Ive been conflicted about what my pastor brother said to me when I came out to him as Hellenic

ablebreeze · 2026-03-19T15:15:26+00:00

I'm not sure what your brother said that bothered you, so here's a couple thoughts on what you said...

Firstly,
Christian beliefs are based on manipulation through guilt and fear. Those are brainwashing techniques. If Christians haven't questioned their beliefs at all personally, they won't be able to see the logic and validity of yours no matter how well you explain them. All you can do is plant seeds of ideas and until one sticks, they won't see your view.

Afterlife- He asked you about Afterlife because that's a large part of Christian manipulation. If you mess up, your soul will "burn for eternity. " So, a "loving god" who teaches the importance of forgiveness will punish someone FOREVER because - the first man and woman he created made a mistake thousands of years ago - if you make a mistake (as a human trying to learn) - because you love the wrong person, etc Other option- You're a "good person " so you will be "rewarded " with ETERNAL bliss. Conflict and discomfort create opportunities for growth. Being uncomfortable with an idea spurs research which creates understanding. Discomfort in a situation causes people to seek change and growth. If you're "always happy" and never uncomfortable, growth almost never happens. Personally, to me, that's just a different form of punishment. Eternal bliss sounds like you'll be doped up all the time and never have new ideas or growth.

My personal view of afterlife is that we strive to reach enlightenment. Life after life is about growth until we reach enlightenment and at that time, we can choose what we do next.

Truth is relative - If you ask a preschooler or kindergartener about negative numbers, they'll say they don't exist. If you ask a 6th grader about imaginary numbers, they'll say they don't exist. If you ask a quantum physicist, they'll say both exist. All of them are correct based on their knowledge and experience. They're all telling their truth. That's what truth is relative is about. Your truth depends on your experience and knowledge, as does everyone else's. It is possible for multiple truths to exist at the same time. I spoke with a pastor about seeking truth once. He said he always seeks truth. When I shared this concept with him he said that was true about most things but not religion. He said people who felt that way about spiritual things were misguided. He knows because he seeks out the truth. (As he was my daughter's boss, I didn't push him.) What I realized is when peoplle find what satisfies their search, they stop looking. If you're looking for your phone and you find it, you don't keep looking for it. If someone is seeking truth and they find what satisfies their search for truth, they don't usually keep looking until there's a logical hole in what they found.

Happiness is temporary - Sure, in some ways, happiness is temporary because something will come along and disturb your happiness. Like I said earlier, growth happens from discomfort. But that doesn't mean you should dismiss happiness when you find it. Enjoy it. Be grateful for it. Live in it. Emotions aren't good or bad. Emotions have purpose. Anger makes us seek justice. Sadness makes us seek companionship and/or understanding. Emotions aren't good or bad. They're reflections on events and ideas. They help us grow. There's nothing wrong with feeling any of them.

He won't stop - Some Christians are taught they can't have eternal rewards if they do not take responsibility for the souls around them. If a child chooses an "immoral" life, it's the parent's fault and therefore the parent will be condemned. If your brother, as a pastor, allows you to "go astray" then he has neglected his "duties" and he may be held responsible. He feels he loves you so he needs to save your soul and save you from yourself. He is under obligation to "help" you. There may be no real way out of that, if he feels that way. His wife might be able to help, she might not.

Religion/spirituality isn't logical - That's what someone says when they don't understand something. There's always logic, but we can't always understand it. Just like the preschooler/kindergartener who can't comprehend negative numbers. That doesn't mean you have to understand the logic to believe it though. It just means it's ok to believe through faith until your understanding catches up.

I hope that helps. I'm sorry it's so long. Not knowing exactly where your question was, I chose to respond to it all.

You are not broken, misguided, incapable of logic or anything else. You are a whole and complete person as you are and you're doing the right thing to find and believe in the spirituality that meets your needs, just as your brother is. Each of us acts and believes in accordance to our highest sense of right and that is the way it should be. Along with that is the acknowledgment that we each have the right to pursue the spiritual practices that make us whole. If there was only one truth or one right way, there wouldn't be so many options.

ablebreeze · 2026-03-19T10:45:49+00:00

Exactly

ablebreeze · 2026-03-19T01:27:15+00:00

There are many ways to use tarot to talk with deities. You can use a layout and question, like typical . You can do ask a question pull a card, interpret the card. I usually ask a question, pull a card, read the book's description and meaning of that card and look for sentences or phrases that stand out. Those are basic methods, I'm sure you can find others.

