templeof-demeter

[templeof-demeter]

January divination with Demeter

1. What message do you have for followers of the temple?

Knight of Cups

King of Cups

Demeter is letting us know that even if our projects and dreams do not come to fruition as quickly as we desire, and if they do not come to fruition at all, that it is okay. We have the capabilities in us to handle challenges in mature ways, even if our first response feels immature or mercurial. What we get may not be what we expect, so this is a time to practice navigating confusions and strong emotions. Do not be upset by your human nature and response, but do work on growth and change to become better where you need to be.

2. What advice do you have for followers who may be going through difficult times this month

Knight of Wands

Sigma

Be bold with your choices. Demeter reminds us to not always stick to the status quo, just as she did not. If Demeter had stuck to what was expected to do we would not have our seasons, our Homeric Hymn, and she would never see her beloved daughter Persephone again. You may not have your vision or goals set, but that shouldn’t stop you from working on yourself and finding out those goals.

“Apollo speaks plainly; stay, friend.”

3. What signs or symbols should followers be looking out for this month?

Nine of Wands

Motivational quotes, groups of nine, yellows, leaves

This does not mean everything we see is a sign, but to look out for notable aspects of these things. Such as a group of nine animals when you’ve only ever seen one or two, or for newly painted yellow walls, etc. Use discretion.

[templeof-demeter]

Update: Likely getting it replaced, and I am working on queuing many posts for the temple as I attempt to fix my attention span and work more towards my personal goals. The ask box is always open, and the discord active! Just needing time to work and grow myself.

01/12/2025 - Question of the Week

I will be taking a break from QOTW until I get my laptop fixed. Thank you for your patience!

[templeof-demeter]

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. 💜 🍇

[templeof-demeter]

Hear me, Demeter Thesmophoros, as I pray for those who seek you now

In your journeys you have encountered trial and tribulation, been the one too stand up and fight for what is just.

and today, I am before you arms outstretched in hopes of reaching you.

I ask of you, Great Mother, for your comforting embrace

In these times of anxiety and fear for many, we look towards the Gods

for your hope, your light, your guidance, and your love.

May those in homes and lands unsafe be protected,

May those without homes be sheltered,

May those without justice or hope find it swiftly.

Demeter, Great Mother and Bringer of Law,

We thank you with every meal, for the creation is of your doing

And we thank you for the comforts each bring

[templeof-demeter]

01/12/2025 - Question of the Week

I will be taking a break from QOTW until I get my laptop fixed. Thank you for your patience!

[templeof-demeter]

For me, I will be trying to work on my phone addiction so I can connect more with my spiritual side and have a greater attention span, which are things I need to connect with Demeter. I also plan to continue learning about gardening in small spaces and letting myself eat when I feel like it, not when I am just bored or forgetting to eat for days.

01/05/2025 - Question of the Week

Happy New Year!

In what ways do you plan to celebrate and connect with Demeter this year?

[templeof-demeter]

To those struggling with the LA fires, I hope you are safe and ok. I'm so sorry for what you're going through. Please take care during this time.

If anyone is interested, you can donate to the California Fire Foundation to offer support to survivors, Direct Relief's wildfire fund to support survivors, the Canine Rescue Club to offer support to displaced dogs, or In Defense of Animals' wildfire rescue to support domestic and wild animals displaced by the fire.

(Embedded links to the websites are included; I encourage you to look into them before donating, if you aren't familiar with them)

[templeof-demeter]

something that comes up a lot in pagan spaces both online and irl I've noticed is this idea that nature/the natural world is "preferred" by the Gods, and that they aren't as likely to engage with worshippers in big cities or with modern technology.

and while it is true that nature is extremely important to the Gods, and many of us are frankly isolated from it, it has always felt off to me that people just unquestioningly accept this idea that Nature = Good and Civilization = Bad.

maybe it's because our current society is not structured in a way that allows for a reciprocal relationship with nature, or maybe it's because of some unconscious "noble savage" tropes being projected onto the polytheistic societies of the past.

regardless, when you actually look at the mythology, you find this assumption isn't true. sure, there are deities who may individually lean towards one or the other (Artemis comes to mind) - but generally speaking the Gods engaged with both the natural world and what was, for the time, modern society.

and I love the wild/nature aspects of Dionysus SO much. but to only focus on that side of him, and ignore his role in theater, viticulture and the arts (part of culture and civilization) would be both a disservice to myself and the power of the God.

and then there are Gods like Hephaestus, who may even "prefer" engaging with modern technology. people seem to forget there are like, literal robots in Greek mythology?

here's an example:

"The [mythical first bronze] temple [of Apollon at Delphoi] was the work of Hephaistos, or the legend about the Golden Singers, referred to by Pindaros in his verses about this bronze temple :--‘Above the pediment sang Khryseiai Keledones (Golden Charmers).’"

