Well it's been about five days since the survey was released, and responses are slowly trickling in. So far I've received 8, with some interesting results. Of the eight I have so far, seven of them have come from women. Consider that a teaser.
That being said, I've only gotten eight responses so far. Please help get the word out. Remember, it's not just for those who do worship Ares, but also for those who do not. If the sample is too small, the results will not be as accurate or as representative of the polytheistic population.
On a lighter note, I was splitting wood and found a great piece slivered off. I carved that piece into a spear point, and then burned the emblem I designed for Ares into it. I thought it was a nice little offering. You can see the picture both on Facebook and Wordpress. My next planned carving is going to be a small dog, to be non-living sacrifice in place of a real puppy.
Here's wishing you all a happy hump day and kala noumenia!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Survey on the Worship of Ares
Alright folks, here it is, the much-hyped survey I said I would be writing. The first portion of the survey is demographic data, to answer the question, 'who are the worshippers of Ares?'. The second portion delves into how you worship Ares, in what context, how often, etc. The last portion consists of short essay questions that are open ended; sometimes multiple choice is too limiting.
Directions:
Please answer all questions to the best of your ability. Pay attention for parenthetical information, which may explain how you may answer. Take the time to think about all the answers you wish to write, and take your time. Please be very honest in answering the questions; I'm not here to judge you, only collect data. Ares will, I would hope, take notice of our efforts, so keep that in mind. Please email the completed survey to aspisofares@gmail.com by Saturday, September 3rd, 2011. No submissions will be accepted after this time. Results will be posted Tuesday, September 6th, 2011.
* * *
What age group do you belong to?
A) Under 18
B) 18-30
C) 31-50
D) 51-70
E)71+
F) Prefer not to say
What is your gender?
A) Male
B) Female
C) Other
D) Prefer not to say
Where do you live? (Write-in; City and country will suffice)
What type of area do you live in?
A) Rural
B) Village
C) Small town (< 50k people)
D) Large Town (50k-200k people)
E) City or Metropolis
F) Other (write-in)
Do you live near a military outpost, camp, or other installation? (within 50 miles) (Question courtesy of Kullervo)
Yes or No
What is the highest level of education you have attained?
A) High School or GED
B) Some College
C) Associates Degree
D) Bachelors Degree
E) Masters Degree
F) Doctorate or other Graduate degree
G) None of the Above/ Prefer not to answer
What is your relationship with the military?
A) Active Duty or Reserve/ National Guard member
B) Veteran/ Retired member
C) Planning to Enlist or Commission
D) Family served
E) No family/personal history
Have you ever experienced war?
A) Yes, as a soldier/military member
B) Yes as a civilian
C) Yes, as a family member of a soldier/military member
D) No
What is your profession? (write-in)
Is your profession in any way related to the National Defense, Public Safety, or Security?
Yes or No (please explain, if you're allowed to)
Which of the following BEST describes your current religious convictions?
A) Hellenic Reconstructionist
B) Other Reconstructionist
C) Hellenic-inspired Eclectic
D) Other Eclectic/ Neopagan
E) Wiccan
F) Other Religion (write-in)
Which of the following BEST describes your current theological outlook?
A) 'Hard' Polytheist
B) 'Soft' Polytheist
C) Monism
D) Pantheism
E) Combination of the above (please describe)
F) Other (write-in)
Do you offer cult to Ares?
Yes or No
If yes, how often?
A) At least once a day
B) At least once a week
C) At least once a month
D) Special occasions/holidays only
In what ways do you offer cult to Ares? (multiple choices allowed)
A) Prayers, exclusively
B) Other Offerings, exclusively
C) Prayers, both exclusively and part of a pantheon
D) Other Offerings, both exclusively and as part of a pantheon
E) Prayers, as part of a pantheon only
F) Other offerings, as part of a pantheon only
If you do not worship Ares, why not? (multiple choices allowed)
A) I am a Pacifist
B) Not Interested
C) Not sure or don't know how
D) Dislike Ares
E) Do not feel compelled
F) Focus on other Gods
G) Not Hellenic
H) Not a warrior/soldier/cop
If you do not worship Ares, do you worship any other War deities?
A) Yes, Athene
B) Yes, Mars
C) Yes, Other War God or Goddess (please describe)
D) No, I don't worship any war deities
Are you aware of Ares' cult titles and functions such as the Abundant (Αφνειος) or Feasted by Women (Γυναικοθιονας)?
Yes or No
Would knowing about such titles and roles make you more interested in learning about or worshipping Ares?
