So June is Pagan values blogging month, and I'm a little bit late writing this, seeing as it's the Fourth of July (Happy independence, country!)but I'm going to write it anyway.

I have many values and ethics I follow as a Pagan. Some of these I have had before becoming a Pagan, some I have already had and they were strengthened, and some are completely new values I have. I'll briefly talk a little bit about them all.

In order for you to understand what I'm talking about and where I'm coming from, you need to know some specifics about my religion. I am what they call a Hellenic Polytheist. Alot of people just use the term 'Hellenist' or 'Hellene' (I use Hellenic Pagan around people who don't really know what any of them mean). A Hellenist is a follower of the Greek religion and spiritual path.

Yes, that means I am a follower of the Greek gods.
The Twelve Olympians (Zeus, Ares, Apollo, Hermes, Poseidon, Hephaestus, Hera, Athena, Artemis, Demeter, Aphrodite, Hestia) along with Dionysus, Gaea, Persephone, and Chione to be exact. I know it's a lot, but each of them mean a whole lot to me and are special in their own ways.

Back to the values...

The basic values that drive my life are:

1.Piety. This is having reverence and respect for your God/Deity and their rules and guidelines for worship/praying/ect. When praying nightly, half of the prayers are in a structural traditional form, and the other half is straight from the heart. By following the ethics of piety as a Pagan, I also give thanks before meals, and symbolically sacrifice a portion of food by giving it to the creatures and insects outside. I also make libations when necessary, and I ritually clean my hands and face before praying.

2.Truth. Being honest is very very important to me. If you are not living an honest life, or are not being honest with yourself, you are not living the right way. I try to be honest as much as possible in every situation (unless it is unnecessary and would hurt a person's feelings.)

3.Courage. To me, this means having the courage to chase your dreams, no matter what anyone else says or thinks. To have the courage to stand up for yourself, as well as to not be ashamed of your strength. To me, it also means trusting in the fates, that whatever path I may wander down, it is not by accident.

4.Life. All lifeforms are sacred and deserve to live. I am against everything from capital punishment, to killing a roach in your house. When there is a bug in the house, I get it in a cup and go put it outside, instead of squashing it. I strive to see the harmony and beauty in all things.

I also have other ethics I practice daily, such as always having a desire to grow in my talents, relationships, physical as well as mental and spiritual body, and my understanding of nature and her ways. When I'm outside, I try to pick up trash I find on the ground. I try to save power whenever possible in the house. I drink a lot of water every day so I can live longer. These are small things, but they put you in the mindset that will help you be a happier person.