it is something I think I needed to hear, and maybe you, reader, need to hear it too. But, this also comes as two parts for why-even as I write this-I am hesitant to post. For one, it is going to be vulnerable and an evaluation of my psyche. Two, I know how the community reacts to people that say they’re in oathsworn positions, or are currently working up to it, and that’s not something I wanted to deal with. However, these positions are for the community, and part of that is going to be the backlash. With all that being said, hello reader, and welcome to my first entry.

On March 13th, I finally accepted the signs from Lord Apollon that oraclehood was a possibility for me and did a small ritual in the comfort of my room. That night, I said that I would do my best as a training oracle. I realized my first task on April 3rd (with the help of my kids), and it was to build connections with the other Theoi, names that I’d heard repeat in my dreams over and over. Ten days later, I made contact with Lord Dionysus for the first time, a tarot reading being done with Him on the 27th.

At the beginning, I said that I would do my best, and that I didn’t want to fail Lord Apollon. Yet…I swore I had. I haven’t been as active with my practice as I was at the beginning of the year. Reading the texts and researching was…not what it should’ve been. I hadn’t done many readings, my overall presence was gone. Even now, I don’t know why I disappeared like this. For a while, I tried to say grief. Then, mental health. Surely there was some reason I couldn’t do this thing I was so excited for. But no, this was it. I failed. I was a rotten pick, one that spoiled.

Or so I thought.

This brings me to the month of June. A little more than a month of close to nothing. Sunday night (the 15th), I had the urge to do a reading. Monday came, and I decided it was time. After waking up, I cleansed my deck, and asked Lord Apollon to read with me.

Knight of Cups, Ace of Wands, Four of Pentacles, Two of Pentacles, Ten of Cups, and Death. None reversed, all coming out of the deck rather quickly. This is how I’m interpreting it.

Knight of Cups, a card of good news, excitement, and hope. It is the card that-when I asked-Lord Apollon assigned to me, and upon telling my kids, they agreed. I see this card as a direct calling to me. It being the first card I pulled, I felt the weight of it immediately.

Ace of Wands and Four of Pentacles, two cards that couldn’t feel much different. New beginnings, talent, enthusiasm, being met with holding on, needing to process and let go. In my deck, the imagery for these two cards show both figures reaching upwards, facing each other, as if clawing, grasping for the same thing. Both desperate to take over. New beginnings colliding with an obstruction. Two powers tugging and pulling, dragging one way or another.

Two of Pentacles and Ten of Cups, improvement. Balance, fulfillment. Learning what decisions you should go for, things falling into place. A transition. Two of Pentacles aiming towards the Ten of Cups, the way that you are supposed to be moving. Prospects of the future.

And finally, Death. Death stares straight at the reader. A demand for change. The reader is going to go through change. It may hurt, it may be uncomfortable, but there is change.

So…what does it all mean?

To me, it’s a predicted timeline. It shows a series of events for my journey. I started being enthusiastic, ecstatic. I loved the idea of training under Lord Apollon, amazed that I would be picked. Yet for some reason, I stalled. Something was holding me back. While yes, it could’ve absolutely been grief and mental health, which weren’t the best during May, there’s something more behind it. A fear, a self-consciousness. Why me? What on earth could I do? What did I do to gain the attention of a god? To add onto it, I think a fear of…not wanting to disappoint my friends came in. My kids, they’re so supportive and amazing, I’ve watched them through the majority of their oathsworn journeys. Then here I was, fresh at the start. Which is nothing against them, as I know they’re going to read this, but I think it’s the truth? Writing this, I still want to say sorry. Sorry for…maybe disappointing whatever expectations you may have had of me.

Things should get better though, I’m stepping up and trying again, I promise. I’m taking the time, taking notes. Starting from the top and making sure I digest what I’m reading. I can’t remember all the names and stories, but the concepts are filling in.

If you read this far, thank you. I hope my next entry will be more uplifting, but it feels important to get this out there, for some reason. Bye everyone, until next time!

#hellenic polytheism #helpol #hellenic polythiest #hellenic paganism

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seasaltdevotion · 9 days ago

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I don’t think there’s much else I need to add: they’ve put it wonderfully.

Your practice is always going to be enough.

The thing with offerings is that they are what you can offer do not offer what you cannot. Do not offer things that you need to survive. Live first. The Theoi understand that. Your practice is enough.

Let's chat.

