If You’re Ever Having A Breakdown, Just Remember The Wise Words Of The Lord Himself

Have you written a general guide about khernips? All I do is extinguish a wooden match in water because snuffing a flaming brand has been referred to in mythology, but some people on Tumblr have very different ideas like incorporating all kinds of herbs or mixing ashes into it. I'd love to read your take on what was done in antiquity.

I haven’t, but I can! Because the concept of khernips is so linked to ritual purification–because khernips is the method through which we become ritually clean–we will also discuss the practice of katharmos and the notion of ritual pollution: miasma. 

Within Hellenic practice, miasma describes the lingering aura of uncleanliness in regards to a person or space through which contact is made with the Gods. Miasma occurs whenever the space or person comes into contact with death, sickness, birth, sex, excessive negative emotions and bodily fluids. It also comes from a lack of contact with the Hellenic Gods. Not the actual acts of dying, sex and birth cause miasma but the opening up of the way to the Underworld (with births and deaths) as well as contact with sweat, blood, semen, menstrual blood and urine pollutes us. Miasma is an incredibly complicated and involved practice and it’s often misunderstood. The most important things to remember about miasma is that it holds no judgment from the Gods, and that everyone attracts miasma. It’s a mortal, human, thing.The practice of purification is called katharmos (Καθαρμός). The process of katharmos is elaborate because the process not only involves the physical but also the emotional, mental and spiritual. In modern practice, it usually starts with a shower, but this is not a historic necessity. Step two is the preparation and use of khernips. Beyond the practical, there is a large mental component to katharmos. It means leaving behind negativity, worry, pain and trouble before getting in contact with the Gods. The greatest barrier in understanding miasma and katharmos, to me, is our modern frame of mind. On the one hand, we know too much about personal hygiene, about the human body and about science as a whole, on the other hand religion has become something separate from life in general. As a result, we colour ancient Hellas with our ‘hygiene brush’. Secondly, not everyone has faith, our society does no longer revolve around it, and as a result, we–as modern religious people–struggle for a mindset of simple, all-encompassing, unquestionable worship. There might be a few remnants of ‘Original Sin Thinking’ lodged in there as well.

After a lot of research into the workings of miasma, I have come to the conclusion that miasma is linked to distraction. Anything that takes your mind off of the Gods during ritual can be considered miasmic. For example, the ancient Hellenes agreed that murder causes miasma (when not committed as part of a war, soldiers were not tainted with miasma for killing their enemies), but only once other people became aware of the fact that you had committed an act of murder. As such, if you were exiled and you travelled to another town where no one knew what you had done, in essence, you were not miamic to the rites and people around you. We all incur miasma, every single day of our lives. It has nothing to do with sin, shame or guilt. Miasma is a consequence of living. We breath, make decisions, come in contact with others, and along the way, we become too human–for lack of a better term–to petition the Gods. The divide between the purity and cleanliness of the Theoi and our human mortality and imperfection keeps us away from Them. Miasma is not about being physically dirty, although that is a part of it, and katharmos is not about becoming physically clean, although that is a part of it as well. Katharmos is devotional. It not only helps you get in a ritualistic mood, it prepares the room and your body for it. Even if you do not understand the use, it’s a vital part of Hellenistic worship.

Khernips are the traditional way to cleanse yourself from miasma. As far as basic information goes, khernips is created by dropping smoldering incense or herb leaves into water. When throwing in the lit item, one can utter ‘xerniptosai’ (pronounced 'zer-nip-TOS-aye-ee’) which translates as ‘be purified’. Both hands are washed with khernips and you can wash the face as well. The vessel holding the khernips is called a khernibeionas (Χερνῐβεῖον). 

Artwork has taught us that khernips was often applied just outside the temenos, with hands being washed in a bowl or water poured out of a jug while the supplicant washed their hands. The water was collected from a moving source of water, which could be a natural spring, a river, or even the sea. Moving water was considered sacred, and often viewed as an extension of the body of a stream/river/sea God(dess). For my video tutorial on how to prepare and apply khernips, go here.

As with anything concerning miasma, most books on ancient Hellas and/or Hellenic religion don’t mention khernips at all, or under a synonym. As with miasma, I am going to assume this is because the evidence of its existance is so flimsy besides a resounding 'it was used and important’. My rather vast collection of scholarly material is silent on any details beyond the basic information already provided. As such, I am forced to speculate based upon what I know. Personally, I tend to mix tap water with sea water into a large vessel from which I take a measure every evening to use throughout the day. I drop the smoldering firebrand (a match when traveling, a bit of burning wood or herbs when home) into the measure poured our, not the vessel itself. So, in short, I prepare the base in advance but the actual mixture on the spot. I only use one measure one day, after that, I dip it out onto the earth and replace it with a fresh batch before my evening rituals.

