tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28552371733592689382024-02-20T07:21:18.707-06:00Everyday HellenicsThe Life, Worship and Hearth Traditions of a Modern American HelleneAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270642198672901054noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2855237173359268938.post-39799816791210317082011-01-19T07:00:00.001-06:002011-01-19T07:00:16.954-06:00Invocation to Dionysos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/TTM5hznaVBI/AAAAAAAAA1w/3xmm-74Aeic/s1600/DionysusVase.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/TTM5hznaVBI/AAAAAAAAA1w/3xmm-74Aeic/s200/DionysusVase.jpg" width="158" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Dionysos, </div><div style="text-align: center;">Lord of wine and liberty,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Joy and dance and revel among us</div><div style="text-align: center;">O giver of life's sweet ecstasy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Dionysos,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Free and wild and strange and strong,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Enliven our minds, enrapture our bodies.</div><div style="text-align: center;">O Lord, we pray you hear our song.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">-M. Ashley</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270642198672901054noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2855237173359268938.post-87510534206224243042011-01-18T07:00:00.001-06:002011-01-18T07:00:03.158-06:00To Zeus, Father of All<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The following is a daily <a href="http://everydayhellenics.blogspot.com/p/hymns-and-prayers.html">prayer</a> that I developed based on the many different versions of <a href="http://www.controverscial.com/The%20Charge%20of%20the%20God.htm">The Charge of the God</a>. In my personal devotion, I find it works well for Zeus.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/TFl_S7BCWfI/AAAAAAAAAzs/jIEbg9I17xU/s1600/Cernunnos_by_Taurina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/TFl_S7BCWfI/AAAAAAAAAzs/jIEbg9I17xU/s200/Cernunnos_by_Taurina.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Beloved Father, Begetter of All, Great Lord of this Earth, Keeper of the Mysteries of Life Ever Reborn, yours is the flame of desire--yours the gale of action. Yours is the promise of peace--yours the law of Harmony. Teach us this day to live your law--to keep pure our highest ideals, that nothing or no one may turn us aside from our Divine Inheritance--from communion with you. Grant us an awakening of our bodies, that they may rise to answer both our wild natures and our cultivated arts. Bless us to know ourselves as you know us--in all our perfect mortal imperfections--and to love ourselves and our fellows because our hearts and vision have been so filled. Grant us this day of your courage and hope, your vision and depth, your action and stillness, your wisdom and abundance. As we seek for you in the wild flesh and forest of the Earth, let us also seek within ourselves, and let us ever remember the greatest of all truths--that as we live, die and live again encircled by you, so you live, die and live again enfolded within us.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">So it is, and so it shall be, forever and ever, Blessed by the Mystery.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">-<a href="http://www.facebook.com/mnashley">M. Ashley</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270642198672901054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2855237173359268938.post-81630099603598582732011-01-17T07:00:00.001-06:002011-01-17T07:00:15.972-06:00To the Source of All Living<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">The following is a daily<a href="http://everydayhellenics.blogspot.com/p/hymns-and-prayers.html"> prayer</a> I developed based on <a href="http://www.controverscial.com/The%20Charge%20of%20the%20Goddess.htm">Doreen Valiente's Charge of the Goddess</a>. It could rightly be used for just about any Goddess in the pantheon, but personally I most often use it as devotion to <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_787221889">Demeter</a> or Hera.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_787221889"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_787221889" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/TFb6UVW6lmI/AAAAAAAAAzk/sKDBYKF9VI4/s200/CircleSpiralGoddess.gif" width="200" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_787221889"><br />
</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Beloved Mother, Source of All Living, Light and Life of Worlds Without end, yours is the ecstasy of the Spirit. Yours is joy unto all. Yours is the everlasting law of love. Teach us this day to live your law--to keep pure our highest ideals, that nothing or no one may turn us aside from our Divine Inheritance, from communion with you. Bless us with an awakening of our souls that they may heed your call and arise unto you--that we may know ourselves as you know us, in truth, and love ourselves and our fellows all the more because our hearts and vision have been so filled. Grant us this day of your balance, your beauty and strength, wisdom and abundance, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence. As we seek for you, let us also seek within ourselves, and let us ever remember the greatest of all truths; that as our lives flow from within you, so you live and flow within us.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_787221894"><br />
</a></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_787221894">So it is and so shall it be, forever and ever, blessed by the Mystery.</a></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_787221894"><br />
</a></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">-M. Ashley</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270642198672901054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2855237173359268938.post-20524602067113001502011-01-16T12:00:00.000-06:002011-01-16T12:00:01.296-06:00Inquiring Pagans Want to Know<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">In the fine Hermetical tradition of good artists borrowing and great ones stealing, I lifted this Pagan questionnaire from the fabulous blog written by Peter Helms' who, I believe, nipped it from Hellenismos.us, where it was originally snagged from Songs from the Wild Wood. Even if all of these questions don't apply to you--such as the ones about vampires having absolutely NOTHING to do with my spirituality--there are several in there that are important for all Pagans to answer so as to clarify their spirituality in their own minds. At least that's what it did for me. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/TTE33I0-Q2I/AAAAAAAAA1s/WJNkQkp9Jiw/s1600/img-thing.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/TTE33I0-Q2I/AAAAAAAAA1s/WJNkQkp9Jiw/s200/img-thing.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Do you have a magical/Pagan name?</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">No. I believe very strongly in the importance of authenticating your spiritual intentions by using the name you’ve used all of your life--the name that has the most “you” in it so that your spiritual practice is truly yours and does not belong to some fairy tale self you’ve concocted out of silver moons and raven’s feathers.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">What does it mean? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">My actual name, Michelle, means, “Who is like God?” Whether there should be a question mark or a period at the end of that is much debated. I prefer the question mark as I feel there is so much more depth there.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">How did you find Paganism? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I found Paganism by way of two magnificent books: The Red Book and The Body Sacred. Those led me to Wicca which, in its due course, led me to Hellenism.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">How long have you been practicing? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I have been practicing since December of 2006. Crazy that it has been over four years already.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Solitary or group practitioner? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Mostly I celebrate my Hellenism alone or with my fiance, but I do often get to celebrate just general Pagan grooviness in small groups.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">What is your path? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I consider myself a modern American Hellene--which is to say that I take all the fabulous information and diversity of culture to which I am privy as an American and mix it together over a base of solid Hellenic revivalism. I am much more a “spirit of the law” person than I could ever be a “letter of the law” type.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Are you out of the broom closet? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Being as I’m pretty sure I’m not a witch in the neo-traditional Wiccan sense, I see no need to be in a broom closet.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Who is your patron God? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I am a Hermes girl down to my bones.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Who is your patron Goddess? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I have a very special and unique relationships with Hestia, Demeter and Hera.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">What Gods do you worship? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I worship the Gods of the Greek pantheon.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Do you fear darkly aspected Gods/Goddess, or rather respect them? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I believe all Gods/Goddesses have aspects both dark and light. I worship my Divine Family in all their aspects.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Do you worship the Christian God? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I respect Yeshua as a teacher and great one in spirit, but I do not worship him as a God.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Do you ever worship animals? Or plants?</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">No. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">NATURE</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Do you regularly commune with nature?</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I listen to the world around me and love to watch the stars. Not sure though if that counts as communion. