"I asked ChatGPT!!" Well, I asked Lord Dionysus and he told you to turn that shit off and to go join an orgy
Anonymous asked: How much Kharis should someone build up before asking a deity do something? Because I’ve seen two opinions on it.
One:it’s insulting to ask for something from a god who you’ve never given offerings or otherwise made acquaintance or anything with. That they’ll ignore you at best.
The other:maybe you’ve never acknowledged Aphrodite or Hermes in your life, but it’s ok to ask for a partner or safe travels or money.
Was hoping to get your perspective on it :)
Hey! So this depends on the nature of how you’re asking, at least in my practice.
For example, you could call on a deity you’ve never reached out to before, and you can make a deal / agree to a working with them or something. Like maybe you call on Hypnos and ask for support with sleeping, in exchange you’ll leave out xyz offering for them, and you’re clear about them when first calling on them / after vetting them. You can do this without regular offerings, an altar, etc, and just for the specific situation you’re asking him for help with. This is what I tend to do because it’s a great way to not only meet new deities / spirits, but to establish an already working relationship that shows you respect and value them + the mutuality between to, shows you are willing to take initiative, etc. And this relationship is not something you have to follow through with beyond your needs, but you can if you want to, and either way it shows you respect them and value their support / time / energy / etc. It’s a way of establishing a relationship with them / building kharis without becoming a regular worshipper.
If you’re asking them for something but you’ve never given them an offering though, then it just depends. Sometimes they’ll be nice and help out. Sometimes they won’t show up and prioritize their current practitioners instead. Sometimes they’ll show up to see if you’re in dire need or if you end up offering anything. Etc. I’ve seen each of these cases before. It really just depends on the situation, who you are, who they are, what they decide, etc. Like, Hera may see something like this differently than Aphrodite. Zeus may be in a bad mood but Artemis may be in a better mood than usual. Hekate may have an established rule she follows with her practitioners. Etc. We often try to figure this stuff out without remembering that the gods do have self-determination, just like the rest of us. So I can’t really speak for them / say for them, but these are things that sometimes happen. Asking the gods themselves is always going to be best imo, because they can speak for themselves, or at least finding a valid / credible priest or something (somebody closer to them than the average person who they’ve given permission to speak on their behalf to other practitioners / seekers) of theirs to go to.
In short, it really depends. In terms of your first example, sometimes this will happen. In terms of your second example, sometimes this will happen. There is no one set monolith because each deity is their own individual, just as we are, and each person / situation is different. Sometimes it may depend on what specifically we are asking them (for example, asking protection from Ares even though you don’t work with him, offer anything, pray to him, etc, may be in poor taste on principle, but there truly is no “this is the one way”).
I hope this helps! Feel free to send another Ask with any follow up questions!
“He who is inhabited by Eros-Dionysos is a daemon while he yet remains a man. He sees through the shadow-body of things into the flaming night pf the images. He himself is destiny; he himself is Gorgonic dread. The streams of earth, the storms of heaven, and the starry vaults above are within him, and his power reaches beyond the orbit of Saturn”
— - Ludwig Klages, Rhythmen und Runen (via coldalbion)
Because I feel like I should reblog this again.
Achilles❤️🔥🦶❤️🔥
Easy Ways To Worship (When Things Are A Bit Difficult)
It's been a while, isn't it?
This post is, admittedly, based on my own personal experiences. As of recently, for several reasons, I've been struggling with praying. I still feel deeply connected to Dionysos, however my motivation to properly pray has been low.
