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koraki-pharmakis · 2 years

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a little silly modern folk magik color trick

This ins't really deep or researched, but it's something I've started doing in my own practice--which is actually, I think, a pretty lovely way to make your practice more personal.

Our "ingredients" are paper and colored pens/pencils/markers/crayons, or just a google doc.

This task is easier physically, because the shades of pen and crayon is a bit random depending on brand and what you have around.

The first step is simple--scribble! I like to make the scribbles of each color in a shape I associate with the color off the bat. It doesn't have to be pretty, or make sense.

Now, looking at the shapes or blobs you have, write in the crayon/pencil/etc the first word that comes to mind with the color. It can be anything.

Did it? Great!

Our last step is to look at the words in the colors. From here, you can "refine" them or keep them as they were. For example, I kept yellowy-orange as energy, because the word seemed like a good end point. For others, I looked at the word written in the color, and thought of how and why I associated them. From there, I could decide what the connection symbolized.

"Spills" for magenta becomes chaos and the mind because my brain made the connection of wine stains, associating it with drunkenness and Dionysos.

This system works best for me--and many others--because it's easier to use intent if you designed it. It's more meaningful to use blue for banishing because it's your own association than using black because the internet said to.

#color magic #hellenic pagan #magick tips #magik #magick #witchblr #witch tips #witchcraft #baby witch #color witch

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koraki-pharmakis · 2 years

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This, of course.

I think the way we talk about our interactions with the theoi is often a form of modern myth-telling.

Most people relaying conversations with the divine are not transcribing a literal discussion, with two people and a clear dialogue. I definitely am not.

I do also want to remind folks that conveying interactions like this isn't disingenuous. It's easier to say "Hermes told me to take a break" than it is to say "I was thinking about Hermes and listening to a playlist and then The Hustle which I associated with him came on right as I found a penny and I got the vague vibe that he wanted me to maybe take a pause." In fact, it's pretty unrealistic to expect that.

Like, we're humans, not fact robots. We conceptualize these as dialogues and write them as such because that's how we understand communication to be. It's more intuitive.

But it's not literal. And to circle back to this as modern myth telling, the myths weren't literal either.

Don't hold your real-life experience to the standards of metaphors.

Hey so like… you know how you see conversations with deities/spirits/etc described on tumblr like a conversation?

That’s not usually how it actually works. Especially not right away. It’s okay if you struggle to communicate with spirits. It’s okay if you have to ask for clarification.

Remember that you’re not seeing the whole of someone’s practice on social media.

#hellenismos #hellenic paganism #theoi #hellenic polytheism #hellenic pagan #hellenist #hellenic polytheist #paganism #pagan

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koraki-pharmakis · 2 years

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Lenaia, Maenads, & Thracian Tattoos

As some of you know, I celebrated Lenaia this past weekend, and part of that celebration was henna tattooing some maenad tattoos on myself as a devotional act to Dionysos. The process was both very easy and very difficult.

So, first, we do know maenads had tattoos--especially those known as Thracian. We see it in art of the time; we have pottery showing tattooed Thracians killing Orpheus, and in Dionysian ecstasy.

Step one went great! We know of tattoos!

Step two was to select and pick a design. Which is much harder.

See, the maenads with tattoos in pottery often followed a theme, but two depictions showed exactly the same design. Snakes, and animals in general, were common. So was the sun sign, interestingly. Sometimes, though, there were just arrow shapes going down arms, or checked patterns on forearms and legs. This could certainly just be an artistic choice, making figuring out the design even more difficult.

Finally, I picked my design. It was modeled off the two depictions below (with what I replicated is in pink); One snake, two suns on the ankles, one sun on my arm.

The first thing I realized was that this would be MUCH easier with the help of a friend.

The second thing I realized was, wow, I want to be a devotee of Dionysos.

And finally, henna is excellent, and I should do this for every holiday. (I already try to, but I often forget).

So, my results:

So, there it is! It was a little wonky, because I was hand doing henna on my own body, but I'm proud of the work, and now I kind of want these as real tattoos some day

#lenaia #dionysus deity #dionysus devotee #dionysos*#rural dionysia #dionysian #queer hellenismos #queer pagan #hellenist #hellenic pagan #hellenic polytheism #hellenic paganism #hellenismos #henna

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koraki-pharmakis · 2 years

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You thought you'd seen the last of me but it's Lenaia!!!!!!!

