Reddit reviews Kharis: Hellenic Polytheism Explored

Ok, first off it's important to note that while the concept of patron deities is popular in neo-paganism, it was not nearly as common in ancient times. That's not to say it didn't ever happen, but it's not as if the ancient Greeks thought that everyone automatically had a close personal relationship with a single specific god. Generally, you might have a patron deity connected to something about your life - for instance, if you are a metal smith you might consider Hephaistos your patron, if you are a farmer you might have a close relationship with Demeter, etc. That's one type, and while it can be personal and intimate it can also resemble having a cherished mentor or something of that sort. Then there are the type of patron relationships where you're just particularly drawn to a god because of something inside you, and you spend years and years getting to know Them better and devoting yourself to Their worship and living Their values. And then there are the types where a god just grabs you by the hair and that's it, whether you like it or not. And there's overlap, of course.

My personal feeling is that it's kind of presumptuous to go looking for a patron god. It seems like that comes from a place of wanting to be special, rather than a genuine connection. As you worship, as you develop your practice, a god may start coming into focus for you, as it were, and you feel drawn to Them, and then over time you can develop that further. It's a lot of work, so you have to really want it. You might also choose to pay special attention to a deity that rules over an area of life that's important to you - again, it's extra work.

A patron is usually a long-term relationship but not necessarily a lifetime. Sometimes you change and grow with Them, sometimes you need to move on for various reasons, sometimes the relationship was only about one thing and that thing ends.

And really it's quite impossible to recognize most deities, there are hundreds of gods, and no one in ancient times did that. You generally would have worshipped the gods of your city/region, gods that traditionally looked over your family line, gods of your vocation, etc.

I've written a couple blog posts that address some of these issues in more depth: see Varying Deity Relationships and Evolving Patron Relationships. Also, while I try not to promote my own stuff too much here, since you have so many questions you might want to read my book Kharis: Hellenic Polytheism Explored, which covers a lot of these topics. I'd also highly recommend, if you aren't doing so already, that you read some scholarly books on ancient Greek religion and not rely solely on other people's interpretations - especially since a lot of modern polytheists are being influenced by neo-paganism as much as or more than ancient tradition.

Tough one. First, understand that most Hellenists have a strict no proselytize policy so you wont see us trying to convince people at random that our world-view is valid. However, since you are clearly looking on you own, I'd be happy to recommend the following to help get you started.

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https://hellenicfaith.com/

https://www.patheos.com/pagan

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And here are a few books that helped me out in my journey:

"World Full of Gods"

https://www.amazon.com/World-Full-Gods-Inquiry-Polytheism/dp/0976568101

"Kharis: Hellenic Polytheism Explored"

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/143823192X/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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And very much this one as well:

"The Darkening Age"

https://www.amazon.com/Darkening-Age-Christian-Destruction-Classical/dp/0544800885/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=dark+ages+christianity&qid=1563748459&s=books&sr=1-3

. You are just in the learning stages, but I do recommend these books.

1st. Hellenic Polytheism by LABRYS

Due to the fact that the book give you a starting point. Easy to read and very informal to give you a basics as a starting point. Scripts and photos as guides.

2nd Kharis: Hellenic Polytheism Explored by Sarah Kate Istra Winter

Still a beginner book, but with more detail on relationships with the Gods, festivals, and rituals.

>Are there any easily available ways of learning more about it

Yup. Here is a phenomenal book about how to practice the religion. Here is a great website with information about the deities.

>How would I practice it in day-to-day life?

To paraphrase Sannion, a prominent Dionysian priest, there are simple steps:

1. Just start worshipping. Say a prayer from the heart to a deity. You can pick a deity that you feel called to, or if you're not sure you can do the whole Olympic Pantheon. Don't worry about being 'right', just be respectful and honest.
   
   
2. Read about the religion. Read the myths, read scholarly articles about ancient worship, read blogs of modern practitioners. You will broaden your understanding.
   
   
3. Write things down. Write down your religious thoughts. Every now and then you'll realize something about the gods, an insight that helps define your religious practice. Write it down. Write down ideas you have for rituals to perform, and then write down the rituals that you do perform after the fact.
   
   
4. Do devotional activities outside of ritual. For Dionysus, a god of theatre, you can watch movies or plays as a form of worship. Find how to honor your gods in your everyday life.
   
   
5. Start to integrate ancient practices into your worship. You might not need all of them, but this is the origin of our faith and can be very helpful. Practice khernips, which is cleansing yourself before prayer. Pray the prayers that survive to us from ancient times. Offer libations.
   
   >Would I need to set up a shrine?
   
   It isn't mandatory, but it is ideal. We lack temples, and the creation of shrines in our homes is the next best thing.

Hey emnot3,

The beauty of polytheistic systems is that they are compatible with a variety of other systems! You absolutely don't have to stop following the teachings of the Buddha to practice Hellenism!

On where to start, sadly there aren't a lot of good resources at the moment. We are a still small and growing population and most of the starter books in publication that aren't academic texts are just. . .bad. While I haven't read it, a variety of people recommend this book: http://www.amazon.com/Kharis-Sarah-Kate-Istra-Winter/dp/143823192X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421108087&sr=8-1&keywords=Kharis

I would also recommend "A Handbook to Life in Ancient Greece" so that you can contextualize certain things, "Greek Religion" by Burkert for historical information, and "Athenian Popular Religion" by Mikalson for further contextualization.

Since you mention wanting to learn about other neo pagan belief systems, I'll speak up for Helenic polytheism, which is the modern worship of the Greek gods, usually with an emphasis on reconstructing what the ancients really practiced.

Kharis: Hellenic Polytheism Explored https://www.amazon.com/dp/143823192X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_b7E6BbE517CQB. This is the book I recommend giving to relatives who want to know who we are and what we practice in the modern age.

Greek Religion https://www.amazon.com/dp/0674362810/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_c8E6Bb542VQ1W. This is an academic text on religion in ancient Greece that is very useful both in learning what the ancients did and believed as well as a source book used by many modern practitioners as they adapt ancient beliefs and practices to modern life.