starry-lis

[starry-lis]

[grabs your shirt] listen. listen to me. the practical is holy. the everyday is sacred. the simple act of surviving is divine. do you get it? sanctity begins at home, in the hands that build and the lives we live and the deaths we die and the worms that eat our bodies. if making something by hand is not worthy of veneration then nothing is.

[starry-lis]

Cute cakes appreciation post

[starry-lis]

Currently diving deeper into different stuff, the esoteric path is calling me...I don't know what else to say. The Greek pantheon is another element that I'll incorporate into my lifestyle, after all I still love the gods, I love Aphrodite so much, she's been a friend, a guide, a mom...Apollo too, he's the calm in my storms...

I'm sure they'll keep me company in the next steps of my journey

[starry-lis]

It's been a while since I last stopped on this blog of mine, things have happened, some good, some bad. I've definitely grown as a person...

[starry-lis]

That post said it exactly how I feel about fandomization of Greek mythology and beliefs in particular. There's a really popular youtuber that does very simple animations of Greek myths and they always memeify and simplify it to the point where it borders on mockery

It feels like people purposefully forget these are ANCIENT CULTURES and not ya novels. If you relate to Persephone that's fine and good, but show respect and understanding for a goddess that's thousands of years old, she's not your self insert blorbo or any of that lore Olympus garbage.

All that shit reduces ancient beliefs of real, human peoples to cheap fanfic fodder. Like, PLEASE see it as more than that, because it is more than that.

[starry-lis]

Relaxing 🌊💙

[starry-lis]

Hello dear ^^

Hum- I'd like to start worshipping the Hellenic gods, and I'm doing as much researches as possible. This also includes asking ppl their experiences/tips/informations etc.

I just stumbled across your blog and I rlly like it!

And- If u don't mind I'd like to ask u some tips/informations for beginners ^^

Have a great day! ^^

hi!! thanks for asking me :]

some tips for beginners looking into hellenic polytheism and worship:

— research historical context.

look into how they worshipped historically, the principles they applied, especially about the specific deities you’re interested in. terminology, ideology, all that stuff. of course, you cant forget your own cultural context and where you live today; some ancient practices are inaccessible now.

— alongside historical context, don’t feel pressured to worship exactly like they did.

your worship may be way more casual than was historically appropriate. some practitioners i know have religious trauma and they can’t call their gods “Lord” or “Lady”. others do. some call their deities “Father,” “Dad,” “Mother,” “Momma,” etc. i call Hera Lady Hera or Momma/Mother Hera. i dont often do long rituals of worship (although i would like to), instead i talk to my deities before i go to bed casually and offer them my meals.

— don’t overthink.

easier said than done, i know! but i know a lot of newer hellenic polytheists get caught up in the “is this offensive? will they be angry? will they hate me?” and in my experience, they rarely get angry. the Gods are so forgiving and kind and understanding; just explain yourself, and they will likely be okay.

— theoi.com is lovely.

it has so much information and links to other sources! it has symbols, family relationships, types of gods, hymns, stories, all of which are super helpful if you’re looking into a deity.

— you do not have to wait for a god to reach out in order to worship them.

you can choose to worship any deity! Olympian or otherwise. you also do not have to worship them in depth to speak with them; i didnt worship or speak to hermes at all, but ive started asking for his guidance when i drive to keep myself safe and smart.

here’s a post i made that talks abt casual ways to worship, it may help give you ideas!

other blogs im friends with/like for hellenism posts:

- @khairehestia

- @crimsondawnsdevotionals

- @hyacinthuspetals

- @devoted-to-the-gods

any blogs feel free to reblog or reply with more tips!!

[starry-lis]

What is a nymph?*

If the female under discussion is not a well recognized goddess, one must decide whether to refer to her as a mortal woman (that is, a heroine), as a nymph, or as a member of some other group. It is, of course, made more tricky by the ambiguity of the term numphê, which can refer not only to the minor female divinities of the wild places but also to any nubile woman or, more commonly, to a bride. Occasionally, a numphê may be a mature, even matronly woman. When applied to a mortal woman, the term points to her status as a sexual being.

