u/Archangel447

So this has been on my mind for a while. And I was wondering. When you pray to the gods, Olympic and Cthonic, do you HAVE to stand when praying?

I've been considering sitting down when praying to Hades, as it brings me closer to the ground. I've figured as long as my hands are in the proper position and I've washed, it shouldn't matter.

I understand standing when praying to those like Lady Athena or Lord Zeus, as it's closer to the clouds. But for cthonics, is standing required?

So, as we all know, Persephone has two names. Persephone, and Kore. Kore being the name she was given by Demeter before she was taken to the Underworld.

I've actually wondered this for a while. When spring and summer are in effect, do you call her Kore and raise your arms to the sky when praying, and call her Persephone and lower your hands to the ground when fall/autumn and winter are happening?

Or do you keep the name and prayer position the same regardless of the season? I figured that, in association with the deal Zeus struck with Hades about Persephone returning, it would be "Kore" during the spring and summer, and "Lady Persephone" for fall and winter.

I'd welcome the inputs so I can understand more and direct my prayers correctly

So this recently crossed my mind about cemeteries, as I found out they're miasmic due to associations with death.

As someone who regularly visits and prays to Hades for my mother, who rests at one of the local cemeteries, I am admittedly a little concerned and confused. I'm concerned I may have made "miasmic prayers" even when I've washed before visiting the cemetery. I always bring a libation for Hades which I pour out at the gravesite of my mother, and I recite prayers to Hades before pouring out said libation. And, as an extra precaution, I wash my hands and face from one of the taps in the cemetery to ensure clean hands and face before my prayers.

But after reading from other people on this subreddit about their experiences around cemeteries and death, I can't help but feel like I've made several errors.

Have I been doing this wrong the whole time?

So today I went to the cemetery to pray to Hades and make a libation to my mother's grave. Noticed there was an awful lot of crows too. During my time at the cemetery near my mother's grave, I felt different. Like...heavier than usual. As in, it felt like something was pressing on me. I don't know why I felt that way, as I usually feel relieved when praying to Hades.

Does anyone else have this experience?

So a few weeks ago, I was returning through the town centre from my counselling that I normally do. I'd brought my Hellenic Polytheism House Worship book as it gives me security in my beliefs. During my walk, this guy stopped me and tried to talk to me about "the ways of God". I told him politely that I was a Hellenist, and even showed him some pages from my book. Including how I look to Lady Athena for wisdom and guidance, and Lord Hades for remembering the dead. The guy then basically insulted them, saying they're mystical and not real and going on about "the true path". After I left, I started feeling really angry about the encounter. Because I put great faith in the gods, and hearing someone deride them as nonexistent really ticks me off.

Should I feel angry about this still? It just sticks in the back of my head, especially how brazenly the guy insulted the gods that have actually helped me find clarity in life.

I've found several Hellenism books on Amazon, and some good recommendations for online reading sites on this subreddit, but I'm wondering. What books aimed specifically at Lord Hades, or the Underworld, would be possible to obtain paperbacks of? I find it easier to read paperbacks than online, so I'd gladly accept any suggestions.

I did find a few on Amazon, such as one called "Modern Hellenism: Working with Hades, God of the Dead", so that's a good start.

I also found one called a "Hades and Persephone Duet" which is two different books. However, I'm not too sure on this, since the last Hades X Persephone books I bought turned out to be fantasy and nothing relates to modern worship. Can someone also verify these books?

Outside of these books I've found on Amazon, does anyone have any recommendations for other paperbacks for the Underworld?

So I've been applying for several jobs in the local area. Even had an interview or two. There was one I distinctly recall, for a body services (like massages and aromatherapy and all that). Go for the interview, use what I was taught in the work coach, and they say I sound like a good candidate. They say they'll get back to me within 2 weeks.

Well, 2 weeks pass and I hear nothing. I send them a message on Indeed, which then says "READ", meaning they saw the message. Still no response.

Even try giving them a ring up, went to voicemail, and heard nothing back since.