Yes or No
Do you feel Ares needs a greater cult following?
A) Yes, in all his aspects
B) Yes, but only in his positive aspects
C) Yes, but only as a member of the pantheon
D) No, current levels of worship are adequate
E) No, we should not glorify the violence Ares stands for
--- Essay Questions ---
How do you view Ares?
How do you view Ares' relationship to the rest of the Hellenic pantheon? How does he relate to his family? (question courtesy of Apollodoros)
What challenges do you feel arise with worshipping Ares?
What factors do you think would contribute to a better understanding of Ares and his dominion?
What is your view of people who worship Ares as a patron or as a primary focus in their pantheon? Do you feel there are any stereotypes related to Ares' worship?
Do you have any other questions or concerns?
Bonus Question- Are there any subjects or material you would like to see covered on the Aspis of Ares?
* * *
That's it folks. Remember, please send all answers to aspisofares@gmail.com by Saturday, September 3, 2011. Feel free to email me at that address if you have any concerns or questions regarding anything asked in the survey. Please also feel free to pass along the survey to anyone you think may be interested in taking it.
Hail Ares!
Directions:
Please answer all questions to the best of your ability. Pay attention for parenthetical information, which may explain how you may answer. Take the time to think about all the answers you wish to write, and take your time. Please be very honest in answering the questions; I'm not here to judge you, only collect data. Ares will, I would hope, take notice of our efforts, so keep that in mind. Please email the completed survey to aspisofares@gmail.com by Saturday, September 3rd, 2011. No submissions will be accepted after this time. Results will be posted Tuesday, September 6th, 2011.
* * *
What age group do you belong to?
A) Under 18
B) 18-30
C) 31-50
D) 51-70
E)71+
F) Prefer not to say
What is your gender?
A) Male
B) Female
C) Other
D) Prefer not to say
Where do you live? (Write-in; City and country will suffice)
What type of area do you live in?
A) Rural
B) Village
C) Small town (< 50k people)
D) Large Town (50k-200k people)
E) City or Metropolis
F) Other (write-in)
Do you live near a military outpost, camp, or other installation? (within 50 miles) (Question courtesy of Kullervo)
Yes or No
What is the highest level of education you have attained?
A) High School or GED
B) Some College
C) Associates Degree
D) Bachelors Degree
E) Masters Degree
F) Doctorate or other Graduate degree
G) None of the Above/ Prefer not to answer
What is your relationship with the military?
A) Active Duty or Reserve/ National Guard member
B) Veteran/ Retired member
C) Planning to Enlist or Commission
D) Family served
E) No family/personal history
Have you ever experienced war?
A) Yes, as a soldier/military member
B) Yes as a civilian
C) Yes, as a family member of a soldier/military member
D) No
What is your profession? (write-in)
Is your profession in any way related to the National Defense, Public Safety, or Security?
Yes or No (please explain, if you're allowed to)
Which of the following BEST describes your current religious convictions?
A) Hellenic Reconstructionist
B) Other Reconstructionist
C) Hellenic-inspired Eclectic
D) Other Eclectic/ Neopagan
E) Wiccan
F) Other Religion (write-in)
Which of the following BEST describes your current theological outlook?
A) 'Hard' Polytheist
B) 'Soft' Polytheist
C) Monism
D) Pantheism
E) Combination of the above (please describe)
F) Other (write-in)
Do you offer cult to Ares?
Yes or No
If yes, how often?
A) At least once a day
B) At least once a week
C) At least once a month
D) Special occasions/holidays only
In what ways do you offer cult to Ares? (multiple choices allowed)
A) Prayers, exclusively
B) Other Offerings, exclusively
C) Prayers, both exclusively and part of a pantheon
D) Other Offerings, both exclusively and as part of a pantheon
E) Prayers, as part of a pantheon only
F) Other offerings, as part of a pantheon only
If you do not worship Ares, why not? (multiple choices allowed)
A) I am a Pacifist
B) Not Interested
C) Not sure or don't know how
D) Dislike Ares
E) Do not feel compelled
F) Focus on other Gods
G) Not Hellenic
H) Not a warrior/soldier/cop
If you do not worship Ares, do you worship any other War deities?
A) Yes, Athene
B) Yes, Mars
C) Yes, Other War God or Goddess (please describe)
D) No, I don't worship any war deities
Are you aware of Ares' cult titles and functions such as the Abundant (Αφνειος) or Feasted by Women (Γυναικοθιονας)?
