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Post  tobyderks Sun Feb 07, 2016 7:42 pm

Hello,
First i want to say that i am from The Netherlands, so i'm sorry if my english isn't right.
I am new to this forum and religion, so i've got a few questions.
A few years ago i got interested in the Greek mythology. I started to read about it and i always felt really connected with it. First i was christian. I had a really bad time and i prayed a lot to god, but it only got worse. I was angry and i had something like: 'well if you don't help me, than i'll pray to annother god.' I couldn't think of anny god, so i started to pray to the Gods of Olympus.
When i did that, i felt something like never before: i felt as if someone was listening to me. Things got better, and i continued to pray to the gods. First it was a joke, but i noticed that things got better, i felt special, someone was listening.
So now i'm sure the Gods exist I tried to find on the web annything about the religion, but i couldn't find annything. So then i came here.

First i want to check if what i feel is real: does annyone has the same experience as me? I also think i found my patron Godness: Artemis. I found her because i love animals, and when i think of her, i feel more than when i think of the other gods. But i'm a boy, and i know that that isn't usual for Artemis, so can she really be my patron Godness?

Second i want help. The gods helped me a lot, and i want to do something back for them. I want to pray, but i don't know how to pray. I want to offer, but i don't know how or what to offer.
I want to do it right. So my questions are:
How do i pray?
How do i offer?
What do i offer?
How often do i pray and offer?
As i said, i love animals, so i can't offer animals to the gods, is that a problem?

Can someone pleas help me and guide me into this religion?
Thank you verry much!

tobyderks
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Post  Euthymia Mon Feb 08, 2016 12:21 am

Hi and welcome,
tobyderks wrote:
When i did that, i felt something like never before: I felt as if someone was listening to me. Things got better, and I continued to pray to the gods. First it was a joke, but i noticed that things got better, i felt special, someone was listening.
So now i'm sure the Gods exist I tried to find on the web annything about the religion, but i couldn't find annything. So then i came here.First i want to check if what i feel is real: does anyone has the same experience as me?

My experience was a bit similar to yours. I used to be christian and tried to pray to the christian god, to connect with Mary and Jesus, but I felt nothing. I then was a bit in despair, and became agnostic for a while. Not long after, I had a random thought to pray to the gods. And I thought 'Why not?'. I prayed to them and I felt a connection, as if I was being listened for once.

tobyderks wrote: Second i want help. The gods helped me a lot, and i want to do something back for them. I want to pray, but i don't know how to pray. I want to offer, but i don't know how or what to offer.
I want to do it right. So my questions are:
How do i pray?
How do i offer?
What do i offer?
How often do i pray and offer?
As i said, i love animals, so i can't offer animals to the gods, is that a problem?
Can someone pleas help me and guide me into this religion?

I am still a bit new to this forum and I'm not the most documented person on the history and philosophy of this religion, so I might not be the best person to help you, but I'll answer anyways.
How do I pray? The ancient greeks used to pray standing up with their palms facing upwards if addressing ethereal deities, and palms facing the ground if addressing chtonic deities (deities linked with death). However, you can pray anyway you like, kneeling, standing up, anything you feel comfortable with. There is also a thread in this section, If I remember well, addressing specifically your question about prayer.
How do you offer? You can offer however you like, if you feel confortable with it. However, if you really don't know what to do, I would say you should try to first invoke the god in question, state why you wish to offer to him/her, then do your offering. That's how I would do it.
What do I offer? Anything you want, as long as it is appropriate. You also don't need to offer animals as sacrifice, the gods do not demand it. It was also not that common in Antiquity regarding personal worship.
How often should you pray and offer? You are completely free to choose when you wish to pray and offer.
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Post  DavidMcCann Tue Feb 09, 2016 2:10 pm

Your experience is very common. Many people have felt that at last there was someone listening! If you feel especially drawn to Artemis, that's fine. Like all gods, she has many interests. She was worshiped by mothers and warriors alike: the Spartan army always prayed to her just before a battle. As you can read in the Bible, at Ephesus she was the patron of the city.

To pray, just say what you feel. Offerings can also be varied. Before dinner every day I offer incense, wine, and fruit. Some of the wine is poured out as a libation, then the rest and the fruit are included in my meal: it's like sharing my meal with the gods. Students in accommodation where they can't burn anything may put a dab of perfume on a lamp instead of burning incense. On festivals, you can offer flowers: Artemis is associated with white ones. You can also vow a donation to a suitable charity every year in her honour, as I do.