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Ever walked barefoot in the woods? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">No. Too afraid of hookworm and other boogies my eyes are too poor to warn me of.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Taken a camping trip just to talk to nature? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">No. Although Demeter and I have a beautiful relationship, I am not, by nature, a nature girl.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Describe the moment you felt closest to Mother Earth? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Lying on the floor of my last apartment and trying to stay so still I could feel the earth move.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Do you have a familiar? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Yes, in a way my oldest dog DannyBoy is like a familiar--but more like a guide and protector as any good dog should be.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Have you ever called upon the powers of an animal in ritual? Or a plant? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">No.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Do you hug trees? Give them gifts? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I have touched the bark of a tree and offered libation to the dryads that resided there.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">What is your favorite flower to work with? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Can’t say I’ve ever worked with flowers.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">What is your favorite tree to work with? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I haven’t really worked with trees themselves, but again, have offered libations to dryads.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">WHEEL OF THE YEAR</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">What is your favorite holiday?</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Halloween, though I keep it entirely secular. The actual cross-quarter is on November 7, so I do my last harvest rituals then and keep my Halloween for just out and out fun.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">What is your least favorite holiday?</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I have never really connected with midsummer celebrations.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Have you ever held a ritual on a holiday? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Many.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Ever taken a day off work to celebrate a Pagan holiday? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">No.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Do you celebrate Yule on the 21 rather than the 25? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I celebrate the Winter Solstice on the 21st and I celebrate a secular Christmas with family and friends on the 25th. That’s right, I’m lousy with holidays!</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Have you ever felt the veil thin? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Often. This feeling is more tied to prayer than any specific holiday.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Ever danced the Maypole?</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">No.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Know what the Maypole symbolizes?</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">As with just about everything in Paganism, it’s a phallus of course.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">How do you usually celebrate the Pagan holidays? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">With ritual, feast and celebration.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">DIVINATION</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Do you use Tarot? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Not very often anymore, though at one time I practiced daily.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Do you use runes? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">No.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Do you use a pendulum? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">No.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Do you use dowsing rods? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">No.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Do you use astrology? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I’m not sure how one “uses” astrology, but I do know a good deal about it and am eager to learn more.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Any other form of divination? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I have been given the gift of lucid dreaming which often contains oracle for both myself and others.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">SPELLS</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">What was the first spell you did? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I believe it was a spell for breaking with the past. It didn’t work.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">What was the latest? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I really don’t remember. It’s been three years or so since I did my last spell.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Ever done a love spell? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">No. I don’t really believe in spells as they are commonly understood. I believe any magic we experience comes from our own psychological efforts.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A job spell? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">No.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A healing spell?</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">No, though I have sent healing energy to friends and loved ones in need.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">What was the most powerful spell you’ve ever performed?</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I did a money spell once that completely backfired so as to teach a very important lesson about my relationship to that art. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">What deities do you usually call on? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">In anything I do, I ask for the aid of all my Divine Family.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">CRYPTOZOOLOGY</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Do you believe in Vampires? Werewolves? Shapeshifters? Elves? Faeries? Dragons? Nymphs? Sprites? Mermaids? Satyrs? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I believe in Nymphs, Dryads, Naiads and Nereids as representative of the spirit of the natural world.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Ever “seen” any of the above? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">No.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Ever talked to any of the above? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Yes. I used to talk to the dryads in my tree, but I think of that more as a form of prayer. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Ever used any of the above in magic? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I don’t “use” members of my Divine Family.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Do you have one of them as a personal guardian?</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">No.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">RANDOM</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Do you see a rabbit, a man or a woman in the moon? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A woman--the Goddess Selene.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Own a cat? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Two.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">When you meditate, what does your happy place look like? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A beautiful breezy farmhouse filled with family and love.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Do you work with Chakras? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Sometimes.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Do you believe in past lives? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Yes, but I believe in future lives more--go figure.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">If so, describe a few briefly: </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">...</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Do you believe in soul mates? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Absolutely--and I have found mind.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Do you have a spirit guide? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Hermes has always been my good guide and close companion.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Is it always love and light? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">No--and I am grateful that it is not because, if it were, love and light would be a lot less precious.</span></div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270642198672901054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2855237173359268938.post-57886521399524681512011-01-16T07:00:00.000-06:002011-01-16T07:00:03.820-06:00Invocation to Hephaistos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/TTCpDWPhf1I/AAAAAAAAA1o/RT6TxtirR_I/s1600/S7.1Hephaistos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/TTCpDWPhf1I/AAAAAAAAA1o/RT6TxtirR_I/s200/S7.1Hephaistos.jpg" width="114" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Father Hephaistos, </div><div style="text-align: center;">be here among us.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Mighty and gentle Lord, </div><div style="text-align: center;">I lay my hands in yours.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Teach me your art.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Enflame my heart.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Father, I am yours to mold.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270642198672901054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2855237173359268938.post-49342242297689922842011-01-15T12:00:00.000-06:002011-01-15T12:00:01.156-06:00Gods Diverse and Innumerable<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/TS9_5uGBi7I/AAAAAAAAA1c/opScCfU7ihQ/s1600/mercros.