shewithbloodofdevotion

[shewithbloodofdevotion]

my wand is done!

antler - personal growth and connection to nature

moonstone - love and healing

clear quartz - focus and spiritual growth

purple - intuition and creativity

edited to add - the antler was found in my back yard 🤗

[shewithbloodofdevotion]

Sitting Dionysus from Neo-Attic Relief - marble statue, circa c. AD, from Roman period, Museum of Naples.

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Morana in the snow

[shewithbloodofdevotion]

my tapestry of bacchus. impulsive make, i found the pattern on a wonderful website and *had* to have it, so i started it immediately. it took me a month (time well spent) and i nearly didn't finish all my christmas gifts in time because of it. it's very dear to me

[shewithbloodofdevotion]

Small offerings to Hestia on a poor health day ❤️

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I’m not sure why my vánočka turned out brown, except maybe because I substituted allspice for nutmeg?

I used the video on cooklikeczechs.com this year to follow along doing the four strand braid and it was SO much easier to than using pictures in a cookbook. I also used her recipe.

Originally, vánočka was baked as a ceremonial bread that was supposed to protect the family from evil forces. It was also associated with the celebration of the winter solstice, when it represented a symbol of new life and fertility.

In the past, Czechs believed that braiding the vánočka protects people from rage and fury. Vánočka is braided so that the family will have peace and abundance in the new year.

Symbolism of Vánočka

Vánočka is not just ordinary sweet bread. Each of its elements has its own meaning:

Shape: sliced it is supposed resembles a baby Jesus in a swaddling clothes, which symbolizes new life.

Lower four strand braid: represents the basic elements – earth, sun, water and air.

Middle three strand braid: represents reason, will and emotion.

Top two strand braid: represents wisdom and love.

When we braid a vánočka we involve not only our hands, but also the intentions and wishes.

Vánočka traditions and superstitions:

It had to be baked with humility and calmness. If the baker was not calm during the preparation, the vánočka would burst.

Coins or other small objects were sometimes inserted into the dough when braiding. Whoever found it would be healthy and happy next year.

If it did not rise during baking – that would mean misfortune for the whole family.

Ingredients that were considered symbols of abundance were added to the dough: dried fruit, raisins, nuts and almonds. On the surface, the vánočka was decorated with sugar and almonds.

[shewithbloodofdevotion]

Pan was a rustic deity who inhabited the rugged countryside of Arcadia. He was a god of everything connected with pastoral life, including the meadows and forests of the mountain wilds. His presence would often cause panic in those who ventured into his realm.  

Pan was fond of music and famous for playing his pipes and chasing nymphs. He can often be seen in the company of Dionysus.

[shewithbloodofdevotion]

January 2025 Hellenistic Festivals and Holy Days

Here is a quick guide for the calendar:

Modern Julian Calendar Date

(Attic Lunar Calendar Date )

🏛 Holy Day 🏛

🥂 Festival 🥂

Resources are in the bottom of the calendar!

Wednesday January 1 (1 Gamelion)

🥂 Festival 🥂

Noumenia

The most important of the three recurring monthly festivals. This is the first day of the Attic month of Gamelion. Traditionally Zeus, Apollon Noumenios, Apollon Agyieus, Artemis, Hermes, Selene, personal matrons and patrons and other deities you and your family are close to are traditionally honored.

Thursday January 2 (2 Gamelion)

🥂 Festival 🥂

Agathos Daimon

In honor of the Agathos Daimones who look after you and your family. Ancestor veneration may also be done on this day.

Friday January 3 (3 Gamelion)

🏛 Holy Day 🏛

Sacred to Athena

Saturday January 4 (4 Gamelion)

🏛 Holy Day 🏛

Sacred to Aphrodite, Herakles, Hermes and Eros

Sunday January 5 (5 Gamelion)

Monday January 6 (6 Gamelion)

🏛 Holy Day 🏛

Sacred to Artemis

Tuesday January 7 (7 Gamelion)

🏛 Holy Day 🏛

Sacred to Apollo

Wednesday January 8 (8 Gamelion)

🏛 Holy Day 🏛

Sacred to Poseidon and Theseus

Thursday January 9 (9 Gamelion)

🏛 Holy Day 🏛

Sacred to Helios, the Muses, Rhea

Friday January 10 (10 Gamelion)

Saturday January 11 (11 Gamelion)

🥂 Festival 🥂

Libation to Hera

This is a Hellenion specific event and those who wish to join may.

"On the second Saturday of each month members of Hellenion pour a libation to one of the Olympians on the same day, from wherever they may be, with whomever may join them, around the world. In this way, whatever else we do to celebrate Hellenic occasions, we are united in doing the same action on the same day. In January, we honor Hera"

Sunday January 12 (12 Gamelion)

🥂 Festival 🥂

Lenia

Lenia is a four day festival honoring Dionysus and the maenads. Eat, drink, be merry! Have a girls night out. Recite Orphic Hymns 30 and 45, or Homeric Hymns 1, 7, and 26. Put on a dramatic play or do a dramatic reading of something.

