#Aphrodite's devotee

[aphroditeehearmyprayer]

E-Offering to Aphrodite Pandemos

My dear Goddess, I saw this and reminded me of on of your many lovers, in my mind I saw Anchises, but stopping to think it could also be Adonis. Since they also used to be with each other on nature as I've read in one of the many stories from her myth with him. :)

I hope you liked.

[lhyrr]

— Aphrodite is iridescence, like the shimmer of pearls and seashells, like glittering jewels in the sea

[rose-by-the-sea]

Aphrodite loves sex workers and victims of sexual assault and intersex people and people who are insecure about their body/self harm and nonwhite people and queer people and fat people btw. pass it on

[spirits-child]

You can find Aphrodite when you gush over romcoms. You can find Zeus when the rain pours and soaks your hair. You can find Hera when you're loyal to your friends and partners. You can find Ares when you argue with your parents over the causes you believe in. You can find Apollo when the sun caresses your cheek.

The gods are everywhere—you just need to know where to look.

[echoofdesire]

i saw one for lord ares and lord apollon and i had to make one for lady aphrodite

(edit: i forgot to put her name, sorry)

[adharaantheia]

The Gods love you.

Even when you spend days without lighting up their candles.

Even if you don't have an Altar.

Even if you don't feel their presence yet.

Even if you're not good at tarot.

Or doesn't have prophetic dreams.

They still love you. And you know why?

Because you're you. And that's enough for them, your presence, your devotion, your well-being, is what truly matters for them.

So don't you feel pressured or sad, lovebug 💜💜

[starsanddawnbreak]

Guys theres no requirements in helpol.

Dionysus worshiper but never want to touch drugs/alcohol? Thats okay

Artemis worshipper but feel more male than female? Thats okay

Ares worshipper but you arent physically strong/timid in nature? Thats okay

Persephone worshipper but you dont have energy to go outside? Thats okay

Athena worshipper but you struggle with studies? Thats okay

Hermes worshipper but you dont want to gamble? Thats fine.

Aphrodite worshipper but you dislike sex/romance? Thats fine

You dont always have to follow their domains you just have to love them.

[assistedbytherats]

Zeus and Hera devotees who feel intimidated by them

Poseidon devotees who live far from the sea

Demeter devotees who live in the city

Hades and Persephone devotees who fear death

Dionysus devotees who are perplexed by madness

Aphrodite devotees who struggle to love themselves

Apollo devotees who struggle with inspiration

Artemis devotees who are saddened by animal death

Ares devotees who are too tired to keep fighting

Athena devotees who are easily manipulated

Hestia devotees with unstable home lives

Hermes devotees who get anxious over new things

Every one of you is so valid and so loved by your gods. They love you, and they want you to know it.

[amor-areia]

I just love them so much!

[bitterbatsgrimoire]

Aphrodite; Prayer to protect your heart

Blessed Aphrodite,

Goddess of Love, born of seafoam and starlight,

I come to you with an open heart,

Wounded by longing, yet still beating with hope.

Let not false love find purchase in my spirit,

Nor cold hands hold what is meant to burn with warmth.

Teach me to love without losing myself,

To give with wisdom, to receive without fear.

Guard my heart from those who would break it in carelessness,

And guide me to those who cherish with truth and tenderness.

In moments of loneliness, be my comfort.

In the storm of emotion, be my calm.

Aphrodite, divine protector of the heart,

Hear my prayer and hold me close.

May your beauty surround me, and your strength dwell within me.

[aphroditeehearmyprayer]

Beautiful Goddess Aphrodite, golden laughing, loving generous Goddess. Mother of all beauty, Representation of all love, Goddess of Peace, Lover of Gods and men. I give to you Offerings I pray whispering your name I am grateful for your presence. You're in my mind of hard and beautiful days alike. Maybe not everyday. But the times I remember and by chest blossom with love for you and things alike. You're in the wings of butterflies and smiles of my friends. In hugs. Sex. And Nature of beauty.

I love you, my goddess may my pray reach for thee.

[stardust-swan]

Everyday Ways I Honour Aphrodite

(NSFW warning)

🌹Roses, roses, roses. Rose soap, rose lip balm, rose hand cream, rose lotion, rose perfume, rose oil on my pillow before falling asleep, rose candles, rose incense, roses in my garden, rosewater toner, rose face mist, rose shower gel, dried roses in the bath... Just roses everywhere you can fit them.

🌹Reading romantic books and poetry, watching romance films

🌹 Reading books and poetry about Aphrodite

🌹Making myself feel beautiful with pretty jewellery and makeup. Even just a swipe of tinted lip balm boosts my confidence (I use French Girl Rose Noir). I try to wear at least a little bit of makeup or jewellery daily, even if it's just a pair of studs or a subtle lipstick

🌹 Even if I'm just staying at home all day I'll spray perfume and put on jewellery and do lipstick just to feel sensual while I'm lounging around playing Animal Crossing (currently wearing a comfy embroidered nightie, small gold hoops, a pretty bracelet and a little bit of YSL Orange Perfecto lipstick as I write this)

🌹 Embracing my sensuality. Swaying my hips, feeling the softness of my body, dancing freely, engaging in self-pleasure, taking nudes, trying to unlearn the shame associated with sexuality from my upbringing. I don't watch porn often as I find most of it unhealthy and misogynistic (I only like this one random Japanese couple's channel and some vintage and Korean softcore), but I enjoy toys (my favourite is the rose), erotic literature, erotic film, audio porn (usually in other languages because I find a lot of dirty talk just makes me cringe but I still get enjoyment out of hearing little moans and silky low voices so I get that and avoid secondhand embarrassment from bad dirty talk by listening to it in languages I don't understand), and erotic fine art.