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/TS9_5uGBi7I/AAAAAAAAA1c/opScCfU7ihQ/s200/mercros.jpg" width="153" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I believe that there is a single source through which all Divine power and physical creation has and continues to flow. I call that power Truth. I also believe there are beings, like ourselves, countless in number, who are at various stages of evolution toward that source. I believe there is a dynamic of ascended master to apprentice between us and those beings we revere as <a href="http://godchecker.com/">Gods</a>, Guides and/or Angels and that they seek to interact with us in this life as teachers, companions and advocates.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">These are the beings through which the various powers of Truth flow into our lives. For me, the power of righteous and empowering anger against those who have hurt the helpless flows through Mother <a href="http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Hera.html">Hera</a>. For someone else, this same power may flow into their lives through Mother Kali, Brigid, or Christ. Although I believe their power all comes from the same source, I am beginning to realize that this does not mean all representations of that power necessarily come through a single <i>being</i> called by many names. Imagine if you will phone operators answering calls and concerns about abuse of the helpless where each call is routed directly to the being who best connects with the caller and most fluently speaks their language. I think the <a href="http://novaroma.org/">Romans</a>, and I would guess all ancient <a href="http://paganspace.net/">Pagans</a> had this idea, were absolutely right in their belief that their <a href="http://godchecker.com/">Gods</a> were not the <i>only</i> <a href="http://godchecker.com/">Gods</a> that everybody else just put different names on. They believed each nation, each people, each family and even each individual had their own unique <a href="http://godchecker.com/">Gods</a> that served and protected them. They believed the heavens, the earth and the underworld were all populated with <a href="http://godchecker.com/">Gods</a> just as diverse and innumerable as the worlds are populated with people.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">This is a huge point in the development of my personal cosmology. I always felt it was somehow doing my Divine Family a disservice to even <i>recognize</i> the names of other deities without adding "also known as...". I realize now that mindset was a vestige of my Judeo-Christian upbringing. Somehow I need to get it through my consciousness that my<i> </i><a href="http://godchecker.com/">Gods</a> are not jealous and do not teach that salvationfor all comes only through them. (In fact, my <a href="http://godchecker.com/">Gods</a> hardly ever use the word "salvation" at all.) My Divine Family, mostly of the <a href="http://neosalexandria.org/">Greek pantheon</a>, are perfectly happy sharing space with the <a href="http://godchecker.com/">Gods</a> of others. Just as a temple was erected in Gaul with <a href="http://godchecker.com/">Mercury</a> grinningly sharing the sacred seat with Rosmerta, so the temple of my comprehension may be devoted to the Deities who know and love me best while being warm and welcoming to any and all other deities who happen to pass by.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Blessed by the Mystery,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">-<a href="mailto:silversunmedia@gmail.com">M. Ashley</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270642198672901054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2855237173359268938.post-43063363179484100932011-01-15T07:00:00.000-06:002011-01-15T07:00:01.638-06:00Invocation to Hestia<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/TS9-81ukj7I/AAAAAAAAA1Y/O40D6F90fZc/s1600/hestia2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/TS9-81ukj7I/AAAAAAAAA1Y/O40D6F90fZc/s200/hestia2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Invocation to Hestia</b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Hail Hestia,</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Ancient heart Mother</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Goddess of the Spiritual Flame,</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">We thank you for your constant love and care.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">We ask that you come and dwell here.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Make of our home your home.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Make of our hearth your hearth.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Make of our temple your temple.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Make of our hearts one heart, your heat.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Hail Hestia!</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270642198672901054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2855237173359268938.post-30853145126593510282011-01-14T19:20:00.000-06:002011-01-14T19:20:14.220-06:00Crafting a Hearth Tradition: Intimate Magic, Everyday Spirit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/TS95AMr5mfI/AAAAAAAAA1U/pVCPo9DGyfo/s1600/the_hearth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/TS95AMr5mfI/AAAAAAAAA1U/pVCPo9DGyfo/s320/the_hearth.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">As I proceed along the path of trying to develop a personal Hellenic Witchcraft tradition radiating out from sacred home and hearth, I am beginning to learn that part of having a "hearth" tradition is using what you have around that hearth to create your rituals and work your magic. In days gone by, the wise women and men of the village didn't go by Ye Olde Occult Shoppe to get their spiritual supplies. They used the cauldron in which they also cooked dinner, the besom they also used to sweep the house, a wand from a felled tree branch, a blade they also used to prepare meals--and on and on. Because these tools were consecrated to magical purposes as well as used in everyday life, I imagine it brought a great deal of depth to the daily chores. Every time they swept the floor it was an act of both physical and spiritual cleansing. Every time they cut into an apple or trimmed the fat from a piece of meat it reminded them of they cycles of life, death and rebirth. I am a big proponent of things becoming spiritually significant not by being put away and hidden from view and/or use, but by them being handled, used, and thought upon daily--by them witnessing and absorbing the energies of the household's life. How better to imprint your own energy into an item than exposing that item to your energy as much as possible?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">This is what I would like to duplicate in our family tradition--using what we have on hand to make our spirituality more intimate and our everyday work more spiritual.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Esto.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Blessed by the Mystery,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">-M. Ashley</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270642198672901054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2855237173359268938.post-44472872070520381282011-01-13T15:59:00.000-06:002011-01-13T15:59:35.747-06:00The Childhood Makeup of a Mercurial Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/TS91HnB9RyI/AAAAAAAAA1M/dzT0dkVIq9k/s1600/IMG_0199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/TS91HnB9RyI/AAAAAAAAA1M/dzT0dkVIq9k/s200/IMG_0199.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I've been thinking a lot about my Great Aunt Kay lately. She passed away nearly twelve years ago. I miss her and I feel her influence in my life all the time. She and my Great Uncle Chuck provided the safest place I knew as a child. When it would thunder I would crawl into bed with them. Even when it didn’t thunder I would crawl into be with them, scooch in between them and sleep happily. I got to doing it so much they called me “the blond bomber”.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I remember once my friend and I saw a show on TV where they promised people free makeovers and, refusing to let the person look at themselves while they put the makeup on, they made them look like clowns or crazy streetwalkers. We decided it would be a good idea to do the same to Aunt Kay. She had an old makeup box full of groovy sixties makeup--greens, yellows and oranges. She ended up with yellow eyeshadow that extended above her eyebrows and coral shaded cheekbones that went pointedly back to her ears making her look a bit like an elf. When we first gave her the mirror to look at herself, she said, “Oh my!” and you could tell for a moment she wasn’t sure how to react--her first concern not not being her clown face but whether or not reacting to it as a clown face would hurt our feelings.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Had we intended to use lip gloss to highlight her hairline?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">My friend and I burst out laughing and she did too--a breathy laughter mixed with relief that no, these children knew better.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">What we didn’t know however was how hard it was to get makeup that old off of someone with such fragile skin as hers. Now that I think about it, it was a fitting revenge in a way--after we had all laughed about it, my friend and I went to wipe it off and couldn’t get one bit of it to budge. She let us prod and pull and near panic before she told us that she had some cold cream that would take care of it with no problem.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/TE4NEuHC5jI/AAAAAAAAAxI/buGWhWqRvgk/s1600/10358174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="139" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/TE4NEuHC5jI/AAAAAAAAAxI/buGWhWqRvgk/s200/10358174.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Now, right at this moment, twenty years later I am realizing that this might have been intentional--a little practical joke gotcha back--letting us develop heart palpitations--letting us suffer just a bit before telling us she could fix it. My Aunt Kay was like that--a slightly shady, impish, extremely intelligent and sharply humored lady--a lovingly <a href="http://soulbitesblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Hermes">Mercurial</a> lady who impressed that presence onto my life from my earliest years. No wonder I delight to hear the laughing leaves dancing in the wind and feel my heart lift to bask in the endless prairie sky. I'm a <a href="http://soulbitesblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Hermes">Hermes</a> girl and have been, apparently, for a very, very long time.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Blessed by the Mystery,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">-<a href="http://paganspace.net/profile/mashley">M. Ashley</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270642198672901054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2855237173359268938.post-84083658252399497002010-09-21T16:04:00.001-05:002011-01-13T16:06:04.262-06:00Autumn Equinox Ritual to Demeter and Dionysos<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The following is a ritual I developed to celebrate the Autumn Equinox by honoring Demeter and Dionysos as the Great Mother and Father of our physical and spiritual sustenance. Enjoy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/TJ02Txp2v8I/AAAAAAAAA0g/YUj_JuuE5eA/s1600/N04Ceres-u-Bacchus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/TJ02Txp2v8I/AAAAAAAAA0g/YUj_JuuE5eA/s320/N04Ceres-u-Bacchus.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Second Harvest Rite to Demeter and Dionysos<br />