As well as a few earlier this month. Missed some calls and had voicemails. Tried to ring the number they called me on and I get "We are unable to accept incoming calls on this number". For crying out loud...

Why do employers do this? To me, it makes them seem VERY unreliable if they can't call back a candidate or even call from a number they can ring back. Heck, even an EMAIL would have worked!

So, in a now deleted post, I asked on this subreddit about asking forgiveness from the gods for something that happened between me and someone i knew. And a lot of people told me that this wasn't something that the gods could help me with.

I made that post because I am still struggling with getting out of how I was raised. I grew up in a VERY Christian environment. My family wasn't Christian, so we didn't do dinner prayers or anything. But I did school assembly prayers, and was heavily taught about God being the one who could truly forgive the sins one committed. Like, you need to pray to Him to absolve yourself of your sins, and repent for wrongdoings.

We also visited churches, did hymns, did a Remembrance Parade, everything in the name of God.

Considering I was brought up in that way, I still have residual feelings that only the gods can truly forgive us for what we do. And I know that's not what Hellenism teaches.

I want to apologise for any problems I caused on that post as well.

Is anyone able to help me with getting out of this "Christian residue" that still stays with me? I think it's my upbringing that is the main issue, since Christian stuff was basically drilled into me during my school years and I've never forgotten it.

As I'm still a struggling Hellenist, I'm still second guessing myself at every stage.

Recently, I decided to visit the arcade in town, find a way to enjoy the weekend. It was a warm day, so I put on a simple short sleeved shirt and trousers. During a walk around the arcade, looking over the machines, a kid got my attention. She told me that her money had gotten stuck in the claw machine. Now, it was a humorous thing since I wore a red shirt and black trousers, the exact same colour that the arcade staff wore as a uniform. And the arcade was pretty dark so it was hard to tell. I had to gently tell her I wasn't staff so I couldn't help. But I did find someone who was able to.

Honestly, that was probably the most wholesome "I don't work here" moment I've ever had in my life

So I was diagnosed with autism at 11. More specifically, Aspergers syndrome. I find myself enjoying noise cancelling headphones much more than any other headphones. My dad also got me open ear headphones that just sit around my ears. But the sound quality is godawful. So I want to ask. What do you personally think is the best type of headphones for yourself? I love noise cancelling ones because they help with immersion and peace of mind

So I'm wondering this. During our everyday lives, we do stuff to honour a specific god. But I've been left thinking, what actions can honour 2 gods at once? And is it possible to honour both an Olympian god and cthonic god at the same time?

I would have thought caring for strays would honour Artemis and Hades. Especially if they're stray dogs too.

Any advice?

So I've been going to a local library which has books on Greek mythology, such as Medusa and the variations between Roman and Greek versions of the gods. But recently, it's been permanently shut down and no other local libraries, to my knowledge at least, have any Greek mythology books. I feel let down, as this really helped me further my understanding of the mythology, and helped me work towards my kharis with Athena due to learning so much from those particular books.

So, should I feel upset about this? Considering I loved that place and it made me feel closer to the gods.

So I usually do my prayers to Hades when at the cemetery, as it feels much more appropriate there, in his part of our lives. I always bring an offering of a libation (as food is forbidden in the cemetery due to wild animals), and I make the prayer and pour it out after sharing a few words with my mother's grave.

Recently I've been feeling like someone is watching over me as I pray. Like I'm getting closer to Hades. One time I swear I even felt a physical hand on my shoulder when I was alone at the cemetery.

Does anyone else feel this when they pray to their own gods?

I'm not exactly certain on this question, but it sprang to mind.

So, a friend of mine was drinking a lot with her friends in some sort of online gaming challenge they thought up. Eventually though, she got completely wasted and was sounding like she was self destructing. Her friends and those of us watching were able to convince her to turn it in for the night.

But now I'm concerned about the hangovers she may encounter and I said quietly "May Dionysus protect her".

My thought behind this was that Dionysus is the god of wine and revelry, so I thought he could also aid with hangovers and the after effects.

Regarding this, could I actually ask Dionysus to watch over my friend as she recovers? Or would Asklepios be a better fit?