This is a bit different from my usual posts, however, I've been noticing this more and more in the HelPol community as I exist on this platform and it's been pissing me off.

The rise of elitism in this space is absolutely abhorrent. It is classist. It is making the religion inaccessible. Have we forgotten that this was a religion observed by people of various class statuses in Antiquity? Have we forgotten that people made do with what they had? We no longer have large community spaces to give large group offerings full of music, life, and festivities. If you have one of these communities, that's great for you. However, not everyone does. Not everyone does, not everyone is safe to practice out in the open. People have to prioritize themselves and their safety before they devote themselves entirely to the Theoi. I feel as though this has been forgotten.

There are people who are new to this community and religion asking for advice and being told that they have to set up an altar and build a shrine and that they can only give x y z offering. Some practitioners are closeted, with unforgiving families. Some practitioners are simply surviving, praying to the Gods for basic necessities. Some practitioners don't have the time to give bigger offerings. By telling people that, in order to be a good and pious practitioner, you need to give such material things is damaging to our community. I started my practice simply by praying. I prayed, I thought of them, I taught myself new skills in their honor and carried myself in their image. There is no reason why people should feel inadequate simply because they are poor.

Have we forgotten that history is written by those who were fortunate? The well-recorded portions of our history are written from the perspective of rich, successful, and flourishing locations. Simply put, it is biased. There is a clear and obvious bias towards those who had the money to put towards their religion. And it seems as though, in our modern age, those who have money are attempting to pull the spotlight towards them. They are attempting to flaunt and show off the fact that they can afford to consistently offer the Gods things. They can afford showy shrines and altars and great displays of piety. Not everyone is privileged enough for this. Not everyone has groups in person that they can celebrate festivities with. I know that I certainly do not have a group in person that I can celebrate with. My group is online. Does that make me any less of a practitioner and Priest for worshipping amd serving an online community? I think not.

To enforce this narrative that you need to have a materialistic approach to the religion is inherently classist. In this regard, I don't quite care what the historical accounts say. If you have to decide between an act of piety and having dinner, there is a clear answer. Thank your Gods for that dinner. Let this be your act of piety.

I am sick and tired of people entering this religion feeling as though they are stepping on eggshells and need express permission to experiment because of the chronic policing of Religion on this app. Don't get me wrong, I am beyond happy to help. But my answers and methods are not gospel. No one has the cheat code to this religion. No one can tell you what is right and what is wrong.

In modern times, this practice is not materialistic. If that is how you practice, then fine, but do not go around telling people that this practice requires material offerings. The Theoi accept offerings in any format that you give. Whether that is a digital collage, a physical libation, or a simple thank you for their domains. Worshipping the Theoi should not leave you without a meal. To believe such pushes classist narratives that I am sick of seeing. Practice how you wish to practice. You do not need anyone's permission. Find things that work for you. And do not be afraid to be wrong. That is how we grow.

And to the people policing people's practice, here are some Delphic Maxims I suggest you review.

012 - If you are a stranger, act like one. 034 - Shun what belongs to others. 056 - Look down on no one. 082 - Restrain the tongue.

Xaire, Altis.

#helpol #hellenic polytheism #hellenic deities #hellenic polythiest #hellenic polytheistic #hellenic worship #pagan #hellenic pagan

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seasaltdevotion · 9 days ago

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Look wise I’ve been told I look like a middle schooler, I’m 18. However, when talking online I’ve had a lot of people assume I’m 21 even back when I was 14 I had people tell me they thought I was much older.

Just testing something. Fellow Apollon devotees: do you often get told that you look much younger than you are? I, for one, have heard “You’re 21??? I thought you were 12!!” too many times.

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seasaltdevotion · 11 days ago

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happy pride everyone!!!! ik im late to the game, but here’s a couple reminders:

1. The gods aren’t straight, and they definitely don’t care if you aren’t.

2. If you’re a homophobic HelPol, you aren’t HelPol

3. Pride can be a devotional activity, devote your joy, strength, and resilience.

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seasaltdevotion · 11 days ago

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@altis-of-olympia @edensvessel @whispersoftheharvest @wingsofaphrodite @the-banks-of-lethe

I love these ppl very dearly

reblog if you've made a good friend on tumblr.

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seasaltdevotion · 12 days ago

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Honestly this gives a very Beelzebub vibe to it. A big thing with him for me visually during meditation is the bug infestation of rotting animals and such. Sometimes in a gory way, but also as a symbol of change, rebirth and life. Everything comes full circle.

