𝐌𝐢𝐚-

• Cleanliness for the Gods •

Today, I wanted to talk about cleanliness when it comes to serving/approaching our gods.

While naturally things have changed from the practices used in ancient Greece, remembering that the gods we approach are still to be revered and respected will often lead us to a very simple but overlooked concept; are my hands dirty?

Aa always, I am a singular source! Please remember to always do your own individual research and I will attempt to cite sources as I can for convenience!

The Act of Cleanliness

When it comes to recerence of the gods, the ancient Greeks heavily valued the act of cleanliness when it came to providing offerings.

Designated hunters and gatherers were set to collect the animals and bloodless offerings (plants, herbs, etc). Not only were the collectors purified and cleansed, but their utilized tools and the collected offerings as well. This gives us some insight into how important cleanliness was seen in the eyes of the gods. [Greek Religion; Walter Burkert / Homo Necans: The Anthropology of Ancient Greek Sacrificial Ritual and Myth; Walter Burkert]

It is with this viewing that we begin to understand the importance of cleanliness when approaching the gods, and can act accordingly.

𝐌𝐢𝐚-

A commonly known impurity in hellenic polytheism is miasma, although there are some common heavy misconceptions of what it is and how it is collected.

Mia- is a known word group that encompasses the words of impurity it encompasses, miasma being the most common. It can be difficult at times to discern because the mia- word group is diverse. Robert Parker in Miasma Pollution and Purification in Early Greek Religion described the following:

"the mia- word group is applied to a diverse range of things, and if one isolates within it a category that seems to have real unity, the same criteria that have been applied in order to constitute it demand that phenomena described by different words should also be included, An English example will illustrate this simple point: 'innocent' thoughts associate better with a 'pure' mind than does 'pure' alcohol, Not merely words are involved, of course, but forms of behaviour - avoidance, expulsion, ablution, and the like."

With this, we understand that the mia- words - in their most basic sense - encompass words of defilement and impurity. This can be a dirtiness collected through physical defilement (miasma) or ideals and integrity (miaino). It should be known that while the two can be separated simply, they themselves are more complex, whereas miasma can be considered filthier than miaino as it refers to more physical acts and miaino refers to the act of BECOMING miasmic. However, miaino can also refer to impurities that are not physical, such as lying and injustices. These terms depend on context, and their exact definitions are not something I personally can be definitive on. However, for the sake of this post, I'll forgo miaino and refer to miasma as 2 sects; mortal and moral.

Mortal miasma refers the pollution of human and mortal existence. It is collected on a daily basis and is not inherently filthy nor evil nor disgusting. But rather, it is a separating factor between us and the divinity of the deathless gods. It is collected simply by us existing as mortals (using the bathroom, sex, giving birth, dying, etc). While not inherently evil it is impurity in itself that requires cleansing.

That said, while this is the most commonly known form of acquiring miasma, there is actually very little mention of miasma in this context in ancient texts (to my research).

Moral miasma, however, is far more referenced (such as by Homer), and is far more structured in how it is acquired.

Moral miasma is collected through injustices and crimes, as they are seen as acts of violations against Zeus. Murder, rape, incest, etc. These are afronting acts of filth. While all forms of miasma makes us ritually impure, it it moral miasma that requires ritual purification to be cleansed and deemed fit to kneel again before the gods.

Cleansing the Miasmic

The phrase "cleanliness is close to godliness" heavily applies to cleaning ourselves for the gods. It is an act that brings us closer to Them, as the action of being clean brings us closer to their divinity. Unlike us, the gods do not become miasmic or impure, and our need to cleanse ourselves for them is another factor that separates us from Them.

Khernips is another aspect of cleanliness that tends to be debated. The consideration and common acceptance is that it is purified water (adjacent to holy water) for cleansing oneself. Commonly this is done through "purification by fire." Burning herbs, using matches, etc.

With khernips, we wash our hands and feet or our bodies to cleanse ourselves and stand properly before the gods.

Cleansing can also be asking simple as washing our hands or taking showers and baths. That said, these sorts of cleansinga only apply to mortal miasma, not moral.

Because moral miasma is a violation against Zeus and dirties our very being, it cannot simply be washed away. Moral miasma requires ritual purification, which is far more complex and takes far longer than simply cleaning yourself.

This can include fasting, isolation, and other concepts that do not typically overlap with a state of normalcy. It is only through ritualistic purification that someone can become clean again before the gods after being stained with moral miasma.

Overall, I believe simple cleansing should become a part of any hellenic polytheist's normal life. And in a sense, it is. The act of washing your hands, taking showers, even your typical skincare routine. These are acts of cleansing, and setting the intention of cleansing for the gods, especially when done before offerings and devotional acts, is quite beautiful ♡

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hellenic polytheism hellenic pagan

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angrynerdalpaca

5 months ago

My Country Is Experiencing A Traumatic Natural Disaster.

