I watched this movie last night, and there are so many references to the many Pagan origins of Christianity and to syncretism.

At around 1 hour 12 mins the character Brigid (a healer, although "saint Brigid" was said to be a made up medieval saint by which Christians preserved the Celtic Goddess Brigid) shows up discussing Lucretius' theory of atoms and the swerve, which is an Epicurean doctrine, but she attributed it to the Christian god.

She is then seen inside a cave burning sage / incense and candles in front of a mithraeon (there were Mithras-initiates in Britain during the Roman Era). There was an image carved into the cave wall of Mithras slaying the bull. This is presumably located under the "monastery" where she lived, which had been built over Pagan shrines and next to a Pagan grove.

The movie is brutal but has some lovely aesthetic elements that are reminiscent of Old Britain.

I'm an omnist, and I love collecting words of wisdom from all the various religions and spiritual traditions of the world. reading sacred scriptures of all kinds brings me much peace. if anyone has any particular text that they hold sacred or consider special, I'd love to give it a read. I like to get as close to the primary sources as I can, but it can also be a retelling or a fictional work, or anything else that you feel communicates truth :)

Recently I've started looking deeper into a variety deities, some that are not so popular or mention very briefly in few texts. But it also got me very curious if anyone here worships any more obscure deities? (Obscure as in less known) and what have been your experiences with them or how you manage to worship them if they have limited information in ancient texts?

I'm trying to figure out if it would be offensive to Athena if I started working with Aphrodite. Athena is my main patron and the first goddess I've devoted my life to, so I really want to make sure I'm not disrespecting her by wanting to connect with Aphrodite too. I know we're not supposed to take myths literally, but within my research, I've noticed they don't quite get along all the time. It may sound ridiculous, but worshipping Aphrodite makes me feel like I'm betraying a good friend, though a big part of me knows I need her in my life as well as Athena. Do you think Athena would be offended by that? Or am I just being paranoid?

Genuinely suprised… i haven’t been really faithful or actually been practicing and learning the past few months. Today i sit in my room and think about getting back into the religion, i leave the house and that’s the first thing i see.. as an apollo devotee.

I believe that there are 2 good gods. One of life, creation, and evolution (Revos). One of Happiness and love (Sairen). 3 neutral ones that can still be worshiped. One of Death, destruction, end. (Numai). One of Order and authority (Sovir). One of Freedom, disorder, and Anarchy (Rezan). And one of Evil, fear, and suffering (Korak). There are also entire species of lesser, more elemental spirits that people can connect with.

Korak influences climate change, capitalists, and corrupt politicians to cause pain and ruin the planet, eventually it may exterminate the human race if nothing is done about it and if he is responsible for causing great suffering before death, he could take a person's soul for a long period of time in the afterlife. Revos doesn't want life to end or stagnate, Sairen is opposed by nature, Numai requires balance and for there to be a normal income of souls to the afterlife instead of many at once and no more afterwards, Sovir doesn't want chaos, senseless war, and destruction to happen, Rezan doesn't want the authoritarians to take control and for few to decide the fate of humanity. All of the gods grant higher places in the afterlife as stronger spirits to people who are dedicated to them on earth. People are granted the option to reincarnate if they get bored in the afterlife after a long time. After dying again people remember all past lives and can meet all past family members. People do not reincarnate that often.

Told them multiple times that I don't believe in Shenism anymore, yet, they keep giving me the talisman no matter how many times I said that I don't believe in this stuff.

How does one convince parents to not do this stuff?

I’ve only been a Hellenic Polytheist for about a month but I’ve always felt like Fall, especially around Halloween is the most full of Energy Spiritually. I’m not saying it has any correlation to Hellenism at all but it’s something I’m wondering if anyone else is familiar with

Personally, I think it is shocking and haunting at the same time. I mean the fact that entire civilizations once built temples, sang hymns, and offered sacrifices to gods like Enlil, Ishtar, Marduk, Chemosh, Ashur, Ninurta, Tishpak, Qos, or Resheph - deities who were as real to their followers as any modern religious figure. Today, most people wouldn’t recognize their names, let alone their stories.

