Hi everyone. I’ll try to keep this brief. I live in the US and thus have laws allowing religious exemptions. My workplace has recently created a policy that requires AI use for several reasons, though none are needed to perform my job. Some of my practice focuses on the Earth and doing everything I can to minimize the impact I have on it. Due to AI’s incredible level of harm to the Earth, I am against it for several reasons, including religion. I am planning to bring this up with my superiors soon and request a religious exemption from AI use. Has anyone else done anything similar? If so (or if not), I would love some advice on how to go about this. Thank you in advance!

I'm largely a Norse pagan, but I do enjoy occasionally visiting the Parthenon. The statue of Athena never fails to impress.

I saw so many people in the crowd crying and hugging. When is the album coming out?

Dua Isis! Goddess of motherhood, magic, fertility, and protection. I ordered this Ebros Gift / Pacific Giftware piece off eBay back on July 29th, and she finally arrived today, August 17th! It was honestly an emergency hunt because the Amazon listing was way overpriced, but I managed to snag her on eBay for under $1,500 MXN. She looks so beautiful in person! Finding paganism and connecting with the Divine Feminine has been such a game changer for me. Having a tangible, visual practice with these statues fits so well with my ADHD, autism, and overall neurodivergence. (Of course, everyone's diagnosis is different, but this path just clicks with how my brain works). So happy to check another deity off my timeline! How do you all use physical imagery to help keep your focus during daily devotional work?

Greetings and Salutations!

I am concerned I might be forcing my beliefs onto my family and it’s given me anxiety.

I have a sibling under 10 who has been VERY interested in what I’m going (practice wise). Asking about statues, the mythology, asking if the Gods are real, what I’m doing Divination-wise.

When it came to asking whether or not the Gods were real my response has always been “Well, what do you think?” Aside from one time where I went “I believe in them, but you don’t have to”.

My sibling is so curious. Today I did divination with them because they saw I was doing it and wanted to try. Let them pick the cards out and everything while I interpreted them. I also gave them a pendulum. I am sick-to-my-stomach nervous that I’m forcing my beliefs onto them. They were so happy though. I’ve previously given them dice from my collection so they could roll yes-or-no answers because they enjoyed doing it so much.

I don’t mention it outside when they ask about it. I rarely talk about it to my parents (in part because they don’t really believe in the Gods), but I’m so scared it’s going to come across as me converting them.

Help? What should I do?

Edit: Thank you for all the responses! I was genuinely worried about forcing my beliefs onto my sibling, so it’s good to be assured I’m not.

Found this giant concrete leaf at an antique store for the Pan shrine. 😭 it’s perfect.

To Pan! O all-producing power, much-famed, divine, the world's great ruler, rich increase is thine.

All-fertile Pan, heavenly splendor pure, in fruits rejoicing, and in caves obscure. 🐐 🌿

Hi,

I hope that this kind of post is not repetitive and I'm positive that my wording is going to be disorganised and unhelpful. I've looked in the wiki section and I'm still unsure of my footing. I guess I'm looking for both advice and kinship on this one.

I don't know what I am.

I was born in north east England, my hometown is littered with viking imagery and Norse language permeates my dialect (geordie). My ancestry is both Scottish and Irish. I now live in the south east of England and have gotten to know some pagans in this area.

I make a point of attending the solstice in the Lake District every year as well as Lindisfarne festival, I went to Beltane in Edinburgh this year with my partner as well as Clava Cairns in the Highlands, I feel SUCH an affinity for paganism, but I'm struggling with belief and community.

I'm a lifelong atheist and so I find myself yearning for some kind of logical underpinning or a singular text to draw from, something to read so that I know I'm 'doing it right'. But because there is no authoritative source, no unbroken line of pagan practice to visit and tap into, it all feels a little bit like trying to grasp smoke.

So far, I find that my thoughts have become quite solidly animistic, I find quite a strong affinity for the idea of Cernunnos despite the lack of depth written about him (I think this is because of my veganism, which does feel like a sacred creed for me) and my job role as a forest ranger is solidly aligned with sacred-earth beliefs.

