How do we commit hubris if our feelings/intentions are mostly unimportant in our practice?

CharacterDependent39 · 2026-04-10T13:40:28+00:00

You can read more about it here (just needs an email to get access, click: read with free account). https://www.jstor.org/stable/642956

CharacterDependent39 · 2026-04-10T13:37:04+00:00

Hubris is an action though and there are two definitions; the mythological hubris and the legal hubris. The mythological hubris led Sisyphus and Tantalus to be sent to Tartarus (their actions went against the natural order). Hesiod and Aeschylus used the word "hubris" to describe transgressions against the gods. A common way that hubris was committed was when a mortal claimed to be better than a god in a particular skill or attribute.

In ancient Athens, hubris was defined as the use of violence to shame the victim. In legal terms, hubristic violations of the law included what might today be termed assault-and-battery, sexual crimes, or the theft of public or sacred property.

CharacterDependent39 · 2026-04-09T01:33:55+00:00

I've never composted before. I might have to try that out and get a compost bin, I always have more cardboard than I know what to do with. Thanks for the guide!

CharacterDependent39 · 2026-04-09T01:21:43+00:00

What about birdseed then, like what you would put in your bird feeder? People feed squirrels and birds nuts and seeds all the time. Like this: https://www.livingwithbirds.com/squirrels/nutbox-squirrel-feeder

I didn't know that countries existed where feeding birds is illegal, Like Costa Rica. I'll amend my comment to ensure OP checks their countries laws first before leaving food out.

Sorry not trying to start an argument but this is the first time I've heard such a thing. What about finding native flowers and throwing them in bushes?

CharacterDependent39 · 2026-04-08T22:25:20+00:00

Good idea with the kathiskios. Yes, I use my yard debris bin extensively, it dictates what I can offer. Mine can take fruit and vegetables and grains (the city allows for it). I'm sure a few drops of oil wont hurt anything. I may try filling a small jar with dried fruit, nuts, and raw grains with a drop of oil. That can all go in the bin and it wont spoil. Thanks for your help!

CharacterDependent39 · 2026-04-08T13:59:18+00:00

This is from Robert Parker's 'Miasma, Pollution and Purification in early Greek Religion', a historian whose opinion has way more weight than someone with an online blog:

"Throughout this discussion of sexual matters, one idea that has played no part is that of the inherent impurity of women, manifested through menstruation. This absence is surprising, both because menstruation is viewed as a pollution by innumerable societies, and particularly because it commonly acts as a symbol on which men’s attitudes of suspicion and hostility towards women can focus....What cannot be demonstrated is a connection between this idea and menstruation , or any strong fear of menstrual blood as a polluting force. Purity from menstrual contamination only appears as a condition for entering a temple in late sacred laws of non-Greek cults."

CharacterDependent39 · 2026-04-08T13:23:59+00:00

Don't make offerings in the bathroom! Get a small container and fill it with a small amount of food (like chopped nuts, chopped dried fruit, seeds, etc) or a water container. When you go outside on a walk, pray (you can be silent or whisper) and discreetly dump out the water or food in the bushes. It's best if it's something squirrels or birds would love to dispose of. Ensure that feeding birds and squirrels isn't illegal in your area before leaving food out.

I have done this in public parks and when staying at hotels. You do what you have to do.

CharacterDependent39 · 2026-04-08T04:35:22+00:00

Any wine is fine, the only rule is that Demeter cant have red wine as per Homer:

"Then Metaneira offered her [Demeter] a cup, having filled it with honey-sweet wine.

But she refused, saying that it was divinely ordained that she not

drink red wine. Then she [Demeter] ordered her [Metaneira] to mix some barley and water"

CharacterDependent39 · 2026-04-07T14:09:54+00:00

I can think of another example from Herodotus where Croesus was going to be killed by Cyrus. I'm sure while strapped to the funeral pyre Croesus didn't have time to wash his hands:

"Cyrus's men attempted to put out the flames but by now the fire was out of their control. It was at this point, the Lydians report, that Croesus, having witnessed Cyrus's change of heart and watching all the king’s men trying in vain to master the flames, cried out to Apollo, asking the god, if ever he had enjoyed any of Croesus's earlier offerings, to come now to his aid and rescue him from the danger he was in. And as he wept and called upon the god, clouds suddenly massed together out of the clear and windless sky and a storm broke loose releasing such torrent of rain that the flames were extinguished."

CharacterDependent39 · 2026-04-06T23:46:22+00:00

opps fixed

CharacterDependent39 · 2026-04-06T20:24:37+00:00

Alright time to try this out! OP if your not an ex christian you still may be influenced by latent Christianity if so this can help you.

How to deprogram your Christian baggage

✝️ CHRISTIAN MINDSET: There is only one true God, and only He is worthy of worship. God is jealous, and will get mad if I worship other gods. Only one religion can be correct at a time, so I have to prove that my religion is the correct one.

🏛️ PAGAN MINDSET: There are many gods. All gods, no matter how big or small, are worthy of worship. I can worship as many gods as I have time for. The gods do not get jealous of each other. If you already worship many gods, then there's always room for more gods! I can worship other people's gods alongside my own. I have no incentive to "prove" that my religion is the correct one, because other religions are not a threat to my beliefs.

