When Pegasos Flew Over In My Dreams

My family and friends know that I have dealt with a lot of anxiety and illness this year, but that I have also progressively conquered it to the point that I am no longer sick and very close to calling the game against my mental issues as well. I think that the end of this year will be when I can finally say I am cured. 

Sometimes your dreams can be messages from the Gods, and I think I have, over the years, developed the ability to tell which ones are for the most part. Back on December 18th, I went back to sleep around 7:30am, and had an amazing dream of Pegasos flying over me, and not just once, but continuously circling back around and coming back over again, all the while I was cheering him. 

I think the Gods sent him to my dreams to show me that a new time is coming in the next year and beyond, that the hardest of times are done and I have made it through. Victory over my problems is finally mine. The Gods also know how much I love Pegasus and that seeing him would bring me happiness and hope, which is something I think Pegasus embodies.

I cannot explain how wonderful it is to have this feeling of total peace and spiritual support after an entire year of anguish, sometimes thinking that I was not going to live through some of my problems. But now it's over, and I can be someone who attests, at least in my own experience, that you should never quit no matter how hopeless or painful it may seem or be. You never know how well your perseverance will end up paying off, and of course, never think the Gods cannot bring you out of it all. 

In the Goodness of the Gods,

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

Chris Aldridge.

Source

Photo By user: Radomil - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, No changes were made, 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=209591.

Hindus To Erect Massive Statue In North Carolina

I became interested in this story because it's close to my hometown (Thomasville, North Carolina, about an hour away) and because it has become a major story in modern polytheism generally. Earlier this year, I wrote about my family's interfaith travels to a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois, which was an amazing experience for us. A recent story came out about the Hindu complex in Chatham County, North Carolina called the Carolina Murugan Temple. They are in the process of constructing a massive 155 foot statue of the Hindu God of War, Murugan. The statue will be taller than the Statue of Liberty (which is also a Deity, by the way, Libertas), and will cost 10 million dollars. There is apparently a thriving Hindu community in the area, and this project is to honor that growth and serve its people. Not only will this be taller than Lady Liberty, it will be the tallest statue of Murugan in the entire world.

I found my attention drawn to this story because it's a great step for religious freedom and diversity in North Carolina. My family and I left back in 2012, and took our Greek temple with us, because we felt the State government wasn't supportive of our rights as non-Christians, among other reasons such as employment, wages and healthcare. In other words, even if religious freedom had not been a concern of ours, there were still other things that may have moved us to the Liberal States. But I am nevertheless delighted to see said freedom flourishing in my home State. Even if State legislators refuse to stand up for minorities, they also cannot ignore the fact that they exist with something so gigantic overlooking the Tarheel State. I wish we would construct statues of Greek Gods that big as well. The problem is that the Hellenic people were disrupted and persecuted for 2,000 years, whereas the Hindus were not, so obviously they have an easier time with their religious projects. Of course, that's not to say that statues of Greek Gods don't already stand significantly in our nation. A statue of Athene overlooks the Statue of Liberty from nearby, and Themis remains the Goddess of Justice in our legal system. Not to mention that the faces of legendary ancient Greeks overlook the chamber of the Federal House of Representatives, like Solon of Athens and Lycurgus of Sparta. 

The story of the new Hindu statue has made international news. It has sparked a lot of online debate, which I do not see why. The issue here is religious freedom, no debate necessary. Why would there be arguments over it unless you believe that they should not have their religious freedom? America is a place for everyone from everywhere. All the world can come here and be free, that's what we are about. We do not belong to just one religion, one race, one ideology. We are the home of the world. I have heard it said that the money would be better spent on caring for the poor and needy in the State, and there is certainly something to be said about that, but it's also the government's responsibility to see to the general welfare of the people, and the government of North Carolina doesn't seem to have a vested interest in that, since North Carolina has one of the highest poverty rates in the nation. I think it's fine, especially for a minority religion, to use some money to support itself, establish worship centers, and make its people happy. I don't see an issue with that at all, as long as they are also using money to help those in need in their communities.

I do want to go see it in-person when it's completed. In Hellenism, the God of War is Ares and Athene is the Goddess of War who rules in alliance with Nike (Victory).

In the Goodness of the Gods,

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

Chris Aldridge.

Picture licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International. Photo taken by Shesmax. No changes were made. Link To License. Link To File.

Another Wonderful Experience With Apollon

A few days ago as I was in my temple standing before the Shrine of Apollon that you can see in the picture on the right, I had a profound experience that I think was to teach me a few things I desperately needed to realize in my personal life.

Well the reason I decided to go before the shrine was to ask for Apollon's counsel in divination. But to begin with, standing before His statue suddenly filled me with an immense peace that I had been lacking almost all year, which caused me to lose my way, and I came to realize that it wasn't because of the Gods, it was because of my own developed mentality.

