κότσυφας

Idk how y’all make aesthetic blog intros

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Call me Kotsifas!! (Spencer works too ig)

I’m 16

I’m intermediate

I call myself a recon because I guess my views fit that better but idk

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I strive to make educational posts on Hellenic polytheism

If I don’t have a source, I either didn’t have it saved or it’s a upg!!

I like birds

When burying an offering to a chthonic or chthonian deity (or for whatever reason you’re putting an offering outside) please be careful as to what food you’re putting outside.

Research your local fauna and don’t put anything harmful outside!! If there are a lot of stray cats or dogs in your area, don’t set out grapes as an offering. Avoid things like chocolate, garlic, anything seasoned as those can be dangerous to a wide variety of creatures.

Here’s a list of relatively neutral foods you can offer outside—

⪼ Unseasoned meat like beef or chicken - it’ll be largely left alone by prey creatures and won’t harmful to any meat eaters

⪼ Carrots - because of sugar content, they’re only fed to animals as treats but they won’t make an impact from a single offering

⪼ Apples - Most wildlife can consume apples!! Only offer the flesh though, the stem and leaves can contain cyanide

⪼ Blueberries - These are also safe for most wildlife to consume!!

⪼ Figs - TOXIC TO CATS!! These are fine for most wildlife but can be dangerous to cats and more than a few pieces of the fruit can be harmful to dogs depending on size. Squirrels love them though (please be careful about any cats in your area if you plan to offer figs)

⪼ Olives - be careful about salt content, but they generally aren’t harmful. Please de-pit the olives though. The pits can cause choking hazards.

⪼ Pomegranate - basically safe for anything that isn’t a cat or dog. Squirrels love them. They can cause digestive upset to cats and dogs. Don’t set out peels though, they can contain cyanide.

⪼ Artichoke - these are safe for most animals!!

Always make sure to cut the offering up as well to prevent any choking hazards.

In ancient times, they would honor Hestia by giving her the first and last libations.

Why did they do this? Idk! I haven’t found a source that actually explained why. I assume it’s because she was viewed as a “gateway” to the gods not that I’ve managed to find a source on that either, but it seems widely accepted

I highly recommend giving Hestia the first and last libation as well. It’s not something that would negatively affect your practice if not, and if I’m doing a libation in a hurry, I usually don’t. Honoring Hestia with the first and last libation may positively improve your practice and connection with the gods.

Sources ✐✎