Hi!

I was gone. Life is chaos, the world is on fire, my body said "no."

I return from my slumber to be very excited about Lenaia--it's possibly my favorite festival of the year!

Lenaia is a four day festival, starting on the 12th of Gamelion (Janurary 15/January 16 at sunset) and ending on the 15th!

It's in honor of Dionysos and the maenads, and is likely the origin of the Greater/City Dionysia! It stretches over the full moon/Dikhomenia too, which is wonderful and very Dionysian.

I'll try to update and talk about it more over the course of the festival! So far, my plans are:

Henna historic maenad tattoos onto myself (I'll provide details on those when/if I share them!)

A ritual on the 14th of Gamelion (full moon/Dikhomenia) with as many friends as I can find who are comfortable celebrating women-only festivals--I often half-joke that I'm a gyne only for festivals, and that definitely applies to the Dionysian ones!

Redoing my prayer beads/bracelet for Dionysos

Pouring Dionysos a libation (red vinegar)

Be gay, do crimes

Blessed Lenaia to all! Io Dionysos, and khaire!

#dionysos #dionysos devotee #dionysus deity #lenaia #lesser dionysia #dionysia #hellenismos #hellenic paganism #hellenic pagan #queer pagan #hellenic polytheist #rural dionysia #dionysian #bacchus #bacchante #maenad

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koraki-pharmakis · 2 years

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re: last post (would RB but I'm done with TERF shit) normally I dont xpost that blog here/I'd respond with that blog, but the reply had some info on Aphroditos, and also uh

I would like to make it crystal fucking clear to my followers TERFs aren't welcome here. In case y'all forgot.

My religion is the focus of this blog. It will stay the focus. But my religion is one of trans gods. My practice is that of a trans pagan. And I'm not letting y'all forget it, because when I did, people thought ignoring that was okay.

#off topic

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koraki-pharmakis · 2 years

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Hi! So, normally I don't entertain transphobes, but I'm just gonna respond to this because it's so ridiculous and I want to make some points clear to non-TERFS.

So. number one: it's pretty bad because some lesbians like and have dicks. Get over yourself. Make your own term if you want something for only liking vulvas, but Aphrodite lesbian was coined by transgender folks, so this word isn't it.

Two: Hermaphroditos*, not Hermaphrodite, which is an actual slur, so good going there. Hermaphroditos and Aphroditos are conflated and likely the same deity to some degree, and we don't fully know which statues are of which deity. A quick search on Google could tell you that.

Third, asexual Aphrodite lesbians exist. I know this because I am one. And, yeah, solidarity with bambi lesbians is a stripe because Aphrodite lesbian was explicitly coined to be its counterpart. That's why the term was made. To be the opposite of a bambi lesbian.

Butches express queer masculinity, and for someone so pissed that pussy isn't on a flag, you sure are upset that the word masculinity isn't there.

Also, stripes can mean multiple things. I don't know what the hell you're trying to imply by butches and allos having the same stripe, especially because you don't seem personally offended by femmes and asexuals sharing one. Or by that stripe meaning seafoam, or by the bambi solidarity stripe meaning violets. Do you think I'm implying Sappho is a flower? Or is your goal just to strawman a butch dyke because trans people offend you?

I am a butch asexual Aphrodite lesbian. Maybe you can just hop off my dick and mind your own if you're so personally offended by transbians and ace lesbians. And also maybe like, use google before you get on your reactionary TERF rhetoric on my blog.

Aphrodite Lesbian Flag

Aphrodite Lesbian: A lesbian who prefers sexual acts and affection, or who centers sexuality in their relationships

I made an Aphrodite lesbian flag as a devotional act for Aphrodite and especially Aphroditos, because I learned the most popular flag was made by a proud TERF and had a whole stripe for only being attracted to vulvas.

...yeah. It's bad.

So, here they are!