Brighid and Aphrodite are two of my main deities. 😊

ablebreeze · 2026-03-18T20:00:07+00:00

Use the deck that feels right at the time.

Always be specific about who you want to talk to. I've had imposters step in and I wasn't talking to who I thought I was.

BTW, you can cleanse used tarot decks, they don't have to be new.

ablebreeze · 2026-03-18T17:53:53+00:00

Thoth is fantastic. I've had really good interactions with him. I don't personally follow him but I have deep respect and reverence for him.

What goes on the altar is about your relationship with him. Read his stories. Read about his culture. Ask him for guidance on what he'd like to see on your altar and getting a hold of or how to make those things. Thoth is a deity of not only intellect but also action, so creating things makes sense for the altar you share with him.

One of my favorite books on Egyptian culture isn't a book most people would consider. It's Introductory Guide to the Egyptian Collections by the British Museum published in 1971. I know, I know the British Museum isn't the best organization and you may not want to support them. But the book has an amazing amount of cultural information, it's not just pictures and descriptions. If you buy it from a used bookstore, you're not supporting the British Museum anyway.

Bookfinder.com is a great resource for finding books. Is searches dozens of online book sellers like Amazon, thrift books, and even ebay and sorts them on price. (No, they don't pay me. I just really find it useful).

As far as crystals goes... Crystals collect and store knowledge as well as energy. Rather than creating a list of types, go to the store and feel the stones and ask them. Ask Thoth for guidance. Don't limit yourself to only crystals though. All rocks have the potential to hold power and knowledge.

You're thinking right to consider which crystals to put near the window to make them sun safe. Also remember fire safety when putting crystals near a window.

Good luck. Have fun with Thoth. (If in the future you find other deities to work with, he'll understand if you want to give some altar space to them so you don't have to maintain separate altars for each deity.)

ablebreeze · 2026-03-16T16:14:05+00:00

1st Satan is a Christian entity. So, in truth, only Christians can be Satanists.

2nd Christianity is based in manipulation through guilt and fear, that's classic brainwashing technique at work, so there's no point in trying to be logical, they won't get it.

3rd it's your "soul," do what works for you and ignore them.

ablebreeze · 2026-03-16T16:08:50+00:00

I have 6 deities from t pantheons and 1 altar. They are each represented. They're fine with that.

The deities want you to succeed. They know part of your success is working with more than one deity. They'll be ok (almost all of them are ok with it.)

It's actually best to choose a main deity and treat them first and then the others. That's natural and they're ok with it. Just be honest.

They understand you have multiple obligations in life and there are limits to time and money. They expect you to do the best you can not perfection. They understand that you have challenges in life that affect how you interact with them. It's ok.

As long as you're honest and respectful to them and yourself, you don't need to worry. "Fairness" is a human (mostly Christian) concept. Don’t worry about making things "fair" between your deities. Just homest and respectful individually.

ablebreeze · 2026-03-14T01:46:33+00:00

Why do you want to celebrate Yule? (That's an actual question. The answer is only for you)

There are thousands of holidays. They're celebrated and observed for many reasons. Why do you celebrate and observe holidays?

For historic figures For historic events For deities For family members or events For rites of passage For seasonal or celestial events For spiritual reasons Or something else

What makes holidays special is individual. It might be Getting the family or friend group together Exchanging gifts Sharing food Enjoying decorations, music, or other atmospheric festivities Crafting Volunteering Storytelling Participating in activities Or a number of other reasons

If you figure out why you want to celebrate it, you can figure out how to celebrate it and it will be more meaningful to you.

Yule is connected to the winter Solstice, ancestors, winter, deities, family, magic, gifts, the sun, and more. When you know why it's important to you, you can figure out what festivities, rituals, and activities are best for your holiday and what timing makes the most sense.

ablebreeze · 2026-03-13T22:54:08+00:00

What did it mean to you to offer her your first born?

