Question Collections post 21

I get a lot of questions from readers, and most of the time, the answers are fairly short. When I feel the question or the reply would be valuable to others as well, I make a post with a collection of them and post them in one go. Today is one of those posts.

"Hey Elani, have you by any chance ever found the original Hellenic phrase "everything is full of Gods"? I checked via WikiQuote and looked elsewhere, but can't seem to find this particular quote."

This is about my post on the sage Thales of Miletus, and yep! It's quoted by Aristotle in 'On the soul'. He says, and I quote:

"Certain thinkers say that soul is intermingled in the whole universe, and it is perhaps for that reason that Thales came to the opinion that all things are full of gods." [411a7]
 

~~~

"I was wondering- why is it, that the ancient Hellenes frowned down on sexual abstinence (as well as sexual intemperance) but Hestia, who is, in a way, the first among the gods and a virgin. Also, how does it fit in with her role as protector of families and the household?"

I did a long post about abstinance a while ago (which can be found here), which basically concluded that the ancient Hellenes were, actually, not big fans of abstinence--for men. Women should definitely never practice abstinence as we getall wild and primal if we do. Fair warning on that one.

 

As for Hestia, I think you are getting two things mixed up: chastity and virginity. Like chastity, the concept of virginity has traditionally involved sexual abstinence. The term 'virgin' originally only referred to sexually inexperienced women, but has evolved to encompass a range of definitions, as found in traditional, modern, and ethical concepts. In ancient Hellas, virginity of women was often considered a virtue denoting purity and physical self-restraint and it is an important characteristic in Hellenic mythology. In the Homeric hymn to Aphrodite, it's stated:

 

"Yet there are three hearts that she [Aphrodite] cannot bend nor yet ensnare. [...] Nor yet does the pure maiden Hestia love Aphrodite's works. She was the first-born child of wily Cronos and youngest too, by will of Zeus who holds the aegis, —a queenly maid whom both Poseidon and Apollo sought to wed. But she was wholly unwilling, nay, stubbornly refused; and touching the head of father Zeus who holds the aegis, she, that fair goddess, swear a great oath which has in truth been fulfilled, that she would be a maiden all her days. So Zeus the Father gave her an high honor instead of marriage, and she has her place in the midst of the house and has the richest portion. In all the temples of the gods she has a share of honor, and among all mortal men she is chief of the goddesses."

 

Hestia asked to remain a virgin (not to become chaste!), and Zeus allowed it. We know that the Roman priestesses of Vesta took a thirty year vow of chastity, starting from about the age of six to ten. As such, technically, they didn't abstain, they remained virgins. The chastity of the Vestals was considered to have a direct bearing on the health of the Roman state; like in ancient Hellas, the priestesses of Vesta tended an eternal flame. If it went out, it might be assumed that a priestess had been unchaste. As a result, if the fire were extinguished it was assumed that Vesta (and in Hellenic times, Hestia) had withdrawn Her protection from the city--and the households in it.

 

~~~

"Hello. I have read that any plates/bowls containing offering to Hekate are supposed to be left as well, but that seems a bit inconvenient as well as bad for the environment. Are there any alternatives? P.S. Thank you for reading this."

                                       

I buy banana, or palm leaf plates just for this purpose. They are bio degradable, easy to use, and meant to be disposable. Perfect, as far as I am concerned!

 

~~~

 

"Hi, i have a question... i have recently become increasingly depressed, and most days i don't have the spoons (the energy) to do my daily devotions for the Theoi.. this makes me feel like i'm letting Them down. They have done so much for me, saved my life in fact, and i feel so guilty for being unable to worship Them like They deserve. do you have any advice for me?"

 

When you are depressed, it’s so hard to expend the energy on active worship. In truth, I don’t think passing up on active worship is a bad thing in your current state of mind. After a lot of research into the workings of miasma, I have come to the conclusion that miasma is linked to distraction. Anything that takes your mind off of the Gods during ritual can be considered miasmic. That doesn’t mean you should close yourself off to passive worship, however. Passive worship can be incredibly therapeutic. Especially with depression, it’s so easy to get locked into your own little world. Your gaze turns inwards and everything else becomes… noise. A distraction at best, the enemy at worst. Passive worship forces you to look beyond yourself, beyond the narrow world view of depression, and take in the world around you. If you only get to see–really see–the influence of the Theoi once a day, it’s a good day when you suffer from depression. Truly experience Helios’ bright rays, truly behold the marvel of Persephone’s touch as the flowers bloom, truly savour the taste of Demeter’s riches as you bite down into a cob of Demeter’s golden corn. That is prayer onto itself, and until you get better, stronger, lighter, it’s enough. You are not letting Them down, you are making an herculean effort to include them into your life. Don’t discount that.