#hellenic polytheism

[laurusamystic]

There’s a good reason for this! This makes perfect sense! Apollon represents the light of the Sun, while Helios is the Sun itself - the literal embodiment of it.

idk how to explain this but the left image feels like apollo and the right image helios

[dionysianivy]

𝐈𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐜

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What is Imbolc?

Imbolc is a festival that marks the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox, occurring around February 1-2. Known as Brigid’s Day or Candlemas, it celebrates the first stirrings of spring and the return of light. The name Imbolc translates to “in the belly,” symbolizing new life, growth, and the creative potential that is awakening within the earth. It is a time of purification and renewal, where the energy of the earth begins to rise, bringing warmth and vitality to the whole world.

Imbolc is often dedicated to Brigid, the goddess of fire, healing, poetry, and craftsmanship. Brigid is associated with both the hearth and the forge, embodying the transformative powers of fire and light. As the days grow longer and the sun strengthens, we honor her influence in bringing fertility and growth to the land. The first signs of spring, such as the lactation of ewes and the appearance of snowdrops, are seen as blessings from Brigid, signaling that life is returning.

Imbolc is also a festival of light, a time to celebrate the increasing daylight through the lighting of candles, bonfires, and lanterns. As the earth begins to thaw and the seeds of spring stir beneath the soil, Imbolc offers a space for spiritual growth and creative awakening. It is a perfect time to clear away the stagnant energies of winter, refresh the soul, and prepare for the vibrant months to come. The act of lighting candles not only honors the growing light but also serves as a reminder of the inner light within us all, waiting to shine brightly in the coming seasons.

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Goddess Brigid

Brigid, one of the most revered deities in the Celtic pantheon, is also known as Lady of the Sacred Flame. She is the goddess of healing, fire, smithcraft, creativity, animals, hearth and poetry, Imbolc is her Sabbat, a time dedicated to honoring her influence on creativity and new beginnings. Her symbols are fire, poetry, lambs and fertility. Brigid is often depicted with a flame emerging from her head or a serpent coiled around her, representing the powerful energy she brings. She is also a goddess of protection, childbirth, women, blacksmithing and life.

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The Return of Light and the First Signs of Spring

Imbolc marks the shift from winter to the first signs of spring. Days start to get longer, and you can feel the earth beginning to wake up, even though winter isn’t completely gone. It’s the time when the sun starts to grow stronger, and we begin to see early signs of new life. During Imbolc, many light candles or bonfires in Brigid's honor, celebrating the return of light and the growing strength of the sun as the days grow longer.

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Brigid's Cross

A traditional symbol of Imbolc, Brigid’s Cross is woven from reeds or straw and represents both protection and blessings. It’s believed to offer protection from fire and lightning, making it an essential symbol of Brigid’s influence. In Ireland, it was common to hang Brigid’s Cross on the rafters of homes to invoke her protective energy.

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Brigid's Flame

According to legend, Brigid lit a flame on the hill of Kildare, pledging to keep it burning in her honor. This flame was said to burn continuously, symbolizing her eternal presence and influence over the cycles of life. The fire became a sacred symbol, tended by the Brigidine Sisters for centuries, representing not just physical warmth, but the power of creativity and healing.

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Magic Correspondences

Planets: Sun, Moon, Venus

Season: Midpoint between Winter and Spring

Element: Earth, Fire

Time of Day: Dawn

Tarot: The Star, The Empress, The Ace of Wands

Colors: White, Light Yellow, Green, Gold, Silver, Lilac, Pale Pink, Purple

Herbs: Chamomile, Clover, Angelica, Heather, Basil, Bay Laurel, Willow, Rosemary, Milk Thistle, Coltsfut, Lavender,

Fruits: Orange, Lemon, Pomegranate, Apple, Pear, Blackberry (Brigid's favorite fruit)

Vegetables: Leek, Potato, Carrot, Turnips, Garlic

Runes: Sowilo, Berkano, Algiz, Kenaz

Crystals: Carnelian, Amethyst, Garnet, Onyx, Ruby, Citrine, Clear Quartz, Milk Quartz

