Unpopular Opinion Time

Unpopular Opinion Time

The doodle you make or the picrew you use, the poorly executed poetry or basic bare bones prayer will ALWAYS be better than AI generated offerings.

I am sick of having my feed flooded with practitioners, pagans and other polytheists using AI. Specifically deities like Brigid should never be offered AI in my opinion, it’s essentially a slap in the face.

AI generated spells aren’t shit, it’s what a computer assumes will work based off of what it can gather from internet trends and research. MAKE IT YOURSELF, ask a human for help anything but AI.

There is no place for Artificial Intelligence in these spaces.

worshipping the chthonic gods

first, a note on cthonic vs ouranic: the line between these gods is one that is not really as stark as it can be portrayed. many gods have both ouranic and chthonic aspects, and neither make them any more "good" or "bad" than the other. chthonic gods are not evil gods, at least no more than any ouranic god. all deities have the capability of doing good and evil, but are largely ambivalent in nature. the advice listed below is not set in stone, simply provided as gentle guidance. if you have suggestions, feel free to add them in the comments/reblogs! :)

LIBATIONS/OFFERINGS

In Ancient Greece it was very common for offerings to the chthonic gods to be given in the form of libation--a drink (or any liquid) poured into the ground. Solid offerings, like food, were often burned in their entirety to ash or left to rot, instead of being partially shared by the offeror. Incense was not as commonly used since the smoke travels upwards, towards the heavens.

I suggest disposing of/keeping ashes and rotted food outside or burying them, seeing as chthonic sometimes refers to "-of the earth." This would be similar to how curse tablets were treated in Ancient Greece, as Hermes, messenger of the gods, would deliver them unto their underworld-ly receiver from there.

If you can't do that, consider pouring your libations down the sink or flushing them down the toilet (ONLY do this with water-based liquids, oil and honey will clog up your sink in no time flat). It's not ideal, but it gets the job done.

Common libations include: coffee, blood (animal or your own, we'll get to that at the end), honey (instead of wine), milk

Common offerings include: meat, barley/grain, oil, cheese

PRAYER

In many cases, prayers to ouranic deities are directed upwards, into the sky or delivered unto the wind by voice, song, or some sort of poem. In the case of the chthonic gods, we should be directing them downwards, towards the underworld where they reside. This may include extending your hands with palms facing down, putting your head down, or just imagining your prayers being sent below. The only exceptions to this may be Persephone, who resides in the heavens for half of the year, and Hermes, who can be considered both ouranic and chthonic.

Other recommendations I can make are: light a candle, even if you're not going to use it for pyromancy; light some incense (I do this for focus and cleansing, not so much for the deity); and perform it at night. It's not mandatory, of course, to perform your prayers at night, it's just that in antiquity ouranic activities (festivals, prayer, etc.) were done during the day and often directly enshrouded in sunlight. We can assume, therefore, that a chthonic prayer or festival should occur during the night, especially if being directed towards Hekate or Nyx.

ALTARS/SHRINES

In Ancient Greece, temples to the ouranic gods were constructed so that their doorways would directly face the sun, thus illuminating the inside (and often the main statue(s), too). We can assume, then, that our chthonic altars/shrines should be located somewhere out of the direct sunlight. This can be in a dark spot, like a closet or isolated room--or it can just simply be in a corner furthest from the sun's rays.

Again, there may be some exceptions to this: Hermes, under his ouranic epithet(s), Persephone, for her time in the heavens, and Hekate, for her association with the moon.

DIVINATION

For the most part divination with the chthonic gods is conducted in much the same way as with the ouranic. Of course, when calling upon these deities you'll want to face towards the ground, and perhaps even conduct these sessions in partial darkness. Again, maybe you could light a candle or even pour a libation before a really big reading.

I mostly use pendulums and tarot, but I've been experimenting with meditation and have had some luck. What works for ouranic deities should work just as good for chthonic, you just might have to shift your approach a little.

Some good tarot spreads for working with chthonic deities:

"Fork in the Road" spread-- for Hermes or Hekate

"The Tower" spread-- for Hermes or Hades

"The Self Exploration" spread-- for any

"The Bat" spread-- for Hades or Persephone or Nyx

EXTRAS

--Consider offering blood if you're able! Animal blood that is sourced from ethical farms is neither morally reprehensible or illegal and can be sourced from a variety of places. Offering your own blood is also a possibility, but for this I would not recommend more than a pinprick. There are limits to how much pain you should be incurring on yourself for your deities. If you have to check your blood sugar often, maybe you can soak up excess blood with some cotton and bury it outside. Make sure to always clean your wounds properly and do not engage in this behavior for the purpose of self-mutilation. That, I can assure you, your deities would not appreciate. Don't be stupid.

