Diasia

On Wednesday I celebrated the Lesser Mysteries, so today, since I don't have to work tomorrow, I'm celebrating Diasia. Diasia was dedicated to Zeus Meilichios. Zeus Meilichios was the underworld aspect of Zeus. Since Zeus was a very important god, then this festival was important and widespread. Here's a link to my lovely fellow Hellenist that does way more research then I do and has some pretty lengthy posts.

http://baringtheaegis.blogspot.com/2013/03/celebrating-diasia.html

Thanks Baring the Aegis for your time honored work.

Protests Mount Over Tall Buidlings Around Acropolis

Here's the link

http://www.ekathimerini.com/237874/article/ekathimerini/news/protests-mount-over-tall-buildings-around-acropolis

I'm going to talk about why this is wrong on so many levels.

One of the things that I can't stand is when something that was enjoyed by all is now enjoyed by a selected few. The acropolis, which has several ruins that made up the most impressive and splendid religious site in the world. To have the view partly obstructed by hotels is beyond disgusting and I can understand the outrage that these people are feeling.

To most these ruins are just that, ruins, but to Greece they mean something. Something that's timeless and important. Buildings that host snooty guests, who can see the full acropolis, is just wrong. Oh how Athena is crying.

The Lesser Mysteries Approch

This year's Lesser Mysteries is upon us and it will be time to honor the goddess Dementer and Persephone. Due to work I usually pick a day that I'm off to do this. Here's some info about this observance, which runs from tonight, at sundown, to sundown on the 4th of next month.

There were two Eleusinian Mysteries, the Greater and the Lesser. According to Thomas Taylor, "the dramatic shows of the Lesser Mysteries occultly signified the miseries of the soul while in subjection to the body, so those of the Greater obscurely intimated, by mystic and splendid visions, the felicity of the soul both here and hereafter, when purified from the defilements of a material nature and constantly elevated to the realities of intellectual [spiritual] vision." According to Plato, "the ultimate design of the Mysteries … was to lead us back to the principles from which we descended, … a perfect enjoyment of intellectual [spiritual] good."^[46]
The Lesser Mysteries took place in the month of Anthesteria under the direction of Athens' archon basileus. In order to qualify for initiation, participants would sacrifice a piglet to Demeter and Persephone, and then ritually purify themselves in the river Illisos. Upon completion of the Lesser Mysteries, participants were deemed mystai ("initiates") worthy of witnessing the Greater Mysteries.

I hope that you all will have a good one.

Been a Member of Hellenion for a Year

The middle part of January marked one year that I've been a member of Hellenion. I didn't renew on time, but I did renew. When the time comes I will renew, on time. Being part of Hellenion has been one of the best things that I've done. It's connected me to community and helped me feel as though I'm not a lone Hellenist. One of the things that I really want to do, when I'm able to, is have a proto grove that's connected with Hellenion. Here's a link to the group and I hope that you enjoy being a member, if you decide to join.

http://www.hellenion.org/index/

A Celebration of Ancient Greek Music

https://greece.greekreporter.com/2019/02/19/a-celebration-of-ancient-greek-music-in-athens/

Oh how Apollon loves this. This was in the Greek Reporter and I just love the fact that these students are celebrating something that all cultures have enjoyed for thousands of years. Naturally we don't really know what Greek music sounded like, but this is a start. May Apollon bless them and help them in their efforts.

The Return of Percy Jackson

 


I don't know how long the re-release of Percy Jackson has been out, but I found out that it was back when I was on Amazon. No matter if you love it, or hate it, Percy Jackson did introduce children to the world of the Greek gods. I have the Kindle edition of the first book, which I really do love, and it amazes me how much I did enjoy this series. For those that don't know Percy Jackson is the five book series by Rick Riordan, who has his own controversy over his opinion about those that worship the Greek gods, about a boy name Percy, or Perseus, Jackson that discovers that he's the son of Poseidon.

Even though I don't approve of Riordan's comments, his books did introduce children to the Greek gods, later on Roman, Egyptian, and Norse, and it most likely did have some effect of leading those people into honoring the gods. I'm glad that they were re-released and I do hope that people enjoy them as much as I did.

Honoring the Gods Daily

One of the big problems with living with my mother is finding a way to honor the gods and not it become an issue. I have an altar that I use when I do my rituals and then it goes back to being a regular table when I'm done. In the eleven years that I've been a Greek pagan I've figured out small ways to honor the gods without it becoming an issue.

Here's my altar.

1: Praying doesn't need an altar.

One of the things that I've learned about religion  is that prayer doesn't require an altar. You can pray to the gods and do it daily as part of your practice. The ancients prayed to their gods and it still applies today.

2: Having a Travel Altar

Out of all the things that I've learned during my time is the idea of having a travel altar. It is a safe way to have your altar without your parents knowing. You can always pack it away when your done.

3: Giving an offering outside.

Going outside and giving an offering the gods is a way to practice without causing problems. This is really good when it's warm outside. Leaving an offering that won't harm animals is another way to honor even the nature spirits.

4: Living a Life the Greeks would of been proud of.

Out of all the small things that you can do, the most important thing, is to live your life the way the Greeks would of been proud of.


It's not easy to be a Hellenist, but it's worth it in the end.

I'm Back

It's been over a year since I posted anything and I'm glad to say that I'm back posting. I will be posting things about my religion and things that are going on in the world that's connected to Greece and the past. Glad to be back.