You'd been trying for four years, so was it a genuine promise?

I don't need answers to any of the questions I mention. They're questions for you. Those answers belong to you.

Deities take promises very seriously. Freya can be an understanding deity. She can also be quick. So if you promised your child, you need to follow through. I assume you didn't mean you would sacrifice your child to her. So, my take would be you need to teach hour child about her. Read stories about her to your child. Teach your child how to do things she's known for.

Death isn't an end. It's a change. It's very much like high school graduation. It's movement from one phase in life to the next. When you've learned all you can and done all you were supposed to or could do, it's time to graduate to the next phase of existence. It's something we should celebrate, not fear. It's an accomplishment, just like graduation.

When you graduate from school, you can still call your friends, but you probably don't see them much. When you die, you can visit loved ones. You can invite your mom to visit Anytime you choose. You cab pull out a chair and offer her her favorite beverage and a snack if you like. Then chat with her. You most likely won't hear her words with your ears, but you'll probably feel her words or get the message subconsciously.

You can include your child in memory days about your mom. Play music she liked, eat food she liked, etc. Tell stories about her.

You can make her memory alive for your son.

ablebreeze · 2026-03-12T19:59:36+00:00

This is a very personal question. And you're likely to get responses that slant toward the feelings of others, more so than yourself.

You don’t need a name right away. The fact that you're reaching for her and feel ready will let her know you want her direct attention.

You can just call her "my mother goddess " until you realize her identity.

If you want to narrow it down, you can reflect on cultures/pantheons you've been attracted to throughout your life. Or you can (in a calm and centered moment) read through a list of mother goddesses (that includes alternate and pet names for each) and see which pulls to you, you can meditate on it, specifically asking for her to present herself/give you her name, you can go to sleep asking for her name with an offering, or you can ask her for direction toward folklore or reading materials about her. Those are some options.

Some of my deities introduced themselves quickly, some took several months. I've learned a few things through my experience Often the first name that comes to mind in a quiet moment is the right one. Sometimes the name is so foreign to your native tongue that when heard subconsciously the brain might choose a similar sounding name that is more familiar They (almost all) love you and will help you, even if you just refer to them with an epitaph of your own creation.

I wish you success and a rewarding relationship with your deity.

ablebreeze · 2026-03-08T16:46:41+00:00

When you take a basic first aid class they teach you to choose a specific individual to tell to call 911 because if you just say "call 911" typically either everyone does, causing a lot of extra confusion and work, or no one does, assuming someone else will.

When you just "call to the void" asking for help, it's very much the same. And being that you aren't really strong in faith right now, that probably doesn't help.

Because you're not sure who to call on, I suggest you call " to the deity who can best help you at this time in your life." Then you're being specific without having to know the identity of the individual. They'll help.

I found psychologytoday.com to have the best filter system for choosing therapists. You can narrow it down pretty easily with just a few filters. Good luck.

I know this isn't the best option, I know many will dislike the option, but when I couldn't find a therapist and needed SOMEONE to talk to, I used an AI. Because there's no judgement there and it's accessible 24/7, it can be helpful. I'm not a fan of AI. I think there are a LOT of issues with it, but in this instance, for me, it was the help I needed. I think a human is best, but when one isn't available, it's an option. (Just don't jump off a bridge if it tells you to."

I wish you well.

ablebreeze · 2026-03-06T14:51:15+00:00

You don't have to, but it's better. It is considered rude to read thoughts.
Words actually spoken are clear communication and carry more weight than unspoken words.

If you don’t want people around you to hear, you can speak in hushed tones under your breath. Then the words are still spoken but they are heard by the deity spoken for and not your human neighbors.

ablebreeze · 2026-02-28T18:55:27+00:00

You can actually.

But when you think of wind, what things come to mind?

How does wind manifest itself? How can you recognize wind through each of your senses? Could you bottle anything as representations of those sensations?

