Hellenic polytheism and maybe some witchy stuff- pretty much an Athena and Hestia appreciation blog
Last active 3 hours ago
Don't wanna be here? Send us removal request.
Text
Kneeling down to pray is unusual. The gesture of entreaty is outstretched arms. To invoke the heavenly gods, both hands are raised to the sky with upturned palms; to call on the gods of the sea, the arms are extended out to the sea; the hands are also stretched towards the cult image. A cult image or sanctuary must always be given a friendly greeting – a chaire – even if one is simply passing by without any special reason, or else the gesture of a kiss may be made by raising a hand to one’s lips; a short, simply prayer may always be added. Socrates greets the rising sun also in this way. Simple apostrophes invoking the gods punctuate everyday life; in excitement, fear, amazement, or anger, the ‘gods’ or some fitting divine name are invoked. Often names of local gods trip off the tongue, or else Zeus and Apollo and especially Heracles, the averter of all that is evil; Herakleis – mehercule in Latin – is almost as overworn as the exclamation, ‘Jesus!’. Women have their own special goddesses, Artemis, Pandrosos, and so on. Special measures are required, however, if the dead or the gods of the underworld are to be reached. Poets describe how the suppliant hurls himself on the ground and hammers the earth with his fists.
Greek Religion by Walter Burkert
193 notes
·
View notes
Text
The last year or so I've accepted that my ADHD/autism means my religious practice is never going to be as consistent as I'd like and will always ebb and flow, but I've been out of touch with all things spiritual for months now and yearn so much to get back to it but I can't seem to make myself knowing that when this wave passes I'll practically forget it exists again 😭 I miss the connection, and seeing magic in the everyday, and I really miss the Gods 🥲
3 notes
·
View notes
Text
People usually draw Athena with barn owls or larger great horned owls, probably because they are more well known in the United States and they are more "intimidating" by their wing span and appearance, but I find it sweet that the "owl of Athena" is the little owl, Athene noctua.
It occurs in Europe, Central Asia, and parts of Africa, making it a more obvious bird for a Mediterranean Goddess. It's also so small you can hold it on your hand/fingers (it's around 8in/22cm in length with a wingspan of 22in/56cm).
Athene noctua is also related to Athena etymologically: γλαυξ (glaux, used to describe the little owl), the word connected to γλαυκός (glaukos, "bright", "light blue", "light grey", "gleaming"), is also connected to the epithet γλαυκῶπις (glaukopis, "of gleaming eyes") that was a constant epithet of Athena. They were probably associated because of the "gleaming" eyes of the little owls. The specific shade of that "gleaming" might also be descriptive of the bluish shine on olives when they're ripe, which would connect to another specific attribute of Athena.
245 notes
·
View notes
Text
ares chain because we love ares :)
reblog with ares content <3



720 notes
·
View notes
Text
I begin to sing of Hestia, first among the deathless gods;
Beloved goddess, who dwells in the midst of every home with your vast everlasting flame.
last among the deathless gods, for without your grace mortals hold no banquets. revered daughter of strong-spirited Rhea, ethereal and blessed, gentle-minded saviour.
Holy maiden, breathe upon us safety and love.
divider by @\graphics-cafe
162 notes
·
View notes
Text

"A goddess comes framed in a thousand varied garlands of flowers: and the stage has freer license for mirth. Mother of flowers, approach, so we can honour you You start in April and cross to the time of May One has you as it leaves, one as it comes. Since the edges of these months are yours and defer to you, either of them suits your praises." Ovid.
'A deusa chega con mil flores variadas atadas á súa coroa; A escena ten un uso más libre da diversión. Achégate, Nai das flores, celebrada con xogos festivos. Tes un comenzo en abril, pasas aos tempos de maio. Un tente cando foxe, un como vén. Xa que as beiras destes meses son túas Para ti, calquera deles convén aos teus eloxios' Ovidio.
'Mater, ades, florum, ludis celebranda iocosis: Distuleram partes mense priore tuas. Incipis Aprili, transis in tempora Maii: Alter te fugiens, cum venit alter habet. Cum tua sint cedantque tibi confinia mensum, convenit in laudes ille vel ille tuas. Ovidius.
10 notes
·
View notes
Text
devotional moodboard for Hestia, goddess of the hearth
In thee the Gods have fixed their dwelling place; strong, stable basis of the mortal race. Eternal, much formed, ever florid queen, laughing and blessed, and of lovely mien.
570 notes
·
View notes
Text
If you’re finding it difficult to carve out a practice for yourself, you’re just having a normal response. We were never supposed to do this. Polytheism is not an orthodoxy that we can divert to based on dogma and texts. It’s an orthopraxy, the likes of which were always intended to be practiced by the community, the polis, with the guidance of elders and experts. Because of the march of time bringing forced Christianization, colonization, and capitalism enforcing rugged individualism, we’ve been left with little choice but to carve a tiny piece for ourselves.
We’re doing fantastic, considering we’re rebuilding from the scraps and ruins of long gone empires.
960 notes
·
View notes
Text
It’s really, really important to me that Hestia, the goddess of domesticity and the right ordering of families and homes, never married or had a “conventional” family life, even for the time in which the myths about her were written.
963 notes
·
View notes
Text

