Ares And Hera (pregnant With Ilithyia).

Ares and Hera (pregnant with Ilithyia).

This is the first time I’ve drawn dialogue in ages.

💀 Subtle Hel Worship 🪦

Honor your ancestors or passed loved ones

Visit cemeteries; leave flowers at graves (with permission!!!)

Try veiling

Have a candle that reminds you of her (no altar needed)

Wear jewelry that reminds you of her

Keep a picture of her in your wallet

Have imagery of birch trees, cemeteries, skulls, snakes, wolves, or dogs (dogs are huge) around

Have a stuffed animal dog, wolf, or snake

Practice mindfulness; try meditation

Explore abandoned places (urb-ex; be safe!!!)

Take time to yourself every day to decompress

Drink relaxing teas or beverages; black tea or coffee is especially good or dark hot chocolate

Eat a comforting meal

Engage in activities you find calming; drawing, painting, crocheting, reading, etc.

Feel your feelings; cry if you need to, scream if you need to, etc.; find a healthy outlet for these emotions (drawing, boxing, dancing, etc.

Support homeless or animal shelters, healthcare or humanitarian organizations

Volunteer at homeless or animal shelters

Feed neighborhood dogs, cats, birds, etc.

If you have dogs, play with and take care of them; play with/take care of any pets c:

Cook a meal for someone you love

Donate supplies to animal or homeless shelters

Cook a warm meal for someone in need

Collect animal bones (please thank the animal's spirit after doing so)

Recycle, make/use compost (great with gardens)

Spend time with loved ones; spend time with any elderly or older folks that you love

Take care of your basic needs; eat three meals a day, get some movement into your day, take a shower when needed, etc.

Revisit things from your childhood; keep any stuffed animals from childhood or buy ones you've always wanted

Practice patience, especially with yourself

Take a walk at night, especially on the new moon (only if it's safe in your area!!!)

Have a nighttime/bedtime routine

Learn more about death; get more comfortable with the concept itself; focus on figuring out what your beliefs on the afterlife are (if any)

Collect old items or antiques; try to restore them or give them a fresh coat of paint/polish; keep them or give them to someone who will love them

Have compassion towards those who are often looked down on by the wider society, such as addicts or the homeless; donate to causes that aid them /their recovery

Eat an apple; go apple-picking; visit an apple orchard

Wear clothes that make you feel comfortable; when at home, get comfy!

Learn to get comfortable with change, especially necessary change; try spontaneous things, go outside your comfort zone, find effective ways to manage stress during changes

Take note of the seasons changing; maybe capture the moment of an Official Season Change™ in a painting or picture

Take time to reflect on yourself objectively; if you find yourself being unkind, take a step back

Observe the life cycles of animals; learn more about the natural world around you

Practice compassion and forgiveness towards yourself and others

Set healthy boundaries; learn what your personal boundaries are

Let go of what no longer serves you; release what you no longer need in your life

Go out in weather that reminds you of her if it's safe to do so (may sound weird, but I associate fog with her)

Be kind to children; play with them if offered

Start a new hobby - something that is calm and enjoyable; crocheting, carving, painting, etc.

Live your life unapologetically

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I'll likely add more to this later as I feel it's incomplete. For the time being, this is my list of discreet ways to worship Hel. I hope this is helpful! Take care, everyone. 🩵

Link to Subtle Worship Master list

Fertility gods get a lot of emphasis on sexuality. That's definitely an aspect of them given how much Freyr particularly is ehm... portrayed, but that's not all that fertility means.

Example: Beltane is, according to my Llewellyn book collection, a sexy sex festival of fornication and, on the side, a splash of PG rated euphemisms. To me, this is boring and ought to make Beltane an entirely skippable season. However, it's actually one of my favorites, and the time I feel closest to Freyr.

Fertility is just abundance. It can manifest a multitude of ways, from physical wealth, to richness of soil and flourishing of crops and livestock. Passion is mental as much as physical. Anyone who has sunk into a warm bath at the end of a hard day can tell you that physical bliss doesn't always mean sex.

Freyja and Freyr are gods of indulgences and good things. Taking care of yourself. The feeling of being wrapped in a warm blanket on a rainy day, or the rush of joy in seeing something or someone you love. The pleasant aching stretch of growing, and the satisfaction after working hard. And, yes, sometimes sex.

Love, War, and Disability

From a historical lens looking at the myth of Aphrodite cheating on Hephaestus with Ares, it’s interesting because the Hephaestus cults were often primarily made up of men who were injured in combat.

Blacksmithing and metalworking was a primary career path for those who had limb differences or other disabilities as a result of war. And thus, the devotees of Hephaestus often were people who might harbor resentment towards the concept of war.

Furthermore, the idea that war (Ares) would steal their love/lust/sexual experience (Aphrodite) away from them makes sense too, a lot of people with various injuries and disabilities might have physical difficulties with sex, AND people are less likely to view disabled people as sexual beings.

Alternatively, if we consider Aphrodite as a Goddess of self-love, then the myth is changed to be that war, and the injury of war, stole away their self-love. This is something a lot of disabled people even in modern day struggle with on many levels.

I personally view the golden net as a reclamation of the self, of one’s self love, of sexuality, healing emotionally from war, and coming to terms with disability.

ok so! i made some notion pages for my deities (missing about three tho), and i thought sharing it would be nice so people can read the info and whatnot :)

APHRODITE

ARES

APOLLO

HERMES

LUCIFER

⚔️ Subtle Ares Worship 💥

Learning about self-defense (includes carrying a self-protection weapon)

Listening to or writing slam poetry

Wearing jewelry that reminds you of him

Making a list of your personal strengths and things you're proud of

Writing letters (that you will never send) to people who've hurt you and burning them

Exercising, if possible; get some movement throughout the day

Dancing, especially to music that brings out your passion, anger, or rebellious side

Supporting local activists or online activism for causes you believe in; support human rights or humanitarian organizations

Expressing yourself the way you want to physically (this can include little things, such as wearing a certain bracelet or putting on a scent)

Allowing yourself to express your anger and upset; sit with and feel your feelings

Keeping a picture of him in your wallet

Playing combat-based video games

Watching combat-based shows

Having a candle that reminds you of him (no altar required)

Wear jewelry that reminds you of him

Having rose, horse, spear, soldier, or boar imagery around )

Have a stuffed animal horse, boar, vulture, or dog

Place motivational/affirmational notes somewhere you'll see them

Wearing bold colors, such as red or maroon (these colors are UPG; what do you associate with Ares? Wear those!)

Learning how to box or wrestle (a punching bag tends to be helpful)

Engaging with your personal passions

If you have dogs, playing with them

Volunteer at a homeless or animal shelter

Support local veterans; donate to veteran-supporting organizations

Be considerate towards veterans nearby (don't light fireworks in neighborhoods, don't fire weapons in neighborhoods, don't bring up their time fighting without them prompting it, etc.)

Stand up for yourself and others

Assert your boundaries; learn what your boundaries are

Be forgiving to an extent; do not let others continue to wrong you over and over again; learn to let them go and cut them off if possible

Learn about healthy conflict resolution skills; implement them into your life

Own a spear or a sword, and learn how to use it correctly because why the fuck not

Take a walk/hike outside, preferably during the day

Play a sport

Share your passions with others c:

Carry a protective charm with you

Prioritize your own well-being; take care of yourself first, then others when you're able

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May add more later! This is just a basic list of some discreet ways to worship Ares. Hope y'all enjoy, and take care! ❤️

Link to Subtle Worship Master list