Grey🧿Witch

What you are saying is that homeless people can’t call out to the Theoi for help because they don’t have the right space, ritual gear, or opportunities. 

You’re saying that a broke single mom who can’t afford to buy wine isn’t welcome because she can’t afford the “correct” libation. 

You’re saying that teenagers living in their Christian parents’ house can’t practice this religion. 

You’re saying that the Theoi don’t want people who didn’t have the same educational opportunities that you did. 

You’re saying that the Theoi have no space in their hearts for people who are struggling, afraid, or poor. 

Don’t say that to me and then tell me that you imagine Hellenismos growing. 

My mom’s friend was out shopping when a (very not asian) woman came up and started berating her for not wearing a mask. Asian businesses in my area are suffering. Some people are refusing to interact with anyone who looks Asian.

Asian-Americans have been through racism already. We’re fucking sick of it. We’re not flea-infested rats; we are actual people who most likely have never been to China.

And if you’re not Asian and see someone being racist and giving a poor schmuck a hard time for having squinty eyes and dark hair, tell them to knock it off and they’re being a butt.

Ares: aww thanks *drinks the whole cup straight*

Hebe, nervously: uh, didn’t it taste weird to you?

Ares: yeah, but i didn’t want to hurt your feelings, so i drank it all

So, first of all, I’d suggest at least looking over the companion post to this, How to Read the Deity Communication Spread. A lot of the same ideas and concepts I mentioned there are going to apply here as well.

Secondly, if you’re not sure what I’m talking about – check out the Deity Identification Spread!

The purpose of this spread is to build a profile of information about a deity so that you can discover or narrow down their identity. It won’t always hand you the answer on a platter! But as I said before, and will say numerous times again in the future, the act of taking that information and searching for the answer is often part of the process of working with deities and spirits.

Another purpose for this spread is to verify the identity of a deity that you’re dealing with. It’s actually quite useful for this one, and quite a bit easier, because you’re going to have a better idea of what you’re looking for already.

(Also, just for funsies, if you’re a writer or someone else who finds themselves needing to do some world building, it’s great for generating up fictional deities as well)

Overall Advice

As always, God stuff is weird. It won’t always be easy, but this spread should point you to the signs along the way to figure it out, even if it doesn’t hand you the answer.

Be willing to think creatively. The “answer” may come from the card meaning or imagery, but it could also be a pun on the name or number, or something that is whispered to you when the card is turned over – see above: God stuff is weird.

Remember: you may have to do the leg work on this. The cards should ultimately give you symbols and signs to look out for – so be looking out! See what deities you find that are connected to your answers. Search the myths and lore. See how and where they fit.

Like I said in the post about the Communication Spread, it’s okay to draw more cards for various positions, perhaps even more so in this spread. (You can uh….draw multiple cards for positions on any spread?? by the way?? Just throwing that out there)

Even if you don’t discover the identity of the deity, you’re going to get some useful information in terms of allowing you to reach out to them – clues about their nature, information on their symbols and associations. The closer you get, the more answers may be revealed.

CARD ONE: The Deity

Like in the Communication Spread, this card sums the deity up, typically giving you the particular aspect that is appearing to you.This card should give you hints on where to start looking for the deity’s identity – their name, personality, their appearance. 

Relate this card to the other cards to start building an image of the deity.

CARD TWO: Quality/Trait (”Negative”)

As I say in the spread, I usually interpret this trait as being something “negative” – note, by the way, that you may not get a straight answer here if the deity doesn’t have any overtly negative traits or if you personally won’t perceive or experience those traits.

The “negative” trait may be something they’re classically associated with – jealous, impulsive, potentially cruel. But it may be something you personally may not like – associations that make you uncomfortable or challenge you.

I think it can be hard for people to confront this card because it can be scary. If you get an answer here you don’t like, maybe you don’t want to know the answer after all. If that’s going to be an issue for you, enough that you can’t get over it, then eh, maybe don’t specify this to be something negative. But I think it’s worth it to know and it can be very illuminating.

CARD THREE: Quality/Trait (”Positive”)

This card is the same as above, but with a more positive slant. So these may be things that are aspects they’re known for, such as beauty, generosity, wisdom, or things that you’ll appreciate and be supported by.

This card can be confusing when the positive trait comes up as a negative card, so firstly, let me suggest reading what I said about negative cards in How to Read the Deity Communication Spread.

But overall, consider that a negative card may:

Be expressing a positive aspect of itself – The Tower as liberation, the Five of Pentacles as a light for the lost.

Represent something symbolic – the Ten of Swords may be someone who is known for stepping out of their physical body or granting that ability to those who worship them. The Ten of Wands may be someone who is known to take on many burdens or many followers.

…may just be negative? You might not have a good time with every deity. It happens.