The stripes' symbolism is as follows:

Red: Roses, Aphrodite's blessings (love/lust) Hot pink: Sexuality, attraction to the feminine, trans lesbians Pink: A-spec lesbians, sex-positive asexuals, femme lesbians White: Community, connection, acceptance Light blue: Seafoam, allo lesbians, butch lesbians Blue: The ocean, the variety of lesbians, history Purple: Solidarity and love with bambi lesbians, Sappho and violets

#fuck terfs #transphobia tw #transphobia cw #terf tw #terf cw #actually mogai #slur cw #reclaimed slur cw #genital mention

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koraki-pharmakis · 2 years

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Bedridden Worship: Apollon

So, I've had my sh*t absolutely rocked by a cold and it's showing no sign of going. Huzzah. That does mean, though, I've had ample time to come up with creative ways to honor Apollon while I get over it, so here goes another installment of bedridden worship.

Here's some of my handy ways to worship him from my bed and room.

Activities

Listening to music

Writing poetry (it doesn't need to be good)

Researching ancient hymns

Researching medical history

Sitting by a window or outside in the sunlight

Eating honey

Learning about bees (trust me, they're cool as hell)

Making devotional jewelry

Drawing him or his symbols (snakes, the sun, crows, bow and arrow)

Making a mini or online altar/shrine

Decorate empty pill bottles

Habits

These should be done to the best of your ability in their honor.

Taking medication (especially as-needed medication you've convinced yourself you don't need)

Eating when you can

Daily prayers (I usually do them right before bed)

Dedicating 5 minutes a day to learning about topics relating to him

Offering the energy of whatever you're drinking

Meditation or just napping

Your Space

Things you can add to your room to make your space have more of his ‘vibes’

Larkspur (what the Greeks called hyacinths)

Beeswax candles

Bee, snake, and crow iconography

Crow feathers (for legal reasons, only fake ones if you're in the US, but ;))

Skulls and bones (real or fake)

Art with bow and arrow imagery

The colors yellow, white, gold, and green

Keep a bay laurel--mine survived a while, I do think it might be dead though

Amber in any form

Suncatchers

Offerings

Note that any devotional activity can be an offering!

Candles

Incense or diffused oils

Wine (if you’re of drinking age)

Water

Honey

Flowers and herbs, especially bay laurel

Donations to medical foundations

Mutual aid for or in support of young people

Artwork

Original hymns, prayers, or poetry

Apollon loves you, and he understands that you need to rest. Your health and self care always comes before worship. Arete is your personal best, and your personal best is what you can do without hurting yourself.

#hellenismos #hellenic pagan #hellenic worship #bedridden witch #bedridden worship #bedbound witch #bedbound worship #bedridden pagan #spoonie witch #disabled witch #witchblr #apollon #apollo #apollon deity #apollo deity #apollon devotee #apollo devotee

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koraki-pharmakis · 2 years

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TW: SA, consent violation

No, I don’t think love spells with a specific target are “basically r*pe” and that’s a shitty thing to say, but I DO think casting them is generally unhealthy and/or creepy and I seriously advise against it.

It’s just kinda icky to try to compel someone to be attracted to you. And it’s not really healthy because fixating on gaining the attraction of one specific person is not what makes a good relationship. If you believe it’ll work, then you’re running a pretty notable risk of entrapping yourself in a toxic relationship, or entrapping them.

If you have to try so hard to make someone attracted to you, that’s a bad sign. And it's even worse if you have to try by violating their consent.

The best love/attraction spell is getting to know them and seeing if you two fit. Plus, it's way less creepy and not borderline harassment!

#r-pe tw #rape tw #sa tw #tw sa #witch #witchcraft #magick #crow speaks #wiccan tips #wicca #witchblr #wiccablr

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koraki-pharmakis · 2 years

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Praise Dionysos for My Name!

I forgot to share, but my legal name change went through at the end of last month. My new middle name is Dionisos, and I'm so happy and grateful.

Praise Zeus Nomos, praise Themis, praise Apollon Boedromios, and praise Dionysos Androgynos & Eleuthereus!

I need to make an offering, but for now, I'll just share my joy and gratitude.

Khaire!