Monday January 13 (13 Gamelion)

🥂 Festival 🥂

Lenia

Lenia is a four day festival honoring Dionysus and the maenads. Eat, drink, be merry! Have a girls night out. Recite Orphic Hymns 30 and 45, or Homeric Hymns 1, 7, and 26. Put on a dramatic play or do a dramatic reading of something.

Tuesday January 14 (14 Gamelion)

🥂 Festival 🥂

Lenia

Lenia is a four day festival honoring Dionysus and the maenads. Eat, drink, be merry! Have a girls night out. Recite Orphic Hymns 30 and 45, or Homeric Hymns 1, 7, and 26. Put on a dramatic play or do a dramatic reading of something.

Wednesday January 15 (15 Gamelion)

🥂 Festival 🥂

Lenia

Lenia is a four day festival honoring Dionysus and the maenads. Eat, drink, be merry! Have a girls night out. Recite Orphic Hymns 30 and 45, or Homeric Hymns 1, 7, and 26. Put on a dramatic play or do a dramatic reading of something.

Thursday January 16 (16 Gamelion)

Friday January 17 (17 Gamelion)

Saturday January 18 (18 Gamelion)

Sunday January 19 (19 Gamelion)

Monday January 20 (20 Gamelion)

Tuesday January 21 (21 Gamelion)

Wednesday January 22 (22 Gamelion)

Thursday January 23 (23 Gamelion)

Friday January 24 (24 Gamelion)

Saturday January 25 (25 Gamelion)

Sunday January 26 (26 Gamelion)

Monday January 27 (27 Gamelion)

🥂 Festival 🥂

Theogamia

This is the anniversary of the marriage of Zeus and Hera. Give honor to current relationships, plan a marriage, or look back on a wedding! This is a day to honor your partner and perhaps your parents' marriage. This a good day to recite Orphic Hymn 15 to Zeus and 16 to Hera or Homeric Hymn 12 to Hera.

Tuesday January 28 (28 Gamelion)

Wednesday January 29 (29 Gamelion)

Thursday January 30 (30 Gamelion)

🥂 Festival 🥂

Hekate's Deipnon

This festival happens at the darkest part of the month. At this time, prepare your home for a new month. Purify the self, the home, and get affairs in order. This is also a good time to donate food or money or volunteer. Think about what you don't want to bring into the next month (bad energy, bad food in your fridge, a dirty home)... and fix it!

Friday January 31 (1 Anthesterion)

🥂 Festival 🥂

Noumenia

The most important of the three recurring monthly festivals. This is the first day of the Attic month of Gamelion. Traditionally Zeus, Apollon Noumenios, Apollon Agyieus, Artemis, Hermes, Selene, personal matrons and patrons and other deities you and your family are close to are traditionally honored.

Resources:

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Our Altar ☀️ 🌹

decided to share my partner and I’s altar to Apollo and Aphrodite, our Patron Gods.

[shewithbloodofdevotion]

Oh, my sweetest queen Hera!

How much I adore you…

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Updated altar space for Queen Hera 🦚💗

-

Through finding things to place on her altar I found that my latest ring had fixed itself (the stone had come out) I'll take that as a sign she is pleased 🙌

[shewithbloodofdevotion]

Offering to Lord Haides last night

[shewithbloodofdevotion]

"Hear me, Hermes, messenger of Zeus, and son of Maia; You are victorious and preside over the games of men. Gracious minister, and cunning argicide, with your perfect wings, you prophesy of the gods to us. Who loves exercises, tricks and antics, interpreter of everything, source of profits and problems. You, who in your hands hold the weapon of peace and luck without traffic, fortunate Corício and provider of speech. Who helps mortals who venerate him in need, profound weapon of the tongue and guides our paths. Hear my prayer and grant a noble and good end to life in choice words, and memorable works.

Give me all grace/favor, all achievement/success, for the bringer of good, messenger standing next to Fortune (Tyche), is with you. Consequently, give profit/abundance and success to this house. Please, Eternal (Aion), ruler of hope, giver of wealth, oh sacred Good Spirit (Agathos Daimon), bring these favors and your divine oracles to fruition."

[shewithbloodofdevotion]

adventure of the day: making my greek alphabet oracle! It's only 24 letters, but I put 5 more in case some go bad. I also make a little heart with mine and my girlfriend's initials and a plate! It's my first time with modeling clay, but I hope it turns out well!

[shewithbloodofdevotion]

In ancient Greece:

Boys and men worshipped Artemis, she had priests as well as priestesses.

Maidens, married women, and mothers worshipped Artemis. Her cults were not for girls and virgins only.

Artemis was a goddess of transitions, of the constant moving states of being, of the process of going through the stages of life; she helped her worshippers be born, grow up, get married, become parents, grow old. In this manner, she presided over virginity as well as the inevitable loss of it as one left childhood behind and entered adulthood.

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Athene, protector of the polis. Done after the style of @tylermileslockett for his dtiys competition.

The deadline to get your submission in is February 29. You can read more about his competition here and check out his original Athene post here.

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for lady hestia