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Miasma?
Jul 15, 2015 15:15:09 GMT -6
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Post by Allec on Jul 15, 2015 15:15:09 GMT -6
I'm working my way through a book on Hellenic Polytheism and I was curious what everyone's thoughts on Miasma were? I kinda am getting the idea, but purification is a very foreign concept in Gaelic Polytheism. So any insight would be greatly appreciated!
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Miasma?
Jul 15, 2015 21:42:32 GMT -6
Post by Mari Opal on Jul 15, 2015 21:42:32 GMT -6
Miasma can be thought of as dirtiness in the same way that, like, walking around barefoot makes your feet dirty, or furniture needs to be dusted regularly. Stuff accumulates. In the case of miasma, "stuff" is ... kinda like mortal-ness. Sex, being around death/dead bodies, excessive emotional disturbance, physical illness, general stress, anything that separates us from the gods. This can be because the Theoi are deathless and unaging and can't be in same space as expressions of mortality (childbirth, illness, death), or because our minds and spirits are clouded/distracted and can't focus on the gods. If we're sick, stressed, grimy, distracted, we can't give the gods our proper attention. So purification is a way of clearing our minds and helping ourselves enter the proper mindset to pay them the appropriate respect.
How's that for a rundown? ^^
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callisto
Junior Member
Posts: 54
Religion: Dodekatheism
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Miasma?
Jul 15, 2015 21:59:20 GMT -6
Post by callisto on Jul 15, 2015 21:59:20 GMT -6
I'm working my way through a book on Hellenic Polytheism and I was curious what everyone's thoughts on Miasma were? I kinda am getting the idea, but purification is a very foreign concept in Gaelic Polytheism. So any insight would be greatly appreciated! Miasma is impurity, spiritual pollution. It is different from the Christian notion of sin as it is not a matter of morality and divine judgement rather it’s a temporary and an unavoidable human condition, brought on by daily life and contact with and/or the committing of impure thoughts and actions - not all of which are "bad" but simply considered unclean. The pollution one acquires in a typical day are sufficiently purged by bathing and the washing of hands in khernips, which is required before approaching the gods and making offerings. However it was believed that some pollutions required an additional "waiting period" of x-number of days before attempting to make offerings.
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Miasma?
Jul 15, 2015 22:50:54 GMT -6
Post by Allec on Jul 15, 2015 22:50:54 GMT -6
Miasma can be thought of as dirtiness in the same way that, like, walking around barefoot makes your feet dirty, or furniture needs to be dusted regularly. Stuff accumulates. In the case of miasma, "stuff" is ... kinda like mortal-ness. Sex, being around death/dead bodies, excessive emotional disturbance, physical illness, general stress, anything that separates us from the gods. This can be because the Theoi are deathless and unaging and can't be in same space as expressions of mortality (childbirth, illness, death), or because our minds and spirits are clouded/distracted and can't focus on the gods. If we're sick, stressed, grimy, distracted, we can't give the gods our proper attention. So purification is a way of clearing our minds and helping ourselves enter the proper mindset to pay them the appropriate respect. How's that for a rundown? ^^ That's a great run down! The book basically gave examples of miasma, being things like death and sickness, but I appreciate the *why* behind what makes those things impure. Miasma is impurity, spiritual pollution. It is different from the Christian notion of sin as it is not a matter of morality and divine judgement rather it’s a temporary and an unavoidable human condition, brought on by daily life and contact with and/or the committing of impure thoughts and actions - not all of which are "bad" but simply considered unclean. The pollution one acquires in a typical day are sufficiently purged by bathing and the washing of hands in khernips, which is required before approaching the gods and making offerings. However it was believed that some pollutions required an additional "waiting period" of x-number of days before attempting to make offerings. Interesting! Thank you as well
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aneczyk
Newbie
Posts: 21
Pronouns: he/they
Religion: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ but mostly Hellenic revivalist
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Miasma?
Jan 25, 2017 12:39:25 GMT -6
Post by aneczyk on Jan 25, 2017 12:39:25 GMT -6
Sex, being around death/dead bodies, excessive emotional disturbance, physical illness, general stress, anything that separates us from the gods. Sex? I'm surprised that could separate us from the gods. If your patron is a virgin deity like Artemis or Hestia, maybe, but a lot of Aphrodite devotees have sex or masturbate as an act of religious devotion. I'm probably pretty biased on that, though, being an Aphrodite devotee myself.
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