#themis meade

[marmidas]

[anathtsurugi]

More On That...

So I promised you guys some more info on what was going down with me and stories and patreon and the like. Here be that more.

Fact of the matter is I started the patreon page fairly on in 2020 when everything was still crazy and I hadn’t yet figured out how to manage my writing from home, as I’ve always had trouble really getting into the necessary headspace from home, where I can’t tune out everything else happening in my life. But I think I’ve finally started to get things in order to the point I can produce regular content again. That and the fact that I’ve worked up a bit of a back log.

See, what happened around the time of the great soulmate AU hang up was that I told myself I wasn’t allowed to post anything else until I had finished that story (an exceedingly dumb plan in hindsight, but it’s already happened, not much to be done about it now), but I couldn’t just not write in the meantime, so I worked on other projects whilst trying to figure out how to complete the soulmate story. And now that it’s ready to go, I have a whole bunch of new things to share with you all.

So what I’m gonna try going forward is posting new content every week. Some of it is Ducktales, some of it is Star Wars, some of it is mythology, some of it is Star Wars mythology. Point is there’s a lot of it now and having it all prepared gives me the opportunity to write with less threat of a looming deadline. Eheh. Anyway, we’ll give this a try, see how it goes. Because I do have to really start getting this patreon to work for me, as in only a few months, I will properly be leaving my retail job to take up being a mom full time. Hehe, yep, it’s finally happening for the wife and I. Guess you can call me Anakin, because it’s twins.

But yes, final chapter of You Can Take My Heart, You Can Take My Breath is now up over on AO3, but here I’ll be sharing with you a little snippet of the story I’ll be releasing next week. It’s a piece inspired by Greek mythology, and it’s the first in a series that looks at some of the mythic figures with...ah...less than stellar reputations (hey, everybody else is writing about about Hades and Persephone right now, I just wanted to do something a little different).

~*~

When Rhea felt the pangs of her labor begin, she was relieved to have her sisters around her. Of the six of them, only the eldest and the youngest, warm Theia and wild Tethys, were mothers already, and she had been near to help them both through their travails. Now they were here for her, Tethys supporting her head with sweet Phoebe while Theia worked to help her deliver.

At first, things had seemed normal, her body going through its cycles to birth her child, as she had witnessed with Theia's three and the already innumerable brood her youngest sister had borne. But then pain began, fire at the entrance to her womb, as if the child itself resisted being born.

Phoebe had tried to soothe her with honeyed mead and sweet fruits and Tethys with her typical teasing, but all of their efforts fell away as the labor wore on, her body gripped with pain and burning.

Then she began to cry.

Then she began to scream.

Somewhere beyond the circle of her sisters, she could hear Kronos' worried voice...could hear the efforts of the most clear-headed of her sisters, Themis, to bar him from the birthing chamber. Part of her screaming was to accuse her young husband for this agony, but the greater part of it was simply from wanting to have him at her side.

"FIRE!" she cried out in agony. "My child shall burn me to ashes! Sisters! Kronos! Mother! What shall I do?!"

Her desperate cries pierced them all to a one, and where her eldest sister's despairing face had been, their mother's compassionate visage suddenly appeared before her.

"I am here, my sweet girl," the Great Mother soothed, leaning in to press a kiss to her swollen belly with verdant lips. "Not even the foolish defiance of your brother could possibly keep me from you in your time of need. Phoebe, help her drink."

At their mother's command, Rhea felt her head lifted, then a cup was pressed to her lips and she took a swallow of the liquid that poured from it.

The draught began to cool her almost the moment it slid down her throat, offering respite from her struggles. Soothing herbs came forth from her mother's hands as if they had blossomed straight from her skin. Without hesitation, the great earth mother began to apply their healing power to the abused entrance to her womb, lending her strength for one last push.

"Come to us, little firebrand," Gaia whispered against her. Then she was reaching up inside her, helping to guide the child into the world.

Rhea screamed in pain one last time, and when that scream died away, she was rewarded with the angry squall of an infant. Dazed with pain and relief, she couldn't have said how long it was before Theia emerged from the haze, passing a tiny, swaddled thing into her arms.

"Your daughter, Rhea," she said with a smile.

"Daughter?" she barely managed to whisper, smiling as she lifted her fingers to trace them through the fiery red peach fuzz that adorned the baby girl's head. Just like her father's, that hair...

The little one quickly calmed once she was held safe in her mother's arms, burbling sweetly. She had come into the world with such fire, but now she was here, Rhea didn't think she had ever known anything sweeter.

"Hello," she whispered. "Hello, my wonderful, sweet little girl."

"Rhea! Are you all right?" her husband's harried, insistent voice suddenly came to her through the joy of the moment. When she looked up, it was to see him kneeling at her side, his burning eyes wild with worry.

"Fine, my love. Better than fine. Have you ever seen anything more beautiful in all your days?" she asked, guiding his attention down to the tiny child resting peacefully in her arms.

And once the young king had been soothed of his fears, finally looking down at their new daughter, Rhea saw tears spring to his eyes. Tentatively, as if fearing he might harm her, Kronos reached out a hand to stroke the baby girl's cheek.

"My queen...she is perfect. The loveliest thing there ever was."

"She came to us as a burst of fire, yet she is as gentle and sweet as our Phoebe."

Her husband smiled as he looked up at her, a spark of inspiration in his eyes. "Hestia," he breathed.

"Yes," she agreed immediately, the rightness of it settling in her heart as she pressed a kiss to the top of Hestia's small head. "Hearth light. The fire of a home. No matter how many children I bear you, Hestia shall always be the first. Home shall always be first in the hearts of all."