#Beelzebub #Beelzebub deity #demonolatry #lord beelzebub #prince Beelzebub

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seasaltdevotion · 12 days ago

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Godspousal and my practice

Godspousal is a topic I covered very frequently on my old blog, Light of Delphi. This was back when I was fully devoted to Lord Apollon, before I was taken under King Zeus’s wing and served Him. However, just because my path has shifted does not mean I am no longer spoused to Him - in fact, the whole reason I didn’t talk about it on this blog was due to fear of backlash or being told that I was making things up in my head. However, to combat the stigma surrounding godspousal, it’s important to talk about it. So here I am, talking about it.

Any hate will not be tolerated and will result in a block.

Godspousal is going to be a different experience for everyone. I could talk for hours about the different aspects of Godspousal, but for now, I will focus on my own experiences with it. In my experience, it’s something beautiful.

Two years ago, I solidified my godspousal with Lord Apollon. You could equate this to getting married. There wasn’t much of a ceremony because I was in a home where my practice was closeted, but I plan on having a little ceremony this year because I have the means to do so! What I plan on doing is having a little ritual to celebrate our two years together, involving music, meditation, baking, and spending time out in the sun.

I consider myself mostly connected to His arts, music, and oracular aspects, though I cherish the darker parts of Him as well. But because of my connection to His warmer parts, He feels a lot more distant during the colder months. During this time, I do find myself mourning His presence. It is during this time that I will rely on devotional jewelry and the arts to keep Him with me.

Once it gets warmer out, however, I am at the top of my game! My Spring Semester grades are always better than the Fall, my motivation increases ten fold, and I generally just feel more alive. This didn’t happen as intensely before my Godspousal. Lord Apollon feels much closer during the warmer months, especially during the summer. I associate Him with Cancer and Leo because of this.

But before I continue, what exactly is Godspousal?

What is Godspousal?

The concept of Godspousal does exist in other religions. I have seen people compare being a Nun to Godspousal, which, in my opinion, is a bit of a stretch, but does make sense. There are no explicit ties to Hellenic Polytheism, though. Because of this, a lot of recon HelPols may stray away from it or shun it as a whole (though, its mostly elitists who do the latter). Godspousal is essentially when one takes a vow or makes an oath to dedicate oneself to a God for however long. Typically, it’s the rest of their life, or for this life and the next. It varies from practitioner to practitioner.

I find Hellenic ties to Godspousal in myths. When Lord Apollon finds a mortal lover like Hyacinthus or Cyprus, I see godspousal. When Lord Dionysos fell in love with Ariadne, I see godspousal. When King Zeus fell in love with Ganymede, I see Godspousal. Especially in the way that Ganymede then served King Zeus as a cupbearer. These aren’t explicitly Godspousal relationships, but I choose to interpret them as such. My interpretation does not make it fact, it just means that I feel more comfortable in my own relationship with Lord Apollon because of it.

One can be a godspouse in a variety of ways. It can be familial, it can be queerplatonic, or just platonic, or it can be romantic. I like to call it a lifetime devotion that isn’t Priesthood. Not everyone wants to be a Priest, so they may choose Godspousal in its stead.

I only have experience with romantic godspousal, though. And I’ve found it to be a very rewarding experience. While no, I will not claim that Lord Apollon comes and sits beside me and we watch movies together, I will say that we spend time together. I feel His presence often, especially when I am engaging in mundane activities. That's how I know He's there and wants to spend time with me. I spend time with Him, physically in meditations and dreams. Recently, it's mostly been meditations, as I haven't been remembering my dreams.

In meditations, we have our space. It's personal to me, so I won't share it. But that is where the majority of our time together is spent. That is where the physicality of our relationship comes in. Sometimes, I will say “just cuddled with my Godspouse,” but I really mean I laid in the sun and felt His loving warmth. That is different from my meditations. If people are interested, and if Lord Apollon consents, I can always make a little series about some of our moments together. But that's off topic.

Godspousal and my Practice

Lord Apollon has been a major help in my practice. He has always been in my life. From the very start. I took up music, acting, dance, I did archery, and it only made sense that Lord Apollon showed up in my life. I was 10 when He made Himself known to me. From there, our bond has only gotten stronger.