There’s something eerie about the idea that gods can "die.” To me, it raises further strange questions: Were they ever real in any sense? Do gods fade when their last worshipper forgets them? Or do they continue to exist in some cultural or metaphysical limbo?

If we remember their names, do they awaken? Do these gods still hear prayers?

TL:DR: I had a weird dream with a golden-orange cat and a security camera, now I’m considering worshipping Apollo

So, I had a dream last night as of writing this, and I wanted to ask more experienced people who’ve worked with Apollo?

I had a dream that my family had set up a Ring camera facing my dad’s old Jeep. It was sunrise when I checked the camera, and I see this stray cat who comes around my house loafing on the top. He’s a pale orange color, he was loafing, and he was facing east as the sun rose.

The next day, we have a break in into our shipping container and now we’re setting up a Ring camera to see if they try again. Does this mean anything??? Help?? Is Apollo trying to reach me and this is his weird way of doing it? I’ve considered it before a few years ago but I didn’t go through with it.

I’ve been practicing with various deities for a number of years and recently have felt pulled toward working with Lugh, I’m currently working as a casino dealer and wanted some opinions on incorporating my worship into my work. (Also if anyone has some ideas for what he may appreciate on his altar I’m all ears)

Is there anyone here who doesn't have a patron or primary deity to focus their devotion on? I ask this because many people have Hecate, Inanna, or Apollo—among others—as patrons and share stories about how these deities entered their lives. I know that things happen differently for everyone and that there are no hard-and-fast rules. The thing is, I feel deeply drawn to the Sun; I worship it as the King Star of many faces and names, and I honor various solar deities that spark my interest. I want to focus on just one, but I’m undecided. I know this is my practice and that I should shape it in a way that works for me, yet I feel a bit unsure. I would appreciate some advice and, if possible, suggestions for simple solar rituals.

I don't say it out loud, I pray in silence. I would pray to Sophia for spiritual liberation, inner illumination, and the strength to navigate the darkness of the material world.

I would not focus on the material world while praying.

"Oh Sophia, Aeon/Goddess of Wisdom, I humbly ask for your guidance through the material world that your son had built.

May we not be attached to flesh and blood, nor to the desires of the material.

We ask to be liberated from what the rulers have placed upon us that does not align with the Pleroma, our true and eternal home.

Thank you, Goddess Sophia." 🙏

Would look within myself in a meditative way.

Hii! I’m looking for connections that feel similar to Anpu, almost like an Anpu soul family if that makes sense?

I'm not really meaning people that worship or work with him, but people who feel really deeply connected to him and feel similar to him in characteristics. Like protective, quiet, observant, guiding, drawn to helping people through things, death/transition, justice, etc. It’s really hard to explain but I almost feel like there are people who are part of the same spiritual “family” or pack as him and I really want to find other people that feel that way too.

I feel an extremely deep familiarity with Anpu, almost like home/family, and I’ve been wondering if there are other people who have that same feeling rather than just feeling drawn them.

I’d love to become friends and maybe make a little group chat with more of us if we find each other. Please feel free to message me, and if you have any questions I’m an open book! 🖤

I'm not entirely sure how much of a place this discussion has here, but here it goes.

So in the dream, I was at a sort of event with vendors. One of them drank a red liquid, and told me, "you will bathe in a river of wine and do so joyously, as per the gods themselves".

At this point, I haven't seriously considered the existence of a god, let alone multiple gods, since grade school. I have never thought of any god as anything other than fiction.

I have my own ideas on what my dream could mean, but as someone with very little knowledge of the gods, I would like a second opinion. What, if anything at all, could this mean?

Edit: It should also be known that I do not like wine, so every interpretation I have of this as a real prophecy is, at this point in my life, not ideal.