"Hestia," her sisters echoed, each in their own voice. "Blessed child. Firstborn. Gentle Hestia."

Kronos leaned in to lay a kiss next to hers on his daughter's head, then he embraced them both and, for a moment, they were a family, flush in the bloom of their joy. After everything that had happened, it was good to believe that they might know peace.

"Yes. Children are the greatest blessing of all, are they not."

Their mother's voice was cold, cutting through the songs of joy and praise with exacting precision. When they followed that voice to its source, they found that Gaia had withdrawn to the far side of the chamber. Though, unlike her children, she did not deign to wear a stitch of clothing, she did not need it. She was clothed in the imperious volatility of her own great power. The Great Mother was both shelter and storm all in one.

"Mother-" Rhea started to plead, having no wish for her anger in this happy moment. As one, her sisters began to gather in a protective circle around her and Hestia.

"How, my child, could you possibly think to keep a mother from her children?" Gaia pressed the new king, her fury roiling just beneath the surface, ready to break over all of their heads.

"Enough of this, Mother," Kronos snapped as he stood to face her. "This is the world you have made for us and I am its king now. You will not question my decisions."

"You are king," the goddess conceded, in no way diminished for the admission. "But who put you there? How long do you believe you'll hold that throne if I withdraw my blessing? If you continue to leave your brothers in chains-"

"How many times do I have to say it?" her husband ground out, moving to stand between her and their mother. "They cannot be released. Tartarus will take more than it gives. What you ask of me is impossible."

"Ridiculous. Anything done may be undone. Anything made may be...unmade," she insisted, the look in her eyes as she surveyed her youngest son waking dread in Rhea's heart. In her arms, Hestia began to whimper quietly.

"Not this time. You don't know what price would have to be paid to undo my father's hate."

"I cannot know if you will not tell me. Prove it, vain boy. Prove that you are not your father's son and that it is something other than petty hate or cruelty that stays your hand from releasing your brothers into the light!" the Great Mother stormed.

Rhea saw Kronos stiffen at the suggestion that he was like their father. She couldn't see the expression on his face, but the hard edge of his shoulders was enough to tell her how the words had cut him. But his next words were not stricken, as she might've thought. Instead, his voice came in a low hiss.

"I do not owe you proof, Earth Mother. When each of your children quaked with terror at the mere suggestion that Ouranos had to be punished for his crimes, only I was bold enough to take up your vengeance. I am no tyrant father."

The look that crossed their mother's face at this was an unsettling combination of satisfaction and pity. She shook her head slowly as she surveyed him standing before her, a proud king.

But the Earth takes all things low eventually.

~*~

And, well, if you know the myth, you have an idea of where this is heading, but the full piece is available on my Patreon right now if you’d like to support my writing endeavors. See you next week!

[magick-with-a-k]

Witchy Knowledge with Waya!

🔱Greek Deities🔱

Hi there! Long time, no post, I know 😅

By popular demand, here’s a list of Greek gods and goddesses, their correspondences, and some offerings for them :)

~As with all posts, this is my take, my opinion, my knowledge. If you make your magick in a different way, great! Don't hate on other ways of the Craft. As I say again and again, there's no wrong way to witchcraft.~

🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱

Air/Sky

- Gods: Aeolus, Anemoi, Boreas, Eurus, Notus, Zephyrus, Aparctias, Apheliotes, Argestes, Caicias, Circios, Lips, Thraskias, Euronotus, Atlas, and Skeiron

- Goddesses: Aura, Isis, and the Aurai (Aurai are nymphs)

- Offerings: Air related plants, chimes, music, and feathers

Animal/Nature/Earth/Plant/etc

- Gods: Actaeon, Apollo, Aristaeus, Cronus, Dionysus, Oxylus, and Pan, as well as Satyrs like him

- Goddesses: Artemis, Chloris, Cybele, Demeter, Gaea, Horae, Hegemone, Persephone/Kore, Physis, Rhea, Antheia, Apate, Anthousai, Dyrads, Epimeliades, Hamadyrades, and Meliae. (The last 5 are all types of Nymph related to the earth)

- Offerings: Plants, stones, gems, earthy foods, acts of kindness towards the earth and animals (volunteering, cleaning up trash, planting trees, etc)

Arts/Music/Dance/etc

- Gods: Apollo, Zeus, Dionysus

- Goddesses: Athena, and the Muses (Thalia, Melpomene, Cleo, Euterpe, Erato, Terpsichore, Calliope, Urania, and Polyhymnia/Polymnia)

- Offerings: Handmade art, dances, songs, wine

Chaos/Discord/Strife/etc

- Gods: Alastaor, Chaos, Tartarus, Deimos, Momus, Typhon, Zelus

- Goddesses: Até, Nemisis, Eris

- Offerings: Rotten fruit, messy art, dead plants, blades, bones, blood, anger

Childbirth/Children/Fertility/Life/etc

- Gods: Eros, Heracles, Pan, and Priapus (fun fact, although Dionysus is associated with Phallic symbols, he is not a (major) fertility god! Think of him as a god of casual sexual fun and expression.)

