Religion should be a source of comfort and security. If it isn’t, then there’s something wrong with it.
Prayers aren’t just for times of needs. The gods are always around and willing to listen.
If you ask a god for help, be prepared for surprises. The gods don’t operate on the same level as mortals. They have their own ideas for what’s appropriate and suitable for dealing with things. It makes sense to them, even though we might not understand.
It’s cool to incorporate modern interpretations and retellings, but in my opinion, those are more for fun than anything else. There’s nothing wrong with being a fan of the Percy Jackson universe, but don’t base your perceptions of the gods that have been around for millennia off of a 21st century young adult fantasy series. If you’re actually interested in being a Hellenic Pagan, at least read some Hesiod and Homer.
A Pagan religion can work hand in hand with a witchcraft practice, or it can be completely separate from one. You certainly don’t have to have both. For me, being a Hellenic Pagan fits in with being a witch beautifully. But this doesn’t apply to everybody.
You don’t have to know everything. You won’t know everything. You never will. There are people who devote lifetimes to studying this stuff. You don’t have to wait till you know “enough” to start being a Hellenic Pagan and worshipping the gods. Pick your favorite god(s), and start with them. Pick a myth or two and start reading them.
You don’t have to follow all the ancient calendars and celebrate all the ancient holidays.
You don’t have to be devoted to one god, or choose a patron deity. Being a devotee can take a bit more time and commitment, and if you’re not up for it, that’s ok!
Don’t pigeonhole the gods. There are many different sides to them. Artemis is a virgin goddess, a wild goddess, and a midwife goddess. Apollo is a music god, a shepherd god, and a medicine god.
The modern day Hellenic priests and priestesses and their ancient Greek counterparts aren’t exactly alike.
You can ask gods to adopt you, even the ones who have never sired children of their own. It is perfectly acceptable to view the gods as divine parental figures.
Your practice is your own. Your relationship with the gods is personal. Don’t let anybody tell you how to be a Hellenic Pagan, and don’t let anybody tell you how to worship a god.
There’s some amount of curiosity surrounding what it’s like to be an oathbound devotee to a deity. I thought I’d share my personal experience of being oathbound to Artemis.
For me, becoming oathbound to the goddess was a very personal and private moment. There was no ritual or ceremony involved. It simply happened. It was a very tranquil and serene time. After nearly a decade of relationship building, I knew I was ready, and there was not an ounce of doubt in my mind that this is what I want. Having severed ties with my biological mother, I turned to Artemis for a mother figure. I asked her to be my mother, and she accepted. It was then only natural that I would swear to her my perpetual daughterly devotion. As her mortal adopted daughter, I will honor her, love her, be devoted and dedicated to her for life.
Now, I very much love and respect the entire Greek pantheon, and the other gods are definitely a part of my life. I worship and follow other gods as well, and not long ago I also became a devotee of Hestia. But it is understood that Artemis is the one I’m closest to, whom I devote more of my time and activities to than anyone else. She gets the VIP treatment in my worship, in a sense. That doesn’t mean I adore my other deities less. My deities are all special to me in their own ways. However, my commitment to Artemis is one that I will never walk away from. She will always be the most important deity in my life, and I will remain her faithful mortal daughter and devotee forever. With this, I know that I will always have her guidance and protection. I have given her my love as her daughter, and she has given me her love as my mother.
I feel like I can never stress enough, how serious an oath to a god is. This post is a good one to read for some general knowledge, for a start. A while ago I also wrote a post on Hellenic Pagan Oath Taking. I remain firm in my advice that you should not swear an oath to a deity in the early stage of your relationship. And you should definitely not swear an oath for just any reason. Just because you’re ready to form a deeper bond and take your devotion to the next level, doesn’t mean it’s time to take an oath. I realize that the trend of godspouse could seem cool and tempting, but a marriage, in and of itself, is an oath. It’s why there are vows taken at a wedding. Vows count as oaths. You can be infatuated with a god. You can have a crush on a god. You can adore a god and fangirl squeal over a god. That doesn’t mean you should go ahead and oath bind yourself to that god out of romantic fantasies because you think it’ll make you more “special” to them or you believe it will make them committed to you back. This post talks about the dangers of the godspouse trend among young worshippers in particular very well. Being oathbound to a deity in any way, shape, or form is a big responsibility to take on, one that not every worshipper is up for, even after many years of worship. And if you have to ask whether you’re ready, then chances are, you’re not.
Me: *mindfully stirring my mug of coffee with its 2 shots of espresso, 2 full spoons of sugar, and a dollop of creamer* “I dedicate my wakefulness and self care to my goddesses.”
Artemis: “That’s a lot of caffeine, sugar, and creamer even for us, my daughter.”
❝ Goddess of the hunt, the moon, and chastity. She was the daughter of Leto and Zeus, and the twin of Apollo. She possesses perfect aim with a bow, the ability to change herself and others into animals, and control disease and healing. Artemis believed she had been chosen by the Fates to be a midwife, particularly as she had assisted her mother in the delivery of her twin brother Apollo. All of her companions remained virgins, and Artemis closely guarded her own chastity. Artemis was invoked by women in labour and She is the protector of youth, especially of young girls.