This is a good book
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1503121887/sr=1-1/qid=1454955493/
from these people
http://www.labrys.gr/index-en.php

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Post  tobyderks Tue Feb 09, 2016 2:25 pm

These reactions are verry usefull, thank you. It is good to know that i am not the only one who experienced this. It is also good to know that Artemis can be my patron.
My parents don't know about this so i can't offer that often. Only when they are not home. I hope the Gods don't mind that.
But i can pray before i go to sleep! Do i have to say annything special when i pray?
It is good to know that Artemis liked white flowers. And with that donation to a chairity is perfect! There are a lot of animal protection groups that need donations!
Ooh yeah. About offering. If i offer something, can that be something from the supermarket, or does it has to be something i made by myself, so it's clean? And how do i offer that? Just trow it away in nature or burn it?
Thank you again!

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Post  Thrasyvoulos Tue Feb 09, 2016 7:05 pm

tobyderks wrote:These reactions are verry usefull, thank you. It is good to know that i am not the only one who experienced this. It is also good to know that Artemis can be my patron.
My parents don't know about this so i can't offer that often. Only when they are not home. I hope the Gods don't mind that.
But i can pray before i go to sleep! Do i have to say annything special when i pray?
It is good to know that Artemis liked white flowers. And with that donation to a chairity is perfect! There are a lot of animal protection groups that need donations!
Ooh yeah. About offering. If i offer something, can that be something from the supermarket, or does it has to be something i made by myself, so it's clean? And how do i offer that? Just trow it away in nature or burn it?
Thank you again!

Prayer is a sacred act of freedom. You can pray to Artemis about whatever you like. There are no laws about what is a proper prayer, only recommendations about structure and prompts to pray about. Things which are always a good thing to pray for are good health, that you always have as much wealth as you need, etc. Basic needs. You could always recite one of the hymns to Artemis first as an offering in itself and then continue with your prayer.

When it comes to offerings, in ancient times what was offered the most was incense and wine. However, if you cannot offer incense or cannot buy wine, that's fine. You can always just use something that is good to eat or drink, such as a bite of food from your meals or a small libation of water. If you're going to offer anything by leaving it out in nature, that is fine, but here I would recommend that you find a respectful place to leave it (and won't be fined for littering!) and that you offer things which are nutritious for the animals that will find it and eat it.

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Post  Erodius Sun Feb 14, 2016 1:51 pm

tobyderks wrote:These reactions are verry usefull, thank you. It is good to know that i am not the only one who experienced this.
My parents don't know about this so i can't offer that often. Only when they are not home. I hope the Gods don't mind that.
But i can pray before i go to sleep! Do i have to say annything special when i pray?
It is good to know that Artemis liked white flowers. And with that donation to a chairity is perfect! There are a lot of animal protection groups that need donations!
Ooh yeah. About offering. If i offer something, can that be something from the supermarket, or does it has to be something i made by myself, so it's clean? And how do i offer that? Just trow it away in nature or burn it?
Thank you again!

As several others have said, there are a variety of threads, especially in the beginners section of the forum, addressing your questions about prayers and offerings.

It is best to offer at the beginning and end of your day, however, it is also unwise to offer if the circumstances are not conducive (i.e. if it is likely you will be disturbed, for instance, in your case).

The simplest of common and traditional sacrifices is incense and wine. Flowers or garlands of flowers are also a traditional and simple sacrifice. However, if your situation is very restricted, and if you are limited in your ability both to offer sacrifices and to dispose of them (burning being most common, or burial), it is perfectly acceptable to offer nothing more than pure water as a sacrifice.

If you cannot burn incense, you might get yourself an oil burner. Simple is best. These can often be had for next to nothing at dollar or 99ยข stores. However, many pure oils can be expensive, so there is a downside.

It is also good to know that Artemis can be my patron.

You may certainly offer a special measure of devotion to her if you feel so inclined, so long as it is not excessive. However, please do not use the word 'patron' to describe this; this is a misuse perpetuated by modern new-age folderol. It is a personal feeling and choice of yours to offer this devotion to her (and a perfectly acceptable one, at that) however, it is not respectful to claim the favor of a deity. What you describe is devotion, not patronage.

That said, gods are patrons of things and of people, but not through choice. Instead, it is determined for you by factors like your age, gender, lifestyle, career/job, activities and even place of residence. As such, it is virtually certain that you, and everyone else, falls within the overlapping patronage of several deities.

Do i have to say annything special when i pray?

You need only invoke the deity by a name or set of names appropriate to your need and situation, and ask for what you desire (if anything at all). Then conclude the 'contract' (as some scholars misguidedly call it), through a sacrificial offering.
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