Trees: Rowan, Willow, Birch

Goddesses: Brigid, Demeter, Hestia, Vesta, Aphrodite, Ceres, Venus, Arianrhod, Cerridwen, Gaia, Aradia, Athena, Minerva

Gods: Faunus, Eros, Pan, Cupid, Aenghus Og

Dragon: Fafnir

Flowers: Snowdrops, Crocus, Daisy, Dandelion, Chicory

Animals: Lamb, Sheep, Cow, Deer, Groundhog, Hedgehog, Snake, Swan, Wolf, Bear, Boar

Magical Powers: Purification, Renewal, Creativity, Fertility, Awakening, New Beginnings, Hearth and Home, Healing, Hope, Inspiration, Cleansing, Protection

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Activities To Do:

🐑 Light candles or a bonfire to honor the return of the sun.

🐑 Make an Imbolc altar.

🐑 Rest and enjoy the midwinter season doing cozy activities.

🐑 Wear the colors of the season.

🐑 Cook or bake seasonal dishes, especially fresh bread, cheese, or other dairy products.

🐑 Make Brigid's cross.

🐑 Take a walk in nature and collect branches and stones to add to your altar.

🐑 Donate to animal shelters or send wishes for the animals born during this season, especially lambs.

🐑 Eat fresh bread or drink milk

🐑 Clean your house to invite new positive energy.

🐑 CREATE ANYTHING!! whether it’s art, crafts, edits or poetry.

🐑 Write the sigil of Imbolc somewhere visible to attract its energy( I usually do this on a piece of paper that I put on my altar or on my arm)

🐑 Take a bath with lavender or cinnamon essential oil

🐑 Read about the goddess Brigid

🐑 If it’s a sunny day, celebrate the festival of light by spending time outdoors and letting the sun purify you.

🐑 Do offerings for your deities

🐑 Dance to festive music, feel the joy of the season, and let your inner fire shine :D

🐑 Try spinning or crafting with wool to honor traditional Imbolc crafts.

🐑 Look for seasonal flowers like snowdrops or crocus and bring some into your home for decoration.

🐑 Plant seeds if the weather allows, symbolizing new beginnings and growth.

🐑 Do spells for fresh starts and set intentions

🐑 Worship Goddess Brigid or any deities you feel connected to during this time.

🐑 Read poetry to celebrate the creative energy of the season.

🐑 Make an Imbolc Magick Spell Jar

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Food and Drinks:

Dairy products (or vegetarian alternatives), like milk, cheese, and yogurt, freshly baked bread, muffins, waffles, blackberry jam, blackberry cakes (anything with blackberries), lemon cake, poppy seed cakes, biscuits coated in sesame seeds, dishes with bold spices, seeds such as sunflower, poppy, and sesame (for Imbolc seeds are very meaningdul), red cabbage, oats, butter, honey, garlic, scones, pancakes, crepes, pickles, cheese pie, oatcakes, bannock, mashed potatoes, colcannon, chili peppers, eggs, apple tarts, spiced nuts, roasted vegetables, hearty soups, grain-based salads, and citrus fruits, such as orange, lemon or pomelo). Don’t forget to make a wish while flipping your pancakes on Imbolc! <3

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useful sources: Wicca: A Modern Guide To Witchcraft & Magick; Encyclopedia of Witchcraft: The Complete A-Z for the Entire Magical World by Judika Illes

gifs credit: Pinterest

Tip Jar🌲

[beautyofaphrodite]

Aphrodite Epithets

okay okay I know I talk a lot about Her epithets I know. But I just posted a bunch of polls about Her epithets and didn’t add the meanings and also some of my other lists of epithets aren’t this detailed so here you go!

