Hades as a patron god?

[Midnight]

Hey, I was wonder, does anyone have Hades as a patron God, and if so, what is he like? How can I properly honor him and is it a bad idea to honor both Hades and Zeus?

[Valentine]

Hey, I was wonder, does anyone have Hades as a patron God, and if so, what is he like? How can I properly honor him and is it a bad idea to honor both Hades and Zeus?

 
They're not enemies, They're brothers, each holding up part of the universe.  I don't see why there'd be a conflict.  The All-Hospitable, in my experience, is often overworked enough not to be able to offer a great deal of individual attention to the living, but is very generous, in His fashion, when given proper respect.  I would say approach with deference and respect, make it clear that you're not just trying to be Dark and Spooky but have genuine appreciation for the work He does, and be patient.

Traditional offerings were poured out and sent down, rather than burnt and sent up, if that helps.

[Midnight]

Traditional offerings were poured out and sent down, rather than burnt and sent up, if that helps.

 
Thanks for the information! And by sent down, you mean like burying right?

[chthonic-me]

Hey, I was wonder, does anyone have Hades as a patron God, and if so, what is he like? How can I properly honor him and is it a bad idea to honor both Hades and Zeus?

 
I don't know if you would say that Hades is my patron God considering I honor 3 gods, just about equally (Hades, Anubis, and Poseidon).

However, I can say that Hades is quite a good God to be connected with. One of his epithets in ancient Greece was Great Counselor and I've realized that he is just that. He offers me great advice and guides my way when I'm having doubts and the like.

To speak casually, Hades is really a chill kind of guy. Like the other Greeks, he likes wine, fruit, and cheese. But what I've come to realize he appreciates most is offerings to lost souls who are trying to find their way to him.

I leave offerings of coins (to pay the ferryman), safety pins or needles (to defend themselves against any beings that might try to prevent them from reaching their destination), and sometimes some sort of gold crafting wire. It comes on a spool, you can cut it with scissors, and it's pretty cheap. I usually take a couple of inches of it and cut it into small pieces before bending them into rings. I see it as a nice way for the souls to fool any harmful beings that might try to rob them.

But if you're really looking to honor him or connect with him, I'd suggest spending some time outside at night and just thinking about him. Something is bound to come to you.

[Midnight]

I don't know if you would say that Hades is my patron God considering I honor 3 gods, just about equally (Hades, Anubis, and Poseidon).

However, I can say that Hades is quite a good God to be connected with. One of his epithets in ancient Greece was Great Counselor and I've realized that he is just that. He offers me great advice and guides my way when I'm having doubts and the like.

To speak casually, Hades is really a chill kind of guy. Like the other Greeks, he likes wine, fruit, and cheese. But what I've come to realize he appreciates most is offerings to lost souls who are trying to find their way to him.

I leave offerings of coins (to pay the ferryman), safety pins or needles (to defend themselves against any beings that might try to prevent them from reaching their destination), and sometimes some sort of gold crafting wire. It comes on a spool, you can cut it with scissors, and it's pretty cheap. I usually take a couple of inches of it and cut it into small pieces before bending them into rings. I see it as a nice way for the souls to fool any harmful beings that might try to rob them.

But if you're really looking to honor him or connect with him, I'd suggest spending some time outside at night and just thinking about him. Something is bound to come to you.

 
Thanks for the information! I'll make sure to do so!

[Ariana Ethaitrius]

Hey, I was wonder, does anyone have Hades as a patron God, and if so, what is he like? How can I properly honor him and is it a bad idea to honor both Hades and Zeus?

 


I have discovered Hades is my Patron. I don't know how to communicate with him. So I talk to him in my mind and somewhat feel kind of silly talking to him as I've gotten signs suchaas owls being my totem animal (I've seen alot of ornaments of owls lately)and I think the owl is connected to him. I want to work with the Egyptian and Greek panthian (heard there is a religion called Neos Alexandria but think it deals with the time of Alexandria the Great and I want to work with all history of the two countries not a  chunk of it) and am interested in the Celtic religion-especially the druids.

[veggiewolf]

I have discovered Hades is my Patron. I don't know how to communicate with him...

 
How did you come to realize that Hades is your Patron?