- Goddesses: Aphaea/Aphaia, Demeter, Eileithya

- Offerings: Play, children’s toys, breast milk, womb/placenta/etc imagery, baby dolls, fresh fruits

Communication/Messages

- Gods: Hermes

- Goddesses: Isis

- Offerings: Writing implements, paper, prayer, communication

Death/Underworld/Afterlife/etc

- Gods: Charon, Hades, Thanatos

- Goddesses: Hecate, Mania, Persephone/Kore, Styx, Clotho, Lachesis, Atropos

- Offerings: Deadly herbs, pomegranates, Fire, rich soil, gems, death, antiques

Fall/The harvest/Food/etc

- Gods: Aristaeus, Attis, Heracles, Priapus

- Goddesses: Antheia, Apate, Demeter, Gaia, Rhea, Cornucopia/Abundantia (Amalthea, technically an animal)

- Offerings: Apples, wheat, honey, scythes, sickles, seeds, grains, bread

Fame/Renown/Riches/Wealth/Heroes/Athletes/etc

- Gods: Dinlas, Hephaestus, Heracles, Hermes, Plutus, Hades

- Goddesses: Pheme, Tyche

- Offerings: Statues, gold, coins, prayers, adoration, laurels

Fire

- Gods: Hephaestus

- Goddesses: Hestia

- Offerings: Fire herbs and stones, bonfires, candles, coals, metals

Home/Hearth/Family/etc

- Goddesses: Hestia

- Offerings: Fire in a fireplace, love, brick from a home, pinecones

Justice/Judgement/Law

- Gods: Alastor, Zeus

- Goddesses: Dike, Demeter, Themis

- Offerings: Scales, scythes, righteous acts, silver

Knowledge/Wisdom

- Gods: Apollo, Prometheus

- Goddesses: Athena, Metis

- Offerings: Books, writing, studying, researching, apples, tea, coffee, silver

Love/Beauty/Sex/Marriage/Women

- Gods: Eros, Hymenaios, Priapus, Pan

- Goddesses: Aphrodite, Hera, Peitho, All Nymphs

- Offerings: Romance, love, sex, self love, roses, flowers, brushes, sweets, candles, mirrors

Luck(bad and good)/Changing Luck

- Gods: Caerus, Eurus, Hermes

- Goddesses: The Fates

- Offerings: Aventurine, clover, dice and cards, liquor, green candles, apples, almonds

Magick/Prophecy

- Gods: Apollo, Hermes

- Goddesses: Bia, Hecate, Selene, Calypso, Circe, Oracles

- Offerings: Anything purple, plants for psychic enhancement (like mugwort), tea, mirrors, crystal balls, crone, maiden, and mother statues, triple moon sign, moon glyphs, runes

Moon/Night/Darkness/Stars/Dreams/Sleep/etc

- Gods: Aether, Crios, Erebus, Hesperus, Hypnos, Morpheus, Uranus, Oneiroi (demons, usually depicted as male)

- Goddesses: Achelois, Artemis, Astraea, Nyx, Selene, Urania, Keres (spirits of the night, usually depicted as female)

- Offerings: Moon Art, herbs related to the Moon, good sleep, silver, Moonstone

Peace/Joy/Hope/Harmony/etc

- Goddesses: Elpis, Harmonia

- Offerings: bright flowers, sweet songs, smiles, laughter, play

Protection/Healing/Medicine/etc

- Gods: Apollo, Asclepius, Dinlas, Heracles, Paean

- Goddesses: Achelois, Hygea

- Offerings: healing and protective herbs, protective runes, citrus fruits, self-care, baths, keeping yourself well-maintained

Spring

- Gods: Pallas

- Goddesses: Persephone/Kore

- Offerings: Greens, seeds, songs, eggs, blooming flowers

Summer

- Gods: Notus, Apollo

- Goddesses: Horae

- Offerings: Sun art, sweet wine, sport and play, summer herbs

Sun/Day/Light/Time

- Gods: Aether, Apollo, Helios, Phosphorus, Cronos, Crios

- Goddesses: Alectrona, Eos, Hemera

- Offerings: Sun art, herbs gathered in the daylight, mindfulness, hard work, cool drinks, hourglasses, watches/clocks

The Hunt/Archery/The Wild/etc

- Gods: Apollo, Heracles, Pan

- Goddesses: Artemis, Persephone/Kore, Rhea, Gaia

- Offerings: Fresh meat, water, dog/hound statues, arrows, antlers, walking in nature, burnt offerings

War/Warriors/Victory/Men/etc

- Gods: Ares, Dinlas, Kratos, Pallas, Zeus, Kydoimos (a demon of battle)

- Goddesses: Athena, Nike, Enyo

- Offerings: Blood, blood stone, blades, bones, war water

Water/The sea/Rain/Sailors/etc

- Gods: Achelous, Glaucus, Nerus, Oceanus, Pontus, Poseidon, Pricus, Triton

- Goddesses: Alcyone, Amphitrite, Brizo, Calypso, Celaeno, Ceto, Doris, Styx, Thetis

- Offerings: Sand, shells, clean up of water areas, meditation, blessed water

Weather

- Gods: Aeolus, Boreas, Eurus, Notus, Zephyrus, Zeus, Poseidon

- Goddesses: Hera, Demeter

- Offerings: Rainwater, enjoying the weather, prayers, dance, cotton

Winter

- Gods: Boreas

- Goddesses: Khione

- Offerings: Berries, bonfires, meat, hard liquor, warm drinks, winter herbs, mead, furs

🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱

That took a WHILE to type haha. I’ll post the Norse gods and goddesses later. I hope you enjoy the post, and I’m always open to answer any questions! Blessed be and have a great day 💕

[kissed-by-aphrodite]

2018 Pagan Witch Observances Calendar

JULY:

7/14-7/25 Old Norse/Icelandic Mid-Summer Althingi

Community gathering for democratic decision making. Foresti and Try, Gods of Justice and Self-Sacrifice, are honored. Toasts of mead and ale are made in honor of the Deities.

