Hi everyone,
Are you newer to this religion and have questions? This thread is specifically for you! Feel free to ask away, and get answers from our community members.
You can also search the Community Wiki here, and our Community Guide here for some helpful tips for newcomers.
Please remember that not everyone believes the same way and the answers you get may range in quality and content, same as if you had created a post yourself!
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Do I need an altar or shrine?
No. Most practitioners do eventually make one, but they are not necessary. In ancient Greece altars were typically large stone tables where sacrifices could be made. These were generally public spaces but smaller household altars and shrines became more common in late antiquity. If you wish to make an offering or prayer to a god without an altar, this can be done in a place that feels sacred to that particular god.
How do I make an altar?
Your altar is the place where you make your connection to the gods. This space should ideally have the capacity to have a lit flame, to burn incense, and some vessel to make libations. Statues or images of the gods are nice, but not a necessity. If you do not have the capacity to have open flames or burn incense, many instead use electric lights and perfume or oil diffusers. If you do use open flames, please use caution. Keep away from drapes and curtains and keep a fire extinguisher nearby. Make sure you have a plan for if a fire starts unexpectedly.
How do I make an offering?
The most typical offering is a libation. Libations in antiquity were typically wine or water but in modern times more varied drinks are often used. Libations can be poured onto the ground, into a fire, or disposed of down your drain if neither of the former are available options. Food, likewise, can be offered by burning, burying, or being left on your altar and disposed of later. Incense is often given as an offering, and is burnt. The Orphic Hymns are a good resource to find an incense for a particular god. Animals were sacrificed to the gods in antiquity by killing them, butchering them, consuming their meat, and burning their bones wrapped in their fat on fires. This practice is not common in modern times, for reasons of practicality, and was not universal to Hellenic Polytheism in antiquity. Offerings to chthonic deities are generally speaking not to be eaten.
How do I dispose of perishable offerings?
You don't have to burn your offerings, and most burnt offerings in Antiquity were the bones and fat from sacrifices during public festivals. It's fine to dispose of perishable offerings in any number of ways, whether it be binning, burying,, or eating it yourself if it's still edible. Please be mindful of local wildlife if offerings are left outside.
Do I need to pray every day?
No. Many people take long leaves from worship. We all go through troubled times and worship may not be your focus for some time. This is normal and something the gods understand.
Can I participate in non-Hellenic practices?
Yes. Many of us have to participate in modern religious practices to maintain appearances to our friends and family if we are not religiously out of the closet. Even beyond this, many in antiquity and in the modern day practice syncretically and adopt practices and deities from outside the Hellenic Pantheon into their religious practice.
What is miasma and how do you cleanse it?
Miasma was an explanation to diseases before the existence of germ theory. Miasma was believed to accumulate on one's body through the performance of unclean acts such as sex, the butchering of animals, or the shedding of human blood. Miasma was believed to interfere with worship as when Hector says in the Iliad: “and with hands unwashed I would take shame to pour the glittering wine to Zeus; there is no means for a man to pray to the dark-misted son of Kronos, with blood and muck all splattered upon him”. The cleansing of miasma was performed by washing oneself with clean water and the application of perfumes.
How do I communicate with the gods?
In ancient times few people attempted to communicate with the gods, or if they did, they did so through trained experts who used techniques such as astrology, the interpretation of entrails from sacrificed animals, or the interpretation of the actions of sacred animals. Techniques such as candle, pendulum, and keyboard divination are modern inventions and should be approached with skepticism and caution if you wish to incorporate them into your practice.
I received a message from the gods via divination or think I may have witnessed a sign. What does it mean?
This is a question that you alone can answer. Many people do not receive signs in all of their practice and one should not expect to find them. If you do receive a sign it should be obvious to you that it was a sign.
Can I worship multiple gods? / Can gods share an altar?
Yes. Hellenic Polytheism is a polytheist religion which necessarily means that there are multiple gods to worship. These gods can cohabitate a space even if they are seen to be in conflict in mythology. The nature of polytheism is that there are forces and deities which conflict with each other but that does not necessarily mean that one is right and the other is wrong or that they cannot cohabitate.
Do I need to be chosen by a god before I can worship them?
No. The gods are always accepting and hospitable to those who come to worship them.
How do I decide which gods to worship?
This is a question that you must decide for yourself. There is no wrong place to start and people typically find new gods through the ones they already worship. There is no right number of gods to worship. They exist beyond naming or counting so you cannot worship them all and many will choose to worship only one.
Can I dismantle my altar/shrine?
Yes, it is often necessary to dismantle an altar or shrine because it needs to be moved or hidden. The gods will understand your circumstance.
Have I offended X god or goddess?
Typically, no. The gods are slow to anger and quick to forgive. Only the very worst actions (patricide, human sacrifice, cannibalism, etc.) consistently draw divine wrath.
If you are concerned you have done something to upset a god, or were disrespectful at times you should ask for forgiveness and try to lead your life in a way that reflects the virtues that the gods stand for moving forward.
Is veiling required in Hellenism?
Veiling is not a necessary or contingent practice in Hellenism. If you choose to veil on a personal level you're more than welcome to of course! Just know it isn't at all a modern or historic requirement for the religion. For more information, posts and questions can go to r/PaganVeiling
I am changing which deities I worship and would like reassurance from other community members who worship them.
You're free to worship any and all deities from any pantheon you desire to. There are several amazing resources on which deities feature specific attributes notably https://www.theoi.com/. Feel free to post your ideas if you'd like more nuanced input after you've done your own research. Only you can know what's right for you!
I am worried that I am doing something wrong, and would like reassurance from other community members.
Feel free to post here! We're all a community, and sometimes despite reading all the books, we still need a small - Hey, that looks great!
For deeper concerns about your faith, please visit r/exchristian or r/ReligiousTrauma for help on deconstructing.