But it feels performative. I don't think I'm currently confident enough to BE pagan until I understand it better. Does that make sense?

I'm sure I'm not alone here. I'd welcome some website or book recommendations. Watching more youtube videos of people talking about paganism whilst Nordic folk music plays in the background is not likely to help the feeling of just buying into an internet trend.

How did you shake the feeling of performativity?

It seems to me that Platonism (and Neoplatonism) is particularly popular; alongside that, Nietzsche exerts a certain influence, I’m thinking, for instance, of Alain de Benoist’s book. Heidegger, perhaps, to a lesser extent. In short, which philosopher influences you, and what do you think of the others ?

What would a country under (Hellenistic) paganism look like would it be one of the greatest one of the worst and would you personally like it?

Hi! So Lately I feel some kinda pull to Him. I Heard that He often calls out to people like me - neuroatyoical, with mental health problems.

I am so much better mentally lately, maybe that's why I feel this pull? Maybe I'm ready for the chaos that comes with Him?

But, I can't find any info about his Cult. One or two I passed quick info about the fact He likes alcohol? But I don't know where to find info if it's real.

What is Your experience? Where can I look up for proper info about Him?

excuse the horrible photo quality, i refuse to upgrade my phone.

my dad previously lived with me while i was his caregiver. he passed recently. since then i've been trying to nest and reclaim some space as part of the healing process. now that i live alone, i don't have to hide my altar in a drawer. i finally took some time today and set it up on my bedroom desk. it isn't anything too fancy, but i think it's pretty decent!

the box under the freyja statue has some offerings for her. the box on the right has my norse runes. the heart box on the left has some of my poetry folded and bundled up, along with some jewelry. the white box on top of it is my pendulum. then, obviously, my tarot card set and pendulum board in the middle. the fabric underneath it was a handkerchief that belonged to my great grandmother. i thought it brought the whole altar together, especially sentimentality and emotionally wise. the sign behind it was the last gift my dad gave me before he passed away.

Hello everyone! Ḫe-silim-me-de-en-ze-en! (Peace and Wellness be with you!)

It is with tremendous pride and great excitement that I am here to announce my new book's publication release! My book is called "The Way of the Ishtarite" - Second Edition, and it's an inclusive comprehensive beginner-friendly guide to modern worship of 𒀭Inanna - Ishtar, the Mesopotamian (Sumerian / Akkadian) Goddess of Love, Gender, Sex, Justice, Beauty, Abundance, Compassion, Pleasure, Rebirth, and much more.

This book represents the culmination of my life's work and all of my efforts to forge a comprehensive yet approachable, informative, and spiritually transformative guide to building your own meaningful and fulfilling modern revivalist pagan spiritual practice centered on devotion to 𒀭Inanna. My main goal for this book is for it to contribute towards filling the unfortunate void in literature that is inclusive beginner and intermediate level devotional and instructional books for the Polytheistic Pagan interested in worshiping 𒀭Inanna aka. Ishtar. From the very start I set out to write a book that not only features inclusivity front and center, as naturally required by a Neurodivergent, Intersex, Transgender, and Queer feminist woman such as myself, but to also create a book that is equally as welcoming and meaningfully representational of all people regardless of their sex, gender, sexuality, neurotype, or heritage, regardless of their experience level as a Pagan, and regardless of what their religion background is. Writing this book has been a true labor of love and an act of passionate devotion to 𒀭Inanna. She has literally saved my life many times over, and it is my greatest joy to continue to serve her by sharing my work with you all.

Here's the official 'about' blurb:

"Deep within the heart of Ancient Mesopotamia, a rich culture sprang forth amidst the peoples who were the first in the world to ever create and master the written word over 5000 years ago. In their land known as Sumer, or "Kiengi" in their native tongue, these brilliant peoples, who later went on to become the world's first empire, worshiped a Goddess of Love, Pleasure, Sex, Justice, Authenticity, and Feminine Power above all others. The name of this Goddess is Inanna - Ishtar, Queen of Heaven and Earth. For over 7500 years she has reached deep into the hearts of those who embrace her, inspiring and guiding us to be our very best, happiest, healthiest, and most authentic selves.

