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.

My Address To The South Beloit City Council

To promote environmental reform in South Beloit, today I spoke at the City Council meeting.

Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen of the City Council,

Thank you for letting me speak today on this important matter. I'm Chris Aldridge, I just recently moved to South Beloit, and I am an Environmentalist. I've lived in many places during my 34 years on this Earth, and normally wherever I am, I make a conscious effort to maintain the natural land around me. At my address, you'll find my apartment building, and behind it is a small section of forest that I have decided to adopt and clean. Since, obviously, no one else was going to and it was only going to get worse and worse.

During the last weeks of October, I made three full trips through this woodland. On the outside, the problem of litter may appear small to non-existent, until you actually enter and start looking around. Within just 30 minutes for each interval, I pulled full bags of trash from that forest floor. Wrappers, bags, cans, cups, and even discarded toys and clothing were removed and properly disposed of, and the bigger problem is that you can see the litter extend far beyond my own section of the woods.

The woodland has two problems it has to face. One is the fact that it stands next to public dumpsters. Even though the City has waste management services, I've actually picked up after the garbage truck myself. I've seen the garbage truck allow things to fall out during collection without picking it up, and the wind carries it to the wooded areas. The other problem is that people walk through and carelessly throw things down. I ask that the Council pass stricter enforcement of the City's anti-littering laws, and to also require its waste management companies to be more cautious as to what may fall out of the dumpster and to pick it up when they see it. Not just at my apartment, but anywhere in South Beloit.

Not only does litter have an impact on my home, but also the entire City. If not maintained, it can spread into the larger parts of the City, into the water systems, and onto private properties. The president of the United States, much to his credit, recently signed the Save Our Seas Act into law, to address the problem of litter in the oceans. I ask that South Beloit join these ranks with a Save Our Lands Act. I think most of us want good environmentalism, but we get overwhelmed because the world is a big place. That's why each American locality should focus on their own jurisdictions, and eventually the whole country will improve.

Thank you, may the Gods bless South Beloit.

The speech went very well. The Commissioners were interested in my experience and said they would certainly get on to the waste management services. Apparently, my address isn't the only place it's happened. I hope the Council will go one step further with my proposed Save Our Lands Act.

Everyday Environmentalism For The Pagan

As Pagans, and lovers of Nature, we all care about the environment and the Natural World around us, so it's no wonder that many of us consider ourselves strong environmentalists. However, one problem is that the world is a big place, and it's easy for us to find ourselves overwhelmed. But in ancient Greek times, each person, citizen or priest was responsible for their specific precinct, city, sanctuary or temple alone. One person couldn't run the whole Greek land, but with each person doing their part in each little section, the whole land vibrated. I have incorporated this idea into my own personal environmentalist efforts, and I encourage all other Hellenes and Pagans to do the same. Take a look at the picture on the right. This is a very small section of forest behind my home that I decided to sponsor, if you will, and I take regular trips through it to make sure the forest floor and trees are clean. 

On the outside, a forest like this may look presentable and fresh, but you would not believe the amount of trash I pulled from it just today. Look at the picture on the left. And by the way, that big plastic bag I used to hold all the trash was also found in the forest. The forest has two major issues that it has to deal with. One is, of course, careless humans, and the other is the fact that it stands next to a public dumpster, so there's the possibility that trash could accidentally blow through it and land in various places. 

Upon noticing the area being in need, I walked out there and worked as long as it took, releasing much sweat and pain, but eventually I recovered the landscape, and at the end, I praised Artemis and declared my labor as an offering to Her and the woodlands and forests She loves so much. I don't consider just stone and brick structures to be temples of the Gods, but also the woods, rivers, fields, and so on. These things over which the Gods rule are also their temples and sanctuaries, and that's why I, and all Pagans and Hellenes, should work to keep them clean, safe and protected. It took only about 30 minutes of my time, and it didn't require superhuman abilities or machines. Yet, I still cleaned up this entire section of forest all by myself using only my hands, a large bag, and devotion in my heart. I hope all of us will find the same in ourselves for the world around us.

When you have accomplished the work, you will feel amazingly good about yourself. You might even come to discover wonderful natural places that you never knew existed around you. It may also even give you a great sense of pride and belonging in your community. I know when you're laboring, it gets frustrating to think of the fact that you wouldn't have to be out there if people weren't so stupid, and that you will probably have to go out there again in the future because of them. But pray for those people, and be a good example and role model for them. The world is full of followers, not leaders. We need more of the latter.

Note that when deciding to sponsor a piece of natural land that is not specifically your own, make sure that you have permission to be on it. If the land is owned by a private person or company, just ask. Most people probably wouldn't mind giving you permission to clean it up for them. 

In the Goodness of the Gods,

Chris Aldridge.