--Snakes are commonly associated with almost all chthonic deities, or just the Underworld in general. We see this the most with Hermes, who is pictured with two snakes wrapped around his caduceus. The god Asclepius is also pictured with a staff with a single snake on it. Asclepius is the god of medicine, and (before being deified) was killed by Zeus for making people practically immortal.

--Chthonic deities are the best places to turn to for spirit work, protective, and baneful magic. You're looking to contact a spirit? Turn to Hades. You're looking for protection against spirits/demons? Turn to Hekate or Hermes. You're looking to cast a curse? Turn to Persephone or Hekate.

dividers by @vibeswithrenai

some simple subtle every-day worship I do as an Aphrodite devotee!

always using rose-scented body soap

showering every single day to honor my body, even when i have no spoons left (i always feel better after, anyway)

lighting Her candle and facing Her altar as I do my nightly skin care routine

writing romantic scenes or poetry dedicated to Her (hear me out, writing is my comfort and coping method, it's not for everyone but i've been writing every night since i was 10)

wearing subtle makeup from Her altar that draws attention to my natural features (it's sparkly blush and eyeshadow bought from a local apothecary)

painting my nails a gentle sparkly nude color (Her favorite color nail polish sitting on Her altar!) and looking at them in the sunlight every day

paying attention to my body's needs throughout the day, being kind to myself by drinking enough water and eating even when i'm not hungry to keep my body healthy and happy

noticing romance in strangers, like a girl on the phone with her boyfriend on the bus after a long day; finding love and its energy in all that surrounds me

trying hard to fight my excoriation disorder and not pick at my face or head and each time i pull my hands away from myself, i thank Her!

avoiding putting labels on myself and letting myself be open to changes in my sexuality or romantic preferences—love knows no bounds and is constantly changing

may Mother Aphrodite bless everyone who reads this posts with her kindness and warmth 💗

Understanding love

love

The ancient Greeks had a much broader and more complex view of love than most of us have today. For them, love was not just an emotion, but rather a set of different types of feelings and relationships. Here are some types of love researched by me:

eros love It’s the kind of relationship we often associate with the word “love.” This type is characterized by romance, passion and desire.

love philautia It is self-love, based on respect and self-worth. It is the type of love that allows us to take care of our mental and emotional health, prioritizing our well-being.

philia love It is brotherly love, based on friendship and camaraderie. It's the kind of love that arises between close friends, co-workers and family.

love storge It is family love, marked by affection and dedication to family members. It is the type of love that develops from blood ties and daily coexistence.

pragma love It is a love based on dedication to the greater good. it is practical and lasting love, based on compatibility and building a solid relationship over time. It is the type of love that develops from daily interaction and coexistence.

ágape love It is the universal meaning of love that we all aspire to feel. It is selfless, selfless and unconditional love. It is the type of love that seeks the well-being of others, without expecting anything in return. Also associated with divine love

love mania It is obsessive and possessive love, characterized by jealousy and insecurity. It is the type of love that can be harmful, as it suffocates and controls the other person.

love xênia In ancient Greece, hospitality was a common and respected practice. The word xenia refers to the relationship established between host and host.

ludus love It is playful and playful love, characterized by lightness and fun. It is the type of love that manifests itself in more relaxed and uncommitted relationships.

Hey folks - if you find yourself struggling with your faith, belief in gods, etc., that might mean that it's time to sit down and reassess what you believe and why you believe in it. Sometimes the reason you're struggling is because you've grown, and what you believed before no longer fits. Instead of trying to force yourself back into these beliefs, it might be time to leave them aside and find something that fits you better.

Never let anybody ridicule your beliefs. It’s human to find divinity in the mundane. It’s human to turn to the divine for answers. It’s not a matter of intelligence, like some would like to think. It’s a matter of human nature and instinct.

So leave some honey out for the fae, find omens in the patterns of the clouds, or hang wind chimes outside like your grandma used to do. Don’t let anybody call you anything other than human.