My country is experiencing a traumatic natural disaster.

I made a comic to make it more digestible.

Shares appreciated, I'm just trying to bring awareness here

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angrynerdalpaca

1 year ago

I’m just 🥰🥰🥰🥰

Hey. It's me. I brought a little more.

Little Turtle

A little more background;

Fanart of Mario from the Super Mario Franchise.
Mario stands at a table, wearing a red shirt and a white lab coat. A yellow pen in his right hand, the hand resting on the table. A piece of paper laying in front of him. His left hand is holding up an x-ray photograph against the light. he is looking at the photograph

Mario is a medic student.

He spends most of his time jumping between the clinic and his and Luigis home. Of course, he tries to help his blind brother as much as he can, but Mario knows Luigi is more than capable of taking care of himself.

Their family insisted on using all their savings on Mario and his career, and both Mario and Luigi were fine with that. But Luigi also has a passion that needs funding. Mario knew there was a way, so he did all he could and worked hard for a scholarship.

The day Luigi met the little Turtle in the sewers was the start of it all. He got it in his head and couldn't let go...

It is not exactly common. But with a lot of trouble, persistence, the money from their family, and Luigis undeniable uncanny ability to deal with animals-

Fanart of Luigi from the Super Mario Franchise.
Luigi is sitting cross-legged on the ground. He is wearing a green shirt, a white lab coat, white trousers, and white shoes with green shoelaces. On his lap sits a little brown dog with a dark brown patch over its left eye. the dog is wiggling its tail, and the tongue is showing. Luigi is palpating the dogs belly.

he managed to bring himself into a college of veterinary medicine.

It was a fight to get in this place, and still enough students and professors don't think he belongs there and who don't want him there.

Yes, he could not see. Yes, he would never be able to determine the problems on sight, but he has the ability to connect with animals. It sometimes seemed like they would show him what's wrong. He has the ability to feel the finest differences when touching the pets, and he was the only one who was allowed to touch some of the patients. If they are scared or about to attack the staff- Luigi could shine the brightest. The animals always choose him.

Mario and Luigi face each other. Mario, wearing a red hoodie, standing on the right. He lets his right arm get bandaged by the blind Luigi, wearing a green hoodie, and is standing on the left. Mario's left hand leads Luigis left hand where to touch on the bandage to feel the difference.

Mario; "That's good! Feel the difference? It's like crossing the border in different directions with every turn. And keep the bandage on the arm while rolling it down."

The good thing is that when you are not alone in your profession... your bro can train with you. ;)

------------------------

It's not much but better than nothing. But there's moooooreeee!!!

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luigi mario bowser super mario super mario fanart mario fanart super mario bros luigi fanart luigi my beloved smb super mario brothers little turtle au little turtle smb au super mario bros au inkprovised

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angrynerdalpaca

5 months ago

A digital offering to Lord Hermes 🪙🍊🍋🍯🧭📜🪽

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collage hellenic polytheism hermes digital offering hellenic pagan hermes devotee hermes deity lord hermes cult of hermes I'VE seen many people do it so since I can't pray to him as such here it is.

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angrynerdalpaca

2 months ago

Digital Offering to Lady Hestia 🔥🫏

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collage hellenic polytheism hellenic pagan hestia deity hestia hestia devotee hestia worship lady hestia hestia goddess

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angrynerdalpaca

4 months ago

And suddenly I have the idea (Maybe an AU) of Frankie being some kind of warrior (like Odysseus) wich is the daughter of Athena and Cody being some kind of Poletis but also a Hermes devotee who dies because of Polyphemous and Frankie has to deal with that and make her way to Griffin Rock

(I don't know whoʼll be Eurylochus but thats the idea)

And as an additional fun-fact,this is inspired on EPIC:The Musical so...

Angst :D

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epic the musical Transformers Rescue Bots tranformers cody burns frankie greene trb tfrb cody Probably make a fanfic in AO3 I promise a lot of fanfics

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angrynerdalpaca

2 months ago

En vista de eso, les vengo a compartir esta obra cinematográfica (imaginate a Cody en este AU así)

@gelu-the-babosa-multiversal

GELUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

Ahora con Heatwave como Jayce y Kade como Violet

Te presento:

Las joyas de los memes de Arcane Latino:😎✌️

Te lo juro que este perfil esta lleno de puras joyas JSJKAAKKAJAKAJAJJAJAJAJ

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transformers lol Youtube arcane maccadam instagram rescue bots tf rescue bots arcane lol TFRB x Arcane Im just putting the tags that were here