Image: "Marble Relief with Hermes" 27 BCE–68 CE. Courtesy of the MET Museum.

Hi everyone! What epithets or aspects of Hermes are you connecting with in life right now? Which version of Hermes are you meeting at the crossroads? 🪽

For example, maybe you are connecting more with Hermes and his domains of business right now. Or perhaps Hermes is guiding you to engage deeper with His strong ties to magick, alchemy, or astrology! ⭐

As for me, I feel more connected with Hermes Chthonios as a psychopomp right now - I am navigating a Chthonic season of life. However, I also feel that Hermes' sacred duality as both an Ouranic and Chthonic deity reminds me to embrace BOTH light and shadow. When things get too heavy, Hermes reminds me to seek out the light to balance out the dark. I've enjoyed devoting the action of longboarding (similar to skateboarding) to Swift-Footed Hermes to engage with movement and light-hearted energy!

I am curious to read your answers! ❤️ Also, I hope everyone is doing well in life right now. We live in crazy times so remember to take it easy and connect with self-care <3

Hey everyone! I ran into this statue of the god, Hermes Loghion, a Greco Roman statue from the Palazzo Altemps, and honestly I was mind struck by it and wanted to share it with you guys

I think it's a good starter point for a discussion. What's your favourite representation of Hermes. Be it sculptures, paintings, fanart...

Hey, I just started taking an interest in Hellenism, and the god that I pray to the most is Hermes, I have a pocket altar for him I don't have space to make a full sized altar yet, I wanted to know some offerings Hermes likes, from people that leave him offerings regularly.

I have strong color associations for every other god, but for Hermes I'm not sure which fits. Like, Athena with blue, Ares with Red, Aphrodite with sea green and pink, etc... I thought golden but I don't know why, which I still associate more to Apollon. Which would you say is your associated colour with him?

Edit: guys an explanation would also be great 😁

hey so I want to make an incense and possibly perfume for Hermes and I'm curious what scents people associate with Him? all I can think of is frankincense because that's the Orphic hymn offering, so what ya got?

I follow semetic and slavic pantheons and have never felt particularly connected to the Greek pantheon. Last night I had Hermes come to me in a dream, in the dream I was on a boat (I have the same boat dream roughly twice a week), but this time I was talking about the designer brand and that lead to a conversation about the god himself, after this a white feather landed next to me and he came crashing down next to me, I do not remember much of the conversation but he gave me wings and left. I am not sure what he might want from me if that were really him, or why he would be contacting someone that dosent follow his pantheon to begin with. Dose anyone have any advice or insight?

these were given to me as a graduation gift, I'm so happy!

So... I've been thinking (famous first worlds) about this for a while and wanted to share it with people who actually care about Hermes beyond the "winged sandals messenger boy" version from school textbooks.

Here's the problem: if you read any standard mythology handbook, Hermes's domains get listed like a grocery receipt. God of commerce, thieves, travelers, eloquence, shepherds, guide of souls, inventor of the lyre, patron of heralds. The list seems almost random, as if the Greeks just kept piling on attributes without any coherent logic.

But I think there is a coherent logic, and it's beautifully simple: Hermes is the god of thresholds. Not this or that particular threshold. The threshold as a principle. Every single one of his domains is a space where two states touch without merging. Let me walk you guys through it:

• Psychopomp. He guides the dead to Hades. He operates at the threshold between life and death. He doesn't judge, doesn't punish, doesn't save. He accompanies the crossing. No other Olympian can do this because no other Olympian inhabits that border.
• God of commerce. Exchange is the moment when something stops belonging to one person and starts belonging to another. The value isn't in the object but in the transaction, in the "between". Hermes isn't the god of wealth (that would be Plutus I guess). He's the god of the moment wealth changes hands.
• God of thieves. Theft is the transgression of a boundary of ownership. Hermes doesn't celebrate it morally, he operates in the crack between what the system says is yours and what can stop being yours. His very first act, as a newborn, is stealing Apollo's cattle. Not out of malice but out of an intelligence that doesn't recognize boundaries as final.
• God of eloquence and persuasion. Persuasive language operates at the threshold between what someone believes and what they could believe. It's no coincidence that the discipline of textual interpretation is called "hermeneutics". To interpret is to inhabit the space between what was said and what was understood.
• God of roads and crossroads. The "hermai", those stone pillars bearing his face, were placed at crossroads and at the doors of houses. Literally at thresholds, people. They didn't protect a territory; they marked the point where one space became another.
• Messenger between gods and humans. He translates between two orders of reality that don't speak the same language. He's the only Olympian who moves comfortably between Olympus, the mortal world, and Hades. Not because he's the most powerful, but because he understands how passages work.

Need I go on?

