A very common question made by those new to Hellenismos is, “Are patron deities acceptable, and do I have to honor the whole Greek pantheon?” Concerning honoring the whole pantheon, the simple answer is yes. Patron deities are not as easy, and depend on what we are actually discussing. Patron deities are Gods or Spirits that act as guardians or watchers for a person, place, or thing. Within Ancient Greece, patron deities took many forms, from the guardians of cities (Athena being the patron of Athens) to tutelary spirits acting as guides (Socrates is said to have had a personal daimon who guided his contemplation). These concepts are very similar to the Ishta-deva in Hinduism and Buddhism, described as “most beloved divinity” or “meditational deity” respectively. These concepts are very different from the concept of patrons in most of the modern Neopagan movement.

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