Delphic Maxmis #25: Find Fault in No One

This one is very hard to do, given that we live in a society that we can’t help but to find something wrong with someone. A fault! It could be anything from weight to not doing well in school no matter how hard that person tries. Finding fault is something that we gained over time, something that became part of our society. But deciding not to point out fault, means that you leave yourself unable to be attacked. It also keeps the person from feeling low about themselves.

Delphic Maxims #24: Praise the Good

Praise the good. What does that mean? Well, it means that when someone does good you praise them. You tell them that they’ve done good. When you do that then they are more likely to continue to do good. Not praising them makes them think that what their doing isn’t good enough and that’s never a good thing.

Delphic Maxims #23: Long for Wisdom

I believe that this has a connection with books and knowledge. Long for wisdom means always wanting to know things and longing to know them. To never settle with knowing a bit of wisdom and understanding, but wanting to learn more wisdom and gain a better understanding. I think that’s what missing in our lives, wisdom.

Delphic Maxims #22: Pursue Honor

Honor! This is a concept that most Americans don’t get or understand. Honor is something that’s only found in the military. So this is one that even I’m having a hard time figuring out. I think that it means that you seek honor, pursue it like you would if you were hunting something. I don’t know if I’m write but I think that I can learn given time.

Delphic Maxims #21: Cling to Discipline

So it’s time for another Maxims. This one is Cling to Discipline. Now this is one that can confuse someone that doesn’t understand the concept of discipline. Discipline in ancient times was the most important thing that a man could do. Clinging to it, meant that you didn’t turn your back on the battle and run away. Clinging to discipline also means not giving up when things get hard. Discipline yourself and cling to what you’ve worked hard to do.

Hellenic Holiday: Theseia and Oskhophoria (2017)

When the sun goes down these two holiday's appear. Theseia is linked with Theseus and Oskhophoria is linked with Dionysus. I hope that you all have a good one.

Hellenic Holiday: Puanepsia (2017)

When the sun goes down I will be doing this festival, which honors Apollon. Yesterday's ritual was great and I loved honoring both Artemis and Demeter. I blended both rituals together to honor them. I hope that you all have a good one and here's some info about the day.

Pyanopsia, also spelled Pyanepsia, in ancient Greek religion, a festival in honour of Apollo, held at Athens on the seventh day of the month of Pyanopsion (October). The festival’s rites incorporated remnants of rustic magic, including two offerings, consisting of a hodgepodge of pulse (edible seeds) and a branch of olive or laurel bound with wool, around which were hung fruits of the season, pastries, and small jars of honey, oil, and wine. The offerings were carried to the Temple of Apollo, where they were suspended on the gate. The doors of private houses were similarly adorned. Both offerings have been connected with the Cretan expedition of Theseus, who vowed a thank offering to Apollo if he were successful in slaying the Minotaur.

Delphic Maxims #20: Love Friendship

Here’s the last one for this month and it’s Love Friendship. What this means is to love your friends, to cherish them, and to always have their back. Friendship is the most important thing that we have and it can help us when we need it. So love your friends, love friendship, and protect it.

The Athenian Month of Puanepsion Begins

When the sun goes down the new Athenian month begins. Here's the list of festivals.

September 21: Noumina
September 22: Honor Agathos Daemon
September 23: Honor Athena
September 24: Honor Aphrodite, Hermes, Heracles, Eros
September 26: Honor Artemis/Proirosia
September 27: Honor Apollon/Puanepsia
September 28: Honor Poseidon and Theseus/Thesire/Oskhophoria
September 29: Stenia
October 1-4: Thesmophoria
October 4: Sacrifices to Heroines
October 5: Full Moon (Honoring Selene, Hecate, and Artemis)
October 9-12: Apaturia
October 14: (Daylight) Libations to Poseidon
October 18: Khalkeia
October 19: Hea Kai Nea (New Moon, Honoring Hecate)

Have a good month.

Delphic Maxims #19: Do Not Use An Oath

So this is the next to last one for this month and it’s ‘Do not use an oath.’ What this means is don’t use someone’s oath against them. When someone makes an oath to you don’t use it in a way that brings dishonor. That’s the only thing that I have to say.

Sacrifices to the Nymphai, Akhelōos, Hermēs, Athēna, and Gaia (2017)

This one I will be observing, but only because I don't have to work the next day. Now days the rituals that I do is based on if I have to go to work the next day. The only one that I don't actually observe is Akheloos, who I know nothing about. I do hope that you will all have a good one.