[Ariana Ethaitrius]

Its a bit of a lengthy story:

On December 6 2010 I turned 21. On December 8 2010 my Mum's Mum (my Nan Pam) died. I with most of my family was there when she died. On December 11 2010 my Dad's Mum (my Nan Hazel) died. I wasn't there when she died and felt a bit guilty/bad about it. I was in (for the next year or so) a relationship with two blind guys who are Christians. I was with them at seperate times and they both live in America. For the second partner I tried going to church (he said he could only be with/marry a Christian)-I believed (somewhat sort of still do though not much) in God, I felt close to Jesus more than God and couldn't get the concept of trinity and original sin.

I stopped going to church. My fiend from church and I keep in contact, she's in her mid 50's or 60's, not 100%sure. I asked her if I chose another religion would she continue to be my friend as I respect her and value our friendship, she said:"yes I will still be your friend-I respect your decisions." At the end of the email she said we continue to pray for you, I don't know wether she means by that that she and her partner pray for me to become Christian or not.

Anyway, Hades is the God of the Underworld and ever since I lost my Nans in December (they died 3 days apart) I have felt a connection with him. Its growing every day and is (ahem) somewhat sexual on my part and a bit on his too. I talk to him in my mind and my mind respondes to me with what he'd say if that makes sence. If I am having an argument with say my family (wich I try to avoid) I talk to Hades and tell him what I would have said to the person/persons I was arguing with if that makes sence?

Owls I feel (along with the sphinx) are a totem animal of mine. I'm 22 and blind and live in Australia and my Mum has been seeing owls around whenever i go shopping with her and I set up my altar the other day.

I have a glass owl with a baby beside it and another glass owl, 4 tiny candles with switches on the botem (with a gold base and a lemmony sort of coloured candle) representing fire, a unlight incence stick for air, a shell (not sure if I should put my glass dolphin ornament on the altar or not) and a rose quartes stone for Earth with 5 little stones (one is an onyx, a felenite or something like that? a Jasper and I think a garnet and the stone for Sagitarius which is my birth sign).

How did you come to realize that Hades is your Patron?

[Tana]

I am sorry that you lost both of your grannies in such a short time.
That makes one wonder about life and death for sure.

The owls are not connected to Hades as far as my knowledge goes, but to Athena.
OTOH I see the symbolism of using one's senses and 'seeing in the dark' making them a wonderful guide for you. (I love owls, too.

As for your talking in your head. You will see, that for most of us it is exactly the way the communication goes. The only problem is to make out the difference between a real answer and wishful thinking, but it comes with time.

As a sidenote: the connection between underworld/death deities and sexual arousal is not uncommon. Tho' I can't say about Hades, I am not one of his own.

[Ariana Ethaitrius]

I am sorry that you lost both of your grannies in such a short time.
That makes one wonder about life and death for sure

Thanks, it was very hard and is still. My Mum thinks somehow that he is an imaginary friend, she knows I'm Pagan and is really cool about it all (she even helped with the setting up of the altar). Does the altar sound right?
 .

The owls are not connected to Hades as far as my knowledge goes, but to Athena.
OTOH I see the symbolism of using one's senses and 'seeing in the dark' making them a wonderful guide for you. (I love owls, too.

I think the screech owl is connected with him, though I'm not fully certain. I think they are also conneted with Isis. I see myself as a Greeko Egyptian Pagan. I'm also considdering Unitarian Universalism (I believe the Big Bang  created the world, somewhat believe in God-can you pray to Hades and the Christian God? I don't know if I believe in god enough to pray to him again, but I pray to Hades. I bang my palm or fist on the ground 3 (thinking of making it 4 times as I don't like the number 3) times and talk to him).
As for your talking in your head. You will see, that for most of us it is exactly the way the communication goes. The only problem is to make out the difference between a real answer and wishful thinking, but it comes with time.
How exactly would I better myself at learning what is real and isn't? part of me thinks I think of the answers myself. I sometimes whisper when talking to him and a character I made up, Salvor who I also have sexual feelings for.
As a sidenote: the connection between underworld/death deities and sexual arousal is not uncommon. Tho' I can't say about Hades, I am not one of his own.

 
Ah, I see, that makes me feel better, I thought something was wrong with me. What do you do in your practise? I only have my altar and no tools as of yet, so don't know what to do in my practise. I somewhat did and didn't like the dogma of Christianity but feel somewhat lost without it if that makes any sence?

