#hermes pagan

[wayfind-er]

Prayer to Ἑρμης Διακτορος

O’ divine guide, Lord Hermes, giver of joy and good things; please hear my words. If life is a journey, then you are my Guide. In every risky venture I take, I find you. From the dimly lit roads of the countryside, To the realm of gentle sleep you hold, I will follow you. Hear me, O’ divine guide, Shepard of Souls and friend of Mortals, Please bless this journey with your watchful gaze; Watch as I step onto an untried path in your honor, And may your keen gaze stop me from straying away. Lord Hermes, guide me in what is soon to come.

Inspired by u/ashelone on Reddit, and @temple-of-hermes' celebration of the Fourth. Divider by @/vibeswithrenai

[lost-celestial]

Celebration of the Soul (Overview)

Description: This is a modern collection of festivals for Psyche and Hermes that follows the migration of Monarch butterflies. The timing may change yearly. There are four festivals, one for each stage of migration/season to celebrate and honor our past, present, and future. More information will be posted later.

If Monarchs aren't local to your region, I suggest using the migration of a different butterfly in your area. Otherwise, feel free to use the Equinoxes instead!

Inspired by @starry-polytheism's festival for the Southern Hemisphere and @lavenderwaterfall's festival for the Northern Hemisphere. Dividers by @/k1ssyoursister

Soul's Journey: Spring

🦋 Theme: Looking to the Future 🦋 Timing: Spring Migration, Mid-Mar. to Early Apr. 🦋 Personal Preference: Mar. 31 to Apr. 2

Honoring Ψυχή Ἀνθεία, Psyche, the Friend of Flowers, and Ἑρμης Εριουνης, Hermes, the Luckbringer and Helper.

This is the first generation of a yearlong journey that will span multiple generations of monarchs.

Monarchs are one of the only butterflies that Monarch twice a year. The start of their adventure begins here, usually sometime in mid-March. As the temperature gets warmer, Monarchs will leave their overwintering spots (where they spend the winter) and migrate North. By Spring fully rolls around, the Monarchs have already started their next adventure.

Our first Soul's Journey begins here. This is the time to celebrate the start of a new chapter in our lives and look towards the future. We honor Psyche, the Friend of Flowers, by celebrating the return of the Spring and breathing spirit back into our lives. We honor Hermes, the Luckbringer and Helper, by asking for Hermes' guidance in the next chapter of our lives. He will be our guide through the unknown.

In this soft grassy spot, Psyche lay pleasantly reclining on her bed of dewy turf and, her great disquiet of mind soothed, fell sweetly asleep. Presently, refreshed by rest, she rose with her mind at ease. What she now saw was a park planted with big trees and a spring of crystal-clear water.

Soul's Journey: Summer

☀️ Theme: Enjoying the Present ☀️ Timing: Summer, June to Mid August ☀️ Personal Preference: Jun. 18 to Jun. 20

Honoring Ψυχή ἐρωμένη, Psyche, the Lover of Love and Ἑρμης Δαις Ἑταιρος, Hermes, the Comarde of the Feast.

After Spring comes Summer.

For the next couple of Monarch generations, they’ll dedicate their lives to continuing North and breeding. Monarchs die, are born, and die again; yet, time continues to move. Monarchs are never stagnant and are always flying towards their next goal.

This is the time to celebrate the present moment and find joy in the little things. It’s the time to remember that everyday we are progressing, even if it feels like we aren’t or that we’re regressing. Every day that we’re alive is a day well spent. We’ll honor Psyche, the Lover of Love, by spending time appreciate the people we care about in our lives and spending time offline. We’ll honor Hermes, the Comrade of the Feast, by showing gratitude for the things we have and actually celebrating ourselves and what we are achieving in the moment. It’s a celebration of self.

As far and wide as the house extended, every part of it was likewise of inestimable price. All the walls, which were built of solid blocks of gold, shone with their own brilliance so that the house furnished its own daylight, sun or no sun; [....] As [Psyche] gazed at all this with much pleasure, a disembodied voice came to her: 'Mistress, you need not be amazed at this great wealth. All of it is yours.'

Soul's Journey: Autumn

🍁 Theme: Honoring the Past 🍁 Timing: Autumn/Fall Migration, Late Aug. to Nov. 🍁 Personal Preference: Sept. 16 to Sept. 20

Honoring Ψυχή Πτερόεσσα, Psyche, the Winged One and Ἑρμης Αθανατος Δαικτορος, Hermes, the Immortal Guide.

After several months of the heat, the temperature begins to drop and the plants begin to die.

By this point, three generations of Monarchs have lived and died. Now, it’s time for the Monarchs’ biggest journey: migrating down South once again.