Delphic Maxims #18: Honor providence

So this was another one that I had to look up. So what does this mean? To honor providence means to honor those that are caring for you or who is giving you guidance. When someone gives you guidance it means that they know more. Those that are caring for you are helping you because they know that you can’t do it on your own. I think that’s the most important thing that can be learned.

Libations to Demeter and Persephone

While I'm at work it will be the libations to Demeter and Persephone. Since I do get a break I'll use that time to do a small libation to them. It won't have incense or candles but it will have libation. We honor them and we wish Persephone well as she heads down to the underworld to spend time with her husband, Hades. Have a good one.

Late Post: Epidauria (2017)

Yesterday I celebrated Epidauria, which honors Asclepius and Hygeia. This observance took place much later and he became even more popular after Athens had a great plague. I had a good time and enjoyed myself.

Eleusinian Mysteries (2017)

Starting when the sun goes down it will mark the beginning of the Elusinian Mysteries. Here’s some info about the festival, which comes from http://www.britannica.com.

Eleusinian Mysteries, most famous of the secret religious rites of ancient Greece. According to the myth told in the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, the earth goddess Demeter went to Eleusis in search of her daughter Kore (Persephone), who had been abducted by Hades (Pluto), god of the underworld. Befriended by the royal family of Eleusis, she agreed to rear the queen’s son. She was, however, prevented by the queen’s unknowing interference from making the boy immortal and eternally young. After this occasion, she revealed her identity to the royal family and commanded that a temple be built for her into which she retired.

According to the Hymn to Demeter, the Mysteries at Eleusis originated in the two-fold story of Demeter’s life—her separation from and reunion with her daughter and her failure to make the queen’s son immortal. After Eleusis was incorporated, the city of Athens took responsibility for the festival, but the festival never lost its local associations.

 The Mysteries began with the march of the mystai (initiates) in solemn procession from Athens to Eleusis. The rites that they then performed in the Telesterion, or Hall of Initiation, were and remain a secret. Something was recited, something was revealed, and acts were performed, but there is no sure evidence of what the rites actually were, though some garbled information was given by later, Christian writers who tried to condemn the Mysteries as pagan abominations. It is clear, however, that neophytes were initiated in stages and that the annual process began with purification rites at what were called the Lesser Mysteries held at Agrai (Agrae) on the stream of Ilissos, outside of Athens, in the month of Anthesterion (February–March). The Greater Mysteries at Eleusis was celebrated annually in the month of Boedromion (September–October). It included a ritual bath in the sea, three days of fasting, and completion of the still-mysterious central rite. These acts completed the initiation, and the initiate was promised benefits of some kind in the afterlife.

Delphic Maxims #17: Exercise prudence

So this one I had to look up.  Prudence means being cautious. So, in other words, this one is talking about exercising caution. Using good judgment keeps you from making mistakes. Exercising caution, evaluating the risk, can keep you alive. Your instincts can tell you when something is safe and you must listen to that little voice inside. Do that and you will avoid problems.

Demokratia (2017)

When the sun goes down this holiday will be next. The only thing that I know about it is that it's a day to celebrate Democracy in it's present form. However Demokratia excluded about 80 to 90 percent of the population. Glad we don't live in those times.

Delphic Maxims #16: Control Anger

This is number 16 and this one is something that most people find very hard to do. Control your anger! Controlling your anger is something that we all fight with. People that are naturally angry really fight to control that thing that just comes out. Anger can cause you to do things that you don’t want to do. So controlling it, and using logic, can help you in the end.

Sacrifice to Artemis Agrotera (2017)

When the sun goes down this holiday will happen. Agrotera is a epithet of Artemis. Here’s some info about this holiday. Got this from Wikipedia.

