Thanatos: Zest for Life

A lot of people think of death-related deities (especially psychopomps) and picture hungry-for-tragedy, blood-thirsty, or spooky beings. Even Thanatos, peaceful death, is often depicted as a sorrowful soul, one who only comes at the worst moments of our lives, one who mortals try to avoid at all costs.

Working with a death deity to begin with is a closer connection to the Underworld and the spiritual world than working with other deities, but it can also be a profound way to learn how to properly appreciate and balance life and all of the funky experiences we have as humans.

The thing about deities like Thanatos is that they don't want you to die, especially prematurely. It is hard work that they do, and they have emotions and feelings about it too. It is honorable work, there's reasons Greeks have traditional rituals when it comes to funerals that reflect the pain and intensity of emotions like grief.

Thanatos is someone who can help you learn the importance of life through the importance of death. To die is to have lived. Unless you're stagnant in your life, in which case you died twice instead. When it is your time, he or another psychopomp will be there to safely walk you to where you belong, but until then, collect stories he can listen to when you make that walk, alright? /soft

On an unrelated note, if you're interested in Roman Polytheism, Mors is a great deity to speak to about things relating to this topic!

Ares: Chaos

Ares is a God of War, undoubtedly. He is also often noted as a god of protection, specifically of women and girls. Now, I could go on and on about the values of war and connection, but instead, I'd like to highlight the nature of chaos as relevant to Ares and working with him.

Something important to note in traditional Greek religion / culture is that there were two distinct gods often prayed to and worked with in times of war (amongst so many others that were gone to for various reasons when it came to war): Ares and Athena.

Athena is the strategist. In modern pop culture stories even, she is the goddess who trains "warriors of the mind." She was seen as the organization of war, the goddess who looked over things like plans, working together, communication on the battlefield, the use of tools for their intended purposes (like shields and spears - there's only so many things you can do with either weapon), and so on.

Ares, on the other hand, was the chaos of the battlefield. The brute force, the aristeia in epic stories, the rage and the pain and the destruction that usually had a reason but didn't always have a rhyme. He often represents the ugly side of war in modern depictions.

A lot of people hesitate to work with Ares in regards to things like this though because many of us are not war-torn or on a physical battlefield. For those without experience with war or battles based in physicality or violence, I recommend:

Support recovering from abuse or entrapment (these are often battlefields in their own right, and sometimes you just need to feel what it's like to be free and break out of the mental cages you were put in -- it isn't always pretty, and it isn't always organized)

Disorganized note-taking (some people just don't function with three pretty highlighters and words written in the margins lol)

Defending your loved ones without cordiality (some people deserve a good yelling at and consequences for their actions)

Turning your explosive rage into fuel

Of course, I can't help myself from leaving this comment, even though I tried lol: Anger is just love that knows something needs protecting. So whether you're motivating yourself, trying to do better as a person, finally taking a stand for yourself or someone you care about, or something else - consider asking Ares if he can help you with it!

Hekate: Self-Respect

Everyone goes to Hekate for magical purposes, like witchcraft, or guidance, like crossroads and divination. However, she is someone you can go to for self-respect as well. Before reading this section, do take the time to learn about her more intricately here (she has her own section in this info-post).

Some sacred symbols and associations of Hekate are dogs, locks, and keys. Dogs, as we all know, are loyal and loving creatures, who will defend those they care about. This is the aspect of communal care and work, and mutuality, within her domains and what she stands for. Locks are protective, they can something sealed and secure, or they keep something permanent and still. This is one faucet of the human life - some things don't change, some things we want to hold onto. But then, there are the keys - that change the nature of the locks, releasing whatever is inside or revealing it. This emphasizes the highlight of change, and the courage to do something that feels dangerous or scary.

Your fate is your destination, but your choices choose that destination and the path you take to get to it.