Autumn Equinox 2010</b></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>You Will Need:</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Hestia candle</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Icons of Demeter and Dionysos</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">A candle for each Demeter and Dionysos</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Large bowl</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Grapes</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Athame</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Bell</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Feast dishes (provided by participants)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Officiants:</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Priestess of Demeter (lady of the house)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Priest of Dionysos (man of the house)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Priest/ess of Hestia</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Priest/ess Panagia</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Heirophantid of Demeter (youngest girl)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Heirophant of Dionysos (youngest boy)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">-all gather in a semi-circle before the altar holding their dish for the feast, except for Priestess Panagia who holds the bowl of grapes for ritual-</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">-Priest/ess of Hestia approaches altar-</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">We begin this rite by calling Hestia who is first and last among all the Gods, who is Goddess of hearth and temple fire, of the spiritual center of our world and of all sacred places.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">-lights central flame-</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Hestia, beloved goddess of the spiritual flame, come and make all that is here holy and sacred in your name. Bring to us the peace and sureness of home and hearth. Bring your purity and beauty to us as we honor you who are the center of the spiritual flame. So mote it be.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">-Priestess Panagia approaches the altar and faces the group-</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">At this time we will make our offerings to the Lord and Lady. Each in your family group place your dish for the feast on the altar with these words: “For Demeter and Dionysos this sacred offering to honor the Mother and Father of all.”</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">-Priestess Panagia places the bowl of grapes in the center of the altar in front of the Hestia flame. Each group places their feast dish around the table and recites the offertory words-</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">-Heirophantid of Demeter approaches altar, rings bell and says-</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Now we will call the Mother Goddess who is Queen of the golden harvest. She is known as Demeter and by many other names as well.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">-Priestess of Demeter approaches the altar-</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Lady of all good harvests, our stores are filled again with your generous bounty. O you who are the blessings of earth, who sustains both body and spirit, hail!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">-lights the Goddess candle from Hestia’s flame-</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Beloved Demeter, you spin out your magic from the mysteries of the seed, bringing us the miracle of life and growth. The riches of the orchard and cultivated field are all born of your power and so we honor the Great Mother of the land. O mother of life, we were born from the infinite seeds of creation and live through the powers of earth. Our spirits rise with your beauty for you are everywhere, in every broad meadow and mountainside, in every lovely field and flower, and in every living and growing thing Today at the blessed Autumnal Equinox, the ending of the second harvest, we honor you, bringing you offerings and praising your name. We thank you for all that you give</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">and ask that you come and bless this rite with ease and joy. So mote it be!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">-Priestess of Hecate approaches the altar, retrieves the athame from the bowl of grapes and turns to face participants-</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">By Hecate’s blade, the grain was separated from the earth so that the threshing could begin. It is fitting then that at the ending of the second harvest, when seed shall be separated from chaff, for us to note anything we no longer want in our lives and from which we wish to be separated. We approach the altar and raise the blade, praying aloud or silently for whatever it is that might be beneficial for you to be separated from, that it be done so now.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Begin with the words, “By her blade...” When you are done, breathe upon the blade. End with the words “Hail Hecate!” then place the blade back on the altar and return to the circle.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">-Priestess of Hecate begins the ritual of the blade which proceeds until all are done-</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">-Priest of Dionysos approaches the altar-</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Now we shall honor the Father God known as Dionysos and by countless other names who, at the Spring Equinox, the time of sacred planting, loved the Mother Goddess in the thrice-plowed field to ensure the bounty of the land.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">-lights God candle-</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Sacred one of both forest and field, from your own untamed spirit did you receive and then impart the liberation of the wild that lay the foundation for our deepest joy and pleasures, and, as emissary of the Great Mother, from August Demeter did you receive and then impart the arts of agriculture that lay the foundation for civilization. And so we honor you. So mote it be!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">-Heirophant of Dionysos approaches altar-</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Wise and Wild One, it is with food stores set aside that we may enjoy the luxury of time</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">in which to pursue our loves with your ecstatic abandon, in which to glorify the museswith your gifts of music, dance, drama, poetry and art, and in which we may honor the Gods with joyous festivals and celebrations. These are the blessings that you, Dionysos, in concord with Her, have given to all of humanity.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Priest of Dionysos:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Treasured God Dionysos, we thank and honor you as we bless this sacred place in your name. So mote it be.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">-Priest of Dionysos uncovers the grapes, faces the group and gestures to them-</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Grapes, warmed by solar light and nourished by the bosom of the Earth, have long been a symbol of wisdom and passion combined. It is fitting then that at the time of the second harvest, when we enjoy this sacred fruit in its abundance, that we note the abundance in our own lives and pray for abundance in harvests yet to come.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Now we will each approach the altar praying aloud or silently in thanks for what we have and supplication for what we desire, that it be done so now. Begin with the words “By his vigor...” When you are done, choose a single grape. End with the words, “Hail Dionysos...” then pass the grape over His flame before partaking of it.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">-Priest of Dionysos begins the rite and each participant follows until all are finished-</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">-Heirophant of Dionysos fills a cup for each person and offers a toast-</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Raise your glasses! Filled with gifts, the chalice of plenty overflows with good fortune. How blessed are we who love and honor the Goddess and God. May we drink from the royal cup! So mote it be.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">-Priestess of Demeter and Priest of Dionysos approach altar and face the group-</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Priestess of Demeter:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">These are the rites of the second harvest and they are now complete in grace and joy.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Priest of Dionysos:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">May her blessings proceed unto all. Now, on to the feast!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">-Heirophantid of Demeter rings bell joyfully-</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270642198672901054noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2855237173359268938.post-28202521694169498702010-05-31T14:57:00.000-05:002011-01-13T15:01:26.941-06:00The Hero's Deepest Wound--A Memorial Day Plea to Ares<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/TS9noQFW9wI/AAAAAAAAA1I/yO5zkReEiTY/s1600/DSCN0365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/TS9noQFW9wI/AAAAAAAAA1I/yO5zkReEiTY/s200/DSCN0365.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<br />
My father did not turn out to be a good man.<br />