Agrotera (Gr. Ἀγροτέρα, “the huntress”) was an epithet of the Greek goddess Artemis,^[1][2][3] and the most important goddess to Attic hunters.^[4]

At Agrae^[5] on the Ilissos, where she was believed to have first hunted after her arrival from Delos, Artemis Agrotera had a temple, dating to the 5th century BC, with a statue carrying a bow.^[6] During the Boedromia, on the seventh day of Boedromion (roughly, the beginning of September), an armed procession would take 600 goats to this temple,^[7][8] where they would all be sacrificed by the polemarch in honor of the victory at the Battle of Marathon. This rite derived from a vow made before the Battle of Marathon,^[9] which in turn derived from the custom of making a “slaughter sacrifice”, or sphagion (σφάγιον), to Artemis Agrotera before a battle. The temple was destroyed in 1778,^[4] when the Ottoman forces occupying Athens set about demolishing ancient sites for building material to construct a wall around the city.^[10] The ruins of the temple survive today on Ardettou Street, tightly surrounded by modern buildings. There is an ongoing campaign for the expropriation of adjacent buildings and the restoration of the temple.^[11]

Under this name she was also worshiped at Aigeira,^[12] Sparta, and elsewhere.^[13] The name Agrotera is synonymous with the epithet Agraea, but Eustathius derives it from the town of Agrae.^[14][15][16]

This epithet was also sometimes applied to the nymph Cyrene

Genesia (2017)

This is from the same site, Baring the Aegis.

Genesia – The Genesia seems to have been a festival of the dead–especially of dead parents. It was celebrated on the fifth of the month of Boudromion in Athens, but that is all we know for sure. There is reason to believe that the Genesia was panhellenic–although we do not know if all city-states performed the rites on the same day. We are also unsure if the Genesia was a set day for all children to visit their parents’ grave and perform sacrifices there, or if there was a public commemoration of all parents. The day is also sacred to Gaea, who housed the remains of the dead, and brought fertility and wealth to the living.

Sacrifice to Basile (2017)

I got this from the site, Baring the Aegis.

Sacrifice to Basile in Erchia – In the calendar from Erchia the heroine Basile was given a holókaustos on the 4th of the month of Boedromion. The sacrifice to Basile consisted of a white, female, lamb and was followed by a wineless libation. The colour of the animal is noteworthy, since holókaustoi have commonly been classified as khthonian sacrifices, and it is usually assumed that the victims used in such rituals were black. Basile was also worshipped elsewhere in Attica, but nothing is known of the kind of sacrifices she received at those locations. Basile seems to have been a local heroine. Nothing survives about her deeds, as far as I have been able to find, but she was important enough to warrant her own personal sacrifice–the Erchian calendar also makes note of collective sacrifices to ‘the heroines’.

Have a good ritual.

Athenian Month of Boedromion Begins

When the sun goes down it will be a new Athenian month. Here’s the holiday’s.

August 22: Nourmia
August 23: Honor Agathos Daemon
August 24: Honor Athena
August 25: Honor Aphrodite, Hermes, Heracles, Eros/Sacrifices to Basile
August 26: Genesia: Festival of the Dead.
August 27: Honor Artemis/Sacrifice to Artemis Agrotera.
August 28: Honor Apollon
August 29: Honor Poseidon and Theseus
September 2: Demokratia: Festival to honor Democracy
September 5-12: Eleusinian Mysteries
September 7: Epidauria
September 9: Libations to Demeter and Persephone
September 17: Sacrifices to the Nymphai, Akhelōos, Hermēs, Athēna, and Gaia.

I hope that you all have a good month.

Delphic Maxims #15: Help Your Friends

This one is very simple. Help your friends! Friendship, to me, is a very important thing. And sometimes things happen that they need our help. As long as the help that your giving isn’t hurting anyone, or causing you to break other maxims that Apollo states that you must follow, then there’s no reason that you can’t help out. Help your friends and your friendship will grow.

Hellenic (3 Years)

Today marks three years that I've been Hellenic. I might not of done everything right but my faith in the gods of Greece hasn't gone away. Thanks, everyone, for your three years of support.

Sacrifices to Zeus Epoptes (2017)

When the sun goes down we will be honoring Zeus Epoptes. Here’s some info about this holiday. Here’s the link.
https://sites.google.com/site/hellenionstemenos/Home/festivals/zeus-hepoptes

(25 Metageitnion) A sacrifice to Zeus Epoptes (the overseer) in the Attic demos of Erchia.

According to Sarah Iles Johnston (“Restless Dead: Encounters between the Living and the Dead in Ancient Greece”, page 45), in the first line of the ‘Choephoroi’, Orestes invokes Hermes Chthonios, in his capacity as the god who controls the dead, precisely as”patroi’ epopteuon krate”, which means “‘watching [my] ancestral powers”, so perhaps the role that Epops or Epopeus, his “watching” hero, played in Erchia, like that he played in Sciyon, involved controlling the dead, and it was for this reason that he received special offerings at the festival of Genesia. If so, then this was a day during which the dangerous dead were controlled or averted.