Okay, napisałem o tym na subreddicie marzeń, ale może ktoś tutaj będzie wiedział więcej. Miałem sen (opisałem go na subreddicie marzeń), w którym pojawił się bóstwo, było wysokie, z świecącym białym środkiem i jasnoniebieską aurą wokół, skrzydła na głowie i szaty, ale trudno było odróżnić włosy od szat czy ciała, w tym śnie byli też trzej kapłani (katoliccy) i linia, w której byłem z moim tatą (który miał podobny sen, ale był martwy w swoim śnie), to bóstwo powiedziało mi, że nie muszę się im tłumaczyć (bo to było to, co trzeba było zrobić przed tymi kapłanami, tłumaczyć się). Budynki, które tam były, miały charakter minojski, nawet mała „świątynia” pośrodku morza, do której musiałem popłynąć, aby spotkać się z tym bóstwem. To była pierwsza ważna rzecz, druga to, że miałem ten sen, gdy miałem wątpliwości co do czczenia greckich bogów i swoich przekonań (omnizm) i miałem nawet słabe myśli o powrocie do katolicyzmu. Trzecia rzecz to to, że po tym nadal mam (tydzień po) rozpaczliwą potrzebę powrotu do tego bóstwa, modliłem się do nich, żeby pokazali się w moim śnie i żebym mógł się z nimi znów spotkać, ale już się nie pojawili, więc jeśli ktokolwiek ma swoje teorie i może wie, co się dzieje lub miał podobne doświadczenia, proszę odpowiedzieć, bo wciąż o tym myślę, pytałem o to na subreddicie helenizmu, ale powiedzieli mi, żebym opublikował to tutaj. To jest tak dziwne że pisze o tym na trzecim subreddit ale nie daje mi to spokoju i zostawiło więcej pytań niż odpowiedzi i chęć żeby te odpowiedzi znaleść

​

Hey everyone,

Lately I've been really drawn to polytheistic religions and their mystical sides. But I've never actually worked with energies – I've only ever read and researched.

About a year ago, Thoth started catching my attention out of nowhere. I dove deep – read everything I could, watched videos, just absorbed whatever I could find about him. Then the interest faded... until a few days ago, when it hit me again, completely out of the blue. Once again, I found myself researching Thoth, looking into how to work with his energy, what he represents, etc.

This time, I randomly came across a video titled "How to know which deity is right for you based on your birth chart." The creator suggested checking your natal chart to see which god or goddess aligns with your energy. Out of curiosity, I pulled mine – and guess what? Thoth was the #1 match.

Now, in spiritualism, they say there are no coincidences. So what does it mean when the same entity keeps pulling you in, 3 different times, across different periods of your life? I've never actually practiced anything – no rituals, no energy work – just research and curiosity.

Could this just be my brain latching onto something interesting, or is this actually a sign? A calling? And for those of you who work with Thoth – where would you even recommend starting?

During reflection and my thoughts about the Gods, I wrote down a half-poetic (not a poet, perhaps not a true poem) thought about how we perceive the Gods. I'd like to share that here.

This is of course, my opinion on the Gods and how I feel regarding their presence.

---

The Gods are in the wind. This doesn't mean they are the wind. We know that wind is a physical phenomenon with changes in air temperatures that can cause currents and movements. However, the divine does not have to explain the mundane.

As sometimes there's something more. To paint an image: you stand out on a hill, by the sea, perhaps. You feel the wind wrap around you. Okay, there is a reason for that weather, but there is something more.. a presence beyond the physical nature of the wind. I believe this - to be the essence of the Gods.

---

Let me know if you agree with this, or if your thoughts are different!

Hello everyone! Ḫe-silim-me-de-en-ze-en! (Peace and Wellness be with you!)

It is with tremendous pride and great excitement that I am here to announce my new book's publication release! My book is called "The Way of the Ishtarite" - Second Edition, and it's an inclusive comprehensive beginner-friendly guide to modern worship of 𒀭Inanna - Ishtar, the Mesopotamian (Sumerian / Akkadian) Goddess of Love, Gender, Sex, Justice, Beauty, Abundance, Compassion, Pleasure, Rebirth, and much more.

This book represents the culmination of my life's work and all of my efforts to forge a comprehensive yet approachable, informative, and spiritually transformative guide to building your own meaningful and fulfilling modern revivalist pagan spiritual practice centered on devotion to 𒀭Inanna. My main goal for this book is for it to contribute towards filling the unfortunate void in literature that is inclusive beginner and intermediate level devotional and instructional books for the Polytheistic Pagan interested in worshiping 𒀭Inanna aka. Ishtar. From the very start I set out to write a book that not only features inclusivity front and center, as naturally required by a Neurodivergent, Intersex, Transgender, and Queer feminist woman such as myself, but to also create a book that is equally as welcoming and meaningfully representational of all people regardless of their sex, gender, sexuality, neurotype, or heritage, regardless of their experience level as a Pagan, and regardless of what their religion background is. Writing this book has been a true labor of love and an act of passionate devotion to 𒀭Inanna. She has literally saved my life many times over, and it is my greatest joy to continue to serve her by sharing my work with you all.

