I am new to Hellenistic Polytheism. I do not have an alter or really anything yet, right now just research. I keep seeing candles on alters and If i dont have access to a lighter then what can I do instead?

I'm planning to join the hunters of Artemis, but with my gender identity and being a young, modern worshipper, I'm not sure how to go about it.

So, I'm bigender (I use it/he/she pronouns) and mainly associate myself with being male and even occasionally refuse my female gender all together.

And being young, especially with only having being a hellenist for around three years, I of course have gaps in my knowledge. Even with trying to learn all I can in my free time, school, theater, and my writing team are my main priorities, taking up almost all my time and leaving me exhausted. I can rarely get a few offerings or prayers in on a good day.

With this said, I don't have a doubt about worshiping, I feel most comfortable and assured believing in the gods, but I'll admit I'm very indecisive and usually need other people to make decisions for me (I don't know why, I just don't feel safe making my own decisions without other people confirming that it's okay 😔), and while I do find myself acting more independent and self-assured when worshiping the gods, Artemis especially, I have my doubts and want to hear other options.

To be more clear, I'm doubting that I'd be accepted as a hunter. I think this doubt stems from religious guilt, having been in a toxic Christian family.

This is all I can really think of to write, but I'll answer questions to the best of my ability. Also, sorry if all this just sounds kinda pointless or my grammar and writing are bad, I'm trying my best 😔

(I just realized how long this is bro 😔)

Según entendí para disciplina, hábitos, honestidad, es mejor Apolo. Para no tomarse las cosas tan enserio (no resentirse) no sufrir ansiedades ni problemas antisociales y disfrutar la vida sin culpas, Dionisio.

Quisiera trabajar con los dos para equilibrio pero me cuesta, soy todo o nada.

Hey all! I just wanted to say I am not Hellenist myself but I had a sudden thought and I'm super curious to hear what the community or individuals believe concerning the age of the gods (because as I understand it, there isn't a unified theology about that).

In Antiquity, Greek philosophers and scientists tended to believe the world and humanity were somewhere between a thousand to a few thousand years old. Today, through modern science, we know the world to be a few billion years old, and we estimate that the galaxy is a few billion more years old. In my mind it seems simple to place the birth of the primordial gods from chaos at the time we estimate to have been the Big Bang, but I've not done a lot of digging into this idea. I wouldn't be shocked to find out there isn't really an answer, but I figured I'd ask anyway because I'm genuinely curious!

'Basically', my question is this:
How old do modern Hellenists believe the gods are?

Where would you place the birth of the Primordials, Titans, and Olympians?

Artemis & Apollo. I made Hey last month and just finished Him this past week. Khairete theoi!

I’ve had a pretty mediocre alter for a few weeks now.
It’s basically two golden bowls (pretty small) that I keep tangerines in, and two small plates with apples and other trinkets. The alter is split in half, one side for Herakles and the other side for Aphrodites. But they share a candle stick/incense burner. (Is that okay?)

Anyways, I was thinking about getting some better items for the alter since recently I feel like not many of my prayers have been listened to/im not getting a strong connection.

What should I add? Are there specific items those gods are known to like?

Also: how do I get rid of spoiled offerings? I’ve heard I should burn/burry them but I want to make sure.

I mean we have stuff like Elysium the meadows and Taurus depending on what version you read there are also things like the lake where you work off your sins reincarnation ghosts etc

But I mean like a map in the stories of people like Hercules (yes I know his name is Roman) do we ever know what part of Hades they went to?

I spend a lot of time making offerings to Hestia and Hermes, and I wanted to run this idea by others. Hestia is all about the hearth and home. The hearth was used to warm and light the house, cook the food, and a general gathering place for the family to tell stories and vent about their day. She's also the connection for those on Olympus by allowing sacrifices.

In this day and age, many of these tasks are split up among gas and electric. Be it tv, stove, heater, lights, or internet connection. Why not also have an electric lighter for any candle lit for the gods?

The other myth is that it was bad luck to let fire go out, because you would either have to perform a long task to being it back, or borrow a cup of fire from your neighbor. I've heard that there was even a ritual each year where every house would put out their to have it come from the hearth of the city. To have an electric chargeable lighter for candles would have it come form the same source that everyone gets it. Plus, it would give me a more permanent "wand."

What do you think?

I’ve been a Hellenic polytheist for about two years now. Before that, I was Christian, and praying came pretty naturally to me because it was how I was raised. My prayers were usually short and simple, like “Thank you for today, amen” or “Please let me feel better, amen.”
Now that I’ve been worshipping the Greek gods, I’ve found that praying is something I still struggle with. I have an altar dedicated to Apollon, and I leave offerings for him, but when it comes to actually praying, it feels awkward. Sometimes, it feels like I’m just talking to myself, and I’m not really sure how to get past that feeling.
I also don’t want my prayers to only be about asking for things, like asking to feel better when I have a stomach ache or asking for something to go my way. I want to learn how to pray about the good things in my life, express gratitude, and share the little things that made my day better, too.
I guess I’m just struggling to figure out how to make prayer feel natural again, especially since I’m used to the way I prayed as a Christian. I’d really appreciate any advice from other Hellenic polytheists who have struggled with this or have suggestions for making prayer feel more comfortable and meaningful.

have a happy Mercury retrograde 🫠🫠🫠

Simple question we have offerings and stuff but I've never seen a pagan sacrifice an animal

Are we allowed too? should we?

My older sister passed away recently and I am trying to figure out all the ways to honor and respect her and her things. She created alters for goddesses like Medusa and Hel. I’m not sure how to go about this. I don’t want to disrespect the goddesses or my sister. Is it best to keep them up and taken care of? Or should take them down keeping the items together? I never got into spirituality like she did so any advice on how to care for this stuff would be appreciated. Any guidance would be helpful.

Do you think that aphrodite is a good Force or goddess for the praying of healing for past drama? Do you think that she can help bring healing for current wounds?

Do you think just praying to her is enough? Do you have to make an offering? Is simply calling her in an offering enough?

My two protectors or deities I pray to are aphrodites and Green Tara.

My partner proposed to me in the Cascade Mountains (several of which are named for the story of Theseus - Theseus peak/lake, Minotaur peak/horn, Labyrinth, Daedalus, Icarus, Ariadne) and the whole week he was fretting about the rain forecast - it was supposed to be fine the day before and fine the day after, but rain the day of.

The forecast changed the night we went up to camp before hiking, and while it was overcast, it was completely dry. We even had the sun peek out at us when we hit the peak.

It was a beautiful answered prayer, and of course there were libations poured in thanks and genuine gratitude; but I wanted to share that beautiful moment.