Flying down South will be completed in one generation, throughout the Autumn/Fall months. Monarchs of this generation are significantly different than their great-grandparents, whom started the journey to the North in the spring. These months live significantly longer and won’t reproduce as much until they’ve reached their destination.

In the most literal sense, these Monarchs have transformed into something completely different than their parents, and their parent’s parents. This is the start of the end of a long adventure. We’ll honor Psyche, the Winged One, by reflecting on how we can learn from our past. We’ll honor Hermes, the Immortal Guide, by leaving offerings to our ancestors and asking Chthonic deities for their guidance with change.

NOTE: I recommend you take your time with this part of the celebration. It can be heavy, as much of this part revolves around the departed and the end of something. Really take your time to allow yourself to feel your emotions and process what you're feeling. You want to take your time with this.

Then, indeed, Psyche knew that her last hour had come and, that all disguised was at an end and that she was being openly sent to instant destruction. So much was clear, seeing that she was being made to go on her own two feet to [Hades] and the shades. Without delay, she made for a certain lofty tower, meaning to throw herself off it, for in that way, she thought she could most directly and economically go down to the Underworld. But the tower suddenly broke into speech: 'Why, poor child, do you want to destroy yourself by a death leap? Why needlessly give up at this last ordeal?'

Soul's Journey: Winter

❄️ Theme: Repose (Rest) ❄️ Timing: Winter, December to Early March ❄️ Personal Timing: Dec. 30 to Jan. 3

Honoring Ψυχή, Psyche, Personification of the Soul and Ἑρμης, Hermes, God of Communication, Boundaries and Divine Guide.

After the long migration South again, the generation of super Monarchs will die. Unlike the generations before them, these Monarchs will begin reproducing and laying eggs once Spring rolls around again. Like Autumn, this season is spent mostly traveling South until the temperature warms up again, and they migrate North again to start the next breeding cycle. This generation is truly the most special of all previous generations, and both symbolize the Monarchs' incredible journey and the end of an era. It’s the time to reflect, appreciate, and acknowledge what we’ve done over the course of the seasons. To celebrate, we’ll honor Psyche herself with some much-needed self-care and R&R. Alongside that, we’ll honor Hermes for his help in guiding us every day.

Cups of nectar were served to Zeus by his own cupbearer, the shepherd lad (Ganymede), and to the others by Dionysus; Hephaestus cooked the dinner; the Seasons (Hoare) made everything colorful with roses and other flowers; the Graces (Charities) sprinkled perfumes; the Muses discoursed tuneful music. Then Apollo sang to the lyre, and Aphrodite, fitting her steps to the sweet music, danced in all her beauty. [...] This was Psyche's marriage to Eros, and when her time came, they had a daughter, whom we called Hedone [Pleasure].

[the-purvashadha]

When you step into sunlight, you honor Apollo. When you admire the moon, you honor Artemis. When you admire cloud shapes, you honor Hera. When you smell petrichor, you honor Zeus. When you laugh at a joke, you honor Hermes. When your body twitches to dance at a particularly upbeat music, you honor Dinoysus. When you enjoy the first bite of your breakfast, you honor Demeter. When you choose your peace over any conflict, you honor Athena. When you warm yourself up by sheltering yourself in blanket, you honor Hestia. When you listen to Ocean sounds, you honor Poseidon. When you smell flowers, you honor Persephone. When you admire the coolness of first day of Autumn, you honor Hades. When you wear your favourite jewellery, you honor Hephaestus. When you smile, you honor Aphrodite. When you exercise, you honor Ares. When you light a torch in a dark room, you honor Hekate.

Your body is a shrine to Gods, your being an act of devotion for them. You, by yourself, are enough for them.

[atheneum-of-you]

Books are expensive, Hermes thinks learning about your religion should be free.

They're just the basics and only a few, but feel free to ask me to add anything and I'll try my best!

[theic-manic]

May Hermes guide those fleeing war, abuse, domestic violence, and any other horrible situation to places of safety and refuge.

May Apollo help with the healing that follows.

[apollophanes]

I've seen this saying being passed around a few times. Not sure where it is from, but I love it:

If you don't know who to pray to, then pray to Hermes. Even if he cannot help you, he knows someone who can.

[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.

