t h e o i

A: I'm a Hellenic Pagan.

B: Oh, cool! I'm a Hellenic Polytheist.

A: Wow, so like, who are your deities?

B: Did I not just say I'm a Hellenic Poly...all of them.

A: Uh, even Zeus?

B: Actually, I'm personally invested in building reciprocity with Zeus, and I would say we have a pretty good relationship.

A: But for why? You know what he did in myth, right?

B: Yes, I'm very aware of his mythic representation, but I also feel like anyone who has an interest in worshipping ancient Greek gods shouldn't actively revile him.

A: I don't appreciate you telling me how I should practice.

B: I'm not. You can do whatever you want, but the fact of the matter is, if you take a religion and remove its most important characters, you're divorcing that religion from its cultural context.

A: (silence)

Sometimes you will feel like a small child learning how to ride a bike. You can feel the hands on your shoulders, you can hear their voice close by. Then, suddenly, you don't feel their hands and their voice is farther away.

They didn't abandon you in your time of need. They're watching you take everything they've taught you to apply it. They've got the band-aids if you need them, and they're standing at the top of the driveway watching.

They cannot pedal that bike for you. They cannot hold onto the bike so you never fall.

They're watching you and they are proud. They are proud even if you fall down or crash.

hera /ˈhɪərə/ • goddess of marriage

planets: mercury