Pausanias, Description of Greece 10. 5. 12 (trans. Jones)

Hephaestus made Apollo automaton singers for one of his temples?? like that's cool as fuck

(as a side note, I do NOT think the arguments I'm making here apply to AI generated "content" - Hephaestus never made anything that deliberately stole the artwork of humans. fuck AI.)

but my point here is that for most of the Gods, the Nature vs. Civilization thing a lot of pagans hold on to is a false dichotomy. capitalism, colonialism and the exploitation of life have made our current society unsustainable, but civilization itself isn't inherently bad.

we must respect and honor nature. but we also need to respect and honor ourselves.

[templeof-demeter]

I am really struggling with phone and internet addiction, I may have to do some more adjustments to my phone and/or an internet detox. If anyone has any tips or advice please let me know. I have been using the internet as my sanctuary since my families first computer, so it’s really been a struggle to navigate especially with my main religious communities being online.

[templeof-demeter]

January divination with Demeter

1. What message do you have for followers of the temple?

Knight of Cups

King of Cups

Demeter is letting us know that even if our projects and dreams do not come to fruition as quickly as we desire, and if they do not come to fruition at all, that it is okay. We have the capabilities in us to handle challenges in mature ways, even if our first response feels immature or mercurial. What we get may not be what we expect, so this is a time to practice navigating confusions and strong emotions. Do not be upset by your human nature and response, but do work on growth and change to become better where you need to be.

2. What advice do you have for followers who may be going through difficult times this month

Knight of Wands

Sigma

Be bold with your choices. Demeter reminds us to not always stick to the status quo, just as she did not. If Demeter had stuck to what was expected to do we would not have our seasons, our Homeric Hymn, and she would never see her beloved daughter Persephone again. You may not have your vision or goals set, but that shouldn’t stop you from working on yourself and finding out those goals.

“Apollo speaks plainly; stay, friend.”

3. What signs or symbols should followers be looking out for this month?

Nine of Wands

Motivational quotes, groups of nine, yellows, leaves

This does not mean everything we see is a sign, but to look out for notable aspects of these things. Such as a group of nine animals when you’ve only ever seen one or two, or for newly painted yellow walls, etc. Use discretion.

[templeof-demeter]

I will be doing this divination session tonight!

Good morning, and of course, Happy New Year!!

Due to todays many festivities and rituals, I will be doing the monthly divination post this next Wednesday instead of today.

If you have any New Year rituals or plans, I wish you the best of luck with them! May 2025 hold many blessings for us all.

[templeof-demeter]

Queue is paused!

[templeof-demeter]

Queen of the Dead part 2, 47

I have started drawing on the comic again, but I’m taking it very slow since I still easily get overwhelmed. I'm still not sure about some of the previous scenes and I might redraw them later, but for now I have at least six new pages for you. ^^

[templeof-demeter]

01/05/2025 - Question of the Week

Happy New Year!

In what ways do you plan to celebrate and connect with Demeter this year?

[templeof-demeter]

I think if there’s one thing that many of us in the vast community of polytheistic worship can agree upon, it’s that research never stops. Learning never ends. There is always more to know.

There is no one specific way to practice, but for the love of the Gods PLEASE be open to new information or you’re just doing yourself a disservice.

[templeof-demeter]

I am eternally grateful for artists giving faces to the Gods and their loves. Whether it's out of the love and devotion of their own, or simply out of a love of art, it helps me visualize them in my worship, prayer, and general practice and thoughts of them.

Blessed be all you who draw such beautiful (and also sometimes silly!) pieces of art. I'm so honored to be graced by such beauty and creativity. 🧡 ☀️

[templeof-demeter]

Progress pictures of a modern temple to Pan being built in Arcadia, Greece. The guy spearheading the project is archaeologist Evangelos Bexis, and when it's complete it will be painted with vibrant colors, just as all temples were in ancient times.

Nature is healing, and Pan returns to Arcadia. Praises and glory to the deathless gods!