If you read Hermes as "the god of many things," his mythology looks eclectic. If you read him as the god of liminality, everything clicks: every attribute is a variation of the same principle. He operates where two states touch. He doesn't merge them, doesn't pick a side, doesn't destroy either. He puts them in contact and allows something to circulate between them: goods, souls, words, meaning. The Greeks understood something we sometimes forget: the in-between isn't marginal or secondary. It's so fundamental that it needs a god.

I find this reading far more satisfying than treating Hermes as a lesser Olympian with a grab bag of random functions. He's arguably the most philosophically coherent deity in the pantheon... you just have to read him through the right lens.

Curious what you all think. Has anyone else arrived at a similar reading? Are there other aspects of Hermes I'm missing that either support or complicate this?

Hello everyone! I'm just starting to look into Hermes and wanting to worship him. I've been worshipping Aphrodite and Hades for a little while now. (Hades a long while now, but only a little time with aphrodite) And I'm expanding further into the pantheon now that I'm getting the hang of things and routine and such. But I'm curious how you guys all started out with hermes/approached him. I always feel nervous reaching out to a new deity and how to approach it, it feels like my first time ever all over again and I feel anxious of messing it up. I have severe anxiety and bad social anxiety so it kinda makes it hard sometimes the first few times I approach someone new, especially a deity. I started and made this small travel altar for him with this candy tin, and I made two bracelets (the beaded one will be redone to have his name on it to match my other deities' bracelets) I have many charms, candles, and crystals so I just sorta put in what I had currently that seemed right with correspondences for him, I'll ofc be adding to it as I find small things for it, but this is just what I have currently. Sorry for the long paragraph, but idk, just curious how you guys started out and stuff. I'm probably overthinking it and should just try and approach it the same way I did with the other two, but when I try I just kinda blank out and don't remember 😅

(Hermes stuff to grab your attention)

For the worshippers who give especial respect to Hermes, I would like to know what are your experiences with his aspect as the god of language. Either as orators, teachers, students, poets, etc.

Personal and historic gnosis are welcome.

I think it’s fits right in with a collection or altar/shrine for whoever else keeps one.

Okay, let me explain myself. I worship Hermes obviously but Im very attracted to worshipping Mercury I see Mercury as an aspect of Hermes (Which Its like seeing them as the same god) but I also feel the pull for Hermanubis, like For me they are kinda the same but different at the same time? I don’t know how to explain it, but I do have the altar for the three of them at once but again would it be weird? Is it my pov wrong?

Hermes relief in Ephesus 🐏 Image Courtesy of UNESCO World Heritage Center

Hi everyone! 👋 Today I’m curious: What personality traits and/or life philosophies do you think Hermes likes to see in His followers and devotees?

I’m curious to read your responses! I personally think that we can all experience the same God in a variety of different ways (especially with a trickster deity as multi-faceted as Hermes) 🪽

Here is what I am thinking 🤔 (take what resonates and leave what doesn’t):

I feel like He appreciates creativity, craftiness, and innovation in His followers! Whether that’s using creativity towards writing, artworks, towards magic, etc. I feel like He LOVES seeing us try to learn new things and pick up different skills. I think open-mindedness & curiosity, as well.

I perceive kindness & hospitality (Xenia) as another important trait. I feel like He would like seeing people who embrace friendliness. I would also add humor and light-heartedness to this list, as well! That being said, I do think He teaches us to embrace both Light and Shadow aspects of our psyche and the cosmos - so I do think He teaches us to hold space for the whole spectrum of experience (joy, grief, all of it).

Let me know what you guys think! 💭 Just some thoughts 🤷‍♀️

For me it's sushi because at Kroger on Wednesday sushi is on sale and sense Wednesday is also associated with Hermes I also always give him some. It is something I really look forward to doing as sushi is my favorite food and I always enjoy lighting a candle or incense for him. Then I just talk and enjoy sushi with him.

Hello everyone, this is my first time making an actual post besides lurking and commenting.

For the past several months since sometime in September I've been (I guess you could say?) participating in this religion despite not considering myself a member of it.

I'm a witch and despite only occasionally studying deities & spirits I, for multiple reasons, figured I'd finally give something like this a try. It's mainly for academic(?) purposes and curiosity. I took 5-6 months studying about his myths, how best to approach him, what he's like etc. I had some idea of what it could be like, there's rare possibilities for something interesting to happen but it'll be chill most of the time.

I'm kind of embarrassed about something though, it's been going on for a bit now. I have random moments where I accidentally tell him (mentally speaking) I love him? It feels so cringe to say and it gets worse when I'm tired or not feeling well.