🌹 I try to get really comfortable when I'm engaged in self love. Lipstick and perfume on, hair styled, lingerie or nightie that makes me feel sexy, a candle lit or rose, ylang ylang and jasmine oil in my diffuser, soft music playing. Then I'll position myself comfortably, and stroke my thighs, tease my nipples, squeeze my breasts, lick my juices off my fingers and use it like a lipstick, painting my lips and nipples or using it to lightly lubricate my clitoris. Running my hands all over my belly, thighs and breasts, experimenting with different types of pressure and stimulation. Just luxuriating in the sensual feelings I can bring to my beautiful female body.

🌹 Wearing jewellery with seashells, pearls, emerald, ruby, bronze, copper, gold, jade, garnet and iridescent beads

🌹 Enjoying apples, honey, figs, pomegranates, strawberries, raspberries, olives, lettuce, rosewater and chocolate. I like buying Guylian chocolates as they're seashell shaped, but any chocolate will do (my favourite chocolate bar to buy is white chocolate with strawberries). I also like foods that you can taste the rosewater in like rose macarons and Turkish delight.

🌹 Making foods with ingredients she likes, like honey cakes, Persian rose love spell cookies, rosewater nougat, Persian love cake, baklava, cornes de gazelle, mhencha, etc... I mostly stick to Mediterranean, North African, Arab and Persian recipes, as they commonly use ingredients like rosewater, honey, pomegranates, and figs.

🌹 Carrying rose quartz in my pocket and keeping rose quartz under my pillow

🌹 I use a rose quartz roller to massage oil into my face

🌹 I keep a mini Venus de Milo statue and a swan trinket box on my bedside table

🌹 Drinking a drink made up of honey, cinnamon, milk and hot water at night to relax

🌹 Wearing pretty lingerie under my clothes, even if it's a basic outfit

🌹 I often fall asleep to the sound of ocean waves

🌹 Gold highlighter swept on my cheeks and body shimmer on my collarbones, reflecting light like sun rays on the ocean

🌹 Doing little offerings, like spritzing her statue with perfume, or offering up a portion of food I'm eating that I think she'd like

🌹 Lighting incense in scents like myrrh, frankincense, rose, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger and jasmine

🌹 Drawing myself relaxing baths with fragrant oils and salts

🌹 Reading hymns, Sappho's poetry, and listening to Athanati Afroditi

🌹 Listening to music that's romantic or sensual (this is my playlist)

🌹 Carrying a hand mirror and admiring myself as I check my makeup

🌹 Adding honey to tea

🌹 Writing letters and poetry about love and beauty

🌹Admiring women I find beautiful without jealousy or resentment, just appreciation

🌹Using these emojis: 🌹🦢🌊🪞🍎❤️💘💗💕💋🕊️🫒💄

🌹 Wearing pink, red, aqua, and seafoam green

🌹 Being consistent in self care. No matter how low my spoons are, unless I'm so dog-tired I end up falling asleep on the couch at 8pm, I force myself to do my evening skincare routine - cleansing, toning, eye cream, moisturiser, oil. And I always feel better for it even if I was exhausted before. Much smaller but I'm also consistent in oiling the ends of my hair daily and spraying perfume before bed. And I keep up with getting my hair done and brows waxed every three months without fail.

🌹 Doing exercises that make me feel sensual. I'm really lazy tbh but I push myself because I know Aphrodite would want me to take care of my body. I pick exercises that make me feel good and desirable, like yoga flow, belly dance, and exercises that target my womanly attributes.

🌹 Giving compliments!

🌹 Doing a big self care day every Friday (the day associated with her). Hot oil hair treatment, foot soak and exfoliation, removing old nail polish and buffing and filing nails, face mask, teeth whitening....

🌹 Going to the pond in winter and admiring the swans

🌹 Going to an art gallery in my city just to look at the painting Venus and Cupid (Day) by Fragonard

🌹 Sleeping on silk sheets as they feel sensual (they're also good for your hair and skin)

🌹 Making my own diffusers and cosmetics from natural, aphrodisiac products. Homemade bath salt with rose petals and pink salt, homemade lip mask with olive oil and rose oil, and adding oil of rose, jasmine, sandalwood, and cinnamon to a diffuser as I find these scents stimulating and sensual.

🌹 And of course, thanking Lady Aphrodite every day.