Yes or No
Would knowing about such titles and roles make you more interested in learning about or worshipping Ares?
Yes or No
Do you feel Ares needs a greater cult following?
A) Yes, in all his aspects
B) Yes, but only in his positive aspects
C) Yes, but only as a member of the pantheon
D) No, current levels of worship are adequate
E) No, we should not glorify the violence Ares stands for
--- Essay Questions ---
How do you view Ares?
How do you view Ares' relationship to the rest of the Hellenic pantheon? How does he relate to his family? (question courtesy of Apollodoros)
What challenges do you feel arise with worshipping Ares?
What factors do you think would contribute to a better understanding of Ares and his dominion?
What is your view of people who worship Ares as a patron or as a primary focus in their pantheon? Do you feel there are any stereotypes related to Ares' worship?
Do you have any other questions or concerns?
Bonus Question- Are there any subjects or material you would like to see covered on the Aspis of Ares?
* * *
That's it folks. Remember, please send all answers to aspisofares@gmail.com by Saturday, September 3, 2011. Feel free to email me at that address if you have any concerns or questions regarding anything asked in the survey. Please also feel free to pass along the survey to anyone you think may be interested in taking it.
Hail Ares!
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Towards Ares- Baby Steps
Ares. He is a god, and an intimidating one at that. He is said to blanket his bed using the skins of men he has slain. Doesn't sound like the nicest god on the block, you know? Ares just seems a little- unapproachable.
People are often unsure of how to approach Ares, both ritually and as a supplicant or devotee. Ares is harsh and demanding. He is not a monster, however. He is as fierce a lover and father as he is a fighter. A cursory glance at his page on Theoi.com actually shows more specific incidents of Ares' favor, rather than his wrath. Ares offers strength to those who are strong enough to take it.
As far as approaching Ares, my belief is that is best and most easily done in a formal, ritual setting, in prayer. The Orphic hymn to Ares suggests frankensense as an offering, which is easily available in stick, cone, and resin forms. You don't even have to write your own prayer, if you're unsure; use the Orphic or Homeric hymns.
If you're feeling slightly more adventurous, seek out Ares' domain- war. Now, I'm not saying you should just pack up your things an join the Army; that'd be a little extreme, albeit a very in-depth exploration. Find a veteran, from any war. If you don't know any in your own life, many metropolitan areas have a Veterans Administration hospital which would gladly take a volunteer to keep lonely vets company. Talk to them about their service, but avoid the topic of combat unless they bring it up, at least at first. Combat, even indirectly, changes a person profoundly; some would rather not open old wounds.
Another thing you could try is engaging in a combat sport. I'm not talking about contact sports like football or hockey, though they are certainly violent in thief own right. No, try mixed martial arts, paintball or airsoft, fencing. A sport where, under other circumstances, would be considered lethal violence. It's an interesting feeling, being shot at or having a rapier or fist coming at your face. In this age of institutionalized cowardice and femininity (no offense, ladies), even cartoon violence like in the Loony Toons is frowned upon. Experiencing a simulated life-threatening experience can bring you closer to the heart of Ares' realm.
If that sounds entirely to active for you, just delving into Ares' mythology can be enlightening. Did you notice that Ares is actually rather compassionate, despite his outward savagry? To my knowledge, Ares is never said to have raped a single man or woman, as is common in the mythologies of many of his family members. Ares, as chaotic and wild as he is, submits himself honorably to authority, such as in the Iliad and his trial upon the Areopagus. When transfiguring mortals into birds as a punishment, Ares shows mercy upon a woman who pleads with him not to turn her I to a vile symbol; rather, she becomes a wood pecker instead of a buzzard or vicious eagle, whose presence is considered a good omen.
Approaching Ares doesn't have to be hard. The most difficult thing you may have to do is get over your own hang ups, and Ares can certainly help you do that. Have courage, and be honest with yourself and Ares alike. You are only a mortal, and I personally doubt Ares will begrudge you anything but outright hubris. Open your heart and embrace Him. Hail Ares!
People are often unsure of how to approach Ares, both ritually and as a supplicant or devotee. Ares is harsh and demanding. He is not a monster, however. He is as fierce a lover and father as he is a fighter. A cursory glance at his page on Theoi.com actually shows more specific incidents of Ares' favor, rather than his wrath. Ares offers strength to those who are strong enough to take it.
As far as approaching Ares, my belief is that is best and most easily done in a formal, ritual setting, in prayer. The Orphic hymn to Ares suggests frankensense as an offering, which is easily available in stick, cone, and resin forms. You don't even have to write your own prayer, if you're unsure; use the Orphic or Homeric hymns.