<br />
He was a brilliant child--he got fabulous grades, could play the guitar by ear, and, by the time he went to high school, he was a champion runner. But somewhere between his horrific childhood home life and his time serving as a naval corpsman during the Vietnam War, he did not, as I said, turn out to be a good man.<br />
<br />
With a false glee, my dad used to tell the story of how, coming home one day after a high school track meet--which he won and which none of his family attended--he found that his family had moved without him. At sixteen, he wandered the desert streets of California’s “Inland Empire” for six days looking for them. When he finally found them--his raging alcoholic father, his promiscuous mother and all eight of his siblings squatting in some rathole by the tracks in Fontana, they laughed at him and told him he must have been very stupid to have taken so long.<br />
<br />
My mother tells the story of my dad enlisting in the navy and, in the process of getting all his papers together, found the last name on his birth certificate did not match the last name of the abusive alcoholic he had grown up thinking was his dad. When he confronted his mother about this she acted nonchalant and said, “Oh yeah, your real father’s last name was Wyss--he was a DJ...I think.”<br />
<br />
Then, in the navy, my dad served as a corpsman--officially a medic with the navy but traveling on the ground with the marines seeing to the dead and dying. Once, when I was thirteen, he dug his duffel out of the garage and showed me his gas mask, his boots with a bayonet hole in the toe and, most proudly, his white medic’s tunic still stained with the blood of some marine or other whose name, face, and fatal injuries he had long since forgotten. <br />
<br />
All of this is to say that my dad had every right in this and any other world to be completely and totally screwed up--and he was. His <a href="http://nami.org/">depression</a> kept him from ever holding a steady job. His <a href="http://nami.org/">anxiety</a> led him to a devastating Valium addiction. His outwardly acted, self-hating, power-needy <a href="http://nami.org/">PTSD</a> led him to violence and the alienation of both his daughters. All of these things together led him to die absolutely alone on March 1, 2009.<br />
<br />
My dad was a brilliant, strong, heroic young man who valiantly served his country and the many, many young soldiers who died in his arms. I tell this story not to detract from the honorable things he did--because they are many--but I tell it to make a plea to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Everything-Classical-Mythology-Book-Goddesses/dp/158062653X?ie=UTF8&tag=everyday02-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Ares</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=everyday02-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=158062653X" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />, <a href="http://soulbitesblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Apollon">Apollon</a> and any of you who may know and/or love a similarly brilliant but tormented young soldier--that you may help them to heal--that the brilliance and honor may not turn into madness and ignominy. <br />
<br />
And for those, like my father, who have already passed, send your prayers with them that in the Kingdom of <a href="http://soulbitesblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Hades">Hades</a>--in the gray <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fields-Asphodel-Tito-Perdue/dp/1585678716?ie=UTF8&tag=everyday02-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Fields of Asphodel</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=everyday02-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1585678716" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />--they will be welcomed as the heroes they are and be given the courage they need to fight one more battle in that place--the battle to reclaim themselves from the terror they knew and had become.<br />
<br />
Esto.<br />
<br />
Blessed by the Mystery,<br />
-<a href="mailto:silversunmedia@gmail.com">M. Ashley</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270642198672901054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2855237173359268938.post-61726078316473777892010-05-28T12:00:00.003-05:002010-05-28T14:14:20.340-05:00Hubris? Meet 2x4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d12/phreadom/blog%20content/lightning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d12/phreadom/blog%20content/lightning.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Let me get this out of the way right off the bat--I am a Hellene but I am not, by any stretch of the imagination, a hardcore<a href="http://hellenion.org/"> reconstructionist</a>. I am a revivalist.<br />
<br />
In that vein:<br />
<br />
Although I have a deep respect for<a href="http://hellenion.org/"> reconstructionists</a> of any stripe, there is a certain attitude among most <a href="http://hellenion.org/">Hellenic recons</a> that does not sit well with me and is one of the primary reasons I do not count myself among their ranks. A good many recons I have come in contact with tend to ascribe to the notion that it is necessary to fear and appease <a href="http://www.theoi.com/">Theoi</a> in order to please them. I have no doubt this was a part of the ancient mindset. My fiancee and I were watching an episode of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Carnivale-Complete-Guy-Chapman-II/dp/B0002YLC1U?ie=UTF8&tag=everyday02-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Carnivale</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=everyday02-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0002YLC1U" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> last night that featured a horrendous dust-bowl storm. I thought, "If you didn't have the technology to know better, how could you <i>not</i> attribute something like that to angry Gods?" But, the thing is, we <i>do</i> have the technology to know better now--to know that natural disasters are either <a href="http://www.theoi.com/">Gaia</a> doin' her thing to sustain and renew herself or us screwing that process up. So why do some <a href="http://hellenion.org/">Hellenic recons</a> still approach <a href="http://www.theoi.com/">Theoi </a>as if their worship will abate the storm? Why must we hold on to the ancient belief that we worship the way we worship mainly to keep <a href="http://www.theoi.com/">Theoi</a> from squashing us?<br />
<br />
In the eyes of <a href="http://www.theoi.com/">Theoi</a>, I believe it is more offensive to hold onto this attitude when they have inspired us with the means to know better. Perhaps it was OK for the ancients to approach them that way because it gave them some comfort in a world to which they were extremely vulnerable--but what purpose does it serve now to attribute, say, devastating tornadoes to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Zeus-Journey-Through-Greece-Footsteps/dp/B001P80LD2?ie=UTF8&tag=everyday02-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Zeus</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=everyday02-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001P80LD2" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> and allow the fear of same to distance our hearts from him?<br />
<br />
But then, I am apparently very liberal about this sort of thing--believing that, in reality, it is almost impossible to offend <a href="http://www.theoi.com/">Theoi</a> unless you allow hubris (your perfectionism, your intellect, your fear), to keep you from a sincere and consistent practice.<br />
<br />
Look, <a href="http://www.theoi.com/">Theoi</a> <i>know</i> you--every gritty little earth-bound nook and cranny. Attempting to hide these from them is foolish on the face of it and will severely handicap your relationship with them. Yes, it is good and respectful to wash in the <a href="http://persephones.250free.com/paraphernalia.html">khernips </a>before <a href="http://persephones.250free.com/ritual.html">ritual</a> or <a href="http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/hoo/index.htm">prayer</a>, but you must come to that <a href="http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/hoo/index.htm">prayer</a> with both of your washed hands open--holding nothing back--not even the unwashed parts, inside and out.<br />
<br />
I speak these things passionately because I have been guilty of them and I know firsthand how a raging, arrogant perfectionism can strangle a meaningful relationship with <a href="http://www.theoi.com/">Theoi</a>. Many are the times I have needed, and received, a solid whack upside the head with a spiritual 2x4 when I have allowed that hubris, or worries over “not getting it right”, to get between me and my <a href="http://www.theoi.com/">Theoi</a> and stop us from talking.<br />
<br />
I have discovered that If we humbly open ourselves up and keep calling upon <a href="http://www.theoi.com/">Theoi</a>, it will be given to us what it is they require of us, and usually it isn’t much except to stay in touch and honor the gifts they have bestowed. <br />
<br />
Blessed by the Mystery,<br />
(and the spiritual 2x4)<br />