CARD FOUR: Ruling/Power

This card should point you to the deity’s domain, if you will. The cards can be a bit cheeky here, so be prepared for that. The Lovers may indicate a love goddess – but it may also come up for a crossroads deity. 

You should be willing to have a dialogue with your cards here. Pull more than one if you need to, but don’t be afraid to actually give a think to what you draw here – and for all of the cards, to be honest…

Contemplation and comparison to the other cards should help you out here.

CARD FIVE: Symbol/Association

This can be straightforward or not, so good luck!

Again, sometimes the answer is in the imagery – a lightning bolt on The Tower, there might be a dolphin on your Knight of Cups, or maybe it will be in the name or meaning. The search for the answer can be part of the work you’re supposed to be doing, remember? 

But what you’re looking for here are symbols, animals, places, concepts, or whatever else you can strongly link to a deity – which you can use not only to identify that deity, but to reach out to them. 

CLOSING THOUGHTS

I really can’t stress this enough – even if you don’t get the answer directly, you’re going to get clues to follow along the path and you’re going to get keys to help bring you closer to that deity. 

If you follow those signs and if you use those keys, you will be able to build a bridge of communication and build a relationship that is going to bring you closer to the answer of identity.

This is especially useful for lesser known deities or deities whose names have been lost to time! 

But ultimately you need to be willing to sit with these answers and explore them, especially if a straightforward identity isn’t presented to you. Sometimes the answer is something that unfolds over time rather than something that hits you straight in the face right away. Maybe you can eliminate some names along the way!

Like I said in the closing thoughts on the communication spread breakdown:

“One of the reasons this spread can be difficult is that deities are difficult. Discovering who they are and what they want from you is sometimes part of the whole challenge or bonding process, and the quest to find those answers is often as useful and important as actually accomplishing anything they’re going to ask from you.

So it's almost no doubt by now that you've heard the term godphoning. If you havent, it simply means speaking to and 'hearing' your deity respond (in the form of thoughts that arent yours, not just hearing them for real. That might be something else). I believe this is something everyone does, to a degree. It may be that encouraging voice in the back of your mind, a bit of random advice youd never think of, or full on conversation. BUT I also believe it is a huge risk.

See, when you godphone and dont protect yourself in some way, you could very very easily be a) talking to something that isnt you deity or b) talking with your own inner dialogue. This is something that happens, which is why it is important to protect yourself in some way if you do it.

There are ways to protect yourself. Have you tried warding your home/dorm/room? Have you casted a circle? Do you have a protection spell on yourself? Do you have an object you enchanted with some sort of protection spell? Do you wear thought protecting stones and what not on top of it all? Do you know how to ground yourself?? Because if you dont do atleast one of these things, my dude, you could really be putting yourself at risk.

Godphoning also shouldnt be your main form of communication with your gods and goddesses. Guys, I cannot stress this enough. There are so many other ways that are safer than godphoning. I dont even mainly godphone. I mainly use tarot cards and trance work. You could try a pendulum, tarot or Oracle cards, runes, scrying, rolling bones, meditation, trance work, dreams, anything. Theres even more you can do, I just put down the shit I do and know off the top of my head. Because when you do these, it is alot more likely your deity is talking, not something else.

If you get a godphone when not in a protected area, learn to question it. Your gods and goddesses arent going to get offended by this, I promise. They want you to be safe and cautious with your mind and heart in this fashion. If you hear what you think is your deity, when you get home cast a circle and ask if it was them. It's that simple. They will tell you. It's really really really better to be safe than sorry.

Also pay attention to what theyve said. Is it something it of character? Are they telling you that you suck? Are they saying you should go buy out the local McDonald's?? That probably isnt them, then. It may be you talking negatively to yourself or voicing your own desires.

Please stay safe guys. I dont want you getting taken advantage of by other entities or mentally berating yourself and saying it's your god.

EDIT: Ok, so to clear something up:

Yes, it is ok if a deity asks you for an offering, such as Loki asking for McDonalds lol. I more meant it in a "I need you to buy out the whole fucking restaurant and eat your feelings while you sob into a melting bowl of ice cream" kind of thing. Not a "Hey.... can... can we get pizza tonight??? *puppy dog eyes* pleeeeeeeeease?????"

Because that certainly happens. And that's cool. Its alot different than buying everything in the store lol.

it was not your fault. you didn’t deserve what happened to you and the whole “it made me who i am today” concept doesn’t make what happened okay.

you still deserve love and happiness.

it’s okay to heal slowly. sometimes that’s the only way you will heal. do not beat yourself up over how long it takes you to process things. abuse isn’t something you just get over or forget about or ignore.

it’s okay to not know how to feel as your abuser may have been a loved one. all grief is different.

all cases and experiences are different but there is comfort in finding people who can somewhat get it. also understand not everyone will get it, though. that’s just how life goes when we all grow up differently.