#off topic #hellenic paganism #hellenic polytheism #hellenic pagan #hellenist #dionysos #zeus deity #themis deity #apollon #apollon deity #dionysos deity #trans witch #trans pagan #queer pagan #queer hellenismos

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koraki-pharmakis · 2 years

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anyway not important i'm just doing this because i want to post flags n stuff for my religious queer identities but i have @koraki-mogai now for that. because i'd rather keep this blog more for other stuff. but if you're interested in that. have fun.

#off topic #crow speaks

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koraki-pharmakis · 2 years

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apollon is a god to be worshipped with smoke, thick white clouds and sulfur slipping down your throat

#hellenismos #apollon worship #apollon*#apollo #apollo deity #apollon deity #poetry #hellenic paganism #hellenic polytheist #yeah i never post poetry but this came to me during a ritual so here you do

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koraki-pharmakis · 2 years

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(Re)coining Teirsian and Iphisian

So, to be clear, I am these terms' original coiners. But, for reasons elaborated in my last post, I am removing them from the website where they were originally coined. Additionally, I no longer define them the same as I used to. As such, I am redefining them today. The original definitions will be at the bottom of each for clarity.

Both are gender identities exclusively for non-cisgender Hellenic Polytheists. Period. I expect non-polytheists and cisgender folks to refrain from coining imagery or labels for these identities (and yes, I do need to make that disclaimer, unfortunately.)

With that out of the way, let's crack in:

Iphisian

[ID in alt text]

Iphisian is a gender for Hellenic Polytheists who are AFAB (or natally female) and transgender, CAFAB intersex, transmasculine, transgender lesbians, and especially transmasculine lesbians. The gender is also oriented towards, but not exclusive to, worship of Aphrodite, Hera, and/or Isis (Kemetic). It is named after the figure in Greek Mythology, Iphis, who was a 'woman' raised as, and later turned into, a man. It is strongly associated with the theoi and the divinity of the transgender experience.

While being transmasculine or a lesbian are not a requirement to be Iphisian, being a transgender or intersex Hellenic Polytheist is, and the term refers mainly to transmasculine and transneutral Hellenists.

Original/outdated definition: Iphisian is a gender for Hellenic Polytheists who are AFAB and transgender. The gender is also oriented towards, but not exclusive to, worship of Aphrodite, Hera, and Isis (Egyptian). It is named after the figure in Greek Mythology, Iphis, who was a 'woman' raised as, and later turned into, a man.

Teirsian

[ID in alt text]

Teirsian is a gender for Hellenic Polytheists who are multigender, CAMAB intersex, AMAB and transgender, and/or genderfluid. The gender is also oriented towards, but not exclusive to, worship of Apollon, Hermes, and/or Hera. It is named after the figure in Greek Mythology, Teirsias, who was transformed into a woman for seven years.

While being transfeminine or AMAB isn't a requirement for being Teirsian, being a non-cisgender or intersex Hellenic Polytheist is, and the term refers mainly to multigender and genderfluid Hellenists.

Original/outdated definition: Teirsian is a gender for Hellenic Polytheists who are bigender, AMAB transgender, and/or genderfluid. The gender is also oriented towards, but not exclusive to, worship of Apollon, Hermes, or Hera. It is named after the figure in Greek Mythology, Teirsias, who was transformed into a woman for seven years.

Note: natal sex and AGAB are both listed because they are not the same thing. Natal sex is birth sex (male/female/intersex). AGAB is what the doctor said when you were born. Natal sex and AGAB are not requirements for either terms, but who the term is oriented for due to the contents of the myth.

Finally, I'd like to reiterate I'm not a MOGAI blog and I don't plan to coin again soon (except to post my divine trans symbols, I suppose). I just wanted these terms off a Wiki that permitted disrespect of my religion, and to do that I needed to recoin them.

If you have questions, message me or reply. Khaire!