If you're feeling slightly more adventurous, seek out Ares' domain- war. Now, I'm not saying you should just pack up your things an join the Army; that'd be a little extreme, albeit a very in-depth exploration. Find a veteran, from any war. If you don't know any in your own life, many metropolitan areas have a Veterans Administration hospital which would gladly take a volunteer to keep lonely vets company. Talk to them about their service, but avoid the topic of combat unless they bring it up, at least at first. Combat, even indirectly, changes a person profoundly; some would rather not open old wounds.
Another thing you could try is engaging in a combat sport. I'm not talking about contact sports like football or hockey, though they are certainly violent in thief own right. No, try mixed martial arts, paintball or airsoft, fencing. A sport where, under other circumstances, would be considered lethal violence. It's an interesting feeling, being shot at or having a rapier or fist coming at your face. In this age of institutionalized cowardice and femininity (no offense, ladies), even cartoon violence like in the Loony Toons is frowned upon. Experiencing a simulated life-threatening experience can bring you closer to the heart of Ares' realm.
If that sounds entirely to active for you, just delving into Ares' mythology can be enlightening. Did you notice that Ares is actually rather compassionate, despite his outward savagry? To my knowledge, Ares is never said to have raped a single man or woman, as is common in the mythologies of many of his family members. Ares, as chaotic and wild as he is, submits himself honorably to authority, such as in the Iliad and his trial upon the Areopagus. When transfiguring mortals into birds as a punishment, Ares shows mercy upon a woman who pleads with him not to turn her I to a vile symbol; rather, she becomes a wood pecker instead of a buzzard or vicious eagle, whose presence is considered a good omen.
Approaching Ares doesn't have to be hard. The most difficult thing you may have to do is get over your own hang ups, and Ares can certainly help you do that. Have courage, and be honest with yourself and Ares alike. You are only a mortal, and I personally doubt Ares will begrudge you anything but outright hubris. Open your heart and embrace Him. Hail Ares!
Update on the Survey
Okay folks, the survey questions mostly complete. My plan is to wait until Saturday for any more questions to come in from readers, and then I'll post the whole thing that evening. If already gotten a few questions from others that I hadn't thought of, so I greatly appreciate the input.
So far, questions include both multiple choice and essay style questions. For the multiple choice, I will tally the answers and give percentages; for the essays, I will paraphrase any trends I see, and will quote answers that stand out or contrast with the rest in order to highlight the variance of response. I've got a good feeling about this project, especially given the hype and advertising I've gotten around the blogosphere, Facebook, and elsewhere (thanks guys and gals!).
In other news, in order to facillitate a wider audience by making things more accessible, I'm going to slowly start cross-posting to Wordpress, as I've gotten feedback asking for it. In addition, in order to alleviate my very busy personal email, I've created a new gmail account specifically for this blog- aspisofares@gmail.com. Please feel free to email me there with any comments, concerns, suggestions or submissions you may have.
Happy reading and Ares bless you.
So far, questions include both multiple choice and essay style questions. For the multiple choice, I will tally the answers and give percentages; for the essays, I will paraphrase any trends I see, and will quote answers that stand out or contrast with the rest in order to highlight the variance of response. I've got a good feeling about this project, especially given the hype and advertising I've gotten around the blogosphere, Facebook, and elsewhere (thanks guys and gals!).
In other news, in order to facillitate a wider audience by making things more accessible, I'm going to slowly start cross-posting to Wordpress, as I've gotten feedback asking for it. In addition, in order to alleviate my very busy personal email, I've created a new gmail account specifically for this blog- aspisofares@gmail.com. Please feel free to email me there with any comments, concerns, suggestions or submissions you may have.
Happy reading and Ares bless you.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Coming Soon!
I want to know about modern Ares worship in modern Hellenismos. I want to know why some don't worship him, and why some worship him with a fervor. I want to know the demographics behind his worship. I think this information is vital to our modern understanding of the Lord of War. Is Ares still Feasted by Women? Do any pray to the Abundant one? These are the things I want to know, so I am currently writing a survey to share that information with you. When it is complete, it will be posted to various fora and mailing lists across the Hellenic net. If you have suggestions for questions, please leave them in the comments or email me at pthelms@gmail.com. I can't wait to put this survey up and out there, so I look forward to as much participation as possible. Ares bless me in this endeavor!