Below are enumerated the main criteria of the distinction between heroine and nymph.

Terminology used by ancient sources. Surprisingly often, the Greek sources take the trouble to identify nymphs. More often, the terms naiad and nymph are juxtaposed in order to make the sense unmistakable. 

Parentage. Nymphs are described with great frequency as the daughter of Zeus, of Ge, or of various river gods. Acheloös often figures as the father. Heroines, on the other hand, are normally the daughters of heroes. There are exceptions.

Mortality and death narrative. While the ultimate mortality of nymphs was debated among ancient authors, it was clear to the ancient that they enjoyed a superhuman lifespan far outstripping that of mortal men and women. Heroines were all too easily killed. The emphasis on their death is complemented by the focus of heroic cults at what were believed to be the tombs of the heroes and heroines. 

Gender restrictions and vulnerability to mortal men. The nymph is a highly ambiguous figure. Though sexually desirable, she is usually free of familial restrictions applied to mortal women and can rarely be fully domesticated. They may be sexually promiscuous, and they often act as the aggressors in ephemeral affairs with mortals. Sometimes these could be deadly to the male. Unlike nymphs, mythological heroines who indulged in promiscuity or violence are usually punished in one fashion or another. Moreover, their narrative often emphasizes their passive availability to men’s use and their vulnerability to male violence. 

Role in heroin genealogies and narrative flexibility. The nymph often played a role in local genealogies as the earliest, autochthonous ancestor and provided a link to and an implicit claim upon the land and its resources. This is in contrast to heroines, who may be virgins, wives, or crones, admirable or villainous, and who play detailed roles in the local myths. 

Associations with a water source. Nymphs regularly personify and inhabit springs, rivers, and lakes. One of their main mythic and cultic functions is to provide fresh water. 

Special functions in relation to gods. While the cult of heroines usually exist within a familial context, so that they are worshipped in conjunction with a husband or son, nymphs are associated with Hermes, Apollo, Pan, the river god Acheloös, and other deities. Their cult organization isn’t analogous to the family but to the relationship between a god and their thiasos or the chorus leader and chorus. 

Cultic functions. Comparison here reveals some overlap. The main area of overlap encompasses human fertility, childbirth, and childcare. This kourotrophic function can be further divided into concern for young children and for those approaching adulthood, a group of special interest to the community as future warriors and fertile wives. The participation of nymphs at each stage of this process is well-documented. Heroines may play a similar role, especially when concerns are given a civic focus. There are some divergences. Nymphs, because of their associations with springs, are often healing deities. Though there are several examples of heroes who heal, there is little evidence for heroine healers; this gap can correspond to the societal restraints on female physicians. Another area that nymphs normally don’t share with heroines is that of inspiration, and to a lesser extent, divination. 

Physical setting and significance of cult spaces. Heroines’ tombs and shrines, like those of heroes, tend to be strategically located in central spots within the city walls. Sometimes, they are literally focal points of the city. The cult places of nymphs, on the other hand, are as a rule associated with natural features: rivers, caves, and springs. Many, if not most, are rural. Exceptions abound, however. Both nymphs and heroines contribute to the community’s sense of itself in history. Heroines, on the other hand, are more likely to have civic functions of little concern to the nymph (political concern, for example). 

Objects commemorating cult. Two votive reliefs with well-developed iconography can be compared: one for heroines and one for nymphs. Sculptural conventions oppose the domestic setting of a banquet for heroic figures with natural settings in caves for nymphs, and familial relationships with “choric” ones. 

Other narrative or cultic motifs. Satyrs or silens, herding and pastoralism, caves, trees, bees, and honey are all common motifs in the myths and cult of nymphs.