[dionysianivy]

𝐅𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 🍇🍋

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁

Apple: Apollo, Hera, Aphrodite, Diana, Eris, Freyja, The Hesperides, Idun, Pomona, Saulé, Athena, Gaia, Eros, Lugh, Manannan, Nemesis, Zeus, Loki, Freyr

Grapes: Dionysus, The Horae, Lady Chang'O, Europa, Gestinana, Renenet, Sirona

Pear: Aphrodite, Hera, Pomona, Isis

Orange: Apollo, Oshun, Pomona, Venus, Enlil, Hesperethusa

Cherry: Aphrodite, Chinju no Kami, Xi Wang Mu, Artemis, Flora, Persephone, the Morrigan

Plum: Amaterasu, Pomona, Aphrodite, Freyja, Dionysus

Mango: Durga, Ogun, Simbi, Kamadeva, Hanuman, Ambika

Strawberry: Hermes, Aphrodite, Adonis, Eris, Freyja, Frigg, Venus, Freyr

Raspberry: Venus, Leto, Rhea, Cernunnos, Hera, Artemis

Banana: Shango, Brihaspati, Vishnu, Parvati, Lakhsmi

Coconut: Hina, Mahesh, Asar, Isis, Osiris, Brahma, Vishnu, Ganesha, Aphrodite

Blackberry: Dionysus, Brigid, the Dagda, Danu, Freyja, Manannan, Osiris, Poseidon

Lemon: Alakshmi, Arethusa, Apollo,

Olive: Athena, Elais, Zeus, Ra, Poseidon, Indra, Pele, Apollo

Watermelon: Hera, Yemaya, Bahuchara

Peach: Xiwangmu, Kami, Hathor, Aphrodite, Freyja, Shou Xing, Apollo

Papaya: Istustaya

Pomegranate: Hades, Persephone, Zeus, Demeter, Aphrodite, Hecate, Athena, Hestia, Ares

Fig: Dionysus, Priapus, Demeter

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁

tip jar🍇

This post took longer to make than I thought, but it's finally done🕯🍷🍂 If you know any myths about deities associated with different fruits or any fruits that are linked to deities, feel free to share them in the comments so I can add them too :D

[apiswitchcraft]

altars for greek gods

this post includes hades, persephone, artemis, apollo, aphrodite, hermes, and hekate. for part 2 including zeus, hera, poseidon, hestia, hephaestus, dionysus, ares, demeter, and athena click here, for the titans and protogenoi click here.

keep in mind that this is largely UPG, new age stuff, and historically accurate offerings to the gods include meat, wine, grain (specifically barley), honey, and incense (myrrh and frankincense).

colors can be used for candles, banners, decor, whatever you want

HADES

Colors: black, red, and white for association with death. purple and metallics for association with riches/wealth

Offerings: mint, asphodel, white poplar, pomegranate, coffee, cinnamon, elm, money, chocolate

Crystals: gemstones, black crystals (obsidian, black tourmaline, smokey quartz, etc.), pyrite, hematite, labradorite

Animals: black ram, owl, serpent, Cerberus

PERSEPHONE

Colors: purple, pink, yellow, green for association with springtime. black and metallics for association with Hades. white for purity.

Offerings: pomegranate, flowers, grains, asphodel, lavender, rosemary

Crystals: amethyst, gemstones, moss/tree agate, milk quartz, jade, lepidolite

Animals: deer, ram, bat, talking birds (including parrots)

APHRODITE

Colors: red and pink for love/sexuality. white and blue for association with the ocean. gold for association with, well, gold.

Offerings: roses, chocolate, shells, myrrh, gold

Crystals: rose quartz, pearl, emerald, opal, aquamarine, rhodonite, rhodochrosite, ocean jasper, morganite

Animals: swan, dove, hare

ARTEMIS

Colors: white, blue, black, and grey for association with the heavens. brown and green for association with nature/the hunt.

Offerings: moon shaped foods, frankincense, cypress, mugwort, amaranth

Crystals: morganite, moonstone, aventurine, selenite, celestite, moss/tree agate, amethyst, quartz (specific dendritic), labradorite, silver

Animals: deer, wolf, wild boar

APOLLO

Colors: yellow, white, and blue for association with the heavens. red, orange, and pink for healing. purple and green for the Oracle

Offerings: sun shaped foods, bay leaves, laurel, cypress, playing music, poetry

Crystals: sunstone, amber, calcite (specifically honey and yellow), quartz (specifically rutilated or clear), rose quartz, silver

Animals: cow, snake, hawk, crow/raven, cicada, swan, bees

HERMES

Colors: green and gold for money/luck. white and brown for travels.

