⚔️ A GUIDE TO ARES WORSHIP ⚔️

⚔️ A GUIDE TO ARES WORSHIP ⚔️

So you decided you wanna worship Ares. Great! It's kind of hard to find information on him right away, so I'm here to help you out with this masterpost. It may be big, but covers up just about everything you need to know for a start.

WHO IS ARES?

In hellenic polytheism, Ares is the god of war, bloodshed, courage, battlelust, civil order and rebellion. He is the patron of soldiers and personification of strength.

Ares has been shown in media and in most greek myths as a hotheaded, stupid, sadistic jock who only cares about harming others and causing chaos, but obviously, he is a lot more than that.

Ares is angry, I wouldn't dare saying anything different, but he isn't out of control or mad. Ares is one for minorities and for women, he is a passionate god that inspires us to be brave and keep fighting whenever we feel like we can't anymore.

Most of mythology does not offer an accurate depiction of Ares' character, but that's not the case with the myth of Alcippe.

To sum it up, Alcippe was one of Ares' daughters. She was being raped (in some versions, was about to be raped or generally being sexually assaulted) by Halirrhotius, a son of Poseidon. She cried out for her father, who showed up and killed her rapist. Poseidon wasn't happy with the murder of his son, so the first trial took place. Ares was considered innocent and the hill where his trial took place was named Areopagus after him.

Another time his mythology did not fail him was the myth of the amazons, warrior women who were daughters of Ares. They fought side by side on many occasions and from what I noticed, he's giddy at any mention of them.

I'd describe Ares as an amazing father, a seeker for justice and someone who will be there for you when you need it most – wether it be as the hand on your back, supporting you and urging you on or as the final push of strength you didn't know you had in you.

SACRED DAYS & FESTIVALS

As Ares is connected to Mars, his sacred weekday is Tuesday. Tuesdays are associated with action, physical activity, sexuality, the color red, passion, strength, vitality, raising motivation and anger. Perfect match, right?

Ares had few temples, but was always honoured with special rites in times of war or before battle. Unfortunately, I haven't found many resources for festivals honouring him other than one celebrated only by women and one celebrated only by men.

The one celebrated only by men occured in Geronthrai, in Lakonia. Ares' cult in this village happened yearly, when he was asked to bless those who would serve as soldiers and asked for their victory.

The second festival honored Ares Gynaikothoinas, Ares Feasted by Women. It originated in the Lakonian war, after the women of Tegea set up an ambush for the Lakedaemonians. They won the fight and celebrated by giving victory sacrifices to Ares on their own account, without the men.

I think it's important to say that while the festivals were separated by the gender binary, that doesn't mean that Ares only accepts male or female followers. Being non-binary myself, I know that's not the case, but it's not like centuries of cisgender and heteronormative historians didn't do harm... Anyways! What I mean is: Ares loves every single one of his followers, whether they're cis or not.

TAROT CARDS

The tarot cards associated with Ares are The Chariot and The Emperor.

The Emperor upright means masculinity, stability, fearless, passion, fatherhood, authority, discipline and regulation.

The Chariot upright means advancement, mastery, assertion, willpower and control.

SACRED ANIMALS

serpents

the boar

vultures

dragons

dogs

barn owls

woodpeckers

eagle-owls

SACRED PLANTS

Ares doesn't actually have any sacred plants. In mythology or historical practices, there's nothing about it. Here's some of my UPG:

basil

buttercup

yarrow

ginger

anything with tiny yellow flowers

spicy stuff: peppers, paprika...

ARES' EPITHETS

Thêritas | Beastly

Aphneios | Abundant

Gynaikothoinas | Feasted by Women

Laossos | He Who Rallies Men

Khalkeos | Brazen

Teikhesiplêtês | Stormer of Cities

Aatos polemoio | Insatiate of Fighting

Rhinotoros | Flesh-Piercing

Deinos | Terrible

Enyalios | Warlike

Khrysopêlêx | Of the Golden Helm

Ares has many other epithets. Most of them are about his violence and bloodshed, so I picked my favorites or the ones that focused on other aspects of him.

ARES' SYMBOLS

a peaked warrior's helm

spear

shield

a dog

chariot

flaming torch

vulture

symbol of mars (masculine)

OFFERINGS & DEVOTIONALS

anything you made. seriously. as long as you worked hard and gave it your all, he'll love it.

hot sauce

pork ribs

a whole barbecue, if you'd like. even if it's vegetarian

pretty much any meat

peppers

a lighter

blades (of any kind)

anything that's sharp and potentially deadly

a homemade meal

alcohol in general, but especially whiskey, tequila and beer

exercising. it doesn't matter what it is, as long as you're exhausted, sweaty and gross by the end of it

energy drinks

things made out of iron or steel

beef jerky

bacon

cigarettes

broken glass

storm water

read him books on strategy or war history

take a self defense class

go to a protest

meditate focusing on your heartbeat

participate in political discussions

practice radical sports

dark chocolate (75-80% cocoa)

cookies (homemade are best)

matches

basil

strong scented stuff

study war history

learn first aid

healthy, unharmful things that give you adrenaline rushes (amusement park rides, bungee jumping, etc)

educate yourself on ptsd

spicy foods

follow through with your tasks

watch action movies with him

pet a dog

learn about his children

volunteer work

WHY WORSHIP A GOD OF WAR?

For me, life is war.

I don't say it to sound cool or edgy or whatever may be going through your head right now. In my country, trans people have a life expectancy of 35 years.

I didn't choose for it to be like this. I didn't sign up for a war. This is just my life. I just wanted to live it. I don't want to be fighting a battle every single day I go outside, but I am.

Can you imagine that? Your life being an incessant game of tug of war? Fearing everyone that looks at you funny on the street because oh well, this might be curtains for me?

All I know is war. It may not be the ones that get written down on history books and people make movies about, but it's war. It's terrible, but it's all I know. I can't imagine how my life would be without it. Sometimes, I wonder if there's anything to me but it.

Ares understands. He makes it better. I'm not sure he knows anything but war either, but he doesn't act like that's bad. War is all consuming, and Ares knows that better than anyone. Having him with me, every step of the way, makes it easier.

I was raised with a perfect God. A God that only cared about the beautiful, the perfect, the holy. The rest was shameful and should be cast aside, hidden.

I spent a long time ashamed of myself for it. Ares frees me from this.

He wants to know the ugly, the bad thoughts, the things that hurt and make you ashamed. Ares doesn't mind getting dirty. He'll hold you, bloodied and all, even if your tears wet his clothes.

Ares knows how bad humans can get. He's seen us at our worst, so he won't shy away when you're at the bottom.

He understands that we're flawed. I don't think he minds.

He isn't looking for perfect little angels, free of sin and guilt. You can come to him with with your evil, tell him all that's bad about you, all your past mistakes, all that makes you disgusting and ashamed, and Ares won't even bat an eye. He's seen worse. He might say it's okay, if you're scared. He won't be.

Ares will know all of your flaws and shrug. He will help you with them, loves seeing his followers grow, but won't think less of you for them. If you let him stick around long enough to learn all of your qualities too, Ares will love your bad and good all the same.