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shrine-of-the-theoi · 2 months ago

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Miasma- A Deviation from Devotion.

Key:-

spiritual or moral defilement

translation: "pollution" or "stain"

deeply ingrained in both Greek philosophical and religious thought with the implementations ranging from individual guilt to contamination of entire families or cities.

a contagious power that has a life of its own and clogs the mind, diverting it from devotion.

from Oedipus Rex- plague is a result of religious pollution and that God Apollo requests the people of Thebes to exile the previously unknown miasma- a sense of moral noxious pollution. [1]

.°. Miasma isn't just physical dirt but spiritual and moral contamination. Acts of violence particularly murder we're considered a major source of miasma but it could also arise from transgression against divine law or even the Gods themselves, hubris, and intended disruption to social norms and causing disbalance to the natural order of the cosmos. It can also be summed up as emotions such as hatred, rage, anguish, disrespect, arrogance or anything that clouds one's judgement causing dehumanisation. [2]

Now, apart from this, bodily fluids are miasmic. Now I had to undergo a HUGE LOAD of research as to why are these excretions miasmic. And I think what I found isn't a solid definite doctrine but much of a logical explanation. However, I won't be discussing about the cleansing of miasma in much detail here. [3]

We maybe aware that Hellenism doesn't have a set of definitive rules or doctrines as is the case for Abrahamic religions. Therefore there isn't much from which infos can be gathered. Also Hellenism is free from the concept of "sin" as is prevalent in Christianity (no offence intended). And to incur the wrath of the Gods is actually a rarity well unless ofc one has committed grave crimes like murder or SA or any kind of violence that is harmful for the society. That and in other cases hubris, are situations in which the Gods will be actually angry and the person then may have to face miasma resulting from heavenly wrath which we can term as Agos- extreme case of moral corruption. [4]

Therefore we can come to the conclusion from this that miasma isn't something which has been rebuked by the Gods because it's a sin, but it is something which tends to clog our sound mind and deviate us from the path of devotion and leads us to a immoral path. The Gods are aware that in a lifetime of a human, one is bound to accumulate miasma because we're not perfect like Them. And that is why They do not condemn it as a "sin". [5]

Miasma that arises from mourning/ grieving

Think of this as visiting the hospital (unless ofc it's your daily profession cuz NO the Gods don't consider that as miasmic cuz well, first- a person's livelihood is something which is to be held in high regards and the Gods are understanding and won't mix up professional lives of their devotees with the intention and devotion that lies within them. Second, there is a hole line of Gods associated with healing so nope hospital personnels aren't miasmic). Anyways, coming back, in a hospital when we visit maybe some near and dear, our minds are torn between worries for the future and wellbeing of our loved ones. We might at times feel helpless or hopeless - THIS ....this feeling of hopelessness, melancholy or grieving is the miasma. So does that mean we shouldn't pray to the Gods for the wellbeing of our family and relatives? No. Absolutely not! ONE. CAN. PRAY. DESPITE. THE. CIRCUMSTANCES. Because the Gods are equally ears to the prayers of a person in hospital as well as the one in a shrine. [6]

Now say suppose you come back from the hospital. General instinct is, to wash your hands and feet and change into fresh clothes to avoid getting any sort of infection. It's all a matter of cleanliness. Ofc a nurse who's changed the diapers of an elderly patient or a baby, won't go about worshipping Lord Apollo with unwashed hands. Remember, whatever brings an "ew" from within yourself, isn't definitely how you should be approaching the Gods. So won't the nurse have to change their clothes? No!! BECAUSE. THE. GODS. UNDERSTAND. [7]

Same is the case for graveyard miasma. Now for this, I'll resort to what witchcraft has taught me. We, leave a bit of our presence everywhere we go. Suppose one visits the grave of a loved one. Ofc the person mourns their loss. On their way back, some residual energy still remains. That's the Miasma of the graveyard which often clings to us AND no matter what anyone says, anyone who visits the graveyard, be it to visit or just without a reason is BOUND to feel a subtle melancholy from being present their. Better to cleanse to remove this SPIRITUAL miasma. Scientifically, you SHOULD wash your hands and all after visiting cemetery or a graveyard. [8]

Now you may come across the fact that mourning the loss of someone is miasmic. And yes it is. For this I'd draw reference from the 5th paragraph of this post. When mourning, it is obvious that what goes through our minds are memories and moments spent with the late member/ pet. Ofc our mind isn't in the place to pray. By and by as we're a bit stabilised out of the grieving, we maybe/ may not splash some water on our faces to drown the tears. And gradually console ourselves AND THEN pray to the Gods for their safe after life. This I'll say this again- MIASMA IS SOMETHING WHICH DEVIATES OUR MIND FROM THE GODS. [9]

Miasma- the dirt.

Think of it like you being a host of your guests at your house. Say suppose you're working in your garden and your guests arrive. What do you do first? You get in, wash your hands and offer them refreshments. Now another day say suppose you're stacking the dried dishes on the wrack and some relative stops by. First instinct tells us to offer them the refreshments. Its just about cleanliness. When you feel like maybe some dust or something has actually made your hands dirty or soiled and from within you feel like it's better not to pray or give offerings to the Gods, listen to yourself then. [10]

How are bodily fluids miasmic?