7/15eve - 7/16eve Feast of the Charities

Day to honor the Old Greek Goddesses of beneficence.

7/16eve - 7/17eve Feast of Old Greek Goddess Aphrodite

Day to honor peace and compassion.

7/20 Old Slavic festival of God Perun (The Thunderer)

He fought God Veles (the Dragon) over the affections of Goddess Solntse (the Sun), by throwing lightning bolts from the top of the World Tree.

7/27 Full Moon - Blessing Moon

This is a time to work on divination, dreamwork, and meditation. Count your blessings this month, and think about what you can do to bring more of them into your life.

7/28eve - 7/29eve Synoikia

Old Greek festival celebrating the peaceful cooperation of states. Offerings were made to Aphrodite and Eirene, Goddesses of friendship and peace.

AUGUST:

8/1 Lammas/Lughnasadh

Festival of thanksgiving for the first of the grain harvest. Celebrated by offering the first fruits of the grain harvest and prayers for sustenance for all.

8/4eve - 8/10eve Pananthenaea

Old Greek festival of Goddess Athena - as daughter of Wisdom (Goddess Metis) and font of reason.

8/7 Gaia Consciousness Day

Day to meditate on Mother Earth as a living planet.

8/11 New Moon

8/11eve - 8/12eve Metageitnion Noumenia

Old Greek festival honoring all the Gods and Goddesses. Flutes were played; prayers were said; offerings of barley, olive oil, incense, and food were burned in an offering hearth; and libations of water and wine were made.

8/13 Roman festival of Pomona

Goddess of apples and orchards.

8/14eve - 8/15eve Feast of Old Greek Deities Aphrodite and Eros

Day to honor love and passion.

8/16eve - 8/17eve Feast of Old Greek Goddess Artemis (Roman Diana/Slavic Diwitsa)

As defender of rights and liberties, and punisher of rapists and oppressors.

8/19 Vinalia

Old Roman festival of thanksgiving for the first of the grape harvest; celebrated by offering the first fruits of the grape harvest and prayers for sustenance for all. 

8/22eve - 8/23eve Old Greek festival honors Athena Polias and Zeus Polios

As protectors of city and state.

8/23 Roman festival of Vulcanalia

8/23 Feast of Furies

Honoring Nemesis and the Erinyes, Old Greek Goddesses who punish murderers, abusers, and exploiters of others.

8/25 Old Roman Festival of Goddess Ops

Lady of the Cornucopia, Bounty of the Harvest, and Sustainer of Life.

8/26 Full Moon - Corn Moon

Now is a time to focus on harvesting that which you have already planted… but don’t forget, it’s important to set some of your harvest aside for the coming winter months.

SEPTEMBER:

9/9 New Moon

9/10eve - 9/11eve Boedromion Noumenia

Old Greek festival honoring all the Gods and Goddesses. Flutes were played; prayers were said; offerings of barley, olive oil, incense, and food were burned in an offering hearth; and libations of water and wine were made.

9/12eve - 9/13eve Feast of Old Greek Goddess Athena

As protector and defender.

9/13eve - 9/14eve Feast of Old Greek Deities Aphrodite and Hermes

Day to honor the divine feminine and divine masculine in harmony.

9/14eve - 9/15eve Genesia

Old Greek festival in which offerings were made for the dead.

9/15 International Day of Democracy

Day to celebrate democratic systems of government throughout the world, bound by rule of law, principles of human rights, and civilian control. Day to affirm democracy’s capability with all peoples, all cultures, and all religions.

9/15eve - 9/16eve Feast of Old Greek Goddess Artemis (Roman Diana/Slavic Diwitsa)

As the huntress, destroyer of life.

9/21 International Day of Peace

Day to demonstrate for peace with justice throughout the world.

9/21eve - 9/22eve Demokratia

Old Greek festival celebrating democracy, constitutional government, and justice under law. Zeus Agoraios, Athena Agorais, and Themis were honored.

9/22 Mabon

Autumn Equinox - Marks the beginning of Autumn and point of equal daylight and darkness; celebrates the bounty of Mother Earth with feasting and aiding those in need.

9/22 Old Slavic Dozhinki

At the end of the grain harvest, God Jarilo/Lado betrays Goddess Morana/Lada, and he returns to the realm of the dead. Morana's anger and sadness causes the world to become dark, cold, and dead. As a God manifested in the grain, Jarilo's "death" is recognized with the last of the harvest.

9/22eve - 10/1eve Greater Eleusinian Mysteries

Old Greek festival recalling Goddess Demeter's search for Her missing daughter Kore. Devotees fasted, ritually bathed in the sea, processed by torch-light to the temple, made ritual offerings, and danced. They honored Demeter (as Mother Nature), Goddess Kore (as the harvested grain), and God Dionysos (as the harvested grape) for bringing life, death, and rebirth.

9/24 Full Moon - Harvest Moon

This is a season to celebrate hearth and home. Brew up some comfort food, begin storing your harvest for the winter, and settle in for a month of thanksgiving.

OCTOBER:

10/3 Roman Festival of Bacchus

God of vines, vegetation, and wine.

10/6eve - 10/7eve Old Greek festival honoring Gaia and the Nymphs

The Male and female Spirits of Nature

10/8 New Moon

10/8eve Old European feast of the Triple Goddess (Goddess of the Moon and the Seasons)

Marking the transformation of the Mother into the Crone.