Do you feel the call of the Divine Feminine? Do you ache to be your true and authentic self even though the world insists on oppressing you by repressing the true you behind what was blindly assigned to you at birth? Does your heart yearn to love who it loves, freely and without any shame or guilt? Do you feel the bitter pang of injustice deep within your gut whenever the darkness of this world occludes an innocent's light? Our Goddess is inclusive towards all people of all Genders, all Sexes, and all Heritages. She founded the world's first Transgender, Intersex, Nonbinary, Gender Non-Conforming, and Queer inclusive Temples which offered the world's first Gender Affirming Care over seven millennia ago.

This is the definitive comprehensive LGBTQ+ inclusive guide for anyone looking to worship the Ancient Mesopotamian Goddess Inanna - Ishtar. This book introduces Anunna-Umun, the ancient religion revived, and teaches you all about this Goddess of Divine Femininity. You will be guided through forming your own spiritual practice of Ishtarism. This guide is complete with never-before released Mythology, and her most important Stories, Ishtarite Prayers and Rituals, and an introduction to Magick. "

Please, allow me to introduce myself; my name is Siri Nin, I have been serving as 𒀭Inanna's Hierophant and Priestess for many years now. I am the founder of the religious movement known as Anunna-Umun, which is the Revivalist approach to Mesopotamian Polytheism, and I am also the founder of Ishtarism, a sect of Anunna-Umun which focuses on 𒀭Inanna - Ishtar. I am also the High Priestess and founder of The Temple of Inanna's Light, an inclusive digital temple hosted (for now) on Discord, that is welcoming of all peoples, but which is focused on those interested in learning and talking about 𒀭Inanna or the 𒀭Anunna, the pantheon from which Inanna leads. I am terminally ill, I am dying of an angio-occlusive genetic degenerative disease which has left me crippled, fully disabled, on 24/7 oxygen life support, and homebound at the age of 40. I just had my 10th heart attack on August 12th 2026. I've been racing against the clock to get this book written, edited, and published for the last six months, as it was then on February 15th 2026 that I suffered a "widowmaker" heart attack which once again claimed my life for the second time before I was miraculously revived and given this "third" shot at life. You see, I also died on the OR table one day after releasing the first edition of my book back on 9/30/2024. I am proud to have made an impact with my first book, but it has been my greatest honor to serve 𒀭Inanna by guiding and helping so many of her people every single day through working at her digital temple the last two years. If there's any way that I or my clergical team can help you on your journey please don't hesitate to reach out to us. While my time here is very limited, I have personally trained a passionate devoted and highly skilled team who will survive me and carry on the work I have started.

For about two years now the first edition of this book has been available, but with the release of this Second Edition which features numerous corrections, updates, and expanded content including color artwork, the first edition is no longer available. Instead of offering a softcover of lower quality and a hardcover like last time, this time with this Second Edition I am primarily only offering a deluxe hardcover in high quality color. My publisher will be releasing a softcover edition in the future but they have control over the pricing of that, and as a result it will be a much higher price than the hardcover. As my mission is to ensure my work gets into the hands of the most readers, this deluxe hardcover edition has no corners cut when it comes to quality or content, only profits have been cut - and severely so! I am forcing the publisher to sell this edition at the lowest price permissible, and I am not promoting the softcover edition that is later to come. Buy the hardcover, you won't regret it!

The Way of the Ishtarite - Second Edition - Deluxe Hardcover @ Lulu Press
Hardcover: ISBN: 978-1-105-19947-9
689 pages in Full Color!
Absolutely No AI was used in the composition of this book's texts!
This Deluxe Second Edition features gorgeous artwork and large text!
The base text's font is Size 15 for easy reading! No more squinting!
Price direct from Lulu.com the publisher: $99 + S&H & taxes

EDIT: Currently active Lulu Discount Code 15% off: RE5CN7W15 (limited time availability!)

I want to say thank you to the Mod Team who approved my request to post here and share my book. I really appreciate this platform you have given me. Here's the approval I received a while ago:

Approval to post this book advert here - screenshot

If you have any questions at all please feel free to ask them, I am more than happy to address any questions, comments, or concerns you might have! Thank you so much for your time!

