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I just found out one of my favorite AO3 authors of all time is a fucking neurosurgeon which was surprising initially just because I often forget AO3 writers are real people and not smut angels sent down from the heavens to make us feel alive, but in hindsight it makes perfect sense.

they are a fucking genius so. they just apply that genius to multiple fields.

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Crawling out of my cave to share this illustration of the "Virgin Goddesses" from Greek and Roman Mythology (Hestia/Vesta, Athena/Minerva, & Artemis/Diana)

Originally created for the @aspeczine!

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Lucifer Descending

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Mythic literalism's a big topic in online spaces, but not so much in physical ones. I figured I'd do my part and write about it.

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Having a deeply impactful spiritual moment as a Christian: "Yes, with the lighting and music and hundreds of people having strong emotions around me I can feel a true connection with God!"

Having a deeply impactful spiritual moment as a HelPol: "It is 2:35 in the afternoon on a workday what the FUCK how am I supposed to type while shaking"

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"...They call me Hermes, I'm your local psychopomp..." art print available some color process below!

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i regret nothing

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*doing a tarot card reading* uh oh… this guy has a sword… better watch out for that…

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I love the metaphysical community I'm in. I love the people, I love the experiences we share, but the one thing I cannot stand is the way that devotion to deities is downplayed, if not downright derided. Every time I've broached the topic of my devotion to the Theoi, I get hit with a "But we're the same as the gods. That's just recognizing your own divinity, babe <3" and it always makes me feel like I'm chewing aluminum foil.

I understand, of course. I'm based in Salt Lake City, so the trauma of religious devotion is very present in nearly everyone I meet, especially AFAB practitioners. I understand that, for many, they're looking for the power they were denied as women growing up in the LDS church, where their role was to be a helpmeet to their husband, the future god. So I wholly understand why looking for power in the self is essential for them, and I think it very well is a valid way of approaching Spirit.

But that's not my relationship with the Theoi. I was made for devotion. I've always had the fervent desire to serve something greater than myself, to align myself to something divine that's far bigger than me. I adored Catholic saints for this reason and, as I've written about before, despaired over the fact that I couldn't get this from Yahweh. But now everything fits, and I thrive in my belief that the Theoi are greater than me, that they do guide me because they're beyond my own capabilities. Do I see the humanity (for lack of a better word) in them? Yes, I do. But they are ancient and wise and powerful, and it's not only something I make sure not to forget, it's something I adore about them.

I don't dislike New Agery. I don't agree with it all, and I'm very tired of personality tests being used as divination, but it's not something I find offensive. I'm sure plenty of the Plato Bros would call me New Age-y as hell if I gave the details of my practice. But I do really dislike how much of it is wrapped up in focus on the Divine Self. I am not divine. I don't want to be divine. And I wish that I could speak more freely about my worship (I use the term "work with" in person, though I'm trying to correct that; but so many people have such a damaged relationship with the concept of worship that when I have said it, there's a very pregnant pause that follows.) without being chided for not recognizing my own divinity or not recognizing it as a mirror or whatever it is.

Anyway. Like I said, I love my community, and I don't disagree with the idea of pursuing the Divine Self if that's where you feel led. I just wish we had a broader idea of worship outside of going to church on Sunday to sing to Mormon Jesus.

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I've been thinking a lot about my past as a Christian and what that looks like compared to where I am now as a devotee of the Theoi.

All things considered, I got out okay, with a lot less baggage than my friends did. No one ever treated me poorly, no one preyed on me, and this is something I'm grateful for. But I never feel like I fit. My friends (all of whom have left the church) were very involved and visible in our church, while I stayed in the sidelines, uncertain and feeling like I'd wound up in the wrong place. Many, many times, I said I'd call it quits, but then an experience would pull me back. I had incredible highs in curated environments designed to bring that level of emotion forward. We'd joke about spiritual hangovers that came after winter camp or an in-depth worship service. And yet, even in those moments, my worship felt performative. I could feel Jesus, I could hear him whispering assurances to me, but deep down I knew it was a fleeting feeling that couldn't be reached outside of these kinds of environments, and only when I focused on feeling the way I felt I was supposed to. And then, not long afterward, I'd be in my car screaming and sobbing and begging God to give me some sign that he was there, that this was worth it, that there was a point to me feeling so isolated and different and out of place no matter what I did to fit in, whether that was women's groups or tech for worship service or being an usher. Nothing helped; they all made me feel worse.

