I snuck my pet theory about Roman mythology into my book: Pluto isn’t the god of the underworld. Pluto is just the god of

Where is the lie?

onlysoanhour:

wtfzeus:

louise1140:

classicsagainsthumanity:

Classics Against Humanity (Black Card)

Uh oh! Hera caught Zeus fucking ______ again!

Oh look! It’s most of Greek mythology!

Yep. The deck should just be that.

i really need this game but can we call it Classics Against Humanities

@spiritspodcast

Spirits of Place - Genius Loci

Ever since I was young I always felt that the world around me was full of energy, of spirit. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I realized that what I was feeling exists, and there’s a name for it. I’m talking about the spirits of place called Genius Loci.

This is going to be a brief guide to Genius Loci. I’ll put links throughout the post so that you can read more if you’re interested!

What does it mean?

Genius Loci is the term used most often and it is essentially a spirit of a place, often cities or towns but can be anywhere.

The name is Roman, the plural being Genii Loci, and they were sometimes depicted in art as human-like beings holding a cornucopia, a patera (libation bowl) or a snake. There would be altars set up for these Genius Loci all throughout the western Roman Empire.

The idea of a spirit of a place exists in so many cultures. In some places like Thailand there areLak mueang (Thai: หลักเมือง)–or city pillars erected and often placed in shrines dedicated to the city’s deity (or deities).

In other places, like in Southeast Asia, spirithousesare created and placed in or near businesses, shrines, and sometimes houses.

The Romans also had household spirits or deities called Di Penates as well as Lares–guardian spirits/deities.

The term Genius Loci is sometimes used in a more modern way to indicate a nonliteral version of “spirit of a place”, similar to the “vibe” or feel of a certain architecture, design, or environment of the place.

How is it different from Animism?

The short explanation of animismis that everything, animal, plant, object, the ground, etc. has a spirit or spiritual essence. The difference lies in that Genii Loci are the spiritual embodiment of a place, meaning they embody all of its vibes and don’t represent only one aspect of it.

How is it different from a Tutelarydeity?

As mentioned before, a Genius Loci embodies the place, whereas a Tutelary deity/spirit is the guardian or protector of that place. Tutelary deities/spiritscan be Genii Loci and vice versa, but they aren’t always one in the same.

Does every place have one?

Yes! Every place can (and probably does) have a Genius Loci, some places may even have more than one. They may have different names for them depending on the culture and lore they come from, though. If you plan on interacting with them make sure to ask what they prefer to be referred to as. (See Types of Household Deities at the bottom)

How do I interact with them?

First of all: you never have to interact with them if you don’t want to. 

If you would like to interact with them, though, there are a few ways that you can achieve this:

• First spend some time with them. Hang out in the area that you’d like to interact with the Genii Loci. Get to know them.
• Make sure you’re being respectful!
• Set up a spirit house or shrine.
• Leave offerings out (but make sure they are safe to leave outside and are biodegradable OR that you come retrieve the offerings later) and let them know that it’s there for them specifically.
• Clean up the area. No one likes when their space is dirty!
• Listen. What do you hear? The spirits may just reach out to you after you’ve shown your willingness to hear what they have to say.

You don’t have to literally hear voices, there are several different ways that you can talk with spirits and metaphysical beings. You can use divination methods like tarot, runes, oracle cards, or you can meditate and see if you get any visions/information that come to you.

Also, you don’t have to wait for them to reach out, chances are they won’t try and contact you first. Feel free to let them know that you’d like to speak with them and that you’re open to communicating with them.

Ps: A Genius Loci likely isn’t going to tell you to hurt yourself or others. If it seems like the spirit you’re speaking to is being very hateful and/or aggressive it’s probably best to back off. Even if it is a Genius Loci (a really mad one) you should leave them be if they are being aggressive towards you. Especially if you’re pretty new with spirit work.

If you’re interested in this, you may want to check out:

Genius Loci: The Ancient Worship of Spirits of Place or Land Spirits

Animism - The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Anthropology

Tutelary Deity - Academic 

Lares and Penates - Encyclopedia.com 

Types of Household Deities by culture (not a complete list)List of Tutelary Deities

Edit: When first posted I wrongly wrote that the plural of Genius LociwasGenius Locorum. Since I have changed it to the true plural form GeniiLoci.

Genius Locorum is a spirit that presides over multiple places.

sive mutata iuvenem figura ales in terris imitaris, almae filius Maiae, patiens vocari Caesaris ultor. Serus in caelum redeas diuque laetus intersis populo Quirini, neve te nostris vitiis iniquum ocior aura tollat; hic magnos potius triumphos, hic ames dici pater atque princeps, neu sinas Medos equitare inultos te duce, Caesar.

“Or having changed shape, do you winged one, son of nourishing Maia, imitate the young man on earth, called the unyielding avenger of Caesar? May you return to heaven at a late hour and be present for a long while with the people of Romulus, and may no swifter breeze take you, injured by our crimes. Here are rather great triumphs, here may you love to be pronounced father and first citizen, and, with you as general, not allow the unpunished Medes to ride, Caesar!” – Horace Odes1.2.41-52

Remember the time that Horace wrote that Octavian is really just Mercury in disguise??

Roman Diana and Minerva my beloveds

Pelias’ Daughters after they chop up their dad and he isn’t reborn young…

Odysseus, peeking through the boards of the Trojan Horse, knowing damn well he’s the baddest bitch around:

Zeus rolling up to his newest squeeze for the day

Daedalus after Icarus does he one thing he specifally said not to do.

Hector, knowing damn well Paris did some dumb shit again, and he’s gonna have to clean up the mess

Eris after finding out Zeus didn’t invite her to the banquet

Hera after Paris picks Aphrodite

Hera: he won’t keep cheating on me if I try and kill everyone he cheats with

Zeus after finding out that Hera had the Titans tear apart Dionysus and eat him

Agamemnon after Paris stole Helen:

Me after every mythology meme I make hoping this isn’t the one that gets me smite by the gods or start the next trojan war:

Aphrodite after finding out she’s betrothed to Hephaestus

Creon waiting for Oedipus to stop bitching about his eyes and fucking his mom so he can kick him out of Thebes:

Creon: everyone I love is dead.. I want to die too.

Chorag.: too bad.. the sky is deaf..

The gods:

Oedipus after finally realising what literally everyone was saying and he fucked his mom