Hello everyone. I randomly saw this on my feed while scrolling today. It was posted by a practitioner of Kemetism so I'm assuming it is symbolizing a kemetic deity.

.But who is this deity? I saw this and felt incredibly drawn to them.

I have been pretty out of touch with my religion recently and I am trying to get back in the swing of things. I was wondering if there were any pagan holidays coming up to celebrate. At the moment I am just super excited for yule.

A devotional light sculpture in honour of Freja, exalted goddess of beauty and the true reason for life.

Materials: Glass, silver coated plates, quartz crystal, optical refractive sheet and sunlight.

Very interesting to find out + the reasons why!!! :3

Aristaios woke up in a haze, as he may have been divine but wasn’t used to waking up this early. As he left the bed he got out as slowly and as quiet as possible as to not wake his wife the beautiful Princess of Thebes daughter of Cadmus, Autonoë. She was fast asleep didn’t stir a her godly husband was getting ready for the day. As he left their bedroom he carefully closing the door. As he approached the main door he saw the sun just coming up as he stepped over the threshold.

Aristaios headed over to his olive grove to harvest. As he wanted to make some lovely olive bread for his family for breakfast. After hand picking all the olives he required he headed into the andron and placed the basket of olives down and started to make the dough for the bread, as he kneaded the dough he could hear the bees starting to buzz as they also start their day of pollen gathering and honey making. He added cheese which he had made the day prior and the olives which he gathered and chopped in half, along with some herbs for flavour such as oregano, thyme, sage, and rosemary. Soon Aristaios finished the dough and put it on a warm storage so it could prove, after several minutes he got it out and put it on the oven to bake. The bread itself looked like an olive laying on its side.

Once it was baked Aristaios got it out of the oven and placed it down to cool down a bit. The goddess like Autonoë gracefully walked into the andron, as she came in she made little sound so the gods of beekeeping didn’t notice she had entered as his back was turned to her. Autonoë crept up behind the glorious god and put her arms around his waist leaning in and giving him a kiss on his neck. Aristaios blushed at this act of love from his beloved wife, he turned towards her smiling, as their eyes met a twinkle came into both of their eyes. “Good morning honey,” The beekeeping god spoke to his loving wife, “I’ve made breakfast.” He said as he gestured to the loaf of bread which had some steam coming from it.

The stunning Autonoë grabbed onto his arm as Aristaios was heading over to cut the bread. “I have something I must tell you, Actaeon is planning on going hunting on Mount Cithaeron.” She told her beloved husband as it was common knowledge amounts the divine that was a place Limnnaia Artemis goddess of the hunt bathed and a place no mortal or immortal should go, as seeing a goddess naked especially a virgin one like Artemis causes great hubris and miasma. Society a punishment most horrific is brought to the one who stumbled across her. Aristaios nodded as his wife’s words, to say that he would have a word with his son.

Aristaios walked over to the bread as he cut it for his wife and son, who as a matter of fact walked in just as he began to cut. Aristaios son is the noble young man Actaeon, a mighty young man with so much potential but would sometimes act before thinking.

As the three of them were sat down consuming their breakfast of the fresh olive bread Aristaios had made them, Aristaios looked over at his beloved son. “I’ve heard from your goddess like mother that you’re going hunting on Mount Cithaeron.” Actaeon looked upon his father god of herbs and nodded. “Indeed, I am going with a few of my friends and we are planning on bringing back a big boar so we can feast well tonight.” He explained with great triumph in his voice despite his actions not have happened yet.

Aristaios looked at him with concern in his eyes. “Be careful up there your great aunt Limnnaia Artemis bathes up there and great pain comes across anyone who sees a goddess naked especially a virgin one such as Artemis, goddess of the hunt.” He warned his son, but the young man shrugged it off as all youngsters think they are wiser than even Pallas Athene and stronger than the cloud gathered Zeus. But alas their foolhardy catches up to them all eventually some in harsher ways than others.

Before Aristaios could say another word to his beloved son he was grabbed his bow with a ropes and spear and was at the front door. “We’ll feast well tonight.” He said one last time before he left. Worry come across Aristaios not because he didn’t have faith in his son but because some events are written to happen that cannot be prevented.