He taught me everything I know about divination and encouraged me to branch out. Try new things. I moved from tarot to pendulums, pendulums to oracle cards, and developed my clairaudience under His guidance. He taught me that offerings don't always have to be things, they can be actions. Through other people, He gifted me tarot cards and oracle decks that I still use to this day. He helped me learn how to trust my intuition and gut. Lord Apollon has been my teacher since the start of my practice.

Three years ago, though, Lord Apollon used to drop hints towards Godspousal. I was finding a lot more information about it on my feed, people would talk to me about it, and I’d meet a lot more people who were godspoused to different deities. It was becoming far more prominent in my life, and my readings continued to allude toward a romantic relationship in coming, which was… odd. I was already in a committed relationship, I didn’t quite know what it meant. That was, until I saw a video from another creator explaining Godspousal in its entirety.

I asked Lord Apollon right after if He had been asking me to be His Godspouse. To court Him. He said yes. This led to a roughly year-long process of us getting closer, finding the boundaries in our relationship, and settling into what we have now. Two years ago, we made it “official” sometime in June. I forgot to write the date down, so we ended up attributing the Summer Solstice to our anniversary.

Lord Apollon plays a major role in my practice, even more so now, with some things I will be announcing soon. He has led my hand in divination since I started. He has patiently guided me along my path and has kept me from falling too badly. And now, He comforts me when I’m alone. He praises me when I’m happy. When I bathe in the sun, I feel enveloped in warmth and love. He is always there, now. This means that, in my practice, He has a very heavy influence in my actions. Even before I became a Priest for King Zeus, I asked Lord Apollon for His approval. I double checked everything with Him, I asked Him countless times if the path I was walking was right. It feels almost like I’m learning how to ride a bike, and He’s let go of the handlebars and is letting me find my balance, but He’s still there. He’s always there, in case I fall. He is a lover to me, more than anything.

Questions

“Probably a simple ask but what does it feel like? How do you know? Is it very meditation and intuition based or sign based or otherwise?”

It feels like joy. It feels like care, appreciation, warmth. Though every bond is bound to be different. My bond with Lord Apollon may be different from someone else’s bond with Lord Apollon. I am more attached to His art, light, and divinatory aspects. Someone else may be spoused to His darker aspects, it truly depends on the bond. He gave me signs that I was quite blind to, but the signs will typically do the trick. If you’re paying attention, you’ll see them. And if not, well, they’ll get significantly more blunt.

“I'm interested in knowing how you balance godspousal with everything else in your life!”

Godspousal plays a role in… most of my life. I am never not thinking about Lord Apollon. The biggest balance point comes into play with my physical romantic relationships. My partner is fully aware of my Godspousal, always has been. He thinks it’s adorable. In the past, he has said he hopes to show me the physical love that Lord Apollon may not be able to. And truly, he’s quite good at it. But I don’t typically struggle to balance things; it’s really just a matter of knowing when to disconnect myself from the divine or my relationship with Him.

“How did you know it was right for you? Do you have any advice for those who are considering it?”

I knew it was right for me because it was something I thought about often. I thought it out, I considered it heavily, and I did research on it. The majority of your research will be through devotional blogs and similar things, personal WordPress blogs, etc. You have to take everything with a grain of salt. And I mean this specifically for Godspousal through a Hellenic Polytheistic lens, not generally. You can then draw your own conclusions and form your own opinions on Godspousal based on the UPG you find and the dynamics you see. But please think about it before you act - you shouldn’t run into it blindly.

“Can you have a friends with benefits type relationship with your deities or is that illegal”

Well, I wouldn’t call it Illegal. It isn’t a bond I’ve had - in my own personal opinion, sex with a God isn’t quite something one can do, at least not on the physical plane. It would be a discussion of boundaries and dynamics between you and the God you are spoused to. I am also not the authority on Godspousal. If you so choose to have this kind of relationship, so be it, but I am not personally sure how one would maintain a relationship like this with a God.

“I have a question. How does one start godspusal? I'm just curious. Is it like, "hey, let's get married", or does it just gradually develop with the kharis IF you want to? Also, what are the consequences of ending it, if there are? Like, suddenly stopping.”

Communication is my answer! Communicating with the God you would like to spouse. I typically operate under the idea that the God should be the one to approach you about Spousal, not the other way around, though there is no reason why you can’t. It’s just a me thing, I suppose. But communication will be your best friend. For me, it gradually developed and moved in that direction. If you end it, I don’t see why there would be consequences? If you find that it isn’t for you, communicate with your God. Every relationship will be different.

I truly hope this post was informational! Please feel free to ask me further questions - I love discussing Godspousal with others. My love for Lord Apollon is bright and fiery. Sharing this love makes me happy. Xaire, Altis.

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seasaltdevotion · 12 days ago

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There’s actually no reason for you to be *required* to utilize or have physical offerings or even alters. The gods are here for those with unstable finances, they are here for the closeted practitioners.

The gods are gracious and kind. They understand your situation. Do not allow your lack of funds or your struggles make you feel as though you are lesser in your worship. Even the disabled.

As someone who is a soon to be college student living off of minimum wage with no parental assistance, it’s difficult to consistently offer physical items. As a closeted Helpol it is difficult to have a consistent altar let alone multiple. As a practitioner with divorced parents it’s difficult to continuously utilize the same alter or keep many things consistent. As a disabled practitioner sometimes it’s difficult to get up let alone create or work for more offerings.

However, the gods do not hate me for this. Nor do they hate you. You can still be a Hellenic polytheist and have struggled. You do not need to be wealthy or better off to practice. You do not need physical offerings if you cannot provide it.

Do not allow someone to tell you your practice is lesser than because of your uncontrollable circumstances.

Your practice is enough.

The gods understand that. You’re human. Struggles are real and that does not make you lesser.

Your practice is enough.

Ok, we need to talk.

TW for heavy undertones of classism and ableism.

Recently I've seen this growing sentiment online that really concerns me. This being the idea that your worship needs to be materialistic.

Handmade offerings, baked goods, art, all of these things are fantastic offerings, but simply not doable for everyone.

We live in a capitalist society where the middle class virtually no longer exists. Most of us on this website are younger as well, meaning that we've been hit hardest by things like the current recession. These things are important to keep in mind.

Societies all throughout time have gone through changes with their customs, their religion, and their worship, for the simple fact that humans adapt. Hellenic Polytheism was virtually snuffed out entirely at one point and has only relatively recently come back into a slightly more mainstream light. We have no historical records to look at how the religion may have changed over time the way we can look at Christianity and see the same.

That being said, to adapt for your time is natural. It is human. A lot of us, if we had to give only physical offerings, simply would not be able to be HelPols, because of disability, financial status, hidden practice, etc. We just don't have examples of this in recent times.

And that's not to say you shouldn't try to give physical offerings when you can. Even just water is a good offering. But as I said before, that isn't doable for everyone for a vast multiple of reasons. That does not make you a bad worshipper. Your practice is your own.

An altar can be a Minecraft world if you need it to be. It can be a tin, your altar can be the outside world. You do not need a shrine with fancy gifts. Your altar can just be your favorite tree. It's okay. Your altar does not have to be covered in physical things, or have any at all. You don't need a permanent one at all. An altar is a place of offerings. Having a permanent altar is a massive privilege.

I'm also a very firm believer in the idea that devotional activities are good offerings. Things like cleaning up the earth, volunteering, just being a good and kind person, these things that serve the domains of the gods especially. If you are improving the world around you, you are bringing glory to the gods. Argue with the wall tbh, because if you have a problem with people making the world a better place for the love of the gods,I deadass can't help you. To offer improvement to the world we live in is one of the best things you as a worshipper or as a human being can do. Especially in these hard times we live in.

Also come on, let's think about this critically.

Most of the records of altars, festivals, rituals, etc, come from historically wealthy and well-off cities, like Sparta and Athens.What do y'all think poorer people, especially in less wealthy areas, didn't have to adapt their own worship and altars and practices accordingly?

The point of this faith is honouring the Gods and living our lives to do right by them, not trying to act as an ancient Athenian. You can do it if you want to, but you shouldn't enforce your own practice onto others. That's called evangelicalism, and there are plenty of churches that would love that kind of energy that are literally BEGGING for new members.

Times change. Religion changes. People adapt because of their circumstances, and that genuinely shouldn't be a problem to anybody. It is not only for the sake of money, it is for the sake of accessibility. Your worship should not put you in danger of being in debt or missing a meal. Your worship should not put you in danger of flaring up or pushing yourself. Anyone who tells you something contrary to either of those is simply not worth listening to. Nobody worth listening to will tell you to put yourself in harms way.

#hellenic polytheism #helpol #hellenic polythiest #ableism #classism #you are loved #you are enough

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