1) I know of no reason to think agalmata were limited in form. Mine are deliberately simple, pieces of tree with the images of Druid deities carved on them in a style that would have fit in very well in northwestern Europe in 1000 BC, and so far have worked very well. In the classic Neoplatonist style, I burn incense before them and offer wheaten cakes and pure water, and recite prayers. The results are good.
2) An agalma is what you use when you don't have relics. The classic Catholic practice that requires at least two relics in an altar on which Mass is performed comes straight out of old Pagan practice, specifically the worship of heroes. (Heroes, remember, are the Greek Pagan equivalent of saints, human beings who on account of their great deeds and personal power were raised by the gods above the human level and, after their deaths, continue to benefit the rest of us.) If you have a relic of Jung you can set up a heroon (pronounced "hero-on") or hero shrine in the classic style, and invoke Jung's spirit with incense and libations.
3) Glad to hear it. I'm working on a book on the practical application of Neoplatonist teachings to modern polytheism, and agalmata will feature in it.
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branchandroot
Re: End of Year Lookback and Anything Learned/Excited about for Past/New Year?
Date: 2025-01-07 02:07 am (UTC)2) An agalma is what you use when you don't have relics. The classic Catholic practice that requires at least two relics in an altar on which Mass is performed comes straight out of old Pagan practice, specifically the worship of heroes. (Heroes, remember, are the Greek Pagan equivalent of saints, human beings who on account of their great deeds and personal power were raised by the gods above the human level and, after their deaths, continue to benefit the rest of us.) If you have a relic of Jung you can set up a heroon (pronounced "hero-on") or hero shrine in the classic style, and invoke Jung's spirit with incense and libations.
3) Glad to hear it. I'm working on a book on the practical application of Neoplatonist teachings to modern polytheism, and agalmata will feature in it.