The peace and love I felt before the Shrine of Apollon was coupled with the reading He gave me from the Olympus Tarot. Basically Apollon told me that I need to look inward and live my true self, that this is the path to my own happiness. Apollon was setting me free from my past chains that I had allowed myself to be put into by letting other people tell me what to believe and how to live. 

The lesson I was taught this year, after going through horrid anxiety, mental breakdown, and physical sickness, was that I am to never let other people tell me what I am supposed to be, or what I am. The Gods gave each person a mind, soul and a personal response entirely unique to them for good reason, because the Gods do not do that which is needless or unethical. They want a diverse world, and each one of us is here to add to that reality. On a side note, not to speak against oracles or other diviners, but I have always found that when I invoke the Gods and do a reading for myself, it always comes out different than when I allow someone else to do it for me. Sometimes this has happened a lot more than others, but I think the lesson here is that an outside source is guidance, the most powerful source is found with your own connection, however. 

This month, I have learned many new things about the Gods, even as someone who has been a Hellenist for the better part of 20 years, and it has brought me what I believe is the final chapter of peace in my life. I turned 41 this month, which according to statistics, means I have reached the midway point in my lifespan. The rest is for me to enjoy and delight in with my own truth in the Gods.

In the Goodness of the Gods,

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

Chris Aldridge.

Hermes Had Something Better In Mind

A few weeks ago, I received a wonderful blessing from Hermes that I would like to share with my readers.

Back in December of 2024, I left my job at the time and came to regret it, because I realized how much I liked it, and the potential it could have had for me. It was the old feeling of not knowing what you have until you don't have it anymore. I spent the next year trying off and on to get it back, even though I knew the chances were slim because I quit without notice, a really bad mistake. But I think I also had a legitimate reason, my mental illness at the time was starting to reach its peak before I had the breakdown and recovery.

I managed to land a very small job over the spring and summer working one day a week because that was all my mind and body could handle at that point, and all that the company was willing to give me at that time. I thought that if I could get my old job back, I would be happy. Last month, I walked out to our family's altar in the outside sanctuary, made a large offering to Hermes, and asked Him to help me get my old job back, as Hermes is the God of business and commerce. 

I did not get it back, but instead, the good Hermes gave me something far better. I was given a full time position at my current job doing something that I actually really enjoy. The position came up out of the blue one day, and was offered to me, even though my performance over the year had been mostly below par because of my illness. Nevertheless, it came to me. Even though I had previously thought that my old job was my way back to happiness in terms of career, Hermes showed me that I could be even happier in something new, that I did not need to look back. 

Over all this year, the Gods brought me back with a vengeance. Midsummer, I was in bed all day, mentally and physically sick, thinking I was going to die, no real job, no money, no hope in me. Today, I am healthy again, strong, have a great job that I actually like, and excelling in my Master's degree program. The Gods can bring anyone back from anything, for they are good and always do good. I have basically started a new life, just like I wanted, but in a way that the Gods knew would be better for me. 

In the Goodness of the Gods,

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

Chris Aldridge.

The Gods Love The Least Among Us Too - Poseidon's Wrath

As a historian, I have always said that no culture has a clean slate. We have all done things in the past we are not proud of, but then again, we are humans, we make mistakes. This is normal. The important thing is the recognition and correction of those errors. For those who may not know, the City of Sparta had a significant slave population at one point called the Helots, from a neighboring village in the south called Helos, that Sparta had conquered. When Sparta lost to the Thebans of Greece in 371 BCE, the Thebans ended slavery in the City, which resulted in a notable decline for Sparta at that point.

But in 464 BCE, another strike against the slave system took place, this time from a God. Some of the Helots sought refuge in the Temple of Poseidon Asphaleius (Poseidon of Safety) in Tainaron, which rested in the South Peloponnese, but the sanctuary itself predates the enslavement era. When the Spartans found the refugee Helots, they took them out of the temple and killed them. I'd say this was a huge violation of Xenia, since the slaves were suppliants in the presence of the God. Shortly after this, a great earthquake (Poseidon is the Earth Shaker), struck Sparta and destroyed it. This event was interpreted at the time to be punishment from Him. The Gods were believed to protect the Sacred Law of Xenia, and would deal out punishment for violating it. Still to this day, we Hellenists uphold that Law. Not to mention the obvious transgression of interrupting the worship of Poseidon and killing His worshipers.

To me, it shows not only that the Gods protect Sacred Law, but that they care for everyone who comes to them, even if they are at the lowest level of society. The slave can be loved by the Gods the same as the master, the poor the same as the rich, etc. I think that if wealth or status mattered, Poseidon would have reacted less harshly at the violation, but it was one of the most devastating natural disasters to happen to Sparta.