 

 

Note: I didn't celebrate this because I was just too busy and too tired.

Delphic Maxims #14: Control Yourself

This is the next one for this month and it’s pretty simple one, ‘control yourself.’ The problem with today’s society is that we have lost this ability and it causes a lot of problems. From not being able to control how much you eat to how much you spend. People losing everything because they ‘just had to have that thing’ when they didn’t need it. Oh look, I really want that ring or oh I really want this or that. No control and society actually believe that this is a good thing.

Controlling yourself make things better for you. Not only are you not in debt but you’re not fat, have problems with booze, and living in a dump. So control yourself or work on controlling yourself. You’ll be happier.

Sacrifices to Hera Thelkhinia (2017)

Tonight is supposed to be a time that I honor Hera Thelkhinia, but I worked and I was dead tired. So here's some info about her day.

(Metageitnion 20) A minor sacrifice to Hera Telkhinia in the Attic demos of Erchia. The Greek title as commonly given, Thelkhinia, is probably a mis-spelling of the epithet, for there is no such word as “thelkhinia.”  Some writers prefer the word "thelxinoos," which means “charming the heart” and is appealing as an aspect of the goddess of marriage.  However, the epithet is more likely Telkhinia, which according to LJS, indicates a connection with the inhabitants of Telkhis, on Crete.  These were considered the first metal-workers and, later, as “sorcerers.”  The epithet is also bestowed upon Apollo and the Nymphs and there was a festival of Telkhinia at Delphoi, which already has a connection with Crete, through the Cretan sailors that Apollo selected to become priests of his temple.  Therefore, although the myth of the connection of Apollo, Hera and the Nymphs with Telkhis is lost to us, it apparently a reflection of bronze age interactions with Crete and not a reference to Hera as a “charmer.”

Today: this was a minor observance by a suburb of Athens, but anyone who has a particular connection may wish to honor Her on this day with a libation and incense and hymns, for Hera is Queen of Heaven who rules with Zeus and is honored no less than Zeus.

Libations to Hermes (2017)

Today was the Libations to Hermes and I didn't get to do this one due to work. When I got home I was dead tired and really didn't want to do anything. I hope that you all that was able to had a good one.

Hellenic Holiday: Sacrifices to the Heroines (2017)

This is another Hellenic holiday, but one that I don’t observe. I’ve talked about this holiday before, so I won’t be repeating myself. However, I do hope that everyone has a good one.

Sacrifices to Kourotrophos, Hecate, Artemis

Tonight will be this Hellenic holiday. However, I will not be observing it due to having to work. Hecate and Artemis both share the title 'Kourotrophos' and it means nurse. It's connected to children and taking care of them. Have a good one.

Delphic Maxims #13: Honor the hearth (or Hestia)

So this is the 13th Delphic Maxims and this one is pretty simple, honor the hearth or Hestia. Hestia was an important Greek goddess as she was represented by the flame. She was a need and a necessity in life. You can’t live without fire and you can’t live without the warmth. So honor Hestia and let her know that you understand why she’s here.

Eleusinia (2017)

Tonight will mark the beginning of Eleusinia. I won’t be celebrating because I’m just so busy working. Here’s some info about the holiday. Here’s the link if you want to read it yourself.

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Eleusinia

Eleusinia, ancient Greek festival in honour of Demeter (the goddess of agriculture), unconnected with the Eleusinian Mysteries despite the similarity of names. The Eleusinia, which included games and contests, was held every two years, probably in the month of Metageitnion (August–September). Every second festival had a particularly elaborate observance and was known as the Great Eleusinia. Its purpose was thanksgiving and sacrifice to Demeter for the gift of grain.

Delphic Maxims #12: If Your a Stranger, Act Like One

So this week’s Maxims is pretty interesting. This one is for strangers. And it’s clear that, as a stranger, you know where nothing is at. Strangers are not a part of any community, they are just passing. So don’t act as though you’re a citizen, or a part of a community, because your not. You’re a stranger and you need to act like one.