There's simple ways to approach this - sure, you can do the whole career-change, lifestyle-change, divorce or asking someone out . . . but there's some simpler ways to do this too, as equally as important in my opinion. One of the main ways is setting boundaries. Hekate often goes for independent practitioners who take the initiative to grow and do what they need to do; asking for her support in being able to say no, to change your mind without guilt while still respect others and your commitments, and so on, might be something she is willing to help you with! This kind of self-improvement can be done magically or mundane, too ^^ When a door is locked, it becomes a barrier. Most people don't break that lock off unless they need to - and fortunately, often times, you get to choose who carries the key. Working with deities and performing spells / witchcraft -- even in just living as a regular person, human nature -- amplifies your will, but it comes from you and your self-advocacy and actions that you take to work on your goals.

Poseidon: Live Entertainment

Poseidon is a deity of the sea, earthquakes, and horses. A lot of people know the myth and lore, but not many people ask why he is associated with those things to create the stories to begin with.

The reason why these three things were bundled up together and associated with the same deity, at the time of origins, is due to the shared sound that each of these three natural phenomena have. The rumbling of horse trampling, the rumbling of the earth shaking, the rumbling of waves crashing and thrashing.

In the ancient world, music was the passion of truth, an art made with strings and singing. Nowadays, we have a variety of more opportunities to achieve this rumbling noise, that might remind the deity you're working with of home or the ancient times in a pleasant, nostalgic way.

For example, raves and live concerts (especially genres like rock or drum-heavy arts). Lots of people jumping to the beat of the noise, lots of theatres shaking below their feet, lots of outdoor lively experiences next to the sea, etc . . .

You can also look for festivals, rituals, spells, and other fun solitary or communal practices, get-togethers and activities, that incorporate that of water or prominent noise. Firework shows, dance performances, anywhere where people may bustle together and create that shocking sound and rumble or force that harsh movement is something Poseidon might appreciate being invited to witness / experience with you!

Besides, a great offering to almost any deity is good company!

Hermaphroditus: Self-Exploration & Attraction

Most people go to Aphrodite for things like self-discovery, love and relationships, and self-confidence (which, albeit, is a great person to go to for these things)! However, Hermaphroditus - in myth, child of Hermes and Aphrodite - is also someone you can go to for similar support! And, fewer people work with him, so you might find yourself discovering more about your practice and beliefs in a closer relationship with this deity, too!

Hermaphroditus is considered a love god, with close domain in working with intersex people ("hermaphrodites," though this is an outdated term now) and feminine men ("effeminates"). Traits and characteristics of his domains involve gender, sexuality, self-love, love of others, acceptance, unity of men and women, and so on.

I usually recommend Hermaphroditus as a great alternative for men, especially gay men, twinks and femboys (as well as intersex people, of course), who may feel insecure working with Aphrodite or who may feel like she isn't the perfect fit for them, but truly anyone can work with him! Aphrodite is so popular, and a great individual, but Hermaphroditus is grossly overlooked and in her shadow. Aphrodite is the "big boss" of love gods (and even considered a war goddess), and other deities like Hermaphroditus can help more intricately with more specific or detailed situations or people. You may find you vibe more with him!

Now, he isn't just for intersex people and feminine males, as I just mentioned. He isn't just a god associated with loving thyself and others. He is someone you can ask for support with when it comes to self-exploration and attraction.

Hermaphroditus might be able and willing to help you with:

Self-discovery (in general, in terms of gender, in sex and relationships, and so on)

Attraction (to oneself, self-confidence; attracting others, glamour work / witchcraft)

Relationships (the journey of exploring each other and yourself together, and understanding the pillars of your life and dynamics)

Values (inclusivity, diversity, and acceptance)

Final Remarks

We often forget that Greek deities, though gods, are autonomous and complex just like each of us. It's important to remember where their stories, domains, and lore come from and why they were important, to understand how to innovate them respectfully today.

I have a variety of recent related Greek posts if you'd like to check them out below! Don't forget to check out the rest and my previous posts at my Table of Contents.

Greek Baby Names (naming your child after a deity?)

Hellenist Protections (witchcraft and religion)

Xenia (an intro for beginners)

The Influences of Christianity (reaction post)

You can also check out this post I made about conducting proper research on relevant topics! My advice: Don't forget to keep asking Why?

I might make a part two of this post, so feel free to look out for that if I do lol!

Thank you! :D