10/8eve-10/9eve Feast of Old Greek Goddess Hekate

Who guides all through transitions and crisis.

10/9eve-10/10eve Pyanepsion Noumenia

Old Greek festival honoring all the Gods and Goddesses. Flutes were played; prayers were said; offerings of barley, olive oil, incense, and food were burned in an offering hearth; and libations of water and wine were made.

10/11eve-10/12eve Feast of the Charites

Day to honor the Old Greek Goddesses of beneficence.

10/12eve-10/13eve Feast of Old Greek Goddess Aphrodite

Day to honor peace and compassion.

10/14eve-10/15eve Proerosia

Old Greek festival in which fruits of all the harvest were offered to Goddess Demeter.

10/14-10/28 Old Norse Winter Nights Feast

The ancestors were remembered and offerings were made to the Deities (particularly the Norns, Freyja, and the Disir) to survive the season. Toasts of mead, ale, and cider were made in honor of the Deities.

10/19eve-10/22eve Thesmophoria

Old Greek festival commemorating the transformation of Goddess Kore (Queen of the Living) into Persephone (Queen of the Dead), when She eloped to Elysium with Her partner, God Dionysos/Plouton, accompanied by Goddess Hekate and spirits of the dead. At Eleusis, Dionysos was considered the life aspect and Plouton the death aspect of the same Deity, just as Kore was considered the life aspect and Persephone the death aspect of the same Deity. Dionysos was wild, and subject to excess drinking, dancing, and sex. While Kore, Gaia, Zeus, and Helios considered Him to be a marital prize, Demeter thought otherwise. Consequently, She mourned their union by striking the Earth with famine.

10/24 Full Moon - Blood Moon

It’s the dark half of the year, and the veil between our world and the spirit world is thin. Focus on divination, communication with departed ancestors, and psychic messages this month.

10/27eve - 10/30eve Apaturia

Old Greek Festival in which newcomers and children were welcomed into the community.

10/28 - 11/3 Isia

Old Romano-Eqyptian festival recalling Set (God of Destruction) killing God Osiris; Goddess Isis mourning Him, resurrecting Him, and conceiving God Horus with Him; and Osiris becoming Lord of Amenta, realm of the dead. He weighs souls against the Feather of Truth on Goddess Maat's Scale of Justice, but defers to Isis for those who fail the test.

10/31 Samhain

The Witches’ New Year

10/31 Day to mourn the women tortured and killed as "witches" because of their independence, wealth, wisdom, or religion.

10/31eve - 11/2eve Samhain

Old Celtic/Welsh New Year and feast of Cerridwen (Goddess of Death) and Beli (the Holly King - God of the Waning Sun).

10/31eve - 11/7eve Mid-Autumn/Day of the Dead/Hallowmas

Festival marking the transformation of life to death - the end of the agricultural year, departure of migrating and hibernating animals, and decay and death of vegetal and animal life. Observed by remembering departed ancestors and contemplating one's own mortality.

NOVEMBER:

11/2 World Community Day

Day for celebrating the unity behind diversity and remembering we are all one people - all children of the one universal Deity of many names and aspects.

11/5eve - 11/6eve Khalkeia

Old Greek festival honoring Goddess Athena and God Haphaistos for their gifts of crafts and technology.

11/7 New Moon

11/8eve - 11/9eve Maimakterion Noumenia

Old Greek festival honoring all the Gods and Goddesses. Flutes were played; prayers were said; offerings of barley, olive oil, incense, and food were burned in an offering hearth; and libations of water and wine were made.

11/11eve - 11/12eve Feast of Old Greek Deities Aphrodite and Eros

Day to Honor love and passion.

11/11 - 11/17 Old Anglo-Teutonic fast

Marking Hod (God of Darkness) unintentionally killing Balder (God of Light), and his true love Nanna (Goddess of Flowers) dying of a broken heart. The dead were honored.

11/15 Fast for an Abundant World Harvest

Day to fast and commit to action to help prevent deaths from malnourishment world-wide.

11/16 Tolerance Day

Day to promote harmony in diversity through mutual respect and understanding of all, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, nationality, or economic status.

11/22 Thanksgiving Day

Day to give thanks for the abundance of our land and for our food, clothes, shelter, and health.

11/23 Full Moon - Mourning Moon

Why not use this month to shed your bad habits and toxic relationships, and get a fresh start? Work on developing and strengthening your connection with the Divine as well.

11/30 Festival of Hecate Trivia

Honoring Hecate, a goddess of magic and sorcery.

DECEMBER:

12/1 World AIDS Day

Day to pray for healing of all those suffering with AIDS and HIV

12/5 Krampusnacht

Celebrating Krampus, a Bavarian figure who is the opposite of Santa Clause.

12/7 New Moon

12/7eve - 12/8eve Poseidon Noumenia

Old Greek Festival honoring all the Gods and Goddesses. Flutes were played; prayers were said; offerings of barley, olive oil, incense, and food were burned in an offering hearth; and libations of water and wine were made.

12/9eve - 12/10eve Feast of Old Greek Goddess Athena

As protector and defender.

12/10eve - 12/11eve Feast of Old Greek Deities Aphrodite and Hermes

Day to honor the divine feminine and divine masculine in harmony.

12/13 Feast of the Light-bringer

Honoring Goddess as Juno Lucina (Old Roman) & Lucia (Old Swedish); merged with the Christian feast of St. Lucia.