Goddess Athena by sculptor Giovanni Battista Lombardi (Italian, 1822-1880)
464 notes
·
View notes
Text

For Hera.
Happy International Women's Day, forever grateful for all of your blessings 🍯🦚🧿
233 notes
·
View notes
Text
Daily Devotions with the Orphic Hymns
Today is 4th of Metageitnion (21st of August)
This modern system of daily devotions blends material from two sources: Hesiod's sacred month, as described in his Works and Days, and the Orphic Hymns. The ideas in the Orphic Hymns sometimes don't match with more mainstream beliefs of the polis. But using these hymns is worth it because it helps us honor not just the main gods, but also many smaller ones. This way, we can pay our respects to a wide range of gods throughout the whole month.
Other hymns may of course be substituted at the individual's discretion. The numbers given for the hymns correspond to those in Apostolos N. Athanassakis, The Orphic Hymns: Text, Translation and Notes
Thomas Taylor's 1792 translation of the hymns is available online, free and in its entirety, at the Internet Sacred Texts Archive. Here:
Morning and Evening Devotions
Morning
Wash hands and face
Light lamp or candle
Hymn to Hestia (#84)
Light incense
Hymn to Eos (#78)
Hymn to Helios (#8)
Hymn(s) to special god/dess(es) of the day (see chart)
Additional hymns as desired (see chart)
Pour libation
Make personal supplications and thanksgivings
"Orpheus to Mousaios" (pp. 2-5)
Extinguish lamp or candle
Evening
Wash hands and face
Light lamp or candle
Hymn to Hestia (#84)
Light incense
Hymn to Nyx (#3)
Hymn to Selene (#9)
Hymn to the Stars (#7)
Hymn(s) to patron/matron god/desses
Hymn to Sleep (#85)
Hymn to Dream (#86)
Pour libation
Make personal supplications and thanksgivings
Hymn to Zeus (#15)
Extinguish lamp or candle
A shortened version of the devotions may be done by simply lighting a candle, reading "Orpheus to Mousaios," saying any personal prayers, and extinguishing the candle.

