Getting back into the flow of things

The cremation on Tuesday was hard to get through but very beautiful and fulfilling. It was as you hope a farewell goes. I won't go into detail, but anyone who had been to a cremation or funeral knows how these things go.

I haven't worshipped since Monday last week, when I first heard about the death of my girlfriend's (and my, really) grandmother. Death, after all, is miasmic. Within Hellenic practice, miasma describes the lingering aura of uncleanliness in regards to a person or space through which contact is made with the Gods. After a lot of research into the workings of miasma, I have come to the conclusion that true, practice stopping, miasma is linked to distraction. Anything that takes your mind off of the Gods during ritual can be considered miasmic. Death, through grief, is therefore especially miasmic.

With the cremation came a conclusion to the source of miasma, so to speak, as it offers closure. Yesterday, I prepared to resume worship.

First, I vacuumed and cleaned the space my altar is in. I opened the windows and let fresh air in. Then I took a long, hot shower and scrubbed every inch of me. After dressing in clean clothes and doing my hair up, I uncovered my altar and shrines. It's a practice I have adapted from ancient Hellas; the ancient Hellenes didn't cover their shrines in the face of miasmic events, but for the final two days of the Anthesteria, all temples were closed besides the one of Dionysos to prevent them from becoming tainted by the underworld influences of the festival. Covering my shrines is the closest I can get to replicating that experience and I do it when someone close to me dies, for example, until I can purify myself. With my shrines uncovered, I cleaned those as well, like I would on Noumenia. With everything shiny and fresh, I was ready to do my morning rites.

I didn't perform a special rite to "re-introduce" myself to the Gods. At the risk of alienating anyone--I don't believe you have to. I also don't believe you have to introduce yourself to the Theoi when you start worshipping Them or say goodbye to Them when you stop. We are below the Gods.
 From that linked post:

Having an almost personal, loving, and safe relationship with the Gods is a modern invention. It came to a rise with the revival of Paganism in the form of Wicca and Witchcraft. It makes absolutely no sense in an Hellenistic context because it goes against the hierarchy: Gods, then humans, then animals. As humans, we tend to reason from ourselves outwards, which basically would make the hierarchy: humans, Gods/animals. That's hubris. That's the opposite of piety. Piety, in large part, is accepting that we, as humans, are not at the top of this chain and that the Gods look at us like we look at animals: cute, but expendable once their purpose is served. It's a hard truth to face, and I get a lot of backlash for putting it out there, but that's the way the ancient Hellenes viewed their Gods, and it's how I view Them as well.

The Gods don't care that I didn't worship Them for a week. I do think They would have minded if I'd half-assed Their worship because I was grieving my grandmother who meant so much to me. They are above me, They deserve proper worship. Today, I was able to give Them that again. I took a lot of comfort from that.

I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has reached out to me in this past week with condolences and support. It has meant a lot in a very trying and difficult time. May the Gods bless you greatly!