Khernips is important, and it’s important they are properly prepared, but in the large scheme of things, I feel it’s more important you actually perform the ritualistic motions without a specific part of it than skipping it altogether. So, no, you can’t make khernips without dropping something smouldering in, but that doesn’t mean you can’t wash before ritual and improvise a little. Drop herbs into the water and wash with that, drop essential oils in it, if you don’t have herbs. Find something to make the water special, and then use it to cleanse yourself. Just go through the motions and focus on the rites ahead. That is its function and it should be used as such.

I DONT MIND BEING THE VILLAIN IN YOUR STORY

BECAUSE YOU’RE THE CLOWN IN MINE

୨୧ 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝘩𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑡𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑑𝑎𝑦 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 ୨୧

♡ waking up early ♡ don't force yourself to make your bed right when you get up (but still try and do it eventually) ♡ set daily goals ♡ read motivational quotes ♡ yoga ♡ reading ♡ morning affirmations ♡ eat a healthy breakfast ♡ do skincare/hair ♡ drink matcha ♡ meditating ♡ taking a good shower ♡ journaling ♡ make a to-do list ♡ clean your space ♡ complete a task you've been meaning to do

i love my body

i am committed to my dream

i am getting better daily

his boots!!!!!!

this turned out way too fanservicy  I hope you people are okay!

Happy Friday!

Friday is Aphrodite’s day every week and I like to honor Her by writing a little prayer. Today’s topic is self-care when it’s hard. I chose this because as someone with depression who is also a major people pleaser, it’s very hard for me to put myself first or care about myself at all, and I know I’m mot the only one who struggles with that.

Note: I do not write prayers often but am practicing, so this may not be good. Sorry!

Loving Goddess Aphrodite

Of the sea (Pontia)

Of the sky (Ourania)

Of the dark (Melainis)

I ask you to please help me with this request.

She who rules over love of all forms,

Assist me in caring for myself.

Help me to see me the way you do

Beautiful, Loving, and Human

And help me to treat myself like I deserve

with patience, kindness, and care.

For when the waves of my emotions

crash against my heart,

and when the skies are filled with sorrow

When all I can see is darkness,

You are the light.

I thank you for all that you have already done

for I now know how you see me.

I ask you to help me to take care of my mind and body

For I know that I am full of beauty.

Some babbies, just little guys.... need to see the chaos they caused when they were younger...

altars for minor greek deities pt. 1

i'll probably end up making a part 2 to this since there's quite a lot of greek deities who are mentioned in only one story, or only a few icons, but are still important to some reconstructionists/revivalists. leave suggestions in the comments if you have any! the next post will likely include the four winds and several minor death deities

CIRCE: goddess of magic, a sorceress, daughter of Helios and an oceanid

Colors: purple for magic, blue for oceanid heritage, gold/yellow for being daughter of helios Offerings: allium moly, mandrake, peony, yarrow, poppy, rue, mugwort, wormwood, nightshade, snowdrop, any sort of medicinal herbs (like licorice, willow bark, aloe vera, etc.), pork, honey Crystals: amethyst, lapis lazuli, larimar, aquamarine, fluorite, bloodstone, citrine

GANYMEDE: cupbearer of the gods, consort of Zeus, god of homosexuality

Colors: pink, red for love. gold, silver for being cupbearer. blue for association with aquarius sign Offerings: perfume, jewelry, makeup, dice, musical instruments, writing letters, pride flags, drinks, flowers, rosemary Crystals: rose quartz, gemstones, ruby zoisite, rhodonite, rhodochrosite, pyrite, flower agate, kyanite, angelite

HEBE: cupbearer of the gods, daughter of Zeus and Hera, goddess of eternal youth and patroness of brides

Colors: red for association with brides. gold, silver for being cupbearer Offerings: lettuce, drinks, turmeric, chamomile, ginseng, calendula, basil, ivy, feathers Crystals: honey calcite, pyrite, red/yellow jasper, gems, ruby zoisite, lapis lazuli, aquamarine, angelite

EILEITHYIA: goddess of childbirth and midwifery

Colors: pastels for babies Offerings: raspberry leaf, chamomile, catnip, cohosh, crampbark, peppermint, baby toys/blankets Crystals: calcites, agates, moonstone, labradorite, rose quartz, amethyst, quartz, citrine, lepidolite, celestite

EROS (the younger): god of love, intercourse, and fertility

Colors: red, pink for love. white for his wings Offerings: roses, apples, pomegranates, rabbit skins/feet, basil, myrtle, rosemary, thyme, feathers Crystals: bloodstone, rose quartz, rhodonite, rhodochrosite, morganite, celestite

