u/babybattie

This might come from a lack of education and knowledge on the topic, but I don’t really understand eclecticism. At least when it comes to orthopraxy. To me, I don’t quite grasp how you could thoroughly honor these orthopraxies if you use more eclectic practices. In theory, it could work. Say, someone who worships the Greek and Norse pantheon, but still uses khernips or avoids goetia. To me, that makes enough sense. But in practice, I almost never see this sort of thing. It’s not common. Somebody did say once somewhere that ‘just because we have eclectic beliefs doesn’t mean we can ignore the practices or things that are necessary’ which I find quite reasonable.

Often times, I see contradictions in things others will say. Like using Aphrodite for love magic on another person, or not cleansing before prayer at all. Typically, or as I’ve seen it, people who call themselves strictly a Hellenic polytheist don’t exhibit these sorts of contradictions, because it is an orthodoxy. If they do, it’s just because of a lack of knowledge. But with people who either get all of their information from TikTok, or people who consider themselves eclectic pagans, it’s a lot more common.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m in no way discrediting their beliefs or judging. It’s certainly not something I understand or would practice myself, but everyone is entitled to what they believe. I just get extremely confused, is all. From what I’ve learned and been taught, things like performing goetia or praying while miasmic bring us away from the Gods and Their teachings. That’s why it doesn’t make sense to me. I don’t know how one can worship the Gods while directly doing things that is considered offensive to Them.
ESPECIALLY when it comes to miasmic offerings. Don’t even get me started on miasmic offerings……

Anyways, It’s just something I’ve thought about, but never really get to talk about. Especially since there is a lot of people in other subreddits that are eclectic. I just never know how to respond to people who do happen to be eclectic but mention doing or avoiding necessities. Not because I think they’re wrong, I just don’t understand it.

EDIT: I don’t think it’s eclectic paganism that is the reason for this, I’ve just noticed a correlation between those who call themselves eclectic pagans and those that don’t do ample research.

Currently doing a full list of the Gods and Their associations/traditional offerings/holidays, as well as Their epithets. So, I have a question. I see a lot of Latin epithets, and also different epithets based on region. But in prayer, can I use many epithets INCLUDING ones from different regions together, or should I avoid that?

Additionally, do you think praying in Greek would be helpful? I do not speak Greek, but I am pretty apt in learning other languages. If not learning the whole language, would the alphabet be helpful? I try to pray in English but use their Greek names/epithets to invoke them

so, to preface this, I was raised in a polytheistic household. being raised in this environment, I naturally ended up finding my own path, which is Hellenic polytheism (Reconstructionist specifically). I’ve been strictly devoted to reconstructionism for 6 years.

Being from a small town in the Bible Belt of America, i think it’s enriching to discuss polytheism in a primarily Christian area. But, i have this friend who is the type to copy anything they think is cool, and poorly mimic it.

I had a discussion with them, and cleared some of it up after conflict. They essentially said “I just do that sometimes” without taking any real accountability. My religion is a massive part of my identity, so when they said they wanted to be a Hellenic polytheist, I agreed to explain some things (this was after they joined a Christian club the year before). I love new people getting involved in the religion, but I always get a bit frustrated with this person. They never do research, and only claimed to worship Aphrodite because ‘She’ll make me pretty’. This upsets me deeply, because it feels like they treat it as a joke. they don’t know anything about the religion outside of knowing the gods. Not practices, not kharis, and they didn’t even know what khernips were before I explained a ritual I did. I just get so exhausted.

I suppose the reason that I was thinking about it is because they were bragging about doing love spells and such, and use Aphrodite for tarot reads about their love life, and never do any genuine offerings. I get a little uneasy, thinking about the implications of that. Goetia, the lack of cleansing, never doing prayers… While it isn’t my practice, and I never judge others, I just feel so upset with how they treat it, and religion as a whole (making fun of others). I already get confused with eclecticism in a way (though I don’t judge, just not for me), and it adds a whole other layer when this person just ignores everything.

Have you ever experienced things like this? What’s helped you through it, or what were your thoughts about it? I just feel so brain-scrambled.

I was born and raised in a polytheist household, but only became super devoted 5 years ago. However, I really want to get more invested in reconstructionism. I’d consider myself more of a revivalist at the moment. I never have any good resources though, since I see many ECLECTIC pagan resources instead, and that’s not really something I want. Does anyone have any good books, websites, blogs, or specific topics I could research? I’d even settle for topics. I know quite a lot, but I want to make sure I don’t miss anything.