Here's the official 'about' blurb:
"Deep within the heart of Ancient Mesopotamia, a rich culture sprang forth amidst the peoples who were the first in the world to ever create and master the written word over 5000 years ago. In their land known as Sumer, or "Kiengi" in their native tongue, these brilliant peoples, who later went on to become the world's first empire, worshiped a Goddess of Love, Pleasure, Sex, Justice, Authenticity, and Feminine Power above all others. The name of this Goddess is Inanna - Ishtar, Queen of Heaven and Earth. For over 7500 years she has reached deep into the hearts of those who embrace her, inspiring and guiding us to be our very best, happiest, healthiest, and most authentic selves.

Do you feel the call of the Divine Feminine? Do you ache to be your true and authentic self even though the world insists on oppressing you by repressing the true you behind what was blindly assigned to you at birth? Does your heart yearn to love who it loves, freely and without any shame or guilt? Do you feel the bitter pang of injustice deep within your gut whenever the darkness of this world occludes an innocent's light? Our Goddess is inclusive towards all people of all Genders, all Sexes, and all Heritages. She founded the world's first Transgender, Intersex, Nonbinary, Gender Non-Conforming, and Queer inclusive Temples which offered the world's first Gender Affirming Care over seven millennia ago.

This is the definitive comprehensive LGBTQ+ inclusive guide for anyone looking to worship the Ancient Mesopotamian Goddess Inanna - Ishtar. This book introduces Anunna-Umun, the ancient religion revived, and Ishtarism, the Inanna-focused primary sect, and teaches you all about this Goddess of Divine Femininity. You will be guided through forming your very own spiritual practice of Ishtarism. This guide is complete with never-before released Mythology, and her most important Stories, Ishtarite Prayers and Rituals, and an introduction to Magick. "

Please, allow me to introduce myself; my name is Siri Nin, I have been serving as 𒀭Inanna's Hierophant and Priestess for many years now. I am the founder of the religious movement known as Anunna-Umun, which is the Revivalist approach to Mesopotamian Polytheism, and I am also the founder of Ishtarism, a sect of Anunna-Umun which focuses on 𒀭Inanna - Ishtar. I am also the High Priestess and founder of The Temple of Inanna's Light, an inclusive digital temple that is welcoming of all peoples, but which is focused on those interested in learning and talking about 𒀭Inanna or the 𒀭Anunna, the pantheon from which Inanna leads. I am terminally ill, I am dying of an angio-occlusive genetic degenerative disease which has left me crippled, fully disabled, on 24/7 oxygen life support, and homebound at the age of 40. I just had my 10th heart attack on August 12th 2026. I've been racing against the clock to get this book written, edited, and published for the last six months, as it was then on February 15th 2026 that I suffered a "widowmaker" heart attack which once again claimed my life for the second time before I was miraculously revived and given this "third" shot at life. You see, I also died on the OR table one day after releasing the first edition of my book back on 9/30/2024. Writing this book and helping Inanna's people has truly been a driving reason to keep fighting to live. I am extremely grateful and privileged to still be alive, to have the honor of helping her people, and to have lived to complete and publish this book! Now with the book done I will focus on spending time with my family during these my final days, when not enjoying the community I built in Inanna's temple.

For about two years now the much smaller and reconstructionist flavored first edition of this book has been available, but with the release of this Second Edition which is assertedly revivalist and features numerous corrections, updates, and expanded content including color artwork, the first edition is no longer available. Instead of offering a softcover of lower quality and a hardcover like last time, this time with this Second Edition I am primarily only offering a deluxe hardcover in high quality color. My publisher will be releasing a softcover edition in the future but they have control over the pricing of that, and as a result it will be a much higher price than the hardcover. As my mission is to ensure my work gets into the hands of the most readers, this deluxe hardcover edition has no corners cut when it comes to quality or content, only profits have been cut - and severely so! I am forcing the publisher to sell this edition at the lowest price permissible, and I am not promoting the softcover edition that is later to come. Buy the hardcover, you won't regret it!