Notes on chart:
Days mentioned by Hesiod as sacred to specific deities are marked.
Horkos is the god (or, if you like, personification) of Oath. Days sacred to this deity are considered difficult.
As the lunar calendar months range between 29 and 30 days in the Greek reckoning, it may be necessary in short months to recite all the hymns for both day 29 and day 30 on the day of the dark moon. As the last day of the month is sacred to Hekate, Her hymn should always be included.
About Incense
The Orphic Hymns specify particular types of incense to be offered to each deity. In cases where one is saying multiple hymns with differing instructions, one might either choose a single type or make a blend of all those indicated. Pure frankincense makes a good all-purpose offertory incense.
The incense specifications from the Orphic text are as follows:
Frankincense: Apollon, Ares, Artemis, Asklepios, Bakkhai, Dike, Eos, Hephaistos, Herakles, Hermes, Hygeia, Kouretes, Muses, Nike, Satyros, Silenos, Tethys, Themis, Titans
Myrrh: Leto, Nereus, Poseidon
Storax: Chthonic Hermes, Dionysos, Eleusinian Demeter, Erinues (also frankincense), Graces, Kronos, Semele, Zeus
Aromatic Herbs: Adonis, Athena, Eros, Eumenides, Fates, Hera, Hestia, Horai, Nereids, Nymphs, Okeanos, Rhea
Various: Mother of the Gods, Pan, Chthonic Dionysos (any except frankincense), Gaia (any grain; no beans or aromatic herbs)
No Incense (underworld deities): Hekate, Nemesis, Persephon
280 notes
·
View notes
Text
La Danse Triomphale de Pallas Athénée
Statue of Athena in Paris. She is also supposed to be holding a spear in her hands
1K notes
·
View notes
Text
Important rules/tips I've learned as an adult that helped with anxiety
If people are mad at you, it's their responsibility to tell you, not your responsibility to guess
If they're mad at you in secret anyways, they're the ones in the wrong, not you
If people don't like what you're doing, it's their responsibility to tell you
If they say it's fine when it's really not, they're the ones in the wrong, not you
People are allowed to be wrong about you
If they are wrong about you, wait for them to bring it up, because if you try to, you will inevitably overcorrect
Some people are committed to misunderstanding you. You will not win arguments against them. Yes, even if you explain your point of view. They do not care. Drop it
The worst thing that will happen from a first-time offense is being told not to do it again. Maybe with a replacement if you broke something
You can improve relationships and gauge willingness to talk to you by giving compliments. It's like a daily log-in bonus and nobody thinks twice about it
Most things are better after you sleep on them
Most things are better after you have a meal
Most things are better after you shower
Your brain makes up consequences that are irrational. If the worst DOES come to pass and someone acts like they do in your head, they are overreacting, and you are entitled to say "what the fuck"
If your chest hurts after you feel like you've made a social error, that's called rejection-sensitive dysphoria. It means your anxiety is so bad that it's causing you physical pain, which is a good indicator that you're overreacting. Tense yourself, hold it for 20 seconds, let it go, then find a distraction
If you're suddenly angry at someone after you feel like you made a social error, that's also rejection-sensitive dysphoria. You are going to feel annoyed about it for awhile, but being genuinely pissed off is your anxiety trying to find something to blame to take the responsibility off your shoulders, and getting scared because it can't justify itself. Deep breaths, ask yourself how much you ACTUALLY want to be angry at that person, then find a distraction
"Sour grapes" is more healthy for you than stewing. Deciding you don't like someone who's perpetually annoyed with you, won't talk to you, etc. makes letting go of anxiety over them easier
If people don't like you, they will find reasons to be annoyed with you when they otherwise wouldn't. If people do like you, they will find reasons NOT to be annoyed with you when they otherwise would. People do not ping-pong between the two
You DO have to make a conscious choice not to think about something. If you're having trouble circling back to it, say out loud that you're done thinking about it and why. Then find a distraction
When you're upset, part of you is going to want to make false bids for attention (suddenly texting differently, heavy sighs, etc. but when someone asks you about it, you tell them it's nothing). Do not listen to it. You gain nothing from it except more misery
People like to help people they care about. It makes them feel good about themselves
If you think you're insufferable for needing help, see above. Yes, really. They get a serotonin kick from it
If you think you're insufferable for mannerisms you have, you either have to consciously choose not to do them, or accept that they're part of the package that comes with you. Being apologetic about existing does nothing except make you more miserable
If you do things you don't like when you feel meh about it, it makes it easier to do them when you hate it
If you avoid things you don't like when you feel meh about it, it reinforces and magnifies how bad it feels when you hate it
Seriously. Read those last two points again. If you can make yourself make a phone call when you've got nothing to lose, you will slowly lose that panic you get when you have to make a phone call you haven't prepared for. You do have to CONSCIOUSLY take that step
Hobbies that make you care for something get rid of that nagging feeling that you're not doing enough. Go grow some rosemary
If you don't engage with your hobbies regularly, you will feel miserable, and anxiety will spike
Hobbies are things that give you a bit of happiness. They do not have to be organized or named to do that. Go be creative in something. Play with coins. Make up lists. Start a new WIP
No one cares what you look like
If people point out things they don't like about how you look unprompted, they are being rude. You are entitled to say "what the fuck"
People who like you will find you pretty to some degree. Minor things about your appearance go completely unnoticed. Literally, scars and dots and blemishes do not register to someone who likes your company
You looking at yourself in the mirror is 10x more closely than anyone is going to look at you
If you're anxious about your body type, and you're creatively inclined, make/write an oc with that same shape. Give them nice things and make other characters love them. Put them on adventures. You'll start to see yourself in the mirror more kindly
You care about wording and perfect lines/colors way more than anyone who views your work ever will
Sometimes when you're upset, you're going to feel like not eating. Do not do that. Not eating makes you more miserable
Same with things you normally enjoy. Denying yourself helps no one. You are punishing yourself for being sad. Stop it
Both of these will take conscious decision to break the habit of. Make yourself do it anyways, and it will slowly get easier
And again, to reiterate: If someone is mad at you, it is THEIR responsibility to tell you, not your responsibility to guess
67K notes
·
View notes
Text
I am Lord Ares's strongest soldier and my most difficult battle is fighting sleep
299 notes
·
View notes