These are some of my tips for connecting to the elements in the morning before school, work, busy days, or just a day at home. It’s also handy for witches like me who prefer to work in the morning and daytime 🌞

☁️Air-

💨wake up at dawn if you can (dawn is the time that correspondes with air)

💨pick a perfume that correspondes with your intent for the rest of the day

💨listen to some music to set intent for the day and energize yourself

💨get some fresh air and let the crisp morning air invigorate and center you

💨light incense that correspondences with your intent of the day

💨enjoy the morning bird chirping

💨do a daily divination reading to get a feel for what to expect for the rest of the day

💨incorporate almonds, honey, strong scented herbs like dill, or eggs in your breakfast

Water🌊-

💧have a cup of tea or some water when you wake up

💧take a shower or bath and let it cleanse you

💧take a morning swim if you can

💧moisturize with lotion that correspondes with your intent for the day

💧make a water bottle of infused water (with the herbs/fruits of your intent) to carry around and keep you hydrated for the day

💧collect morning dew

💧pick a seashell that correspondes with your intent for the day to carry around with you

💧sing! (to connect to mermaids and warm up your voice for the day)

💧incorporate apples, berries, salt, fish, or avocado in your breakfast

Earth🌳-

🌿take a walk or jog

🌿do some yoga

🌿pick a crystal that correspondes with your intent for the day to carry with you

🌿ground yourself

🌿take care of your plants (water them, talk to them, etc.)

🌿do a prosperity spell for the day

🌿spend time with your pets

🌿use plant based products or make your own if you can (like shampoo, soap, makeup, etc.)

🌿incorporate nuts, beans, roots (like ginger), and greens (like spinach and kale) in your breakfast

Fire🔥-

🕯light a candle to set your intent for the day

🕯enjoy the morning sunshine, feel it’s warmth

🕯do some makeup or fashion magic when you’re getting ready

🕯meditate with the Sun

🕯take vitamins and/or medications

🕯stay warm with hot teas, hot showers, blankets, etc. (the morning can be a bit chilly)

🕯use the sunshine as a positivity and happiness spell and let it charge you for the day

🕯carry a tealight with you (you never know when you’ll need one)

You’ll need:

1 glass jar

½ to 1 cup salt

3 cloves garlic

9 dry bay leaves (crumbled)

7 tsp. dried Basil

4 tsp. dill seeds

1tsp sage

1tsp anise

1tsp black pepper

1tsp fennel

1 bowl

In the morning ideally on a bright sunny day assemble the items. Place in the bowl and say: “Salt that protects, protect my home and all within.” Add the cloves of garlic: “Garlic that protects, protect my home and all within.” Add the bay leaves:“Bay that protects, protect my home and all within.” Add the basil and say: “Basil that protects, protect my home and all within.” Add the dill and say: “Dill that protects, protect my home and all within.” Add the sage and say: “Sage that protects, protect my home and all within.” Add the anise and say: “Anise that protects, protect my home and all within.” Add the fennel and say: “Fennel that protects, protect my home and all within.”

Mix together the salt and the herbs with your hands, throughout the movement of your hands and fingers lend energy to the potent protective items, visualize your home safe and as a shining secure place. Pour the mixture in the jar and cap tightly.

 Place it in your home with these words:

 “Salt and herbs, nine times nine Guard now this home of mine”

-Berk

Back to Bottle and Jar Magic Masterpost

Small devotional acts.

Take a self-defense class

Adopt an “unwanted” animal

Learn first aid

Have a bonfire

Physically destroy reminders of harmful things

Go to protests, fight for what you believe in

Go on the massive rides at fairs/amusement parks

Educate yourself on PTSD

Wear more leather

Join a debate team

Look at war critically, without glorifying it

Delete contacts who were negative influences

Eat spicy foods

Wear clothes that make you feel confident and badass

Keep a pocket knife/multi-tool on you

Have multiple shots of coffee

Stand up against racists, sexists, and the like

Find small ways to build your endurance each day

Inspire others

Donate to charities that support abuse victims

Wear metal jewelry

Use writing or art to channel your feelings (it doesn’t have to be pretty and light)

Learn more about war history

Follow through with tasks you are given

Listen to music that makes you feel a little chaotic 

Drive on roads you can go fast on

Explore alternatives to the systems and paths you were told to follow

Play a competitive and physical game/sport

Help your friends clean up after a party (or fight)

Fuel your hate into productive energy

Wear darker makeup

Don’t be afraid to have opinionated conversations

Know the best ways to get rid of blood stains

PRACTICE LOVING YOURSELF