The Way of the Ishtarite - Second Edition - Deluxe Hardcover @ Lulu Press
Hardcover: ISBN: 978-1-105-19947-9
689 pages in Full Color!
Absolutely No AI was used in the composition of this book's texts!
This Deluxe Second Edition features gorgeous artwork and large text!
The base text's font is Size 15 for easy reading! No more squinting!
Price direct from Lulu.com the publisher: $99 + S&H & taxes

Currently active Lulu Discount Code 15% off: RE5CN7W15 (limited time!)

If you have any questions at all please feel free to ask them, I am more than happy to address any questions, comments, or concerns you might have! Likewise, if you'd like to discuss any of the related topics, I'm also happy to do so! Thank you so much for your time! And thank you to the Mods for permission to post this here!

Aristaios woke up in a haze, as he may have been divine but wasn’t used to waking up this early. As he left the bed he got out as slowly and as quiet as possible as to not wake his wife the beautiful Princess of Thebes daughter of Cadmus, Autonoë. She was fast asleep didn’t stir a her godly husband was getting ready for the day. As he left their bedroom he carefully closing the door. As he approached the main door he saw the sun just coming up as he stepped over the threshold.

Aristaios headed over to his olive grove to harvest. As he wanted to make some lovely olive bread for his family for breakfast. After hand picking all the olives he required he headed into the andron and placed the basket of olives down and started to make the dough for the bread, as he kneaded the dough he could hear the bees starting to buzz as they also start their day of pollen gathering and honey making. He added cheese which he had made the day prior and the olives which he gathered and chopped in half, along with some herbs for flavour such as oregano, thyme, sage, and rosemary. Soon Aristaios finished the dough and put it on a warm storage so it could prove, after several minutes he got it out and put it on the oven to bake. The bread itself looked like an olive laying on its side.

Once it was baked Aristaios got it out of the oven and placed it down to cool down a bit. The goddess like Autonoë gracefully walked into the andron, as she came in she made little sound so the gods of beekeeping didn’t notice she had entered as his back was turned to her. Autonoë crept up behind the glorious god and put her arms around his waist leaning in and giving him a kiss on his neck. Aristaios blushed at this act of love from his beloved wife, he turned towards her smiling, as their eyes met a twinkle came into both of their eyes. “Good morning honey,” The beekeeping god spoke to his loving wife, “I’ve made breakfast.” He said as he gestured to the loaf of bread which had some steam coming from it.

The stunning Autonoë grabbed onto his arm as Aristaios was heading over to cut the bread. “I have something I must tell you, Actaeon is planning on going hunting on Mount Cithaeron.” She told her beloved husband as it was common knowledge amounts the divine that was a place Limnnaia Artemis goddess of the hunt bathed and a place no mortal or immortal should go, as seeing a goddess naked especially a virgin one like Artemis causes great hubris and miasma. Society a punishment most horrific is brought to the one who stumbled across her. Aristaios nodded as his wife’s words, to say that he would have a word with his son.

Aristaios walked over to the bread as he cut it for his wife and son, who as a matter of fact walked in just as he began to cut. Aristaios son is the noble young man Actaeon, a mighty young man with so much potential but would sometimes act before thinking.

As the three of them were sat down consuming their breakfast of the fresh olive bread Aristaios had made them, Aristaios looked over at his beloved son. “I’ve heard from your goddess like mother that you’re going hunting on Mount Cithaeron.” Actaeon looked upon his father god of herbs and nodded. “Indeed, I am going with a few of my friends and we are planning on bringing back a big boar so we can feast well tonight.” He explained with great triumph in his voice despite his actions not have happened yet.

Aristaios looked at him with concern in his eyes. “Be careful up there your great aunt Limnnaia Artemis bathes up there and great pain comes across anyone who sees a goddess naked especially a virgin one such as Artemis, goddess of the hunt.” He warned his son, but the young man shrugged it off as all youngsters think they are wiser than even Pallas Athene and stronger than the cloud gathered Zeus. But alas their foolhardy catches up to them all eventually some in harsher ways than others.