[rose-by-the-sea]

Aphrodite isn't just love and sex and frilly pink bows,

She's passion, the raging fire that burns between the hearts of two friends or lovers when one is under duress,

She's the unbreakable bond of family (found or bio), everlasting, infinite, no matter how close or far they are,

She's the pain of a broken heart, manifest in anger and vindication, the one standing behind you as you confront an abusive partner/friend/family member,

She's salvation for everyone who has ever been or is being hurt,

She is self love for everyone with self esteem issues, looking you in the eye as you stare into the mirror and saying 'You are wonderful just as you are',

She's the comfort when you're in your darkest times, Her hands cradling you as you cry into Her shoulder,

She's the swelling of your heart when you experience new love or when you pick up a child,

She is justice for every queer person of the world just trying to exist peacefully-- transgender/sexual, intersex, aromantic, asexual, non-straight,

And She is the feeling of your smile slowly fading when you didn't realize you were smiling at all.

[elxjae]

aphrodite is there when you look at your reflection in the water.

apollo is there when you let yourself sleep in and the sun gently wakes you up.

hekate is there when you choose your belief in your craft over others ignorance and shaming.

[thealteredaltar]

Queerness in the Hellenic Pantheon

One of the many beautiful things about the Hellenic pantheon is how queer it is. In a world where Abrahamic religions have shamed, ostracized or denigrated queer people, Hellenism has a celebration and normalization of queerness integrated into it.

💜 Aphrodite’s biggest fan in Ancient Greece was arguably Sappho, a poet who dedicated an entire iconic piece to the goddess of love, “Ode to Aphrodite”. In the poem, Sappho prays to Aphrodite for help in regards to gaining the attention and affection of the woman she loves. Unlike the male writers of the time who often slandered her, Sappho depicted the goddess as the truly lovely, benevolent being she is.

Sappho was a lesbian. This is where we get the term “sapphic” from. Not only that but she was from the island of Lesbos. So, yes, this is where lesbian originated. (The name of the island is the same as the derogatory term used to refer to wlw back in the day)

💜 Almost none of the male Olympian deities are straight. Apollo, Dionysus, Zeus and Hermes are notorious for their bisexuality/pansexuality, with many male lovers, both human and divine. Even Ares and Poseidon dabbled a bit in same-sex love, though to a much lesser degree.

💜 Artemis, Athena, and Hestia, the three “virgin goddesses”, are seen as asexual and aromantic. In ancient contexts, “virgin” can simply mean “unmarried woman” or “independent of a man”. But, they actually had no interest in romantic or sexual matters. Artemis and Athena are occasionally labeled lesbian, with female lovers cited, but this is often debated. In any case, they had no interest in male companionship.

💜 Aphrodite had a male version of her named Aphroditus that was worshipped in ancient times. The deity had a combination of male and female attributes, described as voluptuous while also having a phallus and, by some accounts, a beard.

Aphroditus is often seen as an earlier version of Hermaphroditus, the intersex deity that was the offspring of both Aphrodite and Hermes.

💜 Dionysus is famously androgynous. He was often described as being “raised as a girl”, due to the nymphs dressing him in female clothing to disguise him from Hera. He was also called “man-womanish” and effeminate.

The best way to describe him would be gender-fluid. He is generally male and can have clear masculine traits. But, he strongly adopts feminine characteristics, to the point where it is a major part of his mythology, and often seems to exist in some gray area in between male and female.

💜 Both Apollo and Dionysus have famous tragic myths about the loss of their male lovers, who both die in freak accidents. Apollo’s human partner Hyancinthus was turned into the hyacinth flower upon his death while Dionysus’ lover, the satyr Ampelus, was transformed into a vine and led to the god’s creation of wine.

💜 The Erotes are a group of male divinities in Aphrodite’s retinue and often said to be her sons. They are the protectors of same-sex love. The central figure of the group is Eros and all the other gods are said to be his brothers and/or different manifestations of him.

The Erotes rule various aspects of love and sex. Eros is love and desire as a whole while Anteros, his twin, embodies requited and reciprocal love. Himeros is the god of satiated desire yet unrequited love while Pothos is a god who embodies emotional and sexual yearning.

One can see how these minor gods can guide queer people struggling with love. When Timagoras confessed his love for Meles, the man mockingly told him to prove it by jumping off a cliff. Out of despair, Timagoras did just that, killing himself. Tortured by guilt, Meles did the same. An altar was built to Anteros in Athens in honor of this, linking the god to a myth of how rejecting love out of fear or pride only hurts you; a tale familiar to repressed queer people. Anteros is said to punish those who push real love away (in truth, he more so guides than punishes).

💜 In modern times, devotees of Dionysus regard him as a patron god of queer people. Many of those who follow him are gay, bisexual, gender-fluid or trans. He provides a sense of safety, comfort, protection and freedom to his queer devotees or even just any queer person who prays to him or asks for help.

Aphrodite is also said to be a protector of queer people. As the goddess of love, she is the embodiment of “love is love”. She has also been said to be a wonderful support to trans women, as she champions feminine expression in all forms and all people.

Happy Pride to all of us in the LGBTQ+ community. The gods love you!