Practical tips for Hellenic Khthonic Ritual

bayoread:

Khthonic deities are of the earth or ‘under’ it so offerings were made outside on low altars (escharai) or into specially dug pits.
For libations wine was replaced with water, milk, honey or blood.
Animals sacrificed were black in contrast to white, which were reserved for Ouranic (sky) deities.
Rituals were traditionally performed at night.
Seeing as animal sacrifice is frowned upon nowadays and not feasible for most practitioners, votive offerings can be offered instead, i.e. black animal figurines, predominantly sheep and rams.
Other offerings may include coins as traditionally an obol or oboloi (plural) was used as currency in Hades.
Epithets were used more than plain names.  Persephone  - Kore (Maiden,) Carpophorus (Bringer of Fruit), Despoina (Mistress), Praxidice (Exacter of Justice). Hades  -  Aidoneos (The Hidden), Necron Soter (Saviour of the Dead), Eubouleus (Good Counselor), Necrodegmon (Receiver of the Dead), Plouton (Wealth), Polydektes (Receiver of Many Guests), Theon Khthonios (God of the Underworld).
Any food offerings were wholly burned or buried (holocaust), none of it was shared with the ritual attendees as with Ouranic offerings.
Gods associated with or make the Underworld their home includes Hades, Kore, Hekate, Hermes Khthonios, Kerberus, Erinyes (Furies), Kronos, Thanatos, Charon, Hypnos, The Moirae and Nyx, among a myriad of others.
Heroes and ancestors were also worshipped in this manner, thought to exert great power from their tombs and the Underworld. F’ex, Asklepios and Herakles.
Caves or deep chasms were also thought to be gateways to the Underworld though mortals were discouraged from venturing there before their time.

Disclaimer - This is solely from personal research and in no way indicative of how everyone should approach Khthonic ritual. Feel free to omit or adjust anything you see fit.