12/14eve - 12/15eve Feast of God Poseidon, Goddess Amphitrite, and all Old Greek Gods and Goddesses of the seas

12/17 - 12/23 Saturnalia/Opalia

Old Roman festival honoring God Saturn (the weak Sun) & Goddess Ops (the fallow Earth); celebrated with gift-giving, revelry, and abolishment of all class distinctions.

12/21 Yule/Winter Solstice/Solar New Year

Marks the beginning of Winter and the shortest day and longest night of the year; celebration of the darkness with dancing near the hearth fire.

12/21 - 12/22 Old European Festival of Evergreen Trees

Merged into International Arbor Day. Celebrated by planting trees and hanging wreaths (symbols of eternal life).

12/21 - 12/25 Old Romano-Egyptian festival of Goddess Isis giving birth to God Horus.

12/21eve - 12/25eve Rustic Dionysia

Old Greek festival honoring God Dionysos as patron of drama, poetry, music, and inspiration. Actors performed sacred drama, poets recited hymns, musicians played instruments, singers sang songs, and dancers danced.

12/22 Full Moon - Long Nights Moon

Now is a good season for spiritual alchemy. It’s time to evaluate your life, and know that you’ll survive the dark times. If you’ve already put the darkness behind you, take your good fortune and share it with others.

12/25eve - 12/26eve Old Greek festival in which offerings were made to the Wind Gods of the eight directions.

12/25 - 1/5 Yule

Old Anglo-Teutonic festival honoring Freyr and Freyja (Deities of Fertility) and the newborn Balder (God of Light), son of Frigga and Odin. Celebrated with evergreens, fires, and feasting.

12/25 Feast of Frau Holle

Germanic goddess

12/31 Feast of Father Time (Old Roman Saturn)

Who ultimately overcomes us all.

12/31 Festival of Hogmanay

[blackhatcoven-blog]

30 days of Aphrodite, Day 6

Since I already posted Sappho’s hymn to Aphrodite, here is Hymn 5 by Hugh E. Evelyn-White: 

To Aphrodite[1] Muse, tell me the deeds of golden Aphrodite the Cyprian, who stirs up sweet passion in the gods and subdues the tribes of mortal men and birds that fly in air and all the many creatures [5] that the dry land rears, and all that the sea: all these love the deeds of rich-crowned Cytherea.

Yet there are three hearts that she cannot bend nor yet ensnare. First is the daughter of Zeus who holds the aegis, bright-eyed Athena; for she has no pleasure in the deeds of golden Aphrodite, [10] but delights in wars and in the work of Ares, in strifes and battles and in preparing famous crafts. She first taught earthly craftsmen to make chariots of war and cars variously wrought with bronze, and she, too, teaches tender maidens in the house [15] and puts knowledge of goodly arts in each one's mind. Nor does laughter-loving Aphrodite ever tame in love Artemis, the huntress with shafts of gold; for she loves archery and the slaying of wild beasts in the mountains, the lyre also and dancing and thrilling cries [20] and shady woods and the cities of upright men. Nor yet does the pure maiden Hestia love Aphrodite's works. She was the first-born child of wily Cronos and youngest too,1 by will of Zeus who holds the aegis, —a queenly maid whom both Poseidon and Apollo sought to wed. [25] But she was wholly unwilling, nay, stubbornly refused; and touching the head of father Zeus who holds the aegis, she, that fair goddess, swear a great oath which has in truth been fulfilled, that she would be a maiden all her days. So Zeus the Father gave her an high honor instead of marriage, [30] and she has her place in the midst of the house and has the richest portion. In all the temples of the gods she has a share of honor, and among all mortal men she is chief of the goddesses.

Of these three Aphrodite cannot bend or ensnare the hearts. But of all others there is nothing [35] among the blessed gods or among mortal men that has escaped Aphrodite. Even the heart of Zeus, who delights in thunder, is led astray by her; though he is greatest of all and has the lot of highest majesty, she beguiles even his wise heart whensoever she pleases, and mates him with mortal women, [40] unknown to Hera, his sister and his wife, the grandest far in beauty among the deathless goddesses —most glorious is she whom wily Cronos with her mother Rhea did beget: and Zeus, whose wisdom is everlasting, made her his chaste and careful wife.

[45] But upon Aphrodite herself Zeus cast sweet desire to be joined in love with a mortal man, to the end that, very soon, not even she should be innocent of a mortal's love; lest laughter-loving Aphrodite should one day softly smile and say mockingly among all the gods [50] that she had joined the gods in love with mortal women who bare sons of death to the deathless gods, and had mated the goddesses with mortal men.

And so he put in her heart sweet desire for Anchises who at that time among the steep hills of many-fountained Ida [55] was tending cattle, and in shape was like the immortal gods. Therefore, when laughter-loving Aphrodite saw him, she loved him, and terribly desire seized her in her heart. She went to Cyprus, to Paphos, where her precinct is and fragrant altar, and passed into her sweet-smelling temple. [60] There she went in and put to the glittering doors, and there the Graces bathed her with heavenly oil such as blooms upon the bodies of the eternal gods —oil divinely sweet, which she had by her, filled with fragrance. And laughter-loving Aphrodite put on all her rich clothes, [65] and when she had decked herself with gold, she left sweet-smelling Cyprus and went in haste towards Troy, swiftly travelling high up among the clouds. So she came to many-fountained Ida, the mother of wild creatures and went straight to the homestead across the mountains. After her [70] came grey wolves, fawning on her, and grim-eyed lions, and bears, and fleet leopards, ravenous for deer: and she was glad in heart to see them, and put desire in their breasts, so that they all mated, two together, about the shadowy coombes.