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Why Might People Struggle With Praying
There are a few reasons why someone might end up struggling with prayer even though they feel a connection to their God/s. This can be due to increasingly busy schedules, events in life that mean you have other things to think about, or you might even be in a situation/location where prayer is inaccessible. It could even be as simple as physical or emotional exhaustion
None of this makes you a bad person, nor will you be punished for it. I've said this a few times before, but your faith should never be more important than your own wellbeing. If you ever find yourself having to choose between praying and taking time to do you own life admin, the Gods will never take offense to you choosing yourself for as long as you need to
That being said, if you want some ways to make worship a little easier to take into for day-to-day life, then here are some ways to do so
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Easy/Subtle Worship Methods
Prayer Modifications
Prayers don't have to be particularly long. Usually, prayer is a ritual that involves cleansing and taking time to prayer. It's a special thing, but it can, understandably, feel overwhelming. In prayer, what matters more than technique is intention, so there's nothing wrong with making prayer time work for you
It's perfectly OK for a prayer to take place while you're lying in bed, before you go to sleep. And a prayer can also be a short sentence - my go-to is "praise be to Dionysos". Short, simple, straight to the point
Devotional Jewellery/Objects
If you have/find an object that reminds you of your Deity, then carrying it around with you could help you feel more connected - the same way a Christian might wear a cross around their neck. People often use jewellery (necklaces, bracelets, rings etc.) but you could also use gemstones or other imagery. It doesn't have to be a large object, just something you can keep in a pocket somewhere
Day-To-Day Activities
Devotional activities are another great way of maintaining a connection with a Deity. Be that by picking up a hobby, or consuming media that reminds of them, devotional tasks can be as simple as you'd like them to be. For example, I've made a devotional playlist that I listen to from time to time. I've also written poems in the past that centre around Dionysos. You don't have to spent copious amounts of time and money on these things, but it might be worth looking into what your God/s are known for and finding adjacent activities or media about those subjects
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Worship is a beautiful thing, and something that must be taken seriously. That being said, it doesn't mean that prayer is more important than you're own wellbeing. If you ever need to take time away/alter your worship, for whatever reason, the Gods won't look at you harshly.
Remember that, in prayer and worship, intention is far more important than method
I fear Lord Apollon is trying to tell me something because someone explain why in my calc discussion I’ve been in group 7 for the past two weeks (these groups are completely random)
𝜗𝜚⋆₊˚ just a reminder...
⋆˚࿔ aphrodite loves your face no matter how much you pick at its flaws.
⋆˚࿔ apollo makes the sun shine for you even when you're at your lowest.
⋆˚࿔ artemis quiets the world around you when your aching body needs rest.
⋆˚࿔ ares watched every single atrocity that has happened on this planet so you wouldn't have to.
⋆˚࿔ athena tries to make you see the logic of getting better and not staying stuck where you are mentally when you've struggled too long.
⋆˚࿔ hades knows it's not your time yet.
⋆˚࿔ hermes has noticed you don't joke as often.
⋆˚࿔ hephaestus wonders if you'd find comfort in building things the way he does.
⋆˚࿔ nike is waiting for you to heal.
⋆˚࿔ hera would silence all of tartarus if it would ease your pain.
⋆˚࿔ zeus makes storms so you have reasons to stay in and rest when the world is far too much for you to handle.
⋆˚࿔ when hecate goes for walks with persephone, they discuss subtle little things to do to make you feel better.
⋆˚࿔ poseidon wishes you'd realize his oceans weren't as salty as your tears.
⋆˚࿔ dionysus gives your friends the idea to come over for a movie night and comfort you.
⋆˚࿔ eros constantly bothers his mother, asking if she'd help him find a lover for you and begging to know if it would ease your pain.
⋆˚࿔ asclepius nudges you towards finding help if things get that bad.
⋆˚࿔ the muses are there when you finally laugh at something you see, whether it's on TV, in public, with your friends or just on your fyp.
⋆˚࿔ hestia watches lovingly as you finally prepare yourself a proper meal for the first time in ages.
Quick tip for new pagans (something that took me years to understand): faith isn’t a chore, or at least it shouldn’t be. If your religion starts to feel like it’s taking a toll on you, that’s a sign to take a step back, maybe practice more casually for a while. There’s no obligation for you to feel the connection 100% of the time. Faith is a great help, but it’ll come through when you need the help. So don’t force yourself into spirituality at a time when it doesn’t come naturally. It’ll leave you exhausted, not to mention spirituality is one of things that just can’t be forced. Trust me: fluctuations in your faith are temporary. Plus, there are lots of ways to keep a steady, yet casual connection to your faith. The Gods have always been there, whether you feel their presence or not.