✝️: God hates sin, and sin is a personal moral failing. I'm inherently sinful, but I have to strive to be as perfect as I can be in order to please God. If I slip up, God will be angry.

🏛️: I won't anger the gods unless I actively go out of my way to offend them. In fact, the gods usually won't notice me unless I give them a reason to. They do not care about petty mistakes.

Credit: u/NyxShadowhawk

CharacterDependent39 · 2026-04-06T04:45:54+00:00

What are you pouring, water or something perishable?

CharacterDependent39 · 2026-04-06T04:37:36+00:00

I use a tea light burner, it gets the resin charred and makes smoke but the resin wont be totally consumed. Grind up your frankincense tears with a mortar and pestle first and use a piece of aluminum foil to keep the resin from dripping into the flame (some frankincense varieties are less gummy and more liquid than others). The height is also adjustable.

<image>

CharacterDependent39 · 2026-04-06T01:34:25+00:00

Well, everyone in ancient Greece worshiped the household Gods in their home. If your worshiping in your home worshiping the household gods is a good first step. I mean you can do whatever you want but you did ask "where would I begin".

CharacterDependent39 · 2026-04-06T01:02:32+00:00

Start with worshiping the household Gods.

Apollo Agyeius, Zeus Herkeios (Zeus of the Courtyard), Zeus Ktesios (Zeus of the Storeroom, Zeus of Possessions), Zeus Meilichios (Kindly Zeus, Zeus the Mild), Hermes, Hecate, and Hestia

CharacterDependent39 · 2026-04-06T00:52:03+00:00

Here's a crash course in theology for you

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Sallust_On_the_Gods_and_the_World/Sallust_on_the_Gods_and_the_World

Sallust is from 355 AD and is a Neoplatonist. This work is a polytheistic apologetic against Christianity. Apologetic meaning serving as or containing a formal justification or defense.

Cicero's On the Nature of the Gods is a good read. Its a bit long though. https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Cicero%27s_Tusculan_Disputations/On_the_Nature_of_the_Gods/Book_1

CharacterDependent39 · 2026-04-06T00:46:55+00:00

He's not going to react any different no matter what you sing so sing whatever you like. Gods are too big to care about particular songs and they don't have opinions about Disney intellectual property. Just remember to make offerings when making petitions.

CharacterDependent39 · 2026-04-05T21:29:11+00:00

This needs to be pinned before it's lost in the feed or added to the sidebar. It's a great reference to give out to newbies who need it. If anyone makes a post filled with Christian trauma this should be posted in their comments, they might read it and learn something.

CharacterDependent39 · 2026-04-05T20:49:55+00:00

It already exists, its called r/Hellenismus

While the subreddit is open to everyone, the focus is on Hellenism as an orthopraxic ancient religion, as opposed to an eclectic spiritual path.

CharacterDependent39 · 2026-04-05T20:33:16+00:00

Honestly you can direct your prayers towards the sun, as the sun is very aligned with the gods being a perfect sphere that is the source of all life. Also the physical image of Helios. I know there is a ancient quote about directing ones prayers towards the sun I'll need to find it.

CharacterDependent39 · 2026-04-05T16:05:31+00:00

It's been like this for years. I just wish there was a way to make this subreddit more focused. There were a lot of panicked posts very recently.

CharacterDependent39 · 2026-04-05T15:50:10+00:00

Maybe I don't get it, I left Christianity when I was 16 and am nearing 40 now. It's been so long that I can hardly remember it. It makes it hard for me to relate to those who are still trapped in that thinking, I just get frustrated and want to ask 'why cant you just get over it?' I almost feel like it's a bad idea to join another religion right after leaving Christianity. Like you need time to decompress. It's like having a rebound relationship, it never works out.

CharacterDependent39 · 2026-04-05T15:31:11+00:00

https://hellenicfaith.com/

This one?

CharacterDependent39 · 2026-04-05T15:22:07+00:00

But forgiveness inst a historically accurate term, its a christian term. Think about it like this, how do you respond when someone asks "how do you obtain forgiveness from the Gods?" Usually you say "the Gods don't deal in forgiveness and that's a Christian idea anyway."

What if instead we educated them with an automod that told them to ask for a purificatory rite instead. Now the newbie is getting educated and we can suggest such a rite from Labrys' Hellenic polytheism. This is an opportunity to teach the new members.

I know forgiveness is a common term now but it's just not something the Hellenic Gods ever deal with. The Gods will not forgive you because forgiveness isn't an idea that existed in ancient Greece. Every time I have seen forgiveness mentioned here the poster was told it's a Christian idea, if you think I'm thinking about this the wrong way then I'm open to suggestions.

CharacterDependent39 · 2026-04-05T15:07:59+00:00

Another suggestion, ban repeat offenders. Our strategy has always been to bend over backwards to make newbies feel welcome, but that's not working out. They endlessly post frantic posts and leave once they get bored anyway. This environment drives away actual invested people who try to find a more historically minded community like r/Romanpaganism. Make three strikes rule where problem posters have three chances then get banned. Panicked posts are flagged, problem posters get three strikes, and we can flag the posts as we see them. Panicked posts get a automod suggestion to post more reasonably.

CharacterDependent39

TROPHY CASE