What Greek god to pray to: a guide.
Based on mythical info + past traditions + my experience.
This is an article for Hellenists. Outsiders are welcome, but I’m not aiming it at them.
I’m sharing this list out of context and with little explanation. If you have questions, feel free to ask. It’s not exhaustive, because I am first and foremost a polytheist; the research comes second. So, you won’t see me recommend you gods I haven’t personally prayed to. Feel free to share your own stories and/or disagree with me in the comments.
It’s worth noting that I’m a bit pedantic with names here because it’s a public blog and I frequently get visits from non-subscribers who probably don’t know I don’t work with Roman gods. When you translate the names to English, you end up with a confusing mix. I’m using their Greek names only, because I can’t recommend Roman gods, having never talked to them. So, this is entirely personal and for the purpose of making myself clear. If you follow any Roman reconstructed traditions, feel free to share. I don’t.
I won’t get into “how to pray” as I don’t subscribe to the mentality that it should be set in stone. My style is free and heartfelt. No hate to the scholars who use other people’s prayers (from the past), but I’m not one of them. The only 4 important general guidelines are:
- (With the possible exception of “wild” gods and primordial gods) it’s recommended that you make yourself presentable before praying. There’s no need to be fancy but at least take a shower. It’s a matter of respect, not looks.
- Prayer does not replace action. This is true in any religion. Don’t neglect the actions you need to take for each situation. The gods can watch over you, but they can’t do your job for you or anyone’s jobs for them. I know it’s popular to want miracle solutions here in the West, but truth is, regardless of your Capitalistic brainwashing, we’re here to make an effort in life too. We shouldn’t just take, take, take from the planet and pretend that the only “hard work” belongs in our closed system of human relations and monetary reward. Nope. Personal growth takes work too. Relating to nature (gods included) takes work too. Ain’t nobody “up there” going to take over your load and hand you things like peace and meaning on a silver platter. If you were meant to be born ready, what’s the point in being born at all? More accountability and less narcissism, please.
- Gods of death and underworld dwellers — don’t pray to these at home. Go to a cemetery or somewhere public and natural.
- Please please please no loud rituals or intricate and non-disposable offerings unless you’re at your space or a place where you know it’s allowed. I don’t care if you’re a diehard fan of Dionysos, stay humble and respect the other visitors where you are. This is basic human decency. You wouldn’t like Christians or other religion to loudly draw attention to their religious thing in a random place you’re visiting either.
If you’re wondering what god to pray to:
I’ll separate the list by category and god name. Nothing here is set in stone. There’s nothing stopping you from just “praying to Gaia and Ouranos” and that’s that. I’m simply suggesting specific gods for specific scenarios, but if you’re a diehard big picture fan, go ahead and ignore. I would personally focus on the big picture if I’m in a bigger prayer group, because really, who am I to individually request or express gratitude for anything big? That sounds like a delusion of grandeur. But to each their own.
Health
Human health
Asclepios is the god of medicine. For specific requests, also pray to:
Apollon: sight, hearing, brain, also Asclepios’ father and patron of medicine
Artemis: female reproductive
Dionysos: psychological, “intangible brain”
Pan: instinct, reflexes
Poseidon: digestive (all genders) and male reproductive
Zeus: heart, circulation, peripheral nervous system, lymphatic
Animal health
Artemis, Pan
Plant health
Demeter (yours), Pan (wild)
Relationships
Aphrodite: improve your self-esteem; seduction and desire
Eros: good fortune in looking for love
Hera: all things wedding and marriage
Hermes: communication, friendships
Hestia: home security, comfort, protection
Collective affairs
Apollon: law enforcement, investigations
Athena: strategic decision-making and conflict resolution
Hera: success with mergers, partnerships, collaboration in business
Hermes: success with running a business smoothly, commerce, advertising, good purchases, good sales
Hestia: bureaucracy speed and efficiency
Themis: justice, fair rulings, clarity of mind for processes
Zeus: common sense for politicians and leaders (individual)
Zeus: (collective) help co-operating with divine order, fate, other background processes we don’t understand
Individual pursuits
Aphrodite: sense of aesthetics, self-care, finding stylistic expression in yourself and at work (all genders!)
Athena: wise decision-making, problem-solving
Demeter and Leto: motherhood, nurturing, support for looking after people, animals, plants and things
Hermes: safe travel (land, air), managing finances, quick thinking, communication
Hestia: creating a sense of place, finding a sense of belonging, building a safe space wherever
Poseidon: emotion regulation, navigating turmoil, safety at sea
Zeus: fatherhood, order, support for guiding and leading other people
Death, mourning
Hades: well-being of those who passed
Hermes: well-being of those who stay, help with grief and togetherness, help making sense of death
Hestia and Hekate: hope, overcoming dark times
Guidance
Apollon: intuition, inspiration, trusting yourself
Ares and Herakles: impulse control, courage
Athena: studying, formal learning
Athena and Themis: oracular discernment
Dionysos: faith, surrender, trusting the external
Gaia: collective unconscious, nature/man connection
Hermes: expressing, verbalising, translating
Hermes and Pan: street smarts, informal learning
Above is the list so far.
I’ll update it every now and then, so feel free to revisit.
