It All Started With Zeus and Artemis ~ Eco-Hellenism

I've been a Hellenist for many years, and within the context of Hellenism, some of my beliefs and practices have changed and evolved over time. But recently, my practice has been rather revolutionized, of course still within Hellenism, and by guidance from the Gods. 

One Day, I pulled my car over in a parking lot to eat the lunch I had just bought. I dropped a few small pieces of the food and a small drop of the drink onto the grass beside my car as an offering of thanks to the Gods for the food, not really thinking anything of it more than what it was at the time. It was done with good intentions and a pious heart, so the act was still pious. 

But then I got to thinking, can a small portion of food still be considered litter? Could I get fined for it or banned from the location? Well I learned that I could indeed be fined for that, even if the food isn't actually litter because animals will eat it. But more specifically, processed foods can harm the environment and animal life if the animals, such as geese, eat it. The more I researched, the more I went into the history and modern sacrifices of Hellenism and eventually it occurred to me, offerings were more pure in ancient times because they didn't have the processed foods and synthetic chemicals were not added to products like incense. I apologized to Zeus Xenios for being so innocently presumptuous on someone else's land (I should have made sure I had permission), and also to Artemis for the safety of the Wild, saying that in the future, I would be more considerate or mindful of the offerings I leave outside, basically.

From that point, I became very eco-friendly with my offerings and the things I leave outside for the Gods, not only because I wanted to care for the environment and animals, but because when offerings are as pure as possible, they are the best for the Gods, at least in my view. I decided that I would no longer offer processed foods, but rather, the essence of the foods unless they were unprocessed, I would use a few flakes of pure Sea salt in my lustral water, I would pour libations of the freshest quality, like pure water, small amounts of natural wine mixed with water, a few small drops of extra virgin olive oil, small amounts of raw honey mixed with water, and 100% natural incense. This did not mean, however, that everything given to, or in honor of, the Gods had to be unprocessed, but that anything left outside would be safe for the environment, aka unprocessed and naturally pure. 

This does not mean that all of my past offerings were now invalidated, because once again, anything done with a pious heart is still pious. Just because your food is processed, or your incense may not be 100% natural, does not mean the Gods will not accept your offerings. But it opened my mind, at least to me, into a stronger connection with the Gods and other Higher Powers. I do not believe the Gods look down on anyone else who practices differently by offering typical foods and gifts, because I believe they understand that we live in a very different world than ancient times, and sometimes a person may not always have something unprocessed or organic, or even know why it would matter. But I do believe it is a better way for the Hellenist to practice. This doesn't mean one has to become a vegan, but that their interactions with the Gods would be as natural as possible.

The main goal of this post is to inform my readers of this change in my life as it shows the different paths of growth I have taken in my Hellenic life, and so that people won't be confused as to anything I have written prior when they see my new teachings and practices. One of the beautiful things about Hellenism is that you don't have to delete your past. You can tell your story, as it shows how you have changed and grown. 

In the Goodness of the Gods,

I'll see you at the next Herm down the road,

Chris Aldridge.