At different times, I threw myself into theology. That was a "boy topic", but I've always had a thirst for knowledge. I wanted to learn about the nature of God and the divine, but all that did was satisfy my scholarly itch, not my spiritual one. I was enamored by the Saints, and I was always a bit bitter that I hadn't been raised Catholic; having multiple outlets seemed so much more practical than just one God. But then, I knew too much to become Catholic, because while I loved the ceremony and ritual of Mass, I had a distinct problem with the idea of not being able to speak to God directly.

I've said this before, but believing in the Theoi is easy. It's as easy as breathing to know they're there, to worship them and feel them. The way modern paganism is, there's no real "worship services" like Christian churches have. That disappoints me, because now I crave community and I miss having a group where you could all generally agree on what the divine is, but it's also bolstered me, because with the Theoi, I don't need that environment to feel the gods. My heart sings when I think of Hermes, just by virtue of who he is and his relationship with me. I feel them near me, see their fingerprints on the world around me. And I realized, not too long ago, that this is what everyone surrounding me in church was talking about. This is what it feels to be in awe and in love with the divine.

I always approached the idea of the afterlife with trepidation, thinking it was very cool in a really abstract way that I'd get to meet Jesus personally but always convinced the people talking about it with such rapture were just saying it because that's what you said. But I've actually been brought to tears at the thought of the fact that my beloved patron will be who greets me and guides me to Charon, and finally I get it. I understand what they were talking about.

And looking back, of course I never fit. Of course I always felt out of place, because I was. I never belonged to Yahweh or his son. It was always the Theoi, always Hermes, who looked at me and said, "Yes, that's my girl." And turning to them, trusting them with my life and prayers and worship, was downright effortless. My doubts all lie in myself; not in their goodness or their presence.

I don't resent Christianity (well, not as a belief system) and I would never try to proselytize. Yahweh is a jealous god, but I think he's aware of his limits and he has plenty of devotees to attend to. I was always going to find my way back to the Theoi, and I'm so unbelievably glad that I did, because finally, I understand what engaging with the divine actually feels like.

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"Hermes Psychopompos"; the guide of souls to the Underworld.

Process, speedpaint, hi-res vers., etc. on my Patreon.

Prints

I also make pins! This month's pin (Feb) has 1 week left to get, so don't miss out.

Bluesky | Instagram | Artstation | Twitter | Website

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“Dionysus is the life-spirit of all green vegetation – ivy, pine tree and especially the vine; he is, in Dylan Thomas’ phrase, “the force that through the green fuse drives the flower.” — Sophocles Dionysus Talon Abraxas Dionysus, the son of Zeus and Semele, was a Greek god who represented the more spontaneous and unrestrained aspects of human experience. He was the god of wine, winemaking, fertility, music, dance, and inspiration, and was sometimes counted among the Twelve Olympians—the most important gods of the Greek pantheon.

The mythology and cult of Dionysus were often characterized by madness. Some sources claimed that Dionysus used his invention of wine to drive his enemies mad, while others said that Dionysus himself went mad. Said to have traveled far and wide, Dionysus was regarded as a bringer of civilization in the form of wine cultivation—with both positive and negative consequences. Dionysus was usually imagined as a youthful god. His most common attributes pertained to his function as the god of wine and intoxication; these included grapevines or grapes and a special kind of ivy-covered wand called a thyrsus.

In art, Dionysus was often shown holding a large wine cup. He was also associated with wild cats, especially leopards and panthers; ancient artists liked to depict him riding these exotic creatures. His entourage included mythical beings such as satyrs and silens and frenzied female worshippers called maenads.

Dionysus was worshipped throughout the Greek world, though the Greeks themselves thought of him as a foreign god imported from the East. The cult of Dionysus tended to revolve around ecstasy and intoxication; because of this, Dionysus was often viewed as a god who lived on the edge of civilization.