Edit: *honks clown nose* I forgot to include the flag meanings

Iphisian: Blue-violet: Aphrodite, sapphic love, gentle masculinity Blue: Hera, masculinity, grief and recovery Light gold: The ouranic divine, Aphrodite/Hera's gift to Iphis Thin pink stripe: The love and resilience at the center of the myth, and the love and beauty of trans people Gold: The touch of the divine, concrete divine influence Teirsian: Lavender: Gender nonconformity, fluidity, blurring of lines Muted magenta: Love, femininity, beauty, divine gifts Light gold: The ouranic divine, Zeus and Hera, Apollon Thin fuschia stripe: Erotic love, the divine marriage of Zeus and Hera, the wounding of Tiresias Gold: The gift of Apollon, the touch of the divine

Edit 2: Natal sex is used in Iphisian because Iphis himself was not AFAB, but an AMAB natal female who became biologically male through the aid of the theoi. Natal sex is used to mean sex at time of birth, and is a commonly used alternative to AGAB by many interesex and transsex individuals.

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koraki-pharmakis · 3 years

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Might I inquire what resources are required to delete two wiki pages? And as someone else said, both the exact names and links to terms are embedded in the post.

Back from my unintentional hiatus and livid

I want my religious terms off the LGBTA+ wiki (I'll explain why), and from this point on I do not want anything I coin added to it. I deeply regret coining terms through the wiki and will be recoining Iphisian and Teiresian to remove them from the wiki.

The Dionysian Gender System, including Maedic, Thyrsoan, and Satyrian can remain on the wiki if they are not altered past this point, except for a note visible on the pages. The contents of the note will be at the bottom of this post.

So, for those confused, hi. I'm Crow. I assume you already follow me, but if you don't know, I'm a Hellenic Polytheist and this is my religious blog. I have coined five-six religiogenders through this blog and the LGBTA+ wiki (where I am Localcorvid), all relating to my personal experience of Hellenic Polytheism and worship. All were coined at times I identified with them, though now I only really define myself as Iphisian and Maedic out of the set.

I am not a MOGAI blog. I want to make that clear. The coining of those genders through this blog were because of their specific ties to my religion. That is the main reason I'm so, so angry.

So, let me quickly copy my definition of Iphisian: "Ihpisian is a gender for Hellenic Polytheists who are AFAB transgender. The gender is also oriented towards, but not exclusive to, worship of Aphrodite, Hera, and Isis (Egyptian)." *Note: I have personally modified the definition as the coiner, but in fairness, this is what I originally coined it as. It has evolved into a term for AFAB transgender, transmasculine, and transgender lesbian Hellenists.

What I'm fucking pissed about is the flag they added. Which I'm not showing. Because it's attributed to an agnostic non-polytheist cisgender girl.

And Teiresian? A term that I coined as "a gender for Hellenic Polytheists who are bigender, AMAB transgender, and/or genderfluid ... oriented towards worship of Apollon, Hermes, or Hera"?

They added a flag made by an agnostic catholic. At least he was intramasculine (trans), but still.

These terms are religious. I don't know how to stress that enough. They are religious terms, religious genders. They are tied to my theoi, who I love with my entire heart. They are devoted to my patrons. These are my gods.

And I don't know how to explain that I don't want cis agnostics making flags for my transmasculine lesbian Hellenist terms! I don't know how to explain I don't want agnostic ex-catholics making a flag for a term related to devotion to Hera!

My religion is open, but that doesn't mean this isn't violently disrespectful. The terms were explicitly not open. Those flags weren't for outsiders to make, period.

So I want those terms down, right now. And if I ever coin another religiogender or sexuality, do not put it on the damn wiki. I give consent for @ezgender to put my terms on the Ezgender wiki, and as of right now that is the only one they're allowed to go on.

@official-lgbta-wiki, take my terms down, except for the Dionysian Gender System. My note is as follows:

On October 24, 2021, the coiner koraki-pharmakis posted a statement to faer Tumblr blog stating that fae no longer wanted faer terms on the LGBTA+ wiki due to members disrespecting closed religious terms and the wiki's lack of adequate moderation and respect for coiners. Fae allowed that the Dionysian Gender System, including Maedic, Thyrsoan, and Satyrian, remain on the site with the requirement that this message be attached and that no flags or symbols created by individuals who were not Hellenist Dionysos worshippers be added to the page.

If you don't post the note, I expect my gender system to also be removed.

Blatantly disrespecting marginalized religions is never a good look, and your moderation should not be so terrible that this is allowed to happen to me and dozens of other coiners.

#reply #lgbtawiki #hellenic pagan

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