…sacrifice to the deathless gods purely and cleanly, and burn rich meats also, and at other times propitiate them with libations and incense, both when you go to bed and when the holy light has come back, that they may be gracious to you in heart and spirit…” ~ Hesiod, Works and Days

While this “Back to Basics” guide is intended to provide essentials information for those interested and new to Hellenismos, more is needed. I provide basic information to get a person started with a working practice while continuing to learn. For those interested, please review our recommended reading list, read through our other articles and essays, and post your questions to our forum. Hellenismos.us is here to provide you with valid, well reasoned, and well documented information for practicing Hellenismos. We provide the information you can trust.

Household worship can be divided into three types: (1) devotions that are performed daily; (2) devotions performed on specific occasions; and (3) devotions performed voluntarily according to personal desire. The major ritual elements include sacrifices (involving the consumption of items), votive offerings (gifts), prayers and hymns, with the possible addition of contemplation (meditation).

Sacrifices can be separated into two classifications: major and minor. “Minor sacrifices” are used within daily devotions and include small plates of foodstuff and the burning of small quantities of incense or aromatic herbs. “Major Sacrifices” are performed on major occasions, such as marriages and births, when sacred substances are offered into a sacrificial fire.

Simple Indoor Shrine/Altar

While many will opt for individual indoor and outdoor shrines, altars, and statues, a Hellenic Polytheist should have at least one central shrine in their home where they can worship daily. An indoor shrine can be anything from a room, a small altar, or simply pictures or statues. Family members should worship together, making offerings to the Gods, but worship can be done individually or performed by the head of the household.

The most common items needed for an indoor altar include:

• Sacred Icon or Cult Image (statuary or other image)
• Incense Holder & Incense
• Lamp or Decorative Candle Holder & Candle
• Water Bowl & Carafe
• Cup & Decanter for Wine (or other libation as appropriate)
• Offering Bowl/Plate
• Decorative Box (used as a Vault)
• Wood Lighting Sticks

Daily Devotions

According to Hesiod, libations and sacrifices are to be performed every morning and evening. This is in addition to libations and sacrifices at each meal, and minor acts of generosity (aka random acts of kindness) throughout the day. Daily acts of devotion include:

• Bathing and purification.
• Personal worship of the Gods at home shrine(s) (includes lighting a sacred flame, offering incense and/or foodstuffs before cult images, and the saying prayers and/or singing/chanting/recitation of hymns).
  • Primary devotions included are to the Household Gods (Zeus, Hestia, Agathos Daimon, Apollo [Apollon], Hercules [Herakles], Hermes, Hecate [Hekate], and the Dioskouroi), the Twelve Olympians, and All Gods and Goddesses (in a general declaration of devotion).
  • Other personal devotions, based on dominion, can include the Gods of Marriage, the Gods of Agriculture, the Gods of Healing, the Gods of the Countryside, and other “families” of Gods based on domains such as age, gender, marital status, occupation, or other special interests.
• Observance of days of obligations as prescribed by the Attic (or similar) Festival Calendar.
• Can also include the reading of ancient texts and/or contemplation/meditation.
• At each meal, families sets aside a portion of food and make libations.
• Spontaneous acts of friendship and generosity.

Personal Patrons

Hellenic Polytheists also have the opportunity to honor a personal deity/daimon. This personal deity is known as the Eautou (personal or “one’s own”) or Genethlios (birthright) Daimon, the guardian spirit who watches over the fate of an individual from birth. Devotions can consist of worshiping one’s personal daimon with prayers and offerings, accompanied by contemplation (meditation).

Simple household rituals include:

• Lighting of the flame (lamp or candle). If you keep a hearth flame continuously burning, then use a lighting stick to transport that flame to your altar.
• The hands of the participants are washed with lustral water (prepared with pure spring water and sea salt), and then discarding contaminated water.
• Sprinkle water onto the sacred space, altar items, and offerings.
• Light (at minimum) two incense sticks or cones*, using the lighting sticks, for your sacrifice.  A portion is made to Hestia, and additional individual sacrifices can be made to each deity associated with the ritual.
• Make, either additionally or alternatively, offerings of foodstuff (fruits or cakes) or gifts.
• Say prayers and hymns to the God(s) the ritual is dedicated.
• Libate wine or other appropriate liquid.
• Ritual concludes with food items being eaten by participants, or offerings collected and placed in the vault.

This document is not intended to be all-inclusive, but provides some essentials to get started. It provides only basic information for a person to create a working household practice. More complete descriptions of traditional Hellenic rituals can be found within both  primary and secondary sources. Please, feel free to post any questions you may have either here or on our forum.

Rejoice in the company of the Gods!

*Special Note: I do not recommend burning resins, herbs, or loose incense with charcoal tablets in the home. These items give off a lot of smoke, and need a well ventalated area.

Tags: Ancient Greece, Ancient Greek religion, Hellenismos, Household Gods, Household Religion, obligation, prayer, purification ritual impurity, sacrifice, The Twelve, tradition, Twelve Olympians, votive offerings, worship