While retellings of ancient Greek myths are extremely popular in the literary world at the moment, it might surprise readers to find out that there are people who follow the ancient Greek religion as their spiritual practice. George Lizos is a spiritual teacher, psychic healer, Greek pagan priest, creator of Intuition Mastery School, and podcast host. His work has been featured in ‘Goop,’ ‘PopSugar,’ and ‘MindBodyGreen.’ Lizos took part in the first official priesthood training in Hellenic Polytheism organized by the Supreme Council of Ethnic Hellenes (YSEE) in Athens, following the religion’s legal recognition by the Greek government in 2017. Since then, he has been a practicing priest of the religion at the world’s first modern temple of Zeus in Cyprus. Lizos has taught about the Greek gods and spirituality in his books, workshops, and online courses, and his research on Aphrodite has been published by ‘Soul & Spirit’ magazine and ‘The Numinous.’

Lizos’ ‘Secrets of Greek Mysticism’ is the first spiritual book about the Greek gods and goddesses written by a native, practicing priest of Hellenic Polytheism. Rather than presenting the gods and goddesses as symbolic, lifeless figures, ‘Secrets of Greek Mysticism’ teaches readers how to find each god or goddess within themselves.

Lizos spoke with The National Herald about his book and about his upcoming projects.

TNH: What inspired you to write this book at this particular time?

George Lizos: When I would mention that I’m a modern practicing priest of Hellenic Polytheism, I was often met with comments such as, “Oh, I love Greek mythology!” and questions like, “Aren’t the Greek gods just stories the ancients made up?” Meanwhile, the few English books available on the religion of ancient Greeks were authored by non-Greeks and predominantly focused on mythology rather than theology.

In response to these common assumptions, I wrote ‘Secrets of Greek Mysticism’ to share fundamental truths about the theology and spirituality of ancient Greek religion. Rather than centering on Greek myths, I drew from ethical philosophy to illuminate the essence and virtues embodied by the gods (for example, embodying bravery with Ares and practicing temperance with Artemis). Additionally, I provided readers with a practical manual for practicing Hellenic Polytheism should they choose to explore it.

TNH: What was the most surprising thing you learned in the process of writing the book?

GL: One of the most surprising discoveries during the writing process was that, even amidst our busy lives, we can still connect with the Greek gods without lengthy rituals. The ancient Greek religion is deeply rooted in nature, reflecting our ancestors’ reverence for the natural world. Our forebears looked to nature for wisdom and inspiration, personifying universal laws and functions into gods and goddesses. Simply spending time in nature and connecting with the elements strengthens our bond with the gods, ourselves, and the Universe, leading to greater joy and fulfillment in our lives.

TNH: What are you working on next?

GL: I’m excited to announce that I will be teaching a 5-day Energy Clearing Certification Course at the OMEGA Institute in Rhinebeck, NY, this September. Additionally, my next book, ‘Ancient Manifestation Secrets,’ is set to be published in November.

More information is available online: www.georgelizos.com and www.greekmysticism.com.