-<a href="mailto:SilverSunMedia@gmail.com">M. Ashley</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270642198672901054noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2855237173359268938.post-33222977083525594572010-05-28T10:49:00.003-05:002010-05-28T11:02:07.658-05:00Family, Love, Sobriety, Travel and Gratitude<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/S__mzyva-sI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/NdoTuxjvtO4/s1600/gratitude.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/S__mzyva-sI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/NdoTuxjvtO4/s200/gratitude.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>We have so many things to be grateful for in my house today. We have my fiancee's third-year <a href="http://www.aa.org/">AA sobriety chip</a> presentation tonight. His actual <a href="http://www.aa.org/">sobriety</a> birthday is the 23rd of May, which, as it turns out, is quite magical because it was on that date that he and I "met" through <a href="http://www.pagan-dating.com/">Pagan Dating</a> last year, and this year, it was only two days prior that his son, who has lived in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Thailand-Country-Guide-China-Williams/dp/174179157X?ie=UTF8&tag=everyday02-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Thailand</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=everyday02-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=174179157X" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> for the last thirteen years, came to live with us to complete his schooling. My praise to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dionysos-Archetypal-Image-Indestructible-Life/dp/0691029156?ie=UTF8&tag=everyday02-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Dionysos</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=everyday02-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0691029156" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> who both entices to the vine and offers relief from it. My praise to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Aphrodites-Daughters-Womens-Stories-Journey/dp/0684830809?ie=UTF8&tag=everyday02-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Aphrodite</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=everyday02-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0684830809" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> for inspiring us to love. My praise to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Glory-Hera-Philip-Elliot-Slater/dp/0691002223?ie=UTF8&tag=everyday02-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Hera</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=everyday02-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0691002223" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> who has brought our family together. My praise to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hermes-Guide-Dunquin-Karl-Ker%C3%83%C2%A9nyi/dp/0882142240?ie=UTF8&tag=everyday02-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Hermes</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=everyday02-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0882142240" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Zeus-Journey-Through-Greece-Footsteps/dp/B001P80LD2?ie=UTF8&tag=everyday02-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Zeus</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=everyday02-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001P80LD2" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> who saw the boy safely through the skies and to our home.<br />
<br />
And finally we give thanks that my mother called yesterday to tell us that the lump in her breast was just an anomaly and not cancer after all--praise and thanks to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Oracle-Ancient-Delphi-Science-Secrets/dp/0143038591?ie=UTF8&tag=everyday02-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Apollon</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=everyday02-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0143038591" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> of the healing touch and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Artemis-Goddess-Moon-Comprehensive-Mysteries/dp/1905297025?ie=UTF8&tag=everyday02-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Artemis</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=everyday02-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1905297025" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />, protectress of women!<br />
<br />
Hail all our beloved <a href="http://www.theoi.com/">Theoi</a>--whose blessings are innumerable and whose love is unbounded. May our eyes and hearts be ever open to you as our homes and shrines welcome you in. Hail!<br />
<br />
Blessed by the Mystery,<br />
-<a href="mailto:SilverSunMedia@gmail.com">M. Ashley</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270642198672901054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2855237173359268938.post-32015217382699264472010-05-11T20:35:00.001-05:002010-05-11T20:38:24.653-05:00Everyday Altars: From Fridge Face to Sacred Space<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/S-oD65e-FqI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/g8FxZ_HBhkw/s1600/0124001544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/S-oD65e-FqI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/g8FxZ_HBhkw/s200/0124001544.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>A woman who is doing a paper on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neopaganism">Paganism</a> for one of her college courses recently contacted me asking me about the significance of the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=photos&ref=ts&gid=217198890725">altar</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neopaganism">Paganism</a>. It strikes me that although human beings have been building and maintaining <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=photos&ref=ts&gid=217198890725">altars</a> far longer than they haven't, the whole notion of a home <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=photos&ref=ts&gid=217198890725">altar</a> dings the creep factor bell in many people approaching <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neopaganism">Paganism</a> for the first time. I suppose an image of a long stone bench strewn with pig's blood and chicken feet comes to mind--thanks mass media! But nothing could be further from the truth.<br />
<br />
The following was my reply:<br />
<br />
<blockquote><a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=photos&ref=ts&gid=217198890725">Altars</a> are a very personal thing and can be used for many purposes. Mainly though they are a place to pray, do spiritual work, meditate and honor the deities to whom you feel close. There is no general <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neopaganism">Pagan</a> requirement for an <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=photos&ref=ts&gid=217198890725">altar,</a> though certain traditions may prescribe certain things such as having the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=photos&ref=ts&gid=217198890725">altar</a> face east or placing items relating to Goddess on the left side and items related to God on the right. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=photos&ref=ts&gid=217198890725">Altars</a> can and are made anywhere, from a table, to a bookshelf, to the inside of an Altoid can--and yes, that is a current DIY trend--mini, portable <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=photos&ref=ts&gid=217198890725">altars</a> meticulously constructed inside tiny mint cans. The only thing that I would say is absolutely common among <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neopaganism">Pagans</a> regarding their <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=photos&ref=ts&gid=217198890725">altars </a>is that they are regarded as a sacred place and reserved for spiritual devotion and practice--in other words, no putting coffee cups and junk mail on the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=photos&ref=ts&gid=217198890725">altar</a> table. <br />
<br />
Some common things you will find on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neopaganism">Pagan</a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=photos&ref=ts&gid=217198890725">altars</a> are: an image of the deity or deities being worshiped, items that represent that deity (such as peacock feathers for Hera or a quill pen for Thoth), a candle and/or incense, divination tools such as Tarot cards or runes, and a spiritual journal or "Book of Shadows"--though not all <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neopaganism">Pagans</a> call it that.<br />
<br />
People's <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=photos&ref=ts&gid=217198890725">altars</a> tend to grow and change over time and reflect their current place in their spiritual path. For example, mine started out as very Wiccan in form and has progressed with my spirituality to now reflect my devotion to a <a href="http://www.hellenion.org/">Hellenic</a> path. <br />
<br />
Some <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neopaganism">Pagans</a> have many <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=photos&ref=ts&gid=217198890725">altars</a> in their homes dedicated to different deities and/or their ancestors, while others, limited by space or time, may only have a candle in a special reserved spot on their dresser that acts as their <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=photos&ref=ts&gid=217198890725">altar</a>. Some also dedicate <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=photos&ref=ts&gid=217198890725">altars</a> to specific purposes rather than deities. For example, while I have a private <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=photos&ref=ts&gid=217198890725">altar</a> dedicated to <a href="http://www.theoi.com/">Theoi</a> in general, my fiancee and I also have an <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=photos&ref=ts&gid=217198890725">altar</a> in more public view devoted to home, hearth, and love. </blockquote><blockquote>Humans seem to me to be natural <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=photos&ref=ts&gid=217198890725">altar </a>makers--a process that is apparently so deeply ingrained in our collective subconscious that we do it without even realizing. If you look at most people's refrigerator doors, for example, you will usually find a natural <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=photos&ref=ts&gid=217198890725">altar</a> to the family with pictures of loved ones, drawings, magnets that represent the personality of the family, etc. Or often people build an ancestor <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=photos&ref=ts&gid=217198890725">altar</a> in their hallways by hanging pictures of their family members that have passed and, every time they walk by those pictures, their heart reaches out to them in love and respect. <br />
<br />
This reaching out--a spiritual touchstone--is really the core meaning of any <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=photos&ref=ts&gid=217198890725">altar,</a> whether built specifically with that intent by a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neopaganism">Pagan</a> using candles and feathers, a Buddhist with a singing bowl, a Catholic with a Saint's icon, or anyone else with a life-decorated fridge door.</blockquote>May we all come to acknowledge the various <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=photos&ref=ts&gid=217198890725">altars</a> in our lives--whether outward or deep within us, they enrich our spirits in ways we can only imagine.<br />
<br />
Blessed by the Mystery,<br />
