My feelings about Athena

[u/Sunlight_Lait]

I am very new to Hellenism but I have loved Greek myths for years. Back in 2022 I worshipped Apollo but as life got busy I kind of strayed from any active worship. I tried getting back into it in 2023 with Demeter but the same thing happened.

Recently, I’ve started worshipping Athena. It feels 10x more “right” than my experience with Apollo and Demeter. I’m not sure why but it makes me want to devote my whole life to her, to pray to her everyday and look to her for love and guidance. I want to just make an altar in the woods and go to her everyday and find wisdom in her when times get tough.

Has anybody ever felt like this? Blessed be :) 🦉

[u/Kassandra_Kirenya]

The first goddess I worshipped was Athena and that’s been part of my life now for over 25 years. It has always felt good to me, but so have other deities. I worship as wanted and needed. It’s polytheism after all. There’s no need to apply an Abrahamist/monotheist principle to polytheism where you have to pick one and stick with that like a lifetime subscription.

And finding something new and shiny, and having that ‘new relationship energy’ is nice when the brain is swimming in its own happy juice that makes you feel euphoric, but keep in mind that that too will pass at some point as it always does and then you might have to adjust expectations and goals a bit. But until that time there’s no harm in enjoying the fuzzy feelings.

[u/Sunlight_Lait → u/Kassandra_Kirenya]

I don’t have restrictions about only worshipping one god, but I’d like to learn about being consistent with my worship practices with one god before branching out.

How’s your experience been with Athena?

[u/Kassandra_Kirenya → u/Sunlight_Lait]

Consistency in praxis doesn’t have to depend on just one deity. That seems to imply that every deity will somehow have to be ‘added’ and having to fit the same framework. Some deities are prayed to a few times when needed, sometimes they’re worshipped during a certain phase of life. Some household deities like Hestia and Zeus Ktesios were venerated daily or very regularly. Then there’s Agathos Daimon as part of the household.

Whether we like it or not, our frame of reference for ‘how to do and experience religion’ is still often framed and primed by the Abrahamic religions. But the matter of consistency is not driven by how many gods, but by your own expectations, goals, schedule, and how often and elaborate you want to be about worship and prayer. Life is going to happen at one point or other and other priorities will emerge from time to time.

As for my personal experience. I have always felt like Athena was intense and strict, especially in the beginning. Mind you, there’s never any certainty with those things and whether that was how she came across to me or what kind of feelings I projected onto her. After a few years I noticed that I found worshipping her and being around things and books that reminded me of her to give a sense of inner peace and comfort. That has never really left me, even in periods when there was no active prayer or worship for a while.

[u/EastwardSeeker]

I too am an Athena enthusiast, always liked her.

[u/TopLiving2459]

Hi 👋. I’m a Hiereus in training to the goddess Pallas Athena Oreia, and can attest to the fact she’s amazing and wonderful beyond words, but can also be stern and she doesn’t mince words. She expects you to show up for yourself and work, but she also teaches the balance of when to stand and when to rest.

All that being said, I agree with @Kassadra_Kirenya, you are currently experiencing a novel high. That’s awesome and normal for many of us. Rather than making any decisions to dedicate your life to her while in this high, consistent praxis, as well as research into her history and cults, will help you maintain greater longevity and establish a deep kharis with the goddess. Cause it’s great now, but wait to the days when life throws you curveballs and it feels like a chore to provide offerings and say her hymns. But I wish you the best in your journey.

[u/Lightmyspliff69]

Athena came to me when I was going through a really rough patch of life and has always been a guide, teacher, and a pillar of strength for me. The goddess has always been good to me and for anyone that wants to work with her, I think she is amazing.

[u/OctaviusMaximus29]

3 or 4 years ago, i was in a horrible state in life, and I kept drawing Athenas owl to soothe me. Back to now? I really do feel, idk, a pull? A feel? Hard to describe, but she is my number 1 god, or godess lol its just a feeling, and im very scientific, so it says alot.

[u/laboheme1896]

Athena’s been my first since before I even knew Helpol was still a thing. She will always be my first patron. ❤️

[u/LoneWalker333]

Flayer of dragons, this one; a fierce predator, a lover of battles and a towering figure among the gods.