The Athenian Month of Metageitnion Begins

So here's the holiday's, festivals, and so forth of this month. Enjoy them.

July 24: Nourmia
July 25: Agathos Deamon
July 26: Honor Athena
July 27: Honor Aphrodite, Hermes, Heracles, and Eros
July 29: Honor Artemis
July 30: Honor Apollon
July 31: Honor Poseidon and Theseus
August 7-11: Eleusinia
August 7: Full Moon (Honor Selene, Hecate, and Artemis)
August 8: Sacrifices to Kourotrophos, Hecate, Artemis
August 11: Sacrifices to Heroines
August 12: (Daylight) Libations to Hermes/Sacrifices to Hera Thelkhinia
August 17: Sacrifices to Zeus Epoptes
August 21: New Moon (Honor Hecate)

Have a good month.

Delphic Maxims #11: Think Like a Mortal

This one is ‘Think like a Mortal.’ This one is very confusing and not something that I personally understand. What did Apollo mean by this? Does he want us to think like those that are not full of might and riches? Or something else. I think that this will be one that I will have to think about.

Delphic Maxims #10: Know your opportunity

This one is very simple, know your opportunity. There are tons of opportunities out there and to know which ones to take is important. I took the opportunity to get a job and now I'm happy. Doing what I did will make you happy, because your not stuck in a rut of your making.

Panathenaia (2017)

Yesterday started the Panathenaia, which honors Athena. It's the festival that celebrates the day that she was born. There were contests of all sorts and it was all done in the name of Athena. I hope that you all will have a good one.

Delphic Maxims #9: Intend to get married

I'm finally getting back on-track with these Maxims. This one is the ninth and involves intending to get married. Getting married was a big thing and important to society. Unlike today, marriage was something that had to be done so that a society could survive. If you didn't marry, you didn't produce children, and society suffered. I believe that's what this means.

Hellenic Holiday: Sunoikia (2017)

I almost forgot to do this one. Tonight will be Sunoikia, which is the annual sacrifice that the people of Attica did. I don’t know who it was dedicated to, but it was an important one. I hope that you all have a good one.

Libations to Athena (2017)

Today I poured out libations to Athena. I did this downstairs because it's too hot in my room. Here's the photo's.

Late Post: Kronia (2017)

This one is late as well, and I’m sorry about that. This one is the first Hellenic holiday of the new year and it’s Kronia, which honors the Greek god Cronos. If anyone knows about the myth he defeated his father and became ruler of the Titans. However, he was told that one of his children would overthrown him and so he swallowed all of them except for Zeus, who was the child that ended up overthrowing him.

Known as the god of time he is popular today as the symbol of the end of the year. I hope that you all had a good one.

Late Post Delphic Maxims #8: Be/Know Yourself

So this is a late one and it's late because I had to work. Be/Know Yourself was the most important saying that Apollon ever said. And he's known for only that. Be/Know Yourself is know who you are, who the gods are, and what your doing. Know your inner self and your outer self.

Delphic Maxims #7:Perceive what you have heard

So this is the last one of this month and it's Perceive what you have heard. What does that mean? Well I'm going to take a crack at it. When you hear something it's natural to just assume that you know everything. However, there's always two sides to everything and you must listen to both and then decide which one is telling the truth. Don't just take people's word for it.

Athenian Month of Hekatombaion Begins

Today is the start of a new Athenian year. Here are the festivals, observances, and so on.

June 24: Nourmia
June 25: Agathos Daemon
June 26: Honoring Athena
June 27: Honoring Aphrodite, Hermes, Heracles, Eros
June 29: Honoring Artemis
June 30: Honoring Apollon
July 1: Honoring Poseidon and Theseus
July 5: Kronia
July 8: (Daylight) Libations to Athena
July 9: Sunokia/ Full Moon (Honoring Selene, Artemis, and Hecate)
July 16-23: Panathenaia
July 21: Athena's Birth
July 23: Hea Kai Nea (New Moon, Honoring Hecate)

Have a good month.

Last Day of the Athenian Month and Year

Today is the New Moon and it's also the last day of the Athenian month and year. We honor Hecate but also Zeus and Athena. I hope that you all have a good one and may the coming year be good to you.

Delphic Maxims #6: Know what you have learned

Time for another one. So what does this mean. When you learn things there is a difference between learning from a book and knowing what you've learned. Knowing what you've learned means that you've mastered it. And that's the most important then that you can do.