-<a href="mailto:silversunmedia@gmail.com">M. Ashley</a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">*The above picture is the "Home, Hearth and Love" altar mentioned above. It is dedicated to Hestia, Hera and Zeus</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270642198672901054noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2855237173359268938.post-17862004830547129572010-04-22T18:04:00.000-05:002010-04-22T18:04:00.377-05:00Nutball Ex-Girlfriends...of the Gods!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/S9DUQyZEEiI/AAAAAAAAAQc/k6JsbXC7GZM/s1600/gorgon.GIF" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/S9DUQyZEEiI/AAAAAAAAAQc/k6JsbXC7GZM/s200/gorgon.GIF" width="195" /></a></div>A few weeks after I moved in with my fiancee, he received a raving email from his nutball ex-girlfriend that said, in part, "I feel sorry for that poor woman you <i>dragged</i> from <a href="http://www.visitmusiccity.com/">Nashville</a>."<br />
<br />
We had a good laugh over it--dragged? Hardly! I leaped into his big van-shaped silver chariot with my critters and my stuff faster than you can say "nutball ex-girlfriend". But then, envisioning me being dragged off to <a href="http://www.travelok.com/">Oklahoma</a> by the hair must help her justify her view of him as a bad guy which, I'm sure, helps her cope with the fact that she lost him.<br />
<br />
Which got me thinking...<br />
<br />
Maybe the whole "all unwilling" version of the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Persephone-Unveiled-Seeing-Goddess-Freeing/dp/1556435819?ie=UTF8&tag=everyday02-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Persephone myth</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=everyday02-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1556435819" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />, (which--one absconded lady to another--I don't buy in the least), was started by one of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gods-Greeks-Karl-Kerenyi/dp/0500270481?ie=UTF8&tag=everyday02-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Hades'</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=everyday02-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0500270481" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> nutball ex-girlfriends--jealous of the fact that <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gods-Greeks-Karl-Kerenyi/dp/0500270481?ie=UTF8&tag=everyday02-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Persephone</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=everyday02-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0500270481" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> got the hook-ups with the wealthiest god of all while she was stuck fending off the lusty advances of far less commitment-minded deities.<br />
<br />
Well, that's <i>my</i> theory anyway. <br />
<br />
Blessed by the Mystery,<br />
-<a href="mailto:silversunmedia@gmail.com">M. Ashley</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270642198672901054noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2855237173359268938.post-34551685987962741222010-04-20T11:06:00.003-05:002010-04-22T16:47:10.927-05:00Hades--Good Guy, Bad Press<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/S83GmGyjdwI/AAAAAAAAAP8/1YtKXSf6Jt0/s1600/Hades_Altemps_Inv8584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/S83GmGyjdwI/AAAAAAAAAP8/1YtKXSf6Jt0/s200/Hades_Altemps_Inv8584.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>After watching the wonderful <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Percy-Jackson-Olympians-Paperback-Boxed/dp/1423113497?ie=UTF8&tag=everyday02-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Percy Jackson and the Olympians</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=everyday02-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1423113497" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />, I went online and poked around the <a href="http://www.imdb.com/">IMDB</a> message boards a bit, (yes, I'm that big of a film nerd). I found this post quite provocative: <br />
<br />
<blockquote><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hercules-Disney-Gold-Classic-Collection/dp/B00004R99S?ie=UTF8&tag=everyday02-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Disney's Hercules</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=everyday02-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00004R99S" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Clash-Titans-Snap-Laurence-Olivier/dp/B00005JKO7?ie=UTF8&tag=everyday02-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Clash of the Titans</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=everyday02-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00005JKO7" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />, and this... <br />
<br />
In the original <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Myths-Ancient-Greeks-Richard-Martin/dp/0451206851?ie=UTF8&tag=everyday02-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Greek myths</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=everyday02-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0451206851" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />, <a href="http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/greek-mythology.php?deity=HADES">Hades</a> was a fairly stand up guy. Yes, he ruled over the Greek equivalent of Hell, but he also handled the Greek equivalents of Heaven, Purgatory, the Pearly Gates, etc. <a href="http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/greek-mythology.php?deity=PERSEPHONE">Persephone</a>'s main complaint about being his wife was not that he was cruel- he lavished her with all the luxury he could afford, and he was the richest of <a href="http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/greek-mythology.php">the gods</a>- but because he was her father's older brother, and thus considerably older than her. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.theoi.com/"></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Myths-Ancient-Greeks-Richard-Martin/dp/0451206851?ie=UTF8&tag=everyday02-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Greek myth</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=everyday02-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0451206851" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> is full of awesomely evil monstrous beings, from <a href="http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/greek-mythology.php?deity=TITANS">Titans</a> to the offspring of <a href="http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/greek-mythology.php?deity=TYPHON">Typhon</a> and <a href="http://www.theoi.com/Ther/DrakainaEkhidna2.html">Echidna</a>, to those cursed by gods (of which, <a href="http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/greek-mythology.php?deity=HADES">Hades</a> was responsible for far less than many of his brethren... <a href="http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Athena.html">Athena</a>, who's almost always portrayed as kind and generous, turned a woman into a spider for BEING A BETTER WEAVER for crying out loud). Why do modern storytellers think <a href="http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/greek-mythology.php?deity=HADES">Hades</a> makes such a great villain?</blockquote><br />
Mostly the responses to this post focused on what <a href="http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/greek-mythology.php?deity=PERSEPHONE">Persephone</a>'s real grievances were with <a href="http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/greek-mythology.php?deity=HADES">Hades</a>, which for me is far less interesting than the actual question posed, (especially because I don't believe <a href="http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/greek-mythology.php?deity=PERSEPHONE">Persephone</a> actually had grievances with <a href="http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/greek-mythology.php?deity=HADES">Hades</a>. Standard <a href="http://www.theoi.com/Text/HomericHymns1.html"></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Iliad-Odyssey-Homer/dp/1934451436?ie=UTF8&tag=everyday02-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Homer</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=everyday02-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1934451436" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> aside, I think she was not quite "all unwilling".)<br />
<br />
In my opinion, the reason we see mainstream media vilifying <a href="http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/greek-mythology.php?deity=HADES">Hades</a> is that it is difficult for a mind steeped in Christian mythos to accept the ruler of "Hell" as anyone other than Satan himself. In this system of thinking, <a href="http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/greek-mythology.php?deity=HADES">Hades</a> being portrayed as he actually is would probably cause an outrage.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_90734493"> Hade</a><a href="http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/greek-mythology.php?deity=HADES">s </a>is the judge of souls for both good and ill and <a href="http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/greek-mythology.php?deity=PERSEPHONE">Persephone</a> is the intermediary--the two together representing justice tempered with mercy--the exact dynamic between Christ and "God the Father".<br />
<br />
And how dare we, even in the interest of accuracy, compare <a href="http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/greek-mythology.php"></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Complete-World-Greek-Mythology/dp/0500251215?ie=UTF8&tag=everyday02-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">these Pagan deities</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=everyday02-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0500251215" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> so directly to the Christian ones? How dare we imply that the Christian mythos is not entirely original?<br />
<br />
When a story dares to honor <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Complete-World-Greek-Mythology/dp/0500251215?ie=UTF8&tag=everyday02-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">the Gods</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=everyday02-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0500251215" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> by educating a new generation about them, I think it is acceptable to make a few concessions like this to avoid the project being quashed before it ever sees the light of day. The real trick is making it provocatively accurate enough to inspire people to investigate <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Complete-World-Greek-Mythology/dp/0500251215?ie=UTF8&tag=everyday02-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">the myth behind the myth</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=everyday02-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0500251215" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> and, hopefully, the deeply moving spirituality behind it all.<br />