Domain Epithets

Ambologêra: Delaying/Postponing Old Age

Anadyomene: Goddess Rising from the Sea

Androphonos: Killer of Men

Anosia: Unholy

Antheia: The Blooming

Apatouros: Decieving one

Aphrogenia: Foam Born

Apostrophia: Averter of (Unlawful Desires)

Apotrophia: The Expeller

- “Expelled from the hearts of men the desire after sinful pleasure and lust” (theoi.com)

Areia: Of Ares; the Warlike

Despoina: The Ruling Goddess; The Mistress

Dia: Divine; Shining

Dionaea: Daughter of Dione

Dios Thugater: Daughter of Zeus

Doritis: Bountiful

Eleemon: Merciful

Enoplios: Armed

Epistrophia: She who Turns to (Love)

Erototrophus: Mother of Love

Euploia: Fair Voyage

Eustephanos: Richly Crowned; Well Girdled

Gamêlii: Protector or Goddess of Marriage

Genetyllis: Protectress of Births

Hera: Of Hera; Of Marriage

Hoplismena: Armed

Kallipygos: Round of Form

Kataskopia: Spying;Peeping

Khrysee: Golden

Kopois: Of the Garden

Limenia/Limenitês/Limenodkopos: Protectress of the Harbor

Makhantis: Deviser; Contriver

Mechanitis: Skilled at Inventing

Melaenis: The Dark

Migontis: Union (Marital)

Morpho: of Fair Shape; of Shapely Form

Nikêphoros: Bringer of Victory

Nymphia: Bridal

Ourania: Heavenly

Pandemos: Common to All People

Peitho: Persuasion

Philomides: Laughter-Loving

Philomedes: Genital-Loving

Pontia: Of the Sea

Pothon Mater: Mother of Desire

Praxis: Action (Sexual)

Psithyristês: Whispering

Skotia: Dark One

Symmakhia: Ally (In Love)

Tymborychos: Grave-Digger

Xenia: of Foreigners

Location Epithets

Akidalia: the well Acidalius near Orchomenos where Aphrodite swam with the Graces

Akraia: Temples were situated on hilltops

Amathusia: Amathus in Cyprus

Amyklaios: Of Amyclae (Laconia)

Aphakitis: Aphace in Coele-Syria

Aracynthus: Mount Aracynthus

Kastinia: Of Mt Castium (Pamphylia)

Knidia: Cnidus in Caria

Kôlias: Attic promontory of Colias

Kypria/Kyprus/Kyprogenia/Kyprogenes: Cyprus-Born

Kytheria/Kytherias: Cythera in Crete, or from the island of Cythera

Erukinê: Eryx, in Sicily

Idalia: Idalion in Cyprus

Melinaia: Argive town Meline

Migônitis: Migonium, in or near the island of Cranne in Laconia

Paphia: Paphos in Cyprus

Pyrenaea: Of Pyrenees Mts (Gaul)

Syria Dea: Syrian Goddess (Syrian Aphrodite refers to Astarte, a Syrian goddess similar to Aphrodite)

Zephyritis: Zephyrium in Egypt

Zerynthia: Zerinthus in Thrace

Sources: theoi.com and wikipedia mostly

[atheneum-of-you]

With events like these, men learned that Dionysos was a god, and they began to honour him ♡

Finished and edited my devotional art for Lord Dionysos! ♡

[stalkerofthegods]

this is lore accurate for me talking to Lord hermes

hey. don't cry. I went to Mad At You island and none of your friends were there :)

[sorceryundone]

paganism pro tip: don't have, or want, a date for valentines day? ask aphrodite to be your valentine! honor her by making it a day of devotion and self love. get yourself your favorite chocolates and treats, and set some aside for aphrodite. grab a bathbomb or some bubble bath, and take a long warm bath as a devotional act. make some valentines inspired arts and crafts, and put them on your altar. wind down by watching your favorite romcoms, no matter how outdated and campy they are (or whatever genre you like, if romance isn't your thing!)

[sunlitpath]

Hail, Apollo!

Light-bearer

Leader of the Muses

[inkshomecraft]

I’ve been working on a form of worship between me and my deities (Hestia and Dionysus) where I devote small everyday tasks to them.

Me cooking dinner for myself? That’s for lady Hestia.

Me playing a Videogame? That’s for Lord Dionysus.

So simply put, when you don’t have the time or the energy to go out big and worship them with ceremony, dedication of a task works just as well.

