So many of us come to our pagan spiritual practice via the Greek deities, yet so (relatively) few practice reconstructive Hellenism. Perhaps because we were waiting for Reece to come along and give us The Waters of Mnemosyne: Ancient Greek Religion for Modern Pagans.
Practiced unofficially since it's banishment by Constantine around 400 c.e., Hellenismos was legalized once again in 2017. Mnemosyne is the goddess of memory, but that feels too tiny for someone called upon in the first few lines of epic (oral) poems to aid the speaker in accurately remembering and performing the poem they were about to recite. The Greeks recognized memory as one of the essential building blocks of civilization. Her pool was in the Underworld, and initiates were encouraged to drink from it to stop reincarnation.
Reece explores the nature of ancient Hellenic polytheism, providing the reader with a solid understanding of the ethics and practices of ancient Greek worship. This includes detailed accounts of spaces where worship took place, both outdoors and inside the home, in grand temples and humble alcoves. From looking at places of worship, it is natural to examine another important facet of ancient Greece: divination. Much of ordinary life centered around talking to the gods, not just in famous sites like Delphi, but interpreting omens and casting lots.
Given how much of the modern world has its foundations in philosophical principles of ancient Greece, and how pervasive their mythology, Reece almost had to discuss them. She does, and excellently. For modern readers, the gems are in recommendations for using myths to create rituals and practices that allow them to create frameworks for personal transformation and spiritual growth.
The Waters of Mnemosyne is an important work, all praise to Reece for creating such a beautiful and relevant book for anyone interested in Hellenic tradition.
~ review by Lisa McSherry
Author: Gwendolyn Reece
Llewellyn Publications, 2024
320 pg., $22.99