Let's say, we're in an urgent need to pee/poop. As soon as we find a restroom, we rush in and relieve ourselves. Ofc at that moment, the Gods aren't the primary thoughts in our brain but a rather huff of contentment. Secondly, imagine not washing your hands after that but proceeding to pop a chicken nuggets in. Disgusting, right? So if it is disgusting for us humans, why would it EVER be okay to worship the Gods like that. Please wash your hands then. [11]

Next, let's say we trip on a pebble and fall, a result of which, our elbow is scratches and bruised and it burns as well. What do we do? We get some water and wash the blood and dirt off and wait for it to heal. Here the blood but rather the PAIN is miasmic cuz when in pain, majority of our consciousness is focused solely on the PAIN no matter how much "Oh Gods" we spell. That is why we wait for the blood to stop and in a deeper sense, for the pain to fade a little before we can pray for the wound to heal. Think of scorching summer heat. One is irritated to even think especially near the tropics and equator. While one may pray to the Gods for a relieving downpour, it's evident that we sweat. And ofcourse after coming home a shower sounds nice after the sweat and dirt. Thus sweat is miasmic too because while we swipe off our sweat with a napkin, the irritation from the mere fact that we're sweating remains. [12]

Next, childbirth. Yes that's miasmic. Then again the reason is the same. PAIN which keeps a lot of the woman's conscious focus to itself. Believe it, a few days after childbirth, a mother looks and feels like she's been through havoc. And not in the physical, emotional or any condition to be offering to the Gods. But does that mean a mother of two days can't pray to the Gods for the wellbeing of herself and her child? NO!! OFC NOT!! Provided she has the strength to pray and feel the grace of the Gods, which, without saying is always present on each one of us. [13]

Now now, the big issue- menstruation. In ancient Greece, men were scared to shit because who even stays alive after bleeding for seven days straight. That's the result they considered the very natural phenomenon as miasmic and a disruption of order of natural law. Today, I'd say miasma of menstruation lies in the excruciating pain that is felt. Nothing else. It's simply the pain and as someone who has to deal with it for two days straight every month, I don't even feel like opening my eyes and come back to my senses, let alone praying. [14]

Lastly, is sex miasmic? Yes it is ...cuz...the couple would rather prefer basking in the afterglow rather than praying and also... WHY WILL ONE PRAY TO A GOD WITH UNWASHED HANDS AFTER THE ORDEAL? IT'S DISGUSTING. Thirdly, you'll ofc want to bring Lady Aphrodite in this scenario cuz of obvious reasons and so I'll tell you for the love of my Lady. You can dedicate the immediate feeling of pleasure to the lady provided that's what you're associating Her with. But please don't stay under the miscommunication that it's okay to make offerings or praying without a clean up session. [15]

So what about animal sacrifice?

It was considered a part of Xenia in Hellenism. Red meat in ancient Greece was available to the rich and sophisticated. So ofc these sacrifices were made by a selected section of the society. Now if suppose you're someone sophisticated and decide to do the act in a shrine, by doing so you're actually letting the ones who can't afford red meat, get their hands on it. So that's community service and not miasmic. BUT THAT DOESN'T PROMOTE INTENTIONAL ANIMAL SLAUGHTER OR MALICE TOWARDS INNOCENT ANIMALS. [16]

Are tears miasmic?

Well sometimes it is. Sometimes not. See crying to Gods can't be miasmic in any sense. We can cry in the embrace of Gods. But that should be purely to take the pain off. Crying and then wishing bad to the cause which hurt us- that is miasmic. Similarly when we're extremely elated and happy and feel like crying to the Gods and thank them- that's not miasmic. But say suppose while worshipping, somewhere in your mind, you go like "Damn I must tell (some person) real quick" that's miasmic. Ofc the Gods won't be mad if you cry your eyes and hearts out to them. [17]

Yes we can worship the Gods in cars, trains, buses, on the bed before going to sleep provided we're completely and utterly pulled to it. On the bed, let's say we're praying to Lord Hypnos for a peaceful sleep and Lady Athena for a good day ahead when we wake up but in the back of the mind, we're worried about pending assignments, how many hours of sleep well actually get, or are in a rush to sleep. That's not how it works. We can ofc pray to the Gods in a car or train but if at the back of our mind we're occupied with thoughts which keeps tugging at us while we pray- that's miasmic. Deviation from devotion is the actual miasma and it has always been. It clouds our judgement, clogs our sane mind, imbibes hubris, holds us back from embracing the grace of Gods on an extreme level. [18]

And this is where I've ended my research on miasma. Hope this post helps anyone who's looking up on the topic. Thanks to Lady Athena and Lord Hermes for helping me dig up infos and related my understanding with the facts. May Lord Hypnos now bless all of us with a peaceful rest. Khaire. All credits to the sources where I've stumbled across the facts and infos. [19]

#hellenic polytheism #helpol #hellenism #hellenic devotion #hellenic polythiest #hellenic #hellenic community #miasma #digging #information #research #religion

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