The moral of this post is, whenever you feel like you are a disappointment or someone the Gods don't care about, think again. 

In the Goodness of the Gods,

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

Chris Aldridge.

Links To Information:

Temple Of Poseidon Tainaron, Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia, 2025, accessed on November 8th, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Poseidon_(Tainaron).

Sparta, Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia, 2025, accessed on November 8th, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparta.

Sparta Earthquake, Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia, 2025, accessed on November 8th, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/464_BC_Sparta_earthquake.

Xenia, Hellenic Faith, accessed on November 8th, 2025, https://hellenicfaith.com/xenia/.

How Do I Know If I Am In The Gods' Favor?

You made an offering and a request for something you didn't get, your job or relationship didn't work out, you failed a test, whatever it may be, you might wonder if the Gods are actually in your favor or not, or at least, not against you. When things don't work out or we face disappointment in life, we can get discouraged and depressed over the fact. And depression, which is a liar, can end up telling you horrible things about yourself, and the more you listen, the more your mind will start to believe it.

The first thing to remember is that some of our wants and desires may not be granted for various reasons. As much as we may think otherwise, it might not be the best route for us at that time. You might think you would really and truly be happy and better off, but the Gods know more than we do. You are where you are because of your choices, but also because of your Fate. All lives have beauty, but you'll never see that if you don't allow your eyes to see beyond distractions. As I have said in the past, there's beauty in everything if you have the right eyes. Those eyes come from the Gods. They will show you the beauty, wonder and peace in your life if you allow them. Everything has its reason, even if it might not make that much sense to you at present.

Finally, at least to my mind, a sure way to see that I am favored by the Gods is that I am still alive, healthy and doing well. We strive for the various materials of life so much that we don't realize how precious life itself is. We don't realize that we are not entitled to life in that there was no guarantee that we would be born, that we would be the ones chosen to live. Life is a gift that the Gods were good enough to grant us. And the fact that I have life, health, a good home, a loving family, and plenty of food, tells me that the Gods are not gathering to be against me at all. If the Gods were against me, I wouldn't have a leg to stand on. If the Gods didn't love me, I wouldn't be there. And if they didn't favor me, my life would be far harder than it is.

Your beautiful and continuous life itself is the proof that you are favored by the Gods. You may not be Fated to conquer the world, or even your own City. But you are thriving in the sense of life itself. That's enough to be grateful for. Even if you are sick or down on your luck, that still does not mean you are disfavored. Life always has its challenges, but that doesn't mean the Gods don't like you. The Gods are good and they always do good. And always remember, Hellenism is not about "will the Gods give me this or that," it's about living in harmony with the Gods and the Universe.

In the Goodness of the Gods,

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

Chris Aldridge.

Are You Living Your Purpose?

If Fate is real, which I believe it is, how can we believe that we are expected to be anything other than what we are fated to be? During my life, I've basically been told by others to conquer everything around me, but how can I do that if I am not meant to? How can someone who is poor buy a yacht? Even people who work hard every day of their lives, will never see that kind of wealth. You have to have a certain level of good fortune in order to achieve it. But the mere act of trying your hardest is not a guarantee, and in fact, still keeps your chances very low. Wouldn't your life be better if you focused your strengths and talents on things that you could achieve? Wouldn't it be better if instead of trying to be something you're not, or that life hasn't prepared for you, you became the best that you yourself could be?

I no longer believe that I can "do anything." It's a very nice, comforting and inspirational idea, but the fact of the matter is that no one can do everything. If that were the case, there would be no diversity in the world, and no real need for the Gods to give us diverse talents and desires in life. They, I believe, want to see the most beautiful and happiest expression of yourself in the world. To build to the best of your ability. And I have grown increasingly convinced of that after my year long contact with my spiritual counselor at the Temple of Rhodes in Greece. Nowhere in ancient Greece did everyone do the same things. Some were great, others were moderate, and some were basic. But they all contributed to the glory that was the civilization. For crying out loud, Socrates was called the wisest of all men and he didn't even have a job at the time. He sat and walked around the City each day and philosophized with people. That's what we remember, not his paycheck. 

I think your Fate, in a very large measures, is grounded in what you feel called to do, and what you love to do, which is often the same thing. Now I'm not saying you should run out and quit your job and try to become a professional TV wrestler. What I'm saying is that everyone has the right to pursue their own happiness, their own bliss, and their own talents. When you're doing what you're meant to do, there is ultimate enjoyment. Time has no meaning. It flies by without notice. You also have no fear or anxiety, just peace, love and happiness. For me, my bliss is being a priest and a religious writer. I believe I am here to be a Hellenist and teach people about Hellenism if they want to know. I pray you find your purpose too, and have the courage to live it.

In the Goodness of the Gods,

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

Chris Aldridge.