Offerings: money, crocus/saffron, strawberries

Crystals: jade, malachite, fluorite, pyrite, lapis lazuli, citrine, alexandrite

Animals: tortoise, ram

HEKATE

Colors: purple, blue, and green for magic. red and black for association with underworld

Offerings: garlic, saffron, crossroad dirt, black salt, ashes, sage, cedar, yew

Crystals: labradorite, obsidian, hematite, black tourmaline, amethyst, bloodstone, serpentine, lepidolite

Animals: wolf, boar, serpent, lion, horse, cow

[fabledfoxglove]

♤ ʜᴇʀᴍᴇs • ɢᴏᴅ ᴏғ ᴛʀᴀᴠᴇʟ, ʙᴏᴜɴᴅᴀʀɪᴇs, ᴍᴇʀᴄʜᴀɴᴛs, ᴛʜɪᴇᴠᴇs, ᴛʀɪᴄᴋᴇʀʏ, ɢᴀᴍʙʟɪɴɢ, ʟᴜᴄᴋ, & ʟᴀɴɢᴜᴀɢᴇs ♤

[rivermoonmythos]

something i find amazing is the way devoting yourself to the gods and goddesses can be so integral with everyday life- i can just be studying or reading and be worshipping Athena, i can be doing makeup and skincare and be worshipping Aphrodite, I can be drawing and making art and be worshipping Apollon, i can be learning greek and studying and be worshipping Hermes- i can simply just take a walk in the woods and be worshipping Artemis in the process, it's just so beautiful to me that it's that simple...

you don't have to do so much to worship the gods, you don't have to have big fancy altars, they're happy with you just for simply praying and doing small things in devotion...there's just something so wonderful about that

[wayfind-er]

Hermes' Epithets & Myths

This list does not include every title of Hermes but provides a couple of his most commonly referred epithets and a summary of the myth behind them. 

Argeiphontes (Greek: Αργειφοντης), Slayer of Argos. (ref)

Zeus was having an affair with the beautiful nymph, Io. Hera, wife of Zeus and Goddess of Marriage and the Stars, was about to catch Zeus in the act when he transformed Io into a beautiful cow.

Hera, unimpressed and angry, demanded to receive the cow as a gift, which Zeus reluctantly agreed. She then appointed Argos Panoptes, the All-seeing Argos, to constantly watch over the transformed Io. Zeus sent Hermes to rescue his trapped lover, which Hermes did by lulling Argos Panoptes to sleep and slaying the giant. From this, Hermes was given the title Argeiphontes, and Hera memorialized Argos by placing his hundred eyes on the tail of her sacred bird, the peacock.

Psychopompos (Greek: ψυχοπομπός), Guide of Souls.

Hermes was often depicted as the only God besides Hades and Persephone who could freely enter and leave the Underworld. This is likely due to his status as God of Boundaries. In one story, Eurystheus tasked Heracles with descending into the Underworld to find Hades’ hound, Cerberus, up to Earth. Hermes acts as his guide and leads Heracles to the Underworld (ref).

Polutropos/Polytropos (Greek: πολῠ́τροπος ), Of Many Shifts

This is a less common epithet of Hermes; however, it describes him well. In the Hymn to Hermes, πολῠ́τροπος is translated as “of many shifts,” implying that Hermes is a God of many facets due to his resourcefulness, making him well-versed, well-traveled, and extremely multi-faceted. Hermes is introduced as:

“For then she bare a son, of many shifts, blandly cunning, a robber, a cattle driver, a bringer of dreams, a watcher by night, a thief at the gates, one who was soon to show forth wonderful deeds among the deathless gods.” (ref)

divider by @/firefly-graphics

[hellenic-temple]

sketching/poems/playing an instrument for Apollo

dancing or watching musicals for Dionysus

eating for Hestia

reading/crocheting/playing flute for Athena

texting my girlfriend and hanging out with my friends for Aphrodite

walking for Hermes

working out for Ares

walking with a spirit in my neighborhood or budgetting for Hades

sitting outside for Persephone

devotional acts don't have to be big. they can be as simple as a breath.

[temple-of-hermes]

My Favorite Epithets of Hermes

Ktêsios - The protector of property

Eriounios - Giver of good fortune

Oeopolus - Sheep-tending, shepherd

Clepsiphron - Deciever

Athanatus Diactorus - Immortal Guide

Mechaniotes - Trickster

Pheletes - Thief, Robber, Rustler

Poecilometes - Full of various wiles

Poneomenus - Busy one

Charidotes - Giver of Joy

Dotor Eaon - Giver of good things

Euscopus - Keen-sighted, watchful

Eriounes - Luck-bringing, Ready-helper

Ericydes - Famous, glorious, splendid

Pompaeus - The guide

[meadcake]

🎲🪻✨

[aesthicalmess]

Lord Hermes

Lord Hermes, messenger of the gods, god of mercenaries, travelers, thieves, and language