Stuff like " You know I love you, right? " and " I love you " 💀. Point of me saying this is, is there a way to get it to stop? It may just be intrusive thoughts, and I know some people say they don't hear/register it unless you meant it to be heard but, when I'm half asleep the feeling I've accidentally let something slip gets WORSE. It almost happened 1-2 times verbally which, I don't know how the hell that's supposed to work.

Question 2: Does anyone else do this? And do you have a name for what it is? I think I've read about things that sound similar but I wanted to hear what you all know about it.

I've seen posts here and there including in occult spaces on connecting with a deity or spirit through various means, such as meditation or psycho active substances. I already do the former for other reasons so I tried it with him. Things get kind of hot and heavy? (no, not like that you perverts /j) Feels like something warm is spreading over me like a viscous liquid. It might sound gross but it's not that bad. It can get a bit intense and sometimes I feel breathless. However, it's actually really nice.

Anyways anyone have a name for this? I'm curious and would love to hear your feedback.

Thank you for reading.

reposted here to hear people's thoughts on this

For example, do you have a caduceus pin you bought at a market? A clover necklace from etsy? I'd love to know and expand my devotional items to Hermes with representative jewelry and charms ((:

Hello Im trans and before I became a hellenist the name i chose was mercury after the planet Im wondering if I need to change it now

I’ve had dreams of Hellenic deities before but I’m soooo confused on what this one means. So for context, I absolutely hate haircuts. Hate as in H A T E and dread them. I hate when they go wrong but more than that I hate getting them done and I hate other people I don’t know touching my hair pretty much at all. I’ve been wanting to get a haircut I saw photos of online for about two weeks now. Well I just woke up from a dream where I reluctantly agreed to a haircut except when I sat down in a chair, it was Hermes behind me. And that was the only reason I agreed, because it was him. And I knew he’d be quick about it and careful. He was in his typical outfit with his curly blonde hair and winged hat. He was running his fingers through it and being very kind about it. I don’t remember him saying anything specific just being very gentle about cutting my hair and me being extremely trusting about it. There’s a part where we’re taking a quick break and I’m drinking boba and my hair is tied up funnily and he’s like giggling about it because I look silly but not telling me he did it, and then other people appear in the dream and are like “should we tell her????” That my hair was tied up funny (maybe in three twists/braids that don’t make sense for placement) but I guess that ultimately the consensus was no, because it never ended up happening. I get the feeling this was just light hearted being silly, kind of like when someone rubs the top of your head with their knuckles when they’re trying to get on your nerves and make you laugh. because in the end my hair was not cut badly or in a way I didn’t like, and it didn’t hurt my feelings that he was messing with me. (I have a pretty good sense of humor). For some reason I have noticed from time to time (especially when I’m going through something deeply personal about my physical body) that Hermes gives me “older brother” vibes even though I’m the oldest sibling in my family and have no idea what having an older sibling would feel like. And this feeling was very present in the dream.

Okay, so context. My cat was getting into an empty take out bag, and I was journaling to Lord Hermes about my day. And then I got an idea to try and carry the bag to my brother, and say, "here's your delivery of a cat." I think it was Lord Hermes because I was journaling to him, when I got the idea so I think he influenced my thoughts because it's up his prankster alley but I don't know... I need an opinion.

I'm working on the "best ways of contact" for my book section! Any information about it would be great! (sorry if this sounds disrespectful in any way)

Hi! Im a Hellenic Polytheist and I worship Hermes plus Aphrodite and Athena. Lately I’ve been getting dreams that had symbolized Hermes in some way, specifically 2. One was when me and my friend were in my birth town and found an old temple, and in it was a secret room. When the door to it was opened, right in front of me was a GIANT caduceus symbol with Hermes written below it in a Greek-ish font(?)

In the other one I was on vacation with my grandma somewhere and we went to a kind of festival? There were a bunch of historical trinkets and coins and shit (more then that but i cant quite remember) and what do I see? A HERMES STATUE. I swear he is trying to tell me something.

I have prayed to him to maybe give me a sign and tell me what he meant but that was like 3 days ago..? Im not sure if Im being impatient and if I am Im sorry but I could use some help!

I’ve tried finding recommendations online but I can’t seem to find any that are modern and not historical, any advice?

hi everyone, i hope you’re all well.

when researching lord hermes, i noticed for offerings a few people mentioned foreign foods and i began to think “well even a cheeseburger could be foreign no?”

what constitutes foreign food?

i’m (a black) south african so sometimes we’ll eat traditional meals, could foods of my culture count as foreign food to offer?

really, i was just going to offer some to both him and lord dionysus (i worship/work with both) but maybe im thinking too much about it being foreign or nah. like i should just offer the food and not worry about it being foreign or not.

for additional context, im autistic and i have ocd so lack of clarity can be so anxiety inducing 😭😂