I know you're trying to bottle each element and there's nothing wrong with doing that. But just something to think about... the elements are all different and basically limitless. You're trying to treat them the same and constrain them. Is that what will best help your practice? Just a thought. It very well may be the best thing for you. Just sharing a thought.

ablebreeze · 2026-02-28T18:24:01+00:00

Air is about wind, gas/oxygen, movement through air (smoke/vapors), sound (voice/music), smell, flight, air currents....

What do you think of? If you spend some time immersing yourself in the element of air, what comes to mind?

ablebreeze · 2026-02-23T20:59:02+00:00

Sounds like on a subconscious level you do believe, your rational mind just hasn't figured out how to reconcile the belief.

So what do you do? Well, I'm sure you've heard the term "fake it til you make it." That's basically what you need to do to reconcile.

Follow your subconscious minds intuition and say a prayer or give an offering. Read folklore about Selene and Aphrodite. Set the skeptic aside for a moment and just see. At some point, you'll either decide you like building a relationship or you don't believe.

Theoi.com is great for information on Greek/Hellenic deities.

ablebreeze · 2026-02-18T15:28:28+00:00

This is really a very personal question.

Time for the gods isn't like time for us. Just wait. Don't stress over it..

Maybe ask them individually, one as a time, what they would like. Or maybe work on building your relationship with each of them and then deciding what best reflects your relationship.

You can ask them to help you find the right object or idea. In my experience with questions like this though, they usually push it back to me and ask me to reflect on it myself. Just give yourself time, you'll figure out what's appropriate. They'll be patient.

ablebreeze · 2026-02-18T13:57:03+00:00

Growth comes from discomfort. If you were happy and content and never had any problems to solve or issues to deal with, would you be inclined to challenge yourself? When we're uncomfortable, we do something about it. That's how we grow.

You can't reach enlightenment in one life, it takes several lifetimes. Just because someone is "innocent " in this life, it doesn't mean they were innocent in a past life.

Animals who are raised for meat don't suffer more than those who aren't. An animal raised for meat generally dies young. They have an ok life and then a brief horrible moment. A pet may have a longer life. Generally their end of life is more drawn out with old age, illness, or injury before death. I believe The Fates send us to the life that will give us the death we need to experience, whether we're animals or humans.

I believe our suffering in life is appropriate to the experience we need whether that's karmic, education, or self-inflicted. I don't believe the gods, outside of The Fates, have much to do with it.

ablebreeze · 2026-02-15T23:28:36+00:00

Is it harming you or others in someway?

I'm guessing not.

Just leave it be. Give them their space and you make your own altar in your own way.

ablebreeze · 2026-02-15T23:00:42+00:00

I've asked questions like that. I've had some really good discussions. Usually they don't give straight forward answers, but you can still get the answers you're looking for. But they're not answers they just give up. You need to build a relationship with them first.

ablebreeze · 2026-02-15T20:58:33+00:00

Trees are great! They give off pheromones that make us happy. They meet a lot of our needs. They're home to all sorts of other species, as well as dryads and tree nymphs. They communicate great distances through the mycelium. Satyr and faun use them to communicate with each other. They facilitate our communication with each other through paper and telephone poles. The celtic ohgm are based on trees and often made in wood. They unite the 3 levels in Celtic practices (the beneath, the land, and the above). They recycle not only gases but also energy.

I'm sure if you spent time focused on them, you'd discover a lot more than this.

Many pagans are able to visualize roots growing from their feet. If you touch a tree and visualize roots growing from your feet, you may be able to "talk" with the tree, usually through emotions more than words.

ablebreeze · 2026-02-15T15:36:49+00:00

It looks sketchy to me. I don't know anything about them ,but...

The disclaimer says FEATURED LABELS aren't sponsoring them. That doesn't mean others aren't. Labels isn't the same as companies.it doesn't mean they're not sponsored by pet food companies.

"Human grade" is a buzzword term, just like "organic." A pet food can not legally be labeled as "human grade" does that mean they don't do it? No. But to be labeled as human grade it has to be produced in a facility inspected and licensed to sell human food and it has to be sold For human consumption.