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Getting Started
So I figured I'd break in the blog by startin with a prayer and a small sacrifice. I've got a coal burning with a few granules of frankensence and myrrh (a pretty basic,although traditional sacrifice) and a small cream pitcher that I have full of a delicious Greek wine (Kouros, from Nemea)so we should be ready to begin.
Hear me, oh Ares, who are on Olympos
You who ensures victory and wrestles with strife
Hear my prayer oh brazen god
You who are the rallier of men, aid me in rallying the minds of men to you glory
Guide our souls as a spear to your heart, and break the walls of ignorance to your worship
Keep from us your terrible sons, who darken the hearts of the wary to your will
Let us dance to you as the Spartoi, and praise your name with Harmonia as the Thebans
Come out of Thrace, dear lord and share with us your wisdom.
Hear me, oh Ares, who are on Olympos
You who ensures victory and wrestles with strife
Hear my prayer oh brazen god
You who are the rallier of men, aid me in rallying the minds of men to you glory
Guide our souls as a spear to your heart, and break the walls of ignorance to your worship
Keep from us your terrible sons, who darken the hearts of the wary to your will
Let us dance to you as the Spartoi, and praise your name with Harmonia as the Thebans
Come out of Thrace, dear lord and share with us your wisdom.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Weblinks!
I thought I'd share some weblinks with everyone regarding Ares and Hellenismos.
On Ares:
Www.theoi.com/Olympios/ares.html
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ares
neosalexandria.org/the-pantheon/ares/
Some general sites about hellenismos and some Hellenic organizations:
http://hellenismos.us/f/YaBB.pl
www.ysee.gr/index-eng.php
www.hellenion.org
groups.yahoo.com/group/Thiasos_Ares
www.Neokoroi.org
http://www.labrys.gr/
Now, this list isn't all-inclusive, so feel free to pop in some more down in the comments. If you are interested in any of the groups, please check them out. I picked these groups because they represent best the broad spectrum of Hellenic practice, be it ethnikoi, modern reconstructionism, or syncretism.
On Ares:
Www.theoi.com/Olympios/ares.html
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ares
neosalexandria.org/the-pantheon/ares/
Some general sites about hellenismos and some Hellenic organizations:
http://hellenismos.us/f/YaBB.pl
www.ysee.gr/index-eng.php
www.hellenion.org
groups.yahoo.com/group/Thiasos_Ares
www.Neokoroi.org
http://www.labrys.gr/
Now, this list isn't all-inclusive, so feel free to pop in some more down in the comments. If you are interested in any of the groups, please check them out. I picked these groups because they represent best the broad spectrum of Hellenic practice, be it ethnikoi, modern reconstructionism, or syncretism.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Welcome
Welcome to the Aspis of Ares, or Ares' Shield. This is my second blog, and if you haven't gathered from the title, it's about the god Ares, son of Zeus and Hera, lord of war.
I decided to dedicate a blog for Ares for a number of reasons. First is that, even in modern circles of Polytheists (Hellenic or otherwise), Ares gets a bad rap, and I want to discuss Him and his dominion and why it is important we continue to acknowledge and sacrifice to Ares. Second, there's not much information available for the worship of Ares, modern or ancient, so I want to share my findings, musings, and UPG regarding practice. Third, since modern worshipers are few and far between, and online groups can be active only sporadically, I wanted to gather as many resources for Ares' worship into one place.
It is my hope that this blog grows as our understanding of Ares grows. Perhaps one day, as the love and worship of all the Theoi spreads, we can give Ares and the rest of the Theoi proper temples and festivals. For now, with Ares blessing, let this suffice.
Please spread the word about this blog, and if you have questions, suggestions for content, or want to discuss anything related to Ares, leave a comment below.
~ Pete
I decided to dedicate a blog for Ares for a number of reasons. First is that, even in modern circles of Polytheists (Hellenic or otherwise), Ares gets a bad rap, and I want to discuss Him and his dominion and why it is important we continue to acknowledge and sacrifice to Ares. Second, there's not much information available for the worship of Ares, modern or ancient, so I want to share my findings, musings, and UPG regarding practice. Third, since modern worshipers are few and far between, and online groups can be active only sporadically, I wanted to gather as many resources for Ares' worship into one place.
It is my hope that this blog grows as our understanding of Ares grows. Perhaps one day, as the love and worship of all the Theoi spreads, we can give Ares and the rest of the Theoi proper temples and festivals. For now, with Ares blessing, let this suffice.
Please spread the word about this blog, and if you have questions, suggestions for content, or want to discuss anything related to Ares, leave a comment below.
~ Pete
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