Following! <3 Can you explain the hellanic thing to me??

hellenicluc:

It’s a little complex because there is a lot to it! I’ll try to skim the basics though. Thanks for showing interest!

The most popular source for information about Hellenic Paganism is theoi.com and I will be posting links pertaining to each section I talk about where you can get more information 🙂

Hellenic (not to be confused with Hellenistic) Paganism is a denomination that worships the Greek Gods. You know them: Zeus, Hera, Apollo, Ares, Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Athena, Hermes, Hades, etc etc. The ones of ancient greek. These are just the Olympians though, but they are most commonly noted.

What most people sort of forget is that there is two “generations” of deities before the Olympians. There are the Titans who are the parents of all the Olympians. Kronos, Oceanus, just to name a few. 

Before that, there is the primordial deities, who are basically personifications of what we know on Earth. Time, water, etc.

The religion’s practice consists of a lot of reconstruction from what is found from the ancient Hellenics (they never did call themselves “Greeks”). While we don’t have a single sacred text like the Bible, we have several works which are considered “canon”. Basically it is mostly of Homer (yes, the man who wrote Odyssey and the Iliad), Hesiod, Plato, those sorts of people.

It is important to know that Hellenic Paganism is sort of an all-or-nothing religion. It is very important to not just take one god from out religion and incorporate it into one’s own smoothie of religion.

We have altars like most pagan religions. Our rituals can get pretty specific in the way that we do them. With Hellenic Paganism there is a sort of template to our offering rituals which goes: Procession, Purification, Hymn, Offerings, Prayers of Supplication, and Thanks, and then if you’re in a large group dinner.

In Hellenic Paganism there are a few miscellaneous points one must understand:

-We do not treat patron gods the same way other religions do

-We have a set of morals and values. There’s more. 

piety: Giving the gods proper attention/worship. Realizing they are gods and thus higher than us. Treating them with proper respect and not archetypes. This is required for you to consider yourself Hellenic. If you don’t do this in your practice, I don’t know what you’re doing, but it isn’t Hellenic paganism.

reciprocity: Give to get in return, basically. If you want the gods to help you, you must do something for them, typically an offering.

self-control and moderation. This is all about balance and very self-explanitory.

hubris: This is all about pride against the gods. Thinking you are at their level or above them. Odysseus was filled with hubris and if you’re familiar with the story then you know life didn’t work out to well for him. 

There is also the idea of miasma: A spiritual dirtiness that happens from, say being sick, mentally heavy, or just from day to day business with lack of periodical cleansing. Miasma is unwanted because spiritual beings (the Gods) don’t want to be around people that are spiritually dirty. Ya know? You can cleanse yourself of miasma by cleaning your physical body via a shower or with khernips (lustral water)

I’m assuming you aren’t looking to convert, but are simply curious (and that’s ok!). These are covering all the basics quickly, so I hope your interest has been satisfied 🙂 If you have any other questions or need clarification on anything I’ve said, please don’t hesitate to ask!

I have a directory set up for my blog, so you can bounce around in there if you’d like! My amount of information is lacking, but my blog is only a month or so old. I’m working like a madman to beef it out, but only with all the best information.