None of these criteria should be employed alone or applied too rigidly, but taken as a whole they can provide a workable method for us to distinguish nymphs from heroines as well as from various minor goddesses, and they indicate that the Greeks generally did the same. Of course, there are hybrid cases of female figures who exhibit some characteristics of both nymph and heroine; there is no use attempting to force such individuals into one category or the other. 

*Source: Greek Nymphs: Myth, Cult, Lore, by Jennifer Larson, ch. 1.1

[starry-lis]

Zuhair Murad ‘Les Arts Divinatoires’ Fall 2022 Haute Couture Collection

[starry-lis]

what you don't get is science exists because people can love. medicine exists because people love each other enough to want each other to live long healthy lives. astronomy exists because someone loved the stars and the planets enough to track them through their ever changing position in the darkest night. science exists because humans are curious little creatures and we want to know the world around us and understand it like it does us. we know stars and planets worlds away, we've sent cameras worlds away, all because we love the universe, and we also put love in those satellites!! we sent the sound of a 100 languages, lovely messages, the sound of rain and a laugh, all out there just in case there's someone in the universe looking for us like we do them, and so that they know that they were never alone, and we sent them the most simple loving things we could find.

science exists because people can love

[starry-lis]

The Iliad and the Odyssey were written down around 800 BCE, but the events they are describing supposedly happened around the 13th century BCE.

(Pause here and marvel for a moment at the idea of cultural memory of a great war persisting as an oral tradition for 500 years, morphing over the centuries from whatever real event may have been to the myth we know today.)

And then consider this- no one in the Iliad or the Odyssey are ever described as reading or writing anything.

Why?

Because the period of time between the fall of Mycenean civilization (which used linear B) in the 11th century BCE and when the Iliad and the Odyssey were written (in Ancient Greek) was a "dark age" where as far as we can tell, cities and palaces were abandoned, most trade routes collapsed, and written language was *completely lost*. It wasn't until about 800BCE that a totally new writing system had to be basically imported from the Phoenicians and adapted into ancient Greek.

Their whole culture just kind of collapsed for a few hundred years, preserving their stories through oral tradition for CENTURIES, until they scrapped together a totally different God damn alphabet to write with.

So none of the characters in the Iliad or the Odyssey can read because as far Homer knew, this whole writing thing was *pretty fucking new*

[starry-lis]

I have so many books I can use to start exploring Hellenic Polytheism, but I’m honestly not sure where to start. What do you suggest?

Mandatory disclaimer that this is only my suggestions, based upon my preferences, and that for some, this might already look like a lot. Anyway, for historical information, these, in priority:

Jennifer Larson, Ancient Greek Cults: a guide, Routledge, 2007

A very good introductory book organized into 15 chapters. The first goes over the main key concepts of ancient Greek religion, while the others are all about separate deities. You will find information there about Zeus, Hera, Athena, Poseidon, Demeter & Persephone, Apollo, Artemis, Aphrodite, Dionysus, Hermes, Pan & nature deities, Ares & Enyalios, Ge & Helios, Hephaistos, Hestia, the Graces, Eileithyia, Hekate, the Erinyes, as well as some Hellenistic and regional deities.

Robert Parker, On Greek Religion, Cornell University Press, 2011

It completes the former recommendation nicely as it focuses more key concepts of the religion. The preface alone contains explanations about the concept of kharis (reciprocity), the importance of locality, what ancient sanctuaries were, divine justice etc. You will find information about how worship was organized, about how sacrifice and festivals were carried out as well how to understand the diversity of religious experience in Greek religion.