[75] But she herself came to the neat-built shelters, and him she found left quite alone in the homestead —the hero Anchises who was comely as the gods. All the others were following the herds over the grassy pastures, and he, left quite alone in the homestead, [80] was roaming hither and thither and playing thrillingly upon the lyre. And Aphrodite, the daughter of Zeus stood before him, being like a pure maiden in height and mien, that he should not be frightened when he took heed of her with his eyes. Now when Anchises saw her, he marked her well and wondered at [85] her mien and height and shining garments. For she was clad in a robe out-shining the brightness of fire, [89] a splendid robe of gold, enriched with all manner of needlework, which shimmered like the moon [90] over her tender breasts, a marvel to see. Also she wore twisted brooches and shining earrings in the form of flowers; [87] and round her soft throat were lovely necklaces. [88]

And Anchises was seized with love, and said to her: [91] “Hail, lady, whoever of the blessed ones you are that are come to this house, whether Artemis, or Leto, or golden Aphrodite, or high-born Themis, or bright-eyed Athena. [95] Or, maybe, you are one of the Graces come hither, who bear the gods company and are called immortal, or else one of the Nymphs who haunt the pleasant woods, or of those who inhabit this lovely mountain and the springs of rivers and grassy meads. [100] I will make you an altar upon a high peak in a far seen place, and will sacrifice rich offerings to you at all seasons. And do you feel kindly towards me and grant that I may become a man very eminent among the Trojans, and give me strong offspring for the time to come. As for my own self, [105] let me live long and happily, seeing the light of the sun, and come to the threshold of old age, a man prosperous among the people.”

Thereupon Aphrodite the daughter of Zeus answered him: “Anchises, most glorious of all men born on earth, know that I am no goddess: why do you liken me to the deathless ones? [110] Nay, I am but a mortal, and a woman was the mother that bare me. Otreus of famous name is my father, if so be you have heard of him, and he reigns over all Phrygia rich in fortresses. But I know your speech well beside my own, for a Trojan nurse brought me up at home: [115] she took me from my dear mother and reared me thenceforth when I was a little child. So comes it, then, that I well know your tongue also. And now the Slayer of Argus with the golden wand has caught me up from the dance of huntress Artemis, her with the golden arrows. For there were many of us, nymphs and marriageable2 maidens, [120] playing together; and an innumerable company encircled us: from these the Slayer of Argus with the golden wand rapt me away. He carried me over many fields of mortal men and over much land untilled and unpossessed, where savage wild-beasts roam through shady coombes, [125] until I thought never again to touch the life-giving earth with my feet. And he said that I should be called the wedded wife of Anchises, and should bear you goodly children. But when he had told and advised me, he, the strong Slayer of Argos, went back to the families of the deathless gods, [130] while I am now come to you: for unbending necessity is upon me. But I beseech you by Zeus and by your noble parents —for no base folk could get such a son as you —take me now, stainless and unproved in love, and show me to your father and careful mother [135] and to your brothers sprung from the same stock. I shall be no ill-liking daughter for them, but a likely. Moreover, send a messenger quickly to the swift-horsed Phrygians, to tell my father and my sorrowing mother; and they will send you gold in plenty and woven stuffs, many splendid gifts; [140] take these as bride-piece. So do, and then prepare the sweet marriage that is honorable in the eyes of men and deathless gods.”

When she had so spoken, the goddess put sweet desire in his heart. And Anchises was seized with love, so that he opened his mouth and said:

[145] “If you are a mortal and a woman was the mother who bare you, and Otreus of famous name is your father as you say, and if you are come here by the will of Hermes the immortal Guide, and are to be called my wife always, then neither god nor mortal man [150] shall here restrain me till I have lain with you in love right now; no, not even if far-shooting Apollo himself should launch grievous shafts from his silver bow. Willingly would I go down into the house of Hades, O lady, beautiful as the goddesses, once I had gone up to your bed.”

[155] So speaking, he caught her by the hand. And laughter-loving Aphrodite, with face turned away and lovely eyes downcast, crept to the well-spread couch which was already laid with soft coverings for the hero; and upon it lay skins of bears and deep-roaring lions [160] which he himself had slain in the high mountains. And when they had gone up upon the well-fitted bed, first Anchises took off her bright jewelry of pins and twisted brooches and earrings and necklaces, and loosed her girdle and stripped off her bright garments [165] and laid them down upon a silver-studded seat. Then by the will of the gods and destiny he lay with her, a mortal man with an immortal goddess, not clearly knowing what he did.

But at the time when the herdsmen drive their oxen and hardy sheep back to the fold from the flowery pastures, [170] even then Aphrodite poured soft sleep upon Anchises, but herself put on her rich raiment. And when the bright goddess had fully clothed herself, she stood by the couch, and her head reached to the well-hewn roof-tree; from her cheeks shone unearthly beauty [175] such as belongs to rich-crowned Cytherea. Then she aroused him from sleep and opened her mouth and said:

“Up, son of Dardanus! —why sleep you so heavily? —and consider whether I look as I did when first you saw me with your eyes.”

[180] “So she spake. And he awoke in a moment and obeyed her. But when he saw the neck and lovely eyes of Aphrodite, he was afraid and turned his eyes aside another way, hiding his comely face with his cloak. Then he uttered winged words and entreated her:

[185] “So soon as ever I saw you with my eyes, goddess, I knew that you were divine; but you did not tell me truly. Yet by Zeus who holds the aegis I beseech you, leave me not to lead a palsied life among men, but have pity on me; [190] for he who lies with a deathless goddess is no hale man afterwards.”