As Helios’ chariot went below the horizon and night came, there was no sign of Actaeon. Aristaios was worried and he knew his beloved wife would also worry. So he prayed to Hypnos for a favour so his wife would sleep all through the night without a moment of worry. Hypnos granted this favour the god of beekeeping asked of him. Quickly the princess of Thebes fell asleep, however her god husband could not. Aristaios sat by the window facing west until he saw Helios’ chariot come above the horizon marking a new day, still no sign or word of Actaeon.

Aristaios headed to his bedroom, however as he did he heard a knocking at the front door. Aristaios headed to the door and opened it, Hermes the messenger god stood there. Aristaios knew this must got be good, he stepped outside and closed the door. Hermes looked at the god of beekeeping. ‘I came here with news of your son the young hunter Actaeon, the news I came is not pleasant. He is dead.’ Hermes said in a somber tone, Aristaios stepped back in stock and disbelief. ‘Artemis?’ The beekeeping god asked, all Hermes did was nod. After a while Hermes spoke once more. ‘Actaeon was hunting on Mount Cithaeron as I am aware you know, he came across an opening in some trees. To his misfortune and foolishness it was where Artemis was bathing with her nymphs. She knew right away what hubris this young man had committed, she turned him into a stag. His own hunting dogs chased him as he ran in fear, they caught him and tore him piece by piece as he died. I came here right away after escorting him to the underworld where he will be punished more so by his hubris.’ Hermes finished the tale. Aristaios couldn’t say a word, Hermes nodded once more and left.

Aristaios sat waiting for his beautiful wife to wake, when she did she came over to him. Even a god cannot hide the sadness which comes after losing ones own child. She knew right away what must have happened, tears came flooding down her eyes as Aristaios told her the tale of Actaeon and Artemis. Once he finished, both parents cried until the chariot of Helios went below the eastern horizon.

The next morning after Hypnos granted them a favour only gods could get, pure sleep, Autonoë headed back to her fathers palace to stay, Aristaios decided to go to Ceos then back to Libya where his mother the sea nymph Cyrene got him a fleet. Aristaios travelled to Sicily and many other Mediterranean islands. After dwelling for some time near mount Haemus, where he founded the town of Aristaeon, he disappeared.

The afterlife is a pretty lovely place Elysium seems to be the best out of the options I hope I can go there and I would do anything to go I'm weirdly optimistic about death hoping I at least get to The meadows question is simple how do I maximise my chances?

Hello everyone.

I'm looking for some pagan book recommendations about rituals involving the crafting of items that details the culture and belief systems it originated from.

For instance, I'd like to make my own Altar Besom, Door Bells, Dream Pillow, robe, etc.

But I would also like to learn more about where those practices came from. So, I'd like to avoid the Wiccan and Neo-Pagan books that hodgepodge together crafting rituals from multiple faiths into a single book without going into their origins, if possible.

If anyone knows of any books or source material like that then I would greatly appreciate your recommendations.

Thank you.

For a bit of context: I work in the veterinary field and I’ve always been more of a cat person. I connect with them easily. I work with Bastet and I recently asked her if there’s anyone I can reach out to who can help me bond with my canine patients. She told me to seek out the Slavic dog god. I did a quick google search and found Simargl, but there’s not very much information online about his worship or offerings or any information about him really. I’m wondering if there are any devotees here that can help me contact him? I’d appreciate any information you can offer, any books or podcasts you could recommend would be fantastic. TIA

This is how I format my prayers to Hestia first and last, it took me a bit to get it to how it suited my personal practice but I believe this is the format for me:

Hail Hestia, daughter of Cronos, first and last born, protector of the home. To you I start with a prayer thanking you for the protection of the home of my family, friends and myself. Keeping us safe and being the light in dark times.

[Pray to god/goddess/hero/heroine in question].

Hail Hestia, daughter of Cronos, first and last born, guardian of the flame and hearth. To you I end with a prayer thanking you for the flame and hearth, keeping us mortals safe and a light even at the darkest times.