[Tana]

Ah, I see, that makes me feel better, I thought something was wrong with me. What do you do in your practise? I only have my altar and no tools as of yet, so don't know what to do in my practise. I somewhat did and didn't like the dogma of Christianity but feel somewhat lost without it if that makes any sence?

What kind of practice you're talking of?
You mean 'just' honoring the gods, or a pagan practice with holidays and rites, or a magic practice?

Personally I am a witch, who uses everything at hand. I do have a nice dagger and a bowl or two. But it's nothing I couldn't do without.

[Ariana Ethaitrius]

Currently I just label myself as PPagan, but I want to work out a routine when it comes to worshiping my deities (I am working with the Greek, Egyptian and Celtic panthians) and how to practise my path etc.

What kind of practice you're talking of?
You mean 'just' honoring the gods, or a pagan practice with holidays and rites, or a magic practice?

Personally I am a witch, who uses everything at hand. I do have a nice dagger and a bowl or two. But it's nothing I couldn't do without.

[oldman]

I don't know if you would say that Hades is my patron God considering I honor 3 gods, just about equally (Hades, Anubis, and Poseidon).

However, I can say that Hades is quite a good God to be connected with. One of his epithets in ancient Greece was Great Counselor and I've realized that he is just that. He offers me great advice and guides my way when I'm having doubts and the like.

To speak casually, Hades is really a chill kind of guy. Like the other Greeks, he likes wine, fruit, and cheese. But what I've come to realize he appreciates most is offerings to lost souls who are trying to find their way to him.

I leave offerings of coins (to pay the ferryman), safety pins or needles (to defend themselves against any beings that might try to prevent them from reaching their destination), and sometimes some sort of gold crafting wire. It comes on a spool, you can cut it with scissors, and it's pretty cheap. I usually take a couple of inches of it and cut it into small pieces before bending them into rings. I see it as a nice way for the souls to fool any harmful beings that might try to rob them.

But if you're really looking to honor him or connect with him, I'd suggest spending some time outside at night and just thinking about him. Something is bound to come to you.

 
agreed.  I have had little dealings with him personally, mainly alongside Persephone, but from what I have experienced, he's an OK guy.  He is largely misunderstood by most of the world due to hollywood and their portrayal of him as a sort of devil-figure, and this is simply not the case.  The same can be said of Hades (the place) being portrayed as hell-like, another false portrayal.  In my belief anyway, we all go to Hades when we die, the trick is to be a good person and thus avoid going to Tartarus.

[Ariana Ethaitrius]

I like the idea of coins and pins (could I use say a 20 cent piece or a $2, or do they have to be Greek coins), and I'll just put them on my altar, say something like: " offer these to Lord hades and the souls in his car"? Do you have to bang your palm (or fist?) 3? times on the ground to make sure he hears you?

agreed.  I have had little dealings with him personally, mainly alongside Persephone, but from what I have experienced, he's an OK guy.  He is largely misunderstood by most of the world due to hollywood and their portrayal of him as a sort of devil-figure, and this is simply not the case.  The same can be said of Hades (the place) being portrayed as hell-like, another false portrayal.  In my belief anyway, we all go to Hades when we die, the trick is to be a good person and thus avoid going to Tartarus.

[Faemon]

They're not enemies, They're brothers, each holding up part of the universe.  I don't see why there'd be a conflict.

Traditional offerings were poured out and sent down, rather than burnt and sent up, if that helps.

 
Interestingly, I followed a link on this thread about khernips, that said:

miasma describes the lingering aura of uncleanliness in regards to a person or space through which contact is made with the Gods. Next to piety, being ritually clean is one of the most important things to adhere to within Hellenismos. Miasma occurs whenever the space or person comes into contact with death, sickness, birth, sex, excessive negative emotions and bodily fluids. It also comes from a lack of contact with the Hellenic Gods. As a note, I should say that not the actual acts of dying, sex and birth cause miasma but the opening up of the way to the Underworld (with births and deaths)

Our Gods are immortal and are sometimes called the Deathless Ones. It's our duty to uphold this sacred name by making sure no Gods but psychopomps come in contact with death even if it's through us.

So this had be confused and a little concerned about if Hades could also be offended by contact with... death? I mean, it's like a human with a peanut allergy working at a peanut shelling factory. It's not optimal, but I'm sure it happens. And... so... would the other gods shun Hades for that? Is there some difference between energy and entity? Or was this anti-death specific implementation of khernips just a superstition projected by (naturally) life-loving mortals of the time?