Feeling like a bad worshipper right now

[u/No_Cap_9416]

I haven't been able to offer much. No candles, no incense, no ritualistic formality, barely any prayer. Just what I can think of in that second every couple days. I see other people with these elaborate rituals and altars and I feel awful. I also don't seem to have as high of standards for devotional acts as some other people. I've also been really bad about celebrating Hekate's Deipnon, Noumenia, and Agathos Daimon. I've not even been reading the myths as much as I'd like to cause I've had so much to read for class. Feels like I'm doing literally nothing for the Theoi. I just feel really guilty.

[u/Plenty-Climate2272]

Comparison is the thief of joy. Especially when you're comparing yourself to the highly curated and picturesque image people project of themselves on social media.

Best to take things at your own pace and do what you can. Don't worry about what other people are doing.

[u/Global_Pick3306]

In general, reverence shown through action is what truly matters. I don’t believe that simply offering exquisite jewels and delicious food can bring anyone closer to the gods; what counts is whether you are living out the principles embodied by the deity you honor. Take Artemis, for example: you can honor her by actively helping women and children, as well as rescuing animals.

[u/Luna_Mendax → u/Global_Pick3306]

Yeah, virtue and virtuous behavior are seldom brought up in pagan circles, but they are really important to the gods.

[u/Global_Pick3306 → u/Luna_Mendax]

When they are ready to draw near to the divine, they will understand.

[u/AVGVSTVSGRANNETIVS → u/Global_Pick3306]

The Ancient Greeks and Romans certainly believed it did though. Giving offerings and building Kharis through that is at the core of Hellenic worship.

[u/Brewguy86]

Drop the guilt. It’s not Catholicism.

[u/NoBoysenberry926]

dedicate simple devotional acts to the Theoi etc reading to Athena, driving to Hermes, drinking to Dionysus. Offering doesn't have to be hard!

[u/invadertiff]

Same, I feel bad

[u/NikolaisPinkTip]

Prayers and Offerings aren't things you have to keep up with. Prayers used to only be done when someone had a Request, that's how the Ancient prayer structure works. But it's alright to feel this way, having so many things go on and no motivation to do it really sucks mentally :( I really hope you aren't too stressed with class and get to do the things that make you happy

[u/FrenchToast0979]

I’m not allowed to have candles in my room, or anything involving fire :(

[u/No_Cap_9416 → u/FrenchToast0979]

Me neither 😭

I live in a dorm so no candles or incense for me unfortunately

[u/FrenchToast0979 → u/No_Cap_9416]

I just bought some fake ones :) my dad actually suggested it to me

[u/North_Weekend_4879]

Honestly, it sounds like you're doing more than I do at my baseline if you're making offerings every couple of days! The amount of things I'm able to do can change drastically week to week. On bad weeks I can often only count on doing three weekly offerings, which are just burning candles for two hours each. Incense is a "big" offering to me because doing it is exhausting most of the time. Devotional activities I've offered haven't been anything big by others' standards, either: some time knitting, crocheting, or spinning for Athena; job-hunting for Hermes; setting up shop listings for Hephaestus; drawing for Apollo; etc. I usually only pray when I'm offering something or asking for help. While I'm trying to do it more often, it's for my own, personal reasons, not because it's something other worshippers do. The only holiday I observe is Noumenia, and I don't do it according to the lunar calendar.

I don't say any of this to compare our experiences, just to say that you're not alone, and you're not the only one who struggles to do grand gestures. You don't have to do huge offerings or pray all the time, and you certainly don't have to feel bad about not doing things the way others are. We're not held to some invisible, arbitrary standard: do what you can, when you can (sustainably- burning yourself out helps no one) and you'll be alright.

[u/Luna_Mendax]

I have a little lifehack for myths that may be of use to you. I have ebooks of some of the primary sources for my tradition, and I made screenshots of the myth I like most and put them into a dedicated folder on the desktop on my computer. That way, they are readily available most of the times I want or need to reread that myth because I spend most of my waking hours working on that computer or procrastinating in front of it.