The Apollonian Hermetic Maenad

Hilarious.

It's funny. Most of people who run around screaming negative stuff about HI actually have NO clue what we're about.

- They don't know we have ordained priests in the faith who perform weddings and religious ceremonies
- They don't know we have local groups who gather together for ceremonies, libations, and various events
- They have no clue that we do charitable acts in the name of the gods
- They have no idea that we have various orders devoted to specific gods, their worship, and mystical and spiritual practices surrounding them
- They have zero clue that we have outreach programs running and in the works
- They don't know that we engage in fitness programs keeping arete in mind (Olympics, anyone?)
- They have no idea that we're recognized by state and federal governments as a legitimate religious organization.

In short...they don't really know anything. :)

But that's okay. HI and Spira are the only Hellenic orgs I respect these days. The rest I feel either indifference for, or contempt.

I just don't have the time to spend arguing on the Internet and acting as PR in the Hellenic community for Everyone Who Actually Does Shit. In truth, I'm too busy Doing Shit.

What a concept. :)

Consider this post to be the only time I'll comment on this, and I'll just link to it whenever someone else decides to leave anonymous posts in my LJ whining about this or that. I'll even add it to memories.

I have nothing new to report, except that the majority of my encounters with Greek deities these days in regards to life's influences and all that appear to be mostly Hermes and Hekate these days. I REALLY like Hekate. I need to spend more time communing with her.

I've also been involved in a number of small to medium local HI events, including a very well done wedding performed by one of our members. It's nice to hang out with people and do Greek stuff from time to time. I only wish I could get over my desire to be solitary. I think that dealing with Hellenic drama for 10+ years completely burnt me out on Hellenic orgs, groups, and what-have-you.

My wish list for the community these days? For some of them to gain the ability to laugh at themselves and not take either themselves or their faith too seriously. I think that they would be able to relax more and enjoy their faith better before they burn out as badly as I did. I think certain individuals are long overdue to lose their minds, crash, or convert to xyz religion.

(PS Yes, I have a sense of humor about myself... and thank the gods for it. It prevents me from caving into that mentality which craves greater creativity and imagination... )

I also feel VERY badly for the people who continue to angst over their connection to this god, that pantheon, this aspect of the religion--all the while getting drawn towards it while kicking and screaming. Why do you hate an aspect of yourself so much as to give yourself much undeserved drama?

This is why I abandoned dogma ages ago--it kills my soul. :P And I've seen what it does to others, and it's never positive. Anyhow, I've long felt that while Apollo's motto is "know thyself" and Dionysos is clearly "be thyself" I think Hermes' is "understand thyself".

Meanwhile, I am WAY overdue on my Order of Hekate of HI homework and Spira stuff. The job search and change took a lot out of me, and an entire month has come and gone. I've gotten NO book edits done. I have, however, done quite a bit on getting back into a nice health program for myself, including eating better and doing yoga almost daily--plus have been meditating every night which is wonderful.

Today I run off to VT to a funeral which is being held early tomorrow morning. It's not going to be fun and I think there'll be a lot of drinking afterwards. But I'm Irish and it needs to be done.

ATTN TO THOSE WHO INDICATED AN INTEREST

I've created private lists versus using the public lists--although I think it'd be great to use the public lists in order to find people interested in the groups.

If you are still interested, please email me and I'll send you an invite: pythia.hiereia (at) gmail (dot) com