Then Aphrodite the daughter of Zeus answered him: “Anchises, most glorious of mortal men, take courage and be not too fearful in your heart. You need fear no harm from me [195] nor from the other blessed ones, for you are dear to the gods: and you shall have a dear son who shall reign among the Trojans, and children's children after him, springing up continually. His name shall be Aeneas,3 because I felt awful grief in that I laid me in the bed of a mortal man: [200] yet are those of your race always the most like to gods of all mortal men in beauty and in stature.4

Verily wise Zeus carried off golden-haired Ganymedes because of his beauty, to be amongst the Deathless Ones and pour drink for the gods in the house of Zeus — [205] a wonder to see—,honored by all the immortals as he draws the red nectar from the golden bowl. But grief that could not be soothed filled the heart of Tros; for he knew not whither the heaven-sent whirlwind had caught up his dear son, so that he mourned him always, unceasingly, [210] until Zeus pitied him and gave him high-stepping horses such as carry the immortals as recompense for his son. These he gave him as a gift. And at the command of Zeus, the Guide, the slayer of Argus, told him all, and how his son would be deathless and unageing, even as the gods. [215] So when Tros heard these tidings from Zeus, he no longer kept mourning but rejoiced in his heart and rode joyfully with his storm-footed horses.

So also golden-throned Eos rapt away Tithonus who was of your race and like the deathless gods. [220] And she went to ask the dark-clouded Son of Cronos that he should be deathless and live eternally; and Zeus bowed his head to her prayer and fulfilled her desire. Too simple was queenly Eos: she thought not in her heart to ask youth for him and to strip him of the slough of deadly age. [225] So while he enjoyed the sweet flower of life he lived rapturously with golden-throned Eos, the early-born, by the streams of Ocean, at the ends of the earth; but when the first grey hairs began to ripple from his comely head and noble chin, [230] queenly Eos kept away from his bed, though she cherished him in her house and nourished him with food and ambrosia and gave him rich clothing. But when loathsome old age pressed full upon him, and he could not move nor lift his limbs, [235] this seemed to her in her heart the best counsel: she laid him in a room and put to the shining doors. There he babbles endlessly, and no more has strength at all, such as once he had in his supple limbs.

I would not have you be deathless among the deathless gods [240] and live continually after such sort. Yet if you could live on such as now you are in look and in form, and be called my husband, sorrow would not then enfold my careful heart. But, as it is, harsh5 old age will soon enshroud you — [245] ruthless age which stands someday at the side of every man, deadly, wearying, dreaded even by the gods.

And now because of you I shall have great shame among the deathless gods henceforth, continually. For until now they feared my jibes and the wiles by which, or soon or late, [250] I mated all the immortals with mortal women, making them all subject to my will. But now my mouth shall no more have this power among the gods; for very great has been my madness, my miserable and dreadful madness, and I went astray out of my mind [255] who have gotten a child beneath my girdle, mating with a mortal man. As for the child, as soon as he sees the light of the sun, the deep-breasted mountain Nymphs who inhabit this great and holy mountain shall bring him up. They rank neither with mortals nor with immortals: [260] long indeed do they live, eating heavenly food and treading the lovely dance among the immortals, and with them the Sileni and the sharp-eyed Slayer of Argus mate in the depths of pleasant caves; but at their birth pines or high-topped oaks [265] spring up with them upon the fruitful earth, beautiful, flourishing trees, towering high upon the lofty mountains （and men call them holy places of the immortals, and never mortal lops them with the axe）; but when the fate of death is near at hand, [270] first those lovely trees wither where they stand, and the bark shrivels away about them, and the twigs fall down, and at last the life of the Nymph and of the tree leave the light of the sun together. These Nymphs shall keep my son with them and rear him, and as soon as he is come to lovely boyhood, [275] the goddesses will bring him here to you and show you your child. But, that I may tell you all that I have in mind, I will come here again towards the fifth year and bring you my son. So soon as ever you have seen him —a scion to delight the eyes —, you will rejoice in beholding him; for he shall be most godlike: [280] them bring him at once to windy Ilion. And if any mortal man ask you who got your dear son beneath her girdle, remember to tell him as I bid you: say he is the offspring of one of the flower-like Nymphs [285] who inhabit this forest-clad hill. But if you tell all and foolishly boast that you lay with rich-crowned Aphrodite, Zeus will smite you in his anger with a smoking thunderbolt. Now I have told you all. Take heed: [290] refrain and name me not, but have regard to the anger of the gods.”

When the goddess had so spoken, she soared up to windy heaven.

Hail, goddess, queen of well-builded Cyprus! with you have I begun; now I will turn me to another hymn.

[marmidas]

The twins! 

Themis is now a materialistic artist concerned about his legacy (and the first non-magical child to be born in the family in three generations)

Hermes on his part is a proper over achiever who wants to go on adventures. 

[marmidas]

Twins 💕

[marmidas]

When you’re feeling down, it is good to have a twin who is always there to cheer you up a little.

[marmidas]

[marmidas]

It is the festival of light and everyone is invited!

[marmidas]

[marmidas]

I am noticing a slight bias in the parental attention here

[marmidas]

Since Gere work in the evenings (and Deangelo don’t particularily enjoy being cooped up with the kids in the tiny house), Deangelo decided they’d all have a nice day at the park. 

[marmidas]

[marmidas]

Themis: -and then it said it’s name was Vladislaus! Gere: Oh no, he’s back!

[marmidas]

Themis is terrified of the dark, so naturally Hermes had him join him in the haunted house