At the same time, Dionysus was worshipped as a god of culture and the arts. Indeed, it was at the annual festival of Dionysus in Athens that Greek tragedies and comedies—some of the most important literary creations of the ancient world—were performed in honor of Dionysus.

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Tried going into r/hellenism because I've been desperate for a more Helpol focused space that isn't full of 14 year olds, but my god, the majority of posters are like the worst intersection of euphoric atheists and fundamental Christians.

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this website’s easy watch. *dangles a bunch of greek gods like keys*

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31 Days of Hellenic Polytheism

Anyone can participate regardless of how long you’ve been a Hellenic polytheist! My hope is to use these questions to reflect on the year, and repeat next year to see what has changed, and hopefully to continue doing that every year!

Answer in as much or as little detail as you see fit. You are allowed to skip any questions that you are uncomfortable answering. These questions can also apply to heroes, not just deities. You can pick specific deities to answer each one, or answer the questions with all the deities you worship. This might apply to other Pantheons and I’m happy for it to be used as such. Feel free to tweak some of the questions to fit those pantheons if you’d like!

Please link this list on your posts with your answers so that it is easy for others to find if they want to participate too after seeing your answers.

THIS IS TO BE DONE DURING DECEMBER, I’M JUST POSTING THE LIST NOW SO PEOPLE CAN FIND IT!

Have fun!

DAY ONE: Who was the first deity you began worshipping? Do you still worship them now? If this has been answered before: how has your worship changed since last year?

DAY TWO: Which deity did you most recently start worshipping? Were you called to them or did you reach out first? Do you think there were specific reasons behind why you were drawn to them?

DAY THREE: How long ago did you start Hellenic Polytheism?

DAY FOUR: Are there any deities you don’t currently worship but want to learn about?

DAY FIVE: How much have you bonded with your deities?

DAY SIX: What’s one way you incorporate Hellenic Polytheism into your routine (daily, weekly, monthly, etc?)

DAY SEVEN: Are you openly a Hellenic Polytheist offline? How does being open/not being open effect your worship?

DAY EIGHT: Do you have altar(s)? If you do, how do you use it? If you don’t have one, do you want one? Why/why not?

DAY NINE: Is there a practice that’s common among other Hellenic Polytheists that you’re skeptical about?

DAY TEN: What’s something you’ve learned about Hellenic Polytheism that you wish you knew sooner?

DAY ELEVEN: What is the clearest sign you’ve received from a deity?

DAY TWELVE: Do you do food offerings or libations? What do you do with the food/drink after you’ve offered it?

DAY THIRTEEN: Do you write your own prayers?

DAY FOURTEEN: Do you have any hobbies that fit any of your deities’ domains?

DAY FIFTEEN: How has your worship changed you?

DAY SIXTEEN: If you could give one piece of advice to someone who’s just starting in Helpol, what would it be?

DAY SEVENTEEN: Send out some love! Are there any Helpol blogs here on tumblr that you follow and really like?

DAY EIGHTEEN: How can you best describe your relationship with each of your deities?

DAY NINETEEN: If you had to assign one song to each of the deities you worship, what songs would you choose?

DAY TWENTY: Do you have a favourite aspect of Hellenic Polytheism?

DAY TWENTY-ONE: Are there any retellings/adaptations of greek mythology that you LIKE? Why/why not?

DAY TWENTY-TWO: Is there an aspect of Hellenic polytheism you haven’t yet gotten to try but hope to in the future? Do you have any other Helpol-related goals for next year?

DAY TWENTY-THREE: What’s a bit of UPG you have with your deities?

DAY TWENTY-FOUR: What’s an offering you’ve made that you’re really proud of?

DAY TWENTY-FIVE: What was the most surprising thing you’ve learnt about Hellenic Polytheism or your deities?

DAY TWENTY-SIX: Do you celebrate any festivals? Which ones or why not?

DAY TWENTY-SEVEN: Share a fun fact about one or more of your deities which you think is underrated or not well-known

DAY TWENTY-EIGHT: What is your favourite myth?

DAY TWENTY-NINE: What is an aspect of your deities you really appreciate?

DAY THIRTY: Do you have a visual interpretation of your deities? Is this different from usual depictions you see of them?

DAY THIRTY-ONE: Share a positive experience you’ve had this month/year with one or more of your deities