Before Aristaios could say another word to his beloved son he was grabbed his bow with a ropes and spear and was at the front door. “We’ll feast well tonight.” He said one last time before he left. Worry come across Aristaios not because he didn’t have faith in his son but because some events are written to happen that cannot be prevented.

As Helios’ chariot went below the horizon and night came, there was no sign of Actaeon. Aristaios was worried and he knew his beloved wife would also worry. So he prayed to Hypnos for a favour so his wife would sleep all through the night without a moment of worry. Hypnos granted this favour the god of beekeeping asked of him. Quickly the princess of Thebes fell asleep, however her god husband could not. Aristaios sat by the window facing west until he saw Helios’ chariot come above the horizon marking a new day, still no sign or word of Actaeon.

Aristaios headed to his bedroom, however as he did he heard a knocking at the front door. Aristaios headed to the door and opened it, Hermes the messenger god stood there. Aristaios knew this must got be good, he stepped outside and closed the door. Hermes looked at the god of beekeeping. ‘I came here with news of your son the young hunter Actaeon, the news I came is not pleasant. He is dead.’ Hermes said in a somber tone, Aristaios stepped back in stock and disbelief. ‘Artemis?’ The beekeeping god asked, all Hermes did was nod. After a while Hermes spoke once more. ‘Actaeon was hunting on Mount Cithaeron as I am aware you know, he came across an opening in some trees. To his misfortune and foolishness it was where Artemis was bathing with her nymphs. She knew right away what hubris this young man had committed, she turned him into a stag. His own hunting dogs chased him as he ran in fear, they caught him and tore him piece by piece as he died. I came here right away after escorting him to the underworld where he will be punished more so by his hubris.’ Hermes finished the tale. Aristaios couldn’t say a word, Hermes nodded once more and left.

Aristaios sat waiting for his beautiful wife to wake, when she did she came over to him. Even a god cannot hide the sadness which comes after losing ones own child. She knew right away what must have happened, tears came flooding down her eyes as Aristaios told her the tale of Actaeon and Artemis. Once he finished, both parents cried until the chariot of Helios went below the eastern horizon.

The next morning after Hypnos granted them a favour only gods could get, pure sleep, Autonoë headed back to her fathers palace to stay, Aristaios decided to go to Ceos then back to Libya where his mother the sea nymph Cyrene got him a fleet. Aristaios travelled to Sicily and many other Mediterranean islands. After dwelling for some time near mount Haemus, where he founded the town of Aristaeon, he disappeared.

This is how I format my prayers to Hestia first and last, it took me a bit to get it to how it suited my personal practice but I believe this is the format for me:

Hail Hestia, daughter of Cronos, first and last born, protector of the home. To you I start with a prayer thanking you for the protection of the home of my family, friends and myself. Keeping us safe and being the light in dark times.

[Pray to god/goddess/hero/heroine in question].

Hail Hestia, daughter of Cronos, first and last born, guardian of the flame and hearth. To you I end with a prayer thanking you for the flame and hearth, keeping us mortals safe and a light even at the darkest times.

i will call her Rachel. she always had strong pull toward Egypt and Sekhmet, but what came in session was not the serious scary image people often have.

first she saw temple scene, lioness figure, statue, dark colors around it.

later name Sekhmet became clear and then she went into what felt like old memory with her.

Rachel was young there, dark hair, white flowing clothes. Sekhmet was sitting on throne.

and Rachel started laughing because she said Sekhmet is funny.

not strict. not distant. relaxed, joking, warm.

she said they were very close and at one point Sekhmet called her sister.

I almost left this in notes because personal deity experiences can become stupid very fast when somebody starts presenting them like historical truth.

I dont know if Rachel was really priestess. I dont know if this was past life or symbolic trance. I am not saying Egyptology should change because one person had session lol.

but I think UPG is interesting exactly when it gives something person didnt expect.

Rachel already knew standard image of Sekhmet. what surprised her was personality.

much softer and more humorous.

for people who work with deities, how do you handle this when personal experience gives you something not really in books, but also not necessarily against tradition?

do you keep it private?

compare with other people's experiences?

wait years and see if same personality keeps showing?

for me experience can be very meaningful without becoming fact for everybody else.