Is it Hellenistic Polytheism if?

[graveghoul]

Ok since August of last year this has been my timeline in a nutshell:

July '14 renounced my Christian faith (long overdue)
August '14 searched for a spiritual calling and found "energy based" religion and philosophy
Sept '14 found Wicca intriguing and studied my ass off but couldn't connect with it
October '14 self-dedicated to Paganism but couldn't grasp polytheism
Nov '14 Started practicing Witchcraft and also called out to Hekate, oh she answered and foresaw my life change!
Dec '14 Became obsessed with Hekate and her origins, epithets, and identities and delved deeper into Witchcraft
Jan '15 Felt a longing for the structure of religion so sought out what felt natural which was Greek pantheon.
Feb '15 Reading up on Hellenism because that's where my goddess has her long standing and fully accepted polytheism.
March '15 Embracing Hellenistic Polytheism but find myself with no connection to the gods except Hekate.

So, im a person who needs structure and taking on the idea of becoming a Hellenic Reconstructionist seems like a ton of work, but i know well worth it. My issues lie with the idea that most Hellenic Recons frown on the idea of Witchcraft in the modern day sense even though their history is full of diviners, seers, and witches. I know that if it feels right to me, it shouldnt matter. But should i pursue Hellenismos if ive only had a connection with Hekate? I wonder how much a Recon would frown on my "using their goddess for witchcraft" which im NOT doing. I dont ask Hekate to perform at my will at all. I just ask that she be with me, watch over me and my loved ones and in turn i give her offerings. I do enjoy the fact that Hellenistic polytheism is about bettering yourself, honoring your ancestors, and puts alot of emphasis on the home and family being important in your belief system. What're your thoughts?

Also, i dont think it's fair that most Asatruars/Odinists can identify with the simplistic and narrowed-down title of "Heathen" yet a Hellenic cant really seem to narrow it down. I seem stuck with the umbrella term, "Pagan" which is so broad! Which is it? Hellenismos? Olympianist? Hellenistic?

[Seraphin]

I wish my fiancee can post here. She's dedicated to Hekate and has a Hellenistic background too! Hekate is also part of my pantheon, usually, I call her to aid me in my magickal works and witchy crafts.

I don't know more about Hellenistic Reconstructionism except that they reconstruct how the ancient Greek/Roman customs was done way back when. And they're not going to be particularly helpful to someone seeking to work with the Hellenic Pantheon while applying witchcraft and magickal beliefs.

For them, magick within a Hellenistic belief and faith is "Hubris" (egoism) because they feel it forces the Deities to act according to the magickians' will. They said Deities don't desire that we make use of supernatural forces of the world. They had intended for us to come to awareness of Them within the natural world, and through its natural phenomena. Someone who subverts the system of nature, by constantly using supernaturalism like magick and witchcraft, is going against the will of the Deities. Personally, I can see why some communities feel that way, mostly because many people see Them only as some kind of genie in a bottle. This is obviously not always the case, most magickians are better than that.

Actually, ancient Hellenes did believe in magick and many had even participated in a form of magick of which there's archaeological and literary evidence. I'm not saying it was approved of within the individual cultures or traditions but it did happen. Basically, their magick relates to and seeks to understand the Divine realm and spirit world, Deities' relationship as perceived from within this world. In reaching a deeper understanding of the Higher Worlds, they got a glimpse of the Deities Themselves.

My opinion is... you can still worship and be dedicated to Hekate even if you don't pursue the Hellenistic Reconstructionsim. I believe you can still have a direct knowledge and insight about the true nature of your Deity and the reality, regardless of your religion or chosen tradition. Hellenistic Recons is a religion so it has it's own set of dogmas, mythos, lores, rules and rituals and you're expected to follow them. I know you wanted to practice your spirituality free of such restrictions, yes?

I understand about you not feeling any connection to other Deities. This is because I personally believe, we don't get to choose. The Gods and Goddesses have to consider they want themselves to be part of our pantheon, we don't just say "Hey God, I want you to be in my pantheon, deal." In my experience, it just doesn't work like that.

But if you want to have a religion, then why not? Though I suggest go pursuing Hellenic Wicca or Hellenistic Neopaganism instead since they welcome the practice of witchcraft and magick!

Hope this makes sense!

[Chalice]

You should check out ADF.
Whilst it's a Druid group, people choose to specialise in an Indo-European pantheon, like Hellenic.

https://www.adf.org/about/basics/index.html

Their Hellenic stuff:
https://www.adf.org/rituals/hellenic
https://www.adf.org/articles/gods-and-spirits/hellenic

[Siona]

It's possible to be a reconstructionist even if you only really connect with one deity - but, as a Hellenic recon, you'll be celebrating festivals (yearly and monthly) which deal with other deities as well. Like a lot of reconstructionist traditions it's often much less about what you believe, there's a lot of freedom there, and it's much more focused on correct practice.

When it comes to magic, there were some practices which were very widely practiced and well regarded in the ancient world, such as divination, oracle work, seers, that sort of thing. Other forms of magic might not have been seen in a positive light, but they did exist, and they can be a part of reconstruction if one wants.

There are also a lot of people, myself included, who are somewhere on the line between complete reconstructionist and less structured witchcraft, so that's still an option as well. https://forestdoor.wordpress.com/ is another such practitioner who comes to mind, and you might find her books (advertised on her sidebar), Dwelling on the Threshold, and Kharis, to be helpful in figuring out a balance that works for you.

[graveghoul]

Id like to thank everyone who replied. Your responses were very helpful and the links were good reads. Even though I don't consider myself eclectic or wiccan, I do able the freedom and choices one has with that lifestyle. Magick and Hekate are my focuses, in all honesty. I like the idea of her monthly deipnon, homage to agathos daimon (family spirit, guardian spirit, or zeus), and incorporating of the celebration of the neumenia to help rid my miasma and celebrate a new month. I also like the idea of following the revised attic calendar and having monthly libations to everyone of the 12 olympian gods as well as celebrations of the equinoxes and solstices. I guess it's just very hard for me to wander from one pantheon to another. I know so many people that worship ganesh one day and bastet another day and I guess I just can't wrap my brain around it. Bottom line, I'd love to be a better witch. That will be my neumenia promise. As well as to use it to be closer to my beloved Hekate. Thank you all once again for your replies.

[Nightwatcher]

As a quick add; there's IS a difference between Recon and Traditionalists in Hellenism. Traditionalists tend to be veeeery strict. For them, witchcraft did not really exist in those times and thus has no place. Meanwhile Recon tends to be a bit more flexible. I personally am more Traditional leaning but I do do a touch of magic every once in a while.