Delphic Maxims #5: Be overcome by justice

This is the next one and it's something that we see either followed or abused. Being overcome by justice means that you don't allow those that have violated laws to go unpunished. You set out to make sure that justice is served and that those that are punished are punished. However don't abuse it and if things are going to happen, let them happen.

Libations to Zeus

When it's daylight it will be time to honor Zeus and give him a libation. For me, however, it will take place when I get off from work. This is the last Libation of the Athenian month and year and one that I look forward to. Here's the altar that I have set up for this month.

Hellenic Holiday: Bouphonia (2017)

When the sun goes down it will be Bouphonia. Here's some info, which I got from Wikipedia.

In ancient Greece, the Buphonia (Greek: Βουφόνια "ox-slayings") denoted a sacrificial ceremony performed at Athens as part of the Dipolieia, a religious festival held on the 14th of the midsummer month Skirophorion— in June or July— at the Acropolis. In the Buphonia a working ox was sacrificed to Zeus Polieus, Zeus protector of the city, in accordance with a very ancient custom. A group of oxen was driven forward to the altar at the highest point of the Acropolis. On the altar a sacrifice of grain had been spread by members of the family of the Kentriadae, on whom this duty devolved hereditarily. When one of the oxen began to eat, thus selecting itself for sacrifice,^[1] one of the family of the Thaulonidae advanced with an axe, slew the ox, then immediately threw aside the axe and fled the scene of his guilt-laden crime.^[2][3]

The Athenians of the age of Aristophanes^[4] regarded the sombre ritual as archaic; its founding myth attributed its inception to Cecrops, the chthonic king of remotest legend (Aristophanes), to Diomus (Theophrastus, cited by Porphyry in De Abstinentia 2.10.2) or to archaic Erechtheus (Pausanias 1.28.10). The Dipolieia survived at least to the time of the Roman Empire.

Details of the rite can be reconstructed in detail, thanks to a passage in Porphyry that has been traced to a source in Theophrastus^[5] The offering of grain was a reminder of the time "when people shrank from eating oxen," as Plato related in The Laws (782c), "and offered no animals in sacrifice, but rather, cakes and the fruits of the earth soaked in honey, and other such pure sacrifices."^[6]
Although the slaughter of a laboring ox was forbidden, it was excused in these exceptional circumstances; nonetheless it was regarded as a murder. The axe, therefore, as being polluted by murder, was immediately afterward carried before the court of the Prytaneum, which tried the inanimate object for murder, and, after the water-bearers who lustrated the axe, the sharpeners who sharpened it, the axe-bearer who carried it, each denied in turn responsibility for the deed, the guilty axe or knife was there charged with having caused the death of the ox, for which the axe was acquitted (Pausanias) or the sacrificial knife was thrown into the sea (Porphyry). Apparently this is an early instance analogous to deodand.^[3] In the enactment of this comedy of innocence, and the joint feasting of all who participated save the slayer himself, individual consciences were assuaged and the polis was reaffirmed.

Being Sick

One of the bad things that can ever happen to anyone is getting sick. Yesterday I was supposed to work but since I have pink eye, I can't. Today I'm going to the doctor to have it looked at and the meds given to me. Only then will I be able to work. Hopefully by Saturday there will be improvement. I got pink eye, I believe, from the cold that I had been given. I hate not working but that's one of the facts of life, getting sick.

 

For the ancients getting sick most likely sucked as well. However, there were no hospitals around. Doctors were part of Asclepius or even Apollon, his father. Of course they weren't called doctors, but priests. If you were sick you would go there, give a sacrifice that could be eaten, spend the night in the enkoimeteria, a big sanctuary, guest house and sleeping hall with 160 patient rooms that was all made of holy limestone, and there you would have a dream where Asclepius would tell you what you had to do to regain your health.

If you were healed then you would return with a model of the infected body part and give that as an offering. I'm going to do that when I'm healed. Until then I'm praying to both Apollon and Asclepius for healing.

Hellenic Holiday: Skirophoria (2017)

When the sun goes down it will be Skirophoria, which honors Athena, Poseidon, Apollon, and Demeter. I don’t really have much information but it was an important holiday. Enjoy your holiday and may the gods bless you.

