Mark Green's Atheopaganism Blog

by Kaigi-Ron

Why did I choose Hekate?  Because she controls liminal space – including the thin line between Life and Death.  I was so deeply depressed, I felt doomed to die – so I wanted to cut a deal with her: If I die, please do what you can to prevent me from suffering too much on the way out.

The one Atheopagan Principle I’ve generally been weak on is #6 (“PRAXIS: I enact regular ritual as a part of my practice”).  But this ritual actually helped save my life.  So, for those on the fence as to whether or not it’s worth it to do ritual, I say:  At least do it when it really counts.  You will definitely feel the difference, and it will make you stronger.

Atheopaganism is not a spectator sport: You have to participate, engage, interact – and Do Shit.

Let’s remember principle 6: I enact regular ritual.

So today I went out – to a local 3-way intersection in a place under a tree, at sunset and I buried a dog.

Now, before you start getting all het up, hear me out:  It was a ritual offering, made of black Fimo. Painted on its side was a message to Hekate

A little stylized jackal & old Greek font in gold ink (classy; this is a Goddess, after all)

I whispered to the Dog to carry my message to his mistress when he got to the Other Sideand after I’d buried it, I poured a little red wine on the grave and made a brief prayer to Hekate

And I felt So Much Better than I had even a week earlier!…and it doesn’t matter what these acts cause in this physical realm (I’m guessing that effect = zero), what matters is what changes inside your own head…

This feeling of Control and Certainty in these crazy-assed AnXiEtY TiMeS!

It makes you feel like You can handle it – and you truly are experiencing a measurable change in your brain, which gives you a very real competitive advantage!

Also:  These acts invoke the Commitment Principle (Robert Cialdini – Influence), which actually does – in a scientifically confirmed manner – make you more likely to follow through on your intentions, and therefore makes you more likely to be successful.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: Use of the myths and symbols of deities is practiced by some Atheopagans, understanding them as psychological archetypes, rather than literal beings]