A very common question made by those new to Hellenismos is, “Are patron deities acceptable, and do I have to honor the whole Greek pantheon?” Concerning honoring the whole pantheon, the simple answer is yes. Patron deities are not as easy, and depend on what we are actually discussing. Patron deities are Gods or Spirits that act as guardians or watchers for a person, place, or thing. Within Ancient Greece, patron deities took many forms, from the guardians of cities (Athena being the patron of Athens) to tutelary spirits acting as guides (Socrates is said to have had a personal daimon who guided his contemplation). These concepts are very similar to the Ishta-deva in Hinduism and Buddhism, described as “most beloved divinity” or “meditational deity” respectively. These concepts are very different from the concept of patrons in most of the modern Neopagan movement.

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You may hear the comment when discussing Hellenismos outside Hellenic circles, “Hellenic Reconstruction is rigid and inflexible.” No, Reconstruction is not rigid, but it is also not easy. Hellenismos requires commitment, fortitude, and determination. It is not an effortless or uncomplicated religion, and does not provide instant gratification. Even if a person is not acting as a scholar, or participating in active reconstruction, there is an expectation of one being erudite, reasoned, and virtuous. It requires work, commitment, and perseverance, but the benefits are lasting and tangible.

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This seems to be the talk of the day across a number of venues. The questions tend to revolve around Hellenismos and it being a Reconstructionist religion. There are questions about where the boundaries are between Hellenic Paganism, Hellenic Polytheism, and Hellenic Reconstructionism. What is the importance of myths, religious obligation, and ethics? Is there a difference of opinion between different Hellenic Reconstructionists on what separates them and “Neopagans”?

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Despise A Slanderer

One of the Delphic Maxims…and one that I wanted to talk about because I’ve found it to be significant on a personal level.

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We are mislead, misinformed, when we first trot on the path of Hellenismos.

If we went looking for Hellenismos, we already have a passion, a love for the Gods, if we happen to come across it, it grabs our attention, a pagan path based on reason. Once we begin to look into the path we become mislead and misinformed, between the intellectual masturbation, we the new comers see Hellenismos as a path for intellectuals, a path not for the love of the gods, but a path for accuracy amongst facts, a history lesson, at least this is what I myself experienced. I know many can and will agree with me. We fear the path, those who are suppose to be our mentors are bickering over who is presenting the facts and who is not, we feel no spiritual connection in this path, but then again we don’t even know the path. We know we love the gods, but Hellenismos seems to us new comers more focused on facts than spiritual connection to the Gods. The older followers know this is not so, yet they fail to show this to us, instead of guiding us slowly and carefully on the path, like the first time we ride a 2-wheeler, they scare us, they present us with numerous amount of facts, what we cant do, and present us their obbsessions of orthopraxy, they forget that we have no knowledge of this path yet. We fear that we will mess up, we will not do it right, so we don’t try at all.

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But I certify you, brethren, that the [message] which was
preached of me is not after man. For I neither received
it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of…
~ Galatians 1:11-12 (KJV) ~

Many reading this may be wondering why a Hellenic Polytheist, writing of the topic on Oracles and seers, would start his discussion with a biblical quote. The answer is simple. It clearly illustrates a point regarding self-anointed oracles, and their reliance on voices in their head above historically accurate information. Paul freely admitted he placed a greater reliance on the voices in his head than on the supposed eye witness testimony of Jesus’ teachings by Mathew, Mark, Luke, John, and others (the others later deemed heretical). Students of history will know that Paul’s conversion, and becoming a leader in early Christianity, caused a fundamental shift in the movement. In fact, it is the teachings of Paul, based on the voices in his head, that modern Christianity is founded, far more than the teachings of Jesus.

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This blog has two storylines that will eventually converge.

Many years ago when I was flatting while in University my flat used to have this big ivy plant that covered the entire north facing side of the house. It was one of those traditional ivy plants that crawled over the wall etc.. It is not variegated, it is just the traditional Hebera helix.

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