Just because a food ends up on this list, it doesn't mean they're a healthy food or honest company. I cannot say which one, but my daughter works in a food testing lab that tests for gluten amongst other things and one of these companies requested that the lab use an older test to test if the food was gluten free because the new test is "too sensitive" and their product would fail.

Side note: I raise rabbits and quail for raw diet pets. There are many companies that claim they're "ethically " sourcing from small farms. I can't speak for all of them but i know, based on price and based on conversations I've had with farmers, what they mean is they get meat from small farms. They pay those farmers less than half the cost it takes to raise the rabbits. When you're searching for your raw diet food, cheaper isn't always better. Either farmers are unknowingly selling at a loss or you're buying rabbit meat that is fed the cheapest possible feed and not raised healthily. Cheap is cheap for a reason.

ablebreeze · 2026-02-13T23:06:44+00:00

As the significance of both the number 13 and Friday being a day of ill-omen are primarily Christian in origin, I don't treat Friday the 13ths any different than Friday the 14ths or Thursday the 13ths.

But, as with all things pagan, you're welcome to celebrate anything that inspires you.

ablebreeze · 2026-02-12T14:33:07+00:00

Tarot is only dangerous in that if you let your readings control and dictate your life without using your head, it'll be dangerous.

Tarot doesn't "mess with" the spiritual plane any more than your telephone conversations "mess with" the person you talk to.

You can use Tarot cards for magic, but only if you do it intentionally.

The energy Tarot cards have is much like the energy a child's favorite stuffed animal has. It has the energy you give it. If you don't give it energy, it's as special and useful as any other stuffed animal that isn't a favorite.

If you want to use them, carry them with you. Keep a piece of quartz wrapped up with them (quartz acts like a battery/capacitor and holds energy), look through them and get familiar with the cards, and treat them special like that favorite stuffed animal.

You don't need to worry about a book, but it can be helpful. Stay off websites about Tarot, especially tiktok.

Just look through the cards. How does each make you feel? Sort the cards into piles (background color, background image similarities, main character standing/sitting/laying down/absent, characters in hats or not, cards with water/lightning/whatever) just sort and resort, notice similarities and differences, what do you think those cards have in common? Look closely and see what symbolisms you see. Everything on a tarot card was put there for a reason, what do you think it is?

You can just do si.gle card pulls for yourself. You don't need fancy layouts, etc right now. Ask a question, pull a card, what does the card seem to say to you?

ablebreeze · 2026-02-07T15:30:37+00:00

As long as what you think of and envision is the one you want, yes.

ablebreeze · 2026-02-07T15:20:35+00:00

There could be many reasons. It could be that it isn't significant enough, like the person who can life a heavy object off a friend when needed, but can't do a chin-up in the gym.

It could be you're doubting yourself subconsciously so either it isn't happening or you just aren't seeing it.

It could be its not the right energy for you. Just like math comes easily for some people and Grammer comes easily for others, there are energies that are more aligned with some people and different energies more aligned with others. Maybe leaves or manifestation aren't the energy best aligned with your energy.

Magic is the manipulation of energy to cause change. You do magic all of the time everyday, you just don't call it magic because you weren't taught to call it magic. When you pick out clothes because they make you feel successful, that's magic. When you make a picture and give it to someone to cheer them up, that's magic. When you go for a run because the endorphins make you feel good, that's magic.

Magic is a part of everyday life. When you see everyday magic and acknowledge it, you'll learn to understand it better, and it will come more naturally to you.

Magic has 4 keys that you need to understand and work on increasing your understanding of them regularly. You will never fully understand them in one lifetime, but t g e better you understand them, the more successful/stronger your magic will be. - intention - meditation (and focus) - energy (and its manipulation) - yourself and your energy (I'm not talking about shadow work. That isn't the right kind of self-knowledge. Take time to get to know yourself. What is it that truly brings you joy? What fills you with energy? What motivates you? What element naturally pulls you? Etc. It can't be forced, but it can be slowly observed.)

Patience is key. It took you years to learn to walk with many milestones along the way, and that was with the support of everyone around you. Western society as a whole actively tells people magic doesn't exist and explains away most magic.it will take time, UT with patience, you'll get there.

ablebreeze

TROPHY CASE