Inconspicious altars which acts as flower pots with offerings of libations are the solution .. I do this at work for exactly the same reasons.

My altar to Zeus Herkeios for example is an inconspicious altar and hail from the days my parents still had no idea I worshipped the Greek Gods and is still my altar ( albeit treated very much more like an altar now by everyone )

It is a sizeable flower pot with a flat stone in it to act as an altar and Crassula growing in it with a cuckoo replica. You would not know it is an altar unless I told you.

Whenever I pray to Zeus Herkeios first I sprinkle lustral water to make sure it is cleanse, do the standard prayers and make a sponde of either coffee, water, tea or watered wine. This is orthopraxic last I checked.

At work I have an altar to Apollo Paeon at work. It is a pot with aloe vera growing in them with a single upright stone in the middle. As some of you guys know this was an aniconic symbol for Apollon. Like the ancients when I pray I make offerings by dipping my finger into the drink ( slightly cooled down coffee ) and touch the stone with the coffee.

I have advised inconspicious altars to another guy in town. He has what I would call a conspicious to Hellenics, inconspicious to everyone else altar. He worships Dionysius, and has a pot with a pole with ivy growing out of it. He like me has a rock which acts as the altar and he has pine cones placed in them. He also worships Artemis and in this pot he has three fig trees ( you know the one that looks like a tree ) and a simple altar in the middle.

Who said that offerings need incense? Read Iliad, did Achilles pray to Zeus by burning incense in one hand and offering wine, or just making a sponde of wine?

I think we overplay the incense and fire thing when the ancients in fact probably did a lot more sponde than we think.

Aias wrote on 02/07/10 at 20:12:35:

astalon wrote on 02/07/10 at 18:34:46:


I agree that libations were a very common offering, but my understanding  is that the Iliad could not be used as an accurate historical record.

But don't you need to have a fire source for Hestia?

When I was a very young Pagan *climbs into the wayback machine* I was also forbidden the use of open flame.  Candles and incense were right out.  I improvised by using scented oil warmers on my bedside lamp for incense.  I also re-purposed many old toys into my first regalia.  A glitter-filled baton became my first 'wand'.  A well turned-out Barbie became a representation of the Goddess.  It was silly, sure, but my devotion was sincere.  

I now look at dollhouse hearths and think how lovely one would be for a Hestia shrine.
http://www.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=5512819

In my experience, the Greek Gods especially enjoy innovation.  Keep as close as you can to orthopraxy, but feel free to have fun with this religion.  We are not dour folk told admonished to feel ashamed of our so-called sins.  I feel confident that any heartfelt devotion to the Greek Gods will be welcomed and accepted by them, even if those that worship face modern day restraints of parental rules, or even personal aversion to certain accepted forms of sacrifice.  

I know I don't have the resources to offer up 50 head of cattle in thanks, no matter how much I may want to, or how much the Gods would traditionally like me to. As reconstructionists we do what when can with what we have.  Right now I am out of barley and the roads are treacherous with snow and ice.  I will still do my devotional offerings, regardless.  I think that applies as much for a young Pagan as it does for the middle-aged variety.

The way I get around that is that i just sacrifice my time to the gods by just meditating to them an hour a day or more if a need something.

I love ths feed it really helps a teen like me who is in college... is purified water an acceptable libation if you have nothing else? and would the offering of stuff like chocolate, strawberry, or maple syrup be acceptable libation?