Basic Hellenic Supplies

As requested, a list of basic tools! Don’t feel obligated to use any of this, as you really only need yourself to worship the Theoi :) These are just some things I use and find helpful.

Incense: Incense, resins, etc., are all great to have on hand. Manna was the traditional incense used, which is thought to have been frankincense or something with frankincense. As such, having some is an easy way to have a low-energy offering ready. Along with the incense or resins, you’ll need somewhere to safely burn it, like an incense holder or fire-safe bowl, and you may want a few charcoal discs.Sometimes you can find incense burning kits, complete with the burner and everything else. I’ve seen them at walmart recently.

Bowl and Pitcher: In the Ancient Hellenic religion, there is a method of cleansing using what’s called ‘khernips’. It’s usually a mixture of sea/salt water, spring water, a burnt match or herb, and a prayer for a Theos’ blessing over it. You cleanse your hands and face with it, and as such, using a pitcher to make and transport your khernips can be quite helpful. This can be easily stored or decorated as you wish, and it keeps water from getting everywhere. Also, keep a towel handy for when you’re finished!

Table/Shelf Space: To create an altar or shrine. you can use a shelf or table. Usually, you would have it high up if you can, but when it comes to Underworld or Earth Theoi, you would normally worship them closer to the floor. I personally like having my Kthonic shrines and altars on trays and platters to move around more easily. That way, when I need to give an offering outside, I can simply move the tray and not one thing at a time.

Candles: The hearth-fire was a huge part of everyday life in Ancient Hellas, but it wasn’t the fireplace we know and love. A heart-fire was typically surrounded by stones, and was fairly large, It was in the center of the bustling lives of old. It was where people cooked, got warm, and entertained guests. We don’t really have an equivalent, but we can use symbolism to try and recreate the effect. I try to recommend candles to beginners who face the modern challenge of not having a permanent fire going to Hestia, whether they be real candles or electric ones. They can be found fairly cheap at places like walmart, or even the dollar store. In home decor and crafting stores, there are usually nice electric ones that will last a long while. My Nana gave me an old one of hers, and it works perfectly. It’s nearly as old as I am, so I can testify for their durability :)

Bowls/Cups: When it comes to giving offerings, burning things, and just worship in general, bowls are really awesome. If you wish to give a libation in a very traditional way, you can try to invest in a bowl shaped like a phiale, linked here. Or, if you’re more modern and like to fill your altar space with lots of quirky things, try finding a fancy libation cup to use specifically for rituals. Here is my personal favourite (due to the punny nature it holds) and another great one. But if you’re like me and are low on funds or are trying to remain a secret worshiper, then any cup or bowl will do. I find candy dishes to be quite beautiful and discreet, as a sidenote.

Urn/Vase: Iv’e seen this more often recently, and I absolutely love it. I use a glass bottle keep my incense ash and burnt offerings in, and then later dedicate them to Zeus Ktesios at the end of each month on the Deipnon, but you can use an urn, a pot for a plant, an ornate vase, a jar, or a simple glass bowl to keep them in. Just make sure it isn’t flammable, since ashes are known to start fires when not properly disposed of. Along with this topic, you may want to consider finding a sealable container to potential make your very one Kathiskos :) Here are two links for that: x and x.

Box/Place for Votive Offerings: I personally use a closable box for votive offerings, and I call it my “vault”. In the temples of Greece, there were vaults where you could leave offerings to a Theos. Similarly, this is what the box would be for. It’s for non-perishable things. I have used a bowl before, and a cup as well. When I need to get a bigger container, I put the offerings together in a shoebox, and then I have more room. Whatever works best for you will do. If you don’t usually give votive offerings, I wouldn’t worry about getting anything to keep them in.

Representations of the Theoi: This is more of an optional thing, but a lot of people enjoy having a representation to focus on while worshiping. It can be a statue, a drawing, a symbol, or even a framed hymn or prayer. If it helps you feel more connected to a Theos, you can use it. I’m working on drawing (it’s not very good) the Olympians to hang near my household altar.

Barley: Although how barley is used is debated throughout the community and within scholarly circles, we do know it was used. Some say it was used to make a ritual drink, and others believe you would “scatter” it, meaning you would throw it around your altar to cleanse it. I am working on getting some barley to have in a vase just to cleanse my altar space a bit more, though I don’t plan on literally scattering it.

Hellenic Text: Having copies of things like The Odyssey, The Iliad, and the Homeric Hymns are all great. I can provide a few resources as to my personal favourites if you need any as well. Reading and studying literature from the prime example of Hellenismos will help build a quality understanding of who you’re worshiping and how you do it. I learned so much just by reading through The Odyssey, and it really helped strengthen my connection with the ancients as well. What you read doesn’t have to be religious, necessarily, it could be something like the poetry of Sappho, or a Philosopher’s study of the world around them.

Notebook/Online Cloud Storage: You will learn so much as you begin your journey. Taking notes, saving articles for further review, or just as reference, and documenting what you need to is awesome. Evernote, Google Drive, and Dropbox are all good things you can use to organize and combine your knowledge, but a good ole spiral notebook or binder works just fine. I like to keep my sacred texts in the physical copy, but I also have several online versions for easy access. My kindle also houses a couple things for when I’m on the go.