Delphic Maxims #4: Respect your Parents

This is the first one for this month and its a call to respect your parents. In the modern world we try and teach our children to have respect for us. However, there are those out there that try and unlearn that in our children. When they learn to disrespect us they make it clear that they don't appreciate what's been given to them. They teach this to their children, if they have them, and things get bad. Respect your parents and be glad that you don't live way back when when you could of been killed.

Knowing the Gods are Real is Not What Makes Them Real

Note: I forgot to write a couple Hellenic holiday's down but I blame being tired on that. I will write them down when they come around again.


I was reading "Under the Ancient Oaks" and the title above is the title that he used. I'm going to just talk about what I've seen and how it connects to the title. I've been in the Polytheist community for about eight years. I found the community when I left Wicca. Though I will admit that sometimes some of my practices look Wiccan when all I'm doing is trying to figure out how to best approach what I'm doing.

In the time that I've been around I've seen debates over the gods and if their real, archetypes, so on. Personally I view them as being real. But my view isn't what makes them real. It's their presence in my life, how I've interacted with them, and how they have helped me. I've asked the gods for help in strength, patience (my present job is very stressful because people want me to work faster than is possible), and protection while traveling. I've done offerings to the Norse, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman gods. I'll add Celtic as well.

These gods are real because of my personal experience with them. Their real because I feel their presence in my daily life. That's what makes them real, not because I believe in them. I believe the Greeks, Romans, Norse, Celts, and Egyptians knew their gods were real because of the interaction that they had with them. They could feel their presence in their daily lives and that fed the belief. Anything less would be insulting.

So that's what I get from the title and that's what I get in my daily life.

Delphic Maxims #3: Worship the Gods

This is the last one for this month.

So this is the third Delphic Maxims and one that I find very easy to follow. Worship the gods! It’s as simple as that but sometimes not that simple. When I talk about worship I talk about connecting to the gods and giving them their due. When you have someone that comes into any form of paganism, that has had worship thrown at them, it can be hard to worship the gods.

Sometimes they feel that their just going back to how they were force to be. That’s why, I think, that honoring or even working with the gods is sometimes used in place of worship. However this is a false thinking and one that doesn’t connect you to them. If you use your Christian, or any religion, baggage to come up with an excuse as to not worshiping the gods. After they have been denied that right for nearly 2,000 years their going to get your attention real quick.

Worship, to me, is a beautiful thing. It can connect us to something far deeper than ourselves. You see I don’t have Christian baggage and I’m glad that I don’t. But a lot of people do and it shows in their devotional work as well as their work period. Worshiping the gods is vital part of Hellenism and one that can’t be overlooked. Apollon intends us to battle through our own baggage so that we’re free to honor the gods.

Nourmia

Nourmia is the first observance during the first eight days of a new Athenian month. Once a month, leading up to the eight day, I will do a post to highlight a certain day. Nourmia is a time to honor the household deities like Zeus and Hecate, and other spirits that are important. I use a long ritual that I got from a Hellenic book that Labrys brought out last year. I do hope that you have a good one.

The Athenian Month of Skirophoria Begins

When the sun goes down the last Athenian month begins. Here's the list for those that don't know. Have a good one and may the gods bless you.

May 26: Nourmia
May 27: Agathos Daemon
May 28: Athena/ Arrophoria/Sacrifices to Kourotrophos, Athena Polias, Aglauros, Zeus Polieus, Poseidon, and Pandrosos
May 29: Honor Aphrodite, Hermes, Heracles, Eros.
May 31: Honor Artemis
June 1: Honor Apollon
June 2: Honor Poseidon and Theseus
June 6: Skira
June 8: Bouphonia
June 9: Full Moon (Honor Hecate, Selene, and Artemis)
June 10: (Daylight) Libations to Zeus
June 23: (New Moon) Honoring Hecate.

Have a good month.

New Moon (May 2017)

Tonight, when the sun goes down, it will be the end of another Athenian month. We honor the goddess Hecate and give her her due. We clean our homes, change things, and make sure that things are done. Let's have a good one.

Delphic Maxims #2: Obey the Law

This one is simple and something that many people out there fail to understand or disregard. Obey the Law! It means that you follow the laws that are out there. Laws are important and the gods consider those that obey them to be honorable. Not obeying the law causes all sorts of problems and it's not worth it.