(And for all those wondering the video games I’ve been playing for Dionysus are: Stardew Valley, Splatoon, and Incryption.)

[laurusamystic]

Lovely brief overview of Artemis. She has well over 150+ epithets, so this is a nice start!

A guide to worship of Artemis- cheat sheets

Hellenic cheat sheets

If you like my content consider supporting me on: https://ko-fi.com/screeching0wlet

[thetelesterion]

Dionysos, also called Zagreus, is the god of rebirth, renewal, and wine. Additionally, he is the god of liberation and freedom. To me, he represents freedom for all people, especially the oppressed and the minorities. Dionysos is also heavily intertwined with queer history, and his own mythological stories reflect his gender non-conformity and androgynous nature. One of his epithets is literally "Ανδρογυνος." In the Roman period, the Emperor Hadrian ordered the deification of his lover Antinous, who tragically drowned in the Nile River. Even after his death, the cult that had formed around Antinous continued to thrive, creating statues which bore Antinous's youthly face. These statues also blended imagery of Osiris and Dionysos. Thus, even after death, this man wore the guise of a god, and lived on in a sense. Another fun fact I wanted to add, while reading up on a specific statue of Antinous/Dionysos, this one, I came across the little tidbit at the bottom which suggests that during the criminalization of homosexuality in the USSR, underground gay communities would perform wedding ceremonies and rites in front of the statue.

[ravenandmoon]

Started writing to deities as a journaling habit so I can relearn how to journal and learn more about how to connect with my deities. I would like to do more devotional acts for those deities but for now this is the best I can do, I think.

[winelovr]

guys please do more like this! especially for Lord Apollo and Lady Aphrodite. it's so entertaining to read omgs

Dionysus was there when those two boys got too drunk at the party and sloppily kissed in the alley. What are they doing? What does it mean? What are they to each other? It doesn’t matter.

Dionysus was there when the girl who was sick of her hair went mad in the bathroom and buzzed it all off. In that moment, she was flying, and she truly felt free.

Dionysus was there when the girl was standing in front of the mirror, about to take a shower, putting lipstick on her eyebrows and eyeshadow on her cheeks, looking wild and partaking in the gentle joy of painting her face, knowing that before she is seen again, she can wash it all down the drain.

Dionysus was there the first time the 30 something man tried on a dress. As he poured himself a glass of wine and posed in the mirror. How elegant he was in the cramped confines of that dingy motel. For tonight, he can be his effeminate self, knowing that this secret is all his to indulge in.

Dionysus was there when the girls got together, removed their tight bras and danced in freedom as they burped and screamed and cried and howled. These women are insane! How mad they become when they’re free from the burden of society! They were laying on the floor with their stomachs out, breasts sagging, hair disheveled, saying crude words that women must not say. For a moment they were no longer trapped in suburbia. They were in the wild woods, far away from any rule or law. They were free! Free and mad!

Dionysus was there, and no matter how hard they try to deny it, he will always be.

[khaire-traveler]

I read through The Bacchae for the very first time last night during a rehearsal for a small performance for it, and the hype around it is SO, SO deserved. Previously, I had only seen bits and pieces of it, but reading through the full thing with others was an experience of its own. I highly recommend people read the ancient plays, even if you don't worship that deity or figure. They are worth knowing. 💜 🍇

[aliteralactualfactualgremlin]

devotional acts are the best because I already sing a lot so now I can just be like “And this next one is for Lord Apollo!” and proceed to destroy my vocal chords

[sunflowerdami]

HEAVY ON THIS! I remember having to hide my witchcraft books under my pillows and pretend my candle for Lady Ceres was a simple purple candle lol

BIG shoutout to those who are practicing in secret

y'all don't get enough recognition because leading a double life is exhausting (i know because i'm one of those people leading that very same double life)

shoutout to those who can't tell anyone about their practise

shoutout to anyone who can't own tarot or oracle decks and so use household items to do divination

shoutout to those who can't have candles or fancy altars

shoutout to those who practice in secret.