<br />
Xairete,<br />
-<a href="http://www.facebook.com/mnashley">M. Ashley</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270642198672901054noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2855237173359268938.post-55421497254700483662010-04-17T09:26:00.000-05:002010-04-17T09:26:48.775-05:00Hellenism: What I Believe, What I Stand For<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/S8nEbY7oJZI/AAAAAAAAANs/2uLXwo155SA/s1600/olympian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/S8nEbY7oJZI/AAAAAAAAANs/2uLXwo155SA/s200/olympian.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
The following is adapted from the original Y.S.E.E. mission statement to reflect my own viewpoint. I agree with the organization on almost all points of its cosmology, except that which posits the God/esses are neither male nor female (I believe they are distinctly either male or female); and all points of its mission statement except those that are bitterly antagonistic to Judeo-Christian traditions. I have great affection for <i>all</i> religions, and though I have chosen to leave the tradition into which I was born, I will always bear it, and those who walk that path, great respect.<br />
<br />
In that vein I would like to say that the God/esses are who they are, regardless of what names we use for them, and in their infinite love for us, they don't care <i>what</i> we call them, just so long as we keep calling. <br />
<br />
This is the link to the original document, should you wish to compare my version to it:<br />
<a href="http://www.wcer.org/members/europe/greece/helleng.htm" onmousedown="UntrustedLink.bootstrap($(this),
"f2b4115ea7e560a73679c140fc5d3f83", event)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span>http://www.wcer.org/member</span><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span><span>s/europe/greece/helleng.ht</span><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>m</a><br />
<br />
Xairete,<br />
-M. Ashley (Andjelagenia Musaios)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> <b>HELLENISM</b><br />
(What We Believe,<br />
What We Stand For<br />
by Kresphontis on behalf of Diipetes,<br />
published on Green Egg journal, issue no 109, Summer 1995<br />
Edited and adapted by M. Ashley, Spring 2010</div><br />
Hellenism (ELLENIKON ETHNISMOS) is not simply a Religion and Cosmology, it is a certain form of human consciousness and an everyday ethos. <br />
<br />
Hellenism perceives Cosmos (KOSMOS, i.e. the Universe) as an ever-existing Being, which not only was not created by some "creator" God out of nothing (EK TOU MEDENOS), but on the contrary allowed the Gods themselves to be created through its procedures. Hellenism understands Cosmos as APEIRON (Apeiron, Infinity) in great, wonderful order and therefore in Hellenic language Cosmos means also jewel (KOSMOS, KOSMENA). Gods were born inside the Cosmos and live inside it -they are part of it. This is our real dispute with Monotheism; not the number of Gods (One or Many, Mono- or Poly-) but where the God or Gods stand in relation to the Cosmos. For Monotheists the Cosmos was created by an ever-existing Being outside it (so in this macro-historical level it is nothing more than a mortal creation). For Monotheists Cosmos is a creation that has to obey the laws of its creator. For Hellenes, the eternal Cosmos emerges always from inside itself (ANADYETAI AFS EAUTOU) and is the creator of all Gods, which have to obey its laws. In the Hellenic Cosmology, these laws are :<br />
<br />
ANTIPEPONTHOS: Untranslatable into English, but roughly meaning "all events influence others" though without "cause and effect",<br />
NOMOS: The entirety of the universal physical Laws), and<br />
ANAKE: Need and Fate, which all Gods respect and obey.<br />
<br />
Due to the eternal nature of Cosmos itself, the Hellenic perception of KRONOS (Time) is not linear (as the followers of Yahweh or the modern rationalists declare), nor circular (as many Judeo-born occult dogmas teach) through the OUROBOROS symbol (the tail-eater snake), but spiral and leading to APEIRON. Through this shape of Time, the annual circles, the lunar circles, the human (and all) life, and the art of Prophecy, are fully interpreted. History is never repeated, just similar to the point that identical events happen but always under different circumstances. And the death of humans (and of all mortal forms of life) happens as the philosopher Alkmaion declared, simply "because it is impossible for the end of the circle to touch the beginning". In other words, because it is impossible for the old to become infants again.<br />
<br />
For the Hellenic Tradition, or at least its part not yet influenced by the "moral" ideas brought over from eastern civilizations by such famous philosophers as Pythagoras and Plato, no such thing as the "karma" of the eastern theocrats exists, and no "judges" exist in the skies or elsewhere. All dead become automatically holy and then they are born again until through ARETE (Virtue) one day their PSYCHE escapes from the spiral of Time, thus becoming primitive God, DAIMON, a word with a positive meaning for Hellenes, in contrast with Judeo-Christian definitions. We do not believe in METEMPSYCHOSIS (Re-incarnation) suffering or prospering in this life to pay for or be rewarded for the bad or good actions of previous lives, but instead simply in PALIGENESIA (Rebirth). This perspective distinguishes us from the theocratic dogmas that terrify their believers with "punishments" etc. We love or hate completely outside karmic designs and dualisms. No dualism of "Good and Evil" exists in the Immortal Cosmos, nor such things as the miscellaneous "moralities" that all the dualistic dogmas teach. We become virtuous only because we choose to be such.<br />
<br />
Our Gods are many and we understand them as completing the make-up of the Universal Sphere of Cosmos to its maximum potential and whole. Thus, from the DODEKAEDRON, a geometric shape (that fills up the sphere to its maximum) we imagine twelve planes, each one presenting a God inside the Cosmos and we define our Hellenic PANTHEON (PAN TON THEON, All The Gods) as DODEKATHEON (Pantheon of The Twelve Gods).The Twelve Gods of ours live inside the Sphere of Cosmos and form its various behaviors.<br />
<br />
Our Twelve Gods are also called OLYMPIOI (the Olympians) not because, as many want to believe, they dwell on Mt. Olympus, as the mountains with this name numbered not one but eighteen throughout the Hellenic World. This is just a poetic conception, similar to the one that wants Pan to dwell in the forests of Arcadia. The word "Olympus" comes from the verb LAMPO (shining). Our Twelve Gods are the "Shining Ones", and the real "Olympus" is not a geographical but a spiritual place, where the Gods really exist.<br />
<br />
Another fact worth noting is that these Twelve Gods are not the same Twelve Gods for all Hellenes as some leave Dionysos out, some leave Hestia, etc., replacing them with others. It is the number that counts, not the names of the Gods which in any case number in the thousands- and we must underline here that Hellenism honors and worships not only conscious forces and energies of Nature (as almost all Pagan religions do) but also abstract Ideas, such as Harmony, Eunomia (personified Order), Justice, Freedom, Beauty, Luck, etc. For us, the Ideas are alive and have form and consciousness; they are real deities that simply show themselves through the functions of the human mind.<br />
<br />
A basic ("for beginners") form of invocation of the Twelve Olympian Gods, a Pantheon that was worshiped at least since the 16th Century before the Judeo-Christian Era (they are named U-ru-pa-ja-jo in the Linear B inscription of Pylos), and openly until the 9th Century of our times (when the last remains of worship of the ethnic Hellenic Gods were exterminated in Lakonia, under the persecutions by "Saint" Nikon the so-called "Metanoite" i.e. "Repent") is the following:<br />
<br />
(The Gods are being invoked in "couples" according to the elements and functions that each "couple" supervises).<br />
<br />
* Hestia (the power or denization and of common ethos: all invocations start and end with her:<br />
* The honored God or Goddess of the Hellenic lunar month<br />
* Hephaistos - Hestia<br />
* Ares - Aphrodite<br />
* Apollo - Artemis<br />
* Hermes - Athena<br />
* Poseidon - Demeter<br />
* Hera - Zeus<br />
<br />
Understanding the structure, nature and distribution of the Cosmos in this way, Hellenism can be understood as a political and social "how to" theory that means to fill the every day life with its principles of Dignity, Freedom, Beauty, Honesty, Variety, Tolerance, Candor..<br />
<br />
We represent an ethos and a cosmology that never allowed the existence of priestly castes, unquestioning obedience, fear or guilt (Hellenism knows nothing about the word "sin"), dogma, missions, or "sacred" books. We know that we tread the correct path and that the Gods support us.<br />
<br />
We are in full solidarity with all groups and movements all around the Globe, that work for the restoration of their traditional/indigenous ethos and religions, and also with all the others who fight the multi-faceted war for Freedom, Tolerance, Respect for Nature and Direct Democracy in all levels of every day life.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270642198672901054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2855237173359268938.post-19252700071312380932010-04-10T10:40:00.002-05:002010-04-19T10:44:29.199-05:00Eleusinian Wheel of the Year: Sabbat Edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/S8x5yjuUmRI/AAAAAAAAAPM/xX5dyxhubCo/s1600/wheel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/S8x5yjuUmRI/AAAAAAAAAPM/xX5dyxhubCo/s200/wheel.jpg" width="155" /></a></div>After living with the <a href="http://soulbitesblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/eleusinian-wheel-of-year.html">moon-correlated Eleusinian calendar</a> for a day, I have to admit I am still a bit unsatisfied. Perhaps it's the Celtic blood in me, but I am deeply attached to the eight high days. So, while I figure out which way I will eventually zag, I thought I'd post the calendar adapted to the eight-Sabbat system and provide a little more explanation about each rite. I'll start with the cross-quarter day the Celts used to mark their new year, as it is pivotal in the Demeter/Persephone cycle as well.<br />
<br />
<i>(Festivals written in caps are the main eight, while those in regular