Hellenic Holiday: Plynteria

The holiday of Plynteria is upon us, which is the annual washing of the statue of the goddess Athena during ancient times. In modern times I also wash my statue of Athena and also give her offerings and pour out wine to her. I don't spend any money or do any business. I just enjoy my time with her and do a small ritual in dedication to her. During ancient times the temple of Athena was closed and no business was done.

I do hope that you will have a good one.

Department of Justice Expands Religious List

Even though Hellenism isn't listed the Department of Justice has expanded the list of religions that they will recognize. Here's the link below.

http://religionnews.com/2017/04/21/defense-department-expands-its-list-of-recognized-religions/

Being a Hellenist in America

One of the great things about being born in the United States is that you have freedom of religion. Being a Hellenist in America is different then being a Hellenist in Greece. In Greece they had to fight for twenty years to be declared a 'known' religion. In the United States you do have to worry about it.  Being a Hellenist is easy when you live North but somewhat hard if you live in the South. Thankfully Christians don't know about Hellenism being practiced.

There are statues of the Greek gods almost everywhere, where you can leave a little something. So being a Hellenist is great here and I don't want that to change.

Why Wicca is a Joke

This is going to be a short post, since I have work. I just want to talk about why I believe that Wicca is a joke. One of the main reasons is the lack of any practice being based on fact. Wicca is a made-up religion that has no basis in historical fact. Of course people would like to say that Wicca is an ancient religion but that's not true. Wicca is a joke because it disrespects the gods and turns them into something the ancients would of never recognized.

At least the recons are trying to do it right. Once again, this is a short post and that's my views.

Hellenic Holiday: Festival to Honor Thracian Goddess Bendis

This is one of the posts that I deleted, so I'm re-writing it. I got this from Theo.com.

Bendis was the ancient Thracian Goddess of the moon and hunting who was worshiped with Bacchic-like orgies in the wilds of Thrake. The Greeks identified her with Artemis, Hecate, and Selene.

I hope that you enjoy your holiday and may the gods bless you.

Delphic Maxims #1: Follow God

I'm redoing them, sorry about that. This one is the first one and the tone that some that are against Monotheism is just shocking. The first one is Follow God. My view is follow the god of your town, listen to the gods wisdom, and understand how to honor that god. Leave your damn hate for your former religion out of your new.

Doing Daily Practice

So today is my day off, which I'm happy about, and that means that I don't have to get up so early in the morning. Each day I do a daily practice, though I try to also do them twice a day. The gods are important parts of my life, they give me strength that I need. My daily practice is saying a prayer, burning incense, pouring water, and purifying myself and my altar. Though the last one I do first. Giving an offering to Hestia and the other gods that are on my altar.

My altar changes with the month, a new god appearing on my altar and my offerings changing. This coming Friday I will be ordering my Zeus prayer card, candle label, and a blue candle. Personally I hope that it arrives before the new month begins. Anyway, doing daily practice had really helped me out and I'm glad that I decided to do it.

Libations to Apollon (2017)

Today will be libations to Apollon. I can't do this one because I have to work. Apollon is the brother to Artemis and the son of Zeus and Leto. I hope that you all have a good one and be well.

Work and Hermes

I'm writing this because I think that it's important to talk about this. Last week I started a job, which means that I can buy Greek goodies and I can do other things that are needed to function. Since I travel to and from work I need the protection of the god Hermes. Hermes is the god of travelers and he protects anyone that's using the road. Since I go to work during the morning there are all sorts of nuts out there.

Anything can happen, I'm not stupid in thinking that nothing will happen. So Hermes is becoming a very important deity in my life, since I go out and travel to make money for the family. Hermes gets honors and I carry his card with me for added protection. I say a prayer to him, I use the card, every morning and then say a prayer to him in the afternoon when I'm about to come home.

I really never connected to Hermes because I really didn't travel much. However, I'm doing that now and he's very important.

Greek Paganism Declared a 'known' religion

I posted this last month, which I was so excited when I heard about this. The link is below so that you can read it. I think that it's about time that this happened and I wish them luck.

http://wildhunt.org/2017/04/greek-paganism-legally-recognized-as-known-religion-in-greece.html

Redoing My Blog

First of all I would like to say that I'm sorry about deleting all my posts. I want to start off this blog with the ability to write down what I've written and not do double posts. I'm going to put down information, news events, things like that, that I think are important. Once again, sorry about doing this but I really need to get a handle on my blog.