ANTEROS: erote of mutual love

Colors: red, pink for love Offerings: basil, flowers, rosemary, thyme, myrtle, feathers Crystals: rose quartz, rhodonite, rhodochrosite, morganite, celestite, milky quartz

HIMEROS: erote of sexual desire

Colors: red, pink for love Offerings: basil, rosemary, thyme, myrtle, feathers Crystals: rose quartz, rhodonite, rhodochrosite, morganite, celestite, red jasper, carnelian, garnet, citrine

POTHOS: erote of passion

Colors: red, pink for love. purple for passion Offerings: basil, rosemary, thyme, myrtle, feathers Crystals: rose quartz, rhodonite, rhodochrosite, morganite, celestite, milky quartz, red jasper, carnelian

HERMAPHRODITOS: child of Aphrodite and Hermes, erote and god of androgyny

Colors: red, pink for love. blue for androgyny Offerings: flowers, star anise, makeup, icons of genitalia, myrtle, lavender, cinnamon, ivy Crystals: rose quartz, moonstone, watermelon tourmaline, ruby kyanite, labradorite, jade, morganite

NEMESIS: goddess of revenge and retribution

Colors: red, black for revenge Offerings: basil, oak, pine, nettles, thistle, symbols of a wheel or sword, angry letters Crystals: smokey quartz, obsidian, bloodstone, red jasper, carnelian, tiger's eye, onyx, black tourmaline

AMPHITRITE: the wife of Poseidon, nereid and goddess of sea life

Colors: blue, green for the sea Offerings: coral, pearls, beach sand, kelp, celery, pine, ocean water Crystals: aquamarine, chrysocolla, malachite, amazonite, lepidolite, lapis lazuli, sodalite, jade

PAN: god of nature, animals, shepherds, and fertility

Colors: brown, green for nature Offerings: acorns/pinecones, leaves, pan pipes, phallic symbols, grapes, basically any herb or flower Crystals: jaspers (various), agates (especially moss, tree, flower), tiger's eye, obsidian, carnelian, sunstone, malachite, jade

IRIS: goddess of rainbows and messenger between gods and humans

Colors: rainbow Offerings: irises (and other flowers in that family), orris root, hyssop, suncatchers, feathers, snake skin Crystals: moonstone, labradorite, aura quartz, morganite, fluorite, agates (especially multicolored), malachite with azurite

THANATOS: god of death

Colors: black, grey, white for death Offerings: cinnamon, chocolate, coffee, willow, mugwort, wormwood, lotus, spider lilies, asphodel, bones, poppies Crystals: quartz (especially milky, smokey), obsidian, onyx, bloodstone, jaspers (various), black moonstone

PSYCHE: goddess of the soul, lover of eros

Colors: white for the soul. purple for magic Offerings: feathers, myrtle, vervain, sage, chamomile, lavender, flowers, figs, nuts Crystals: amethyst, rose quartz, rhodonite, quartz (especially milky and aura quartz especially), moonstone

“Not all men” you cry, as all the rest who aren’t the legislators, soldiers and politicians sit back and watch. Whether it be in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan where women have quite literally lost their right to speak in public, India with a sexual and domestic violence epidemic almost unheard of, Iran where women are murdered by police for removing their veil, the United States where women’s reproductive rights have been lost, South Korea with their spycam epidemic, France where a woman’s husband invited round dozens of men who lived locally to rape her as she lay unconscious, Iraq seeking to decriminalise marrying young girls, or how literally anywhere in the world you can access footage of women being sexually abused on page 1 of the biggest porn sites and google images with the simple click of a mouse.

“Not all men are violent oppressors” the rest sit back and watch. Immediately after telling us that they are our natural protectors, best equipped to defend us against hostile forces, men sit back and watch, or even cheer, as those oppressors roll into town.

The fact that thinness came in vogue (as seen in popular culture, magazines, fashion models, etc.) in the 1920s when women got the right to vote is telling. We got real, tangible power and then were told to be thin to achieve beauty, and sickly thin too. The kind of thin with no muscles, no power. It is not surprising to me that our beauty standards keep women physically weaker, physically starving, and mentally exhausted. The beauty standard is nothing more than a tool to keep women weak, docile, poor, and too tired to act.

Don't laugh at people or mock people who are "childish". People are allowed to like things that are considered "childish". Toys, kids cartoons, anything like that can be a valuable source of comfort for the people who like them. It's important to have things in life that make you happy, and without them it gets miserable. Wether that thing is stuffed animals or cooking or writing lyrics, what's important is that others don't ridicule and belittle them for it. There shouldn't be such judgement for the things that make people happy.