Jennifer Larson, Understanding Greek Religion, Routledge, 2016

While still at an introductory level, this work by Larson goes more in-depth into important theological concepts. Key chapters and topics to consider learning from this book are the difference between the representation of Hera in myth and in cult, a more complete explanation of reciprocity in Greek religion, the concept of orthopraxy, amongst other things. This work also features an introduction to Greek religious mysteries and associated concepts. Once you begin reading about historical worship, you will most likely start having questions about how the fuck most of it can even be applicable today. For an example of modern methodology, complete with:

Christos Pandion Panopoulos & Panagiotis Panagiotopoulos & Erymanthos Armyras, Hellenic Polytheism: Household Worship, Labrys (self-published), 2014

Labrys is a religious group based in Athens and founded in 2008. Their book provides a good overview of what worship in the 21st century can look like. Emphasis on can, not should. It has flaws and they have taken some liberties on historicity which are good to know about, but otherwise, the book is fairly well-cited and places itself as a solid starting point.

[starry-lis]

looking for new witchy and/or hellenic polytheist blogs to follow!

my dashboard is very slow and im looking for some new people to follow (and maybe even become friends with?) 🤍 so please reblog or like this post if your blog is about:

Hellenic Polytheism

Hermes or Aphrodite (pls i need to follow more Hermes and Aphrodite blogs)

Witchcraft (especially Green Witchcraft or Herbalism, but really anything works)

Spirituality / Paganism

looking forward to meeting you 🤍

[starry-lis]

divination 👏🏼 is 👏🏼 for 👏🏼 ADVICE 👏🏼

[starry-lis]

Aphrodite is the sky- She’s the daughter of Ouranos, the primordial god of the sky, and she’s referred to as ‘Aphrodite Ourania’ meaning ‘The heavenly’

Aphrodite is the sea- Before coming to the shores of Cyprus she resided in depths of the ocean, her love story with Nerites takes place in her time living underwater. She’s also called ‘Anadyomene’ which means ‘The Goddess rising out of the sea’

Aphrodite is the earth- When she walks, flowers spring up from under her feet. She created the myrtle and red roses. She was worshipped in Cnossus as ‘Aphrodite Antheia’ which means ‘The blooming’ or ‘The friend of flowers’ and the most common offering to Aphrodite was flowers

Here’s a fragment of the Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite: “Muse, tell me the deeds of golden Cyprian Aphrodite, who stirs up sweet passion in the gods and subdues the tribes of mortal men and birds that fly in air and all the many creatures that the dry land rears, and all the sea”

[starry-lis]

Deepening your relationship with a deity (in Hellenic polytheism)

Sometimes basic ritualistic or casual worship forms are no longer enough for you. You just want to do more and strenghten your connection to a god.

If that’s you, here you have some tips:

Do what you were already doing, but more. Make your rituals more regular. If you engage in casual worship activities, continue. Or you can start, if you don’t. Make your devotion a part of your everyday life.

Pray using your own words. Talk to your deity, write letters if it fits you more, or do both. Not only praise them, but tell them about yourself, your life, your feelings and reflections. Make your prayers personal.

You can engage in contemplative activities. You don’t have to become a mystic and this is in no way required to have a beautiful, deep and meaningful relationship with a god. However, this is certainly one of the things that can bring you closer to them.

Pursue more serious study. Learn about your deity not only from tumblr and theoi.com - read academic books, articles, ancient texts about them. Just remember to compare things you read with eachother and pay attention to the sources. And to not forget about actually doing things practically.

Engage in activities connected with your deity. I mean activities that become regular part of your life, not one-time devotional acts (they’re nice and also can bring you closer to the gods, but they’re not the ones I talk about). You can for example learn/practice playing a musical instrument for Apollo, or pursue shadow work for Hekate.

Pursue ethical work. Work generally on your Arete, pay extra attention to the values connected with your deity. For example, you are devoted to Zeus, so you work to be as just, generous, honest and wise as you can, and you stand for justice. You can engage in special work connected with their values, like voluntary work or social activism.

[starry-lis]

I love memetic communication when it gets to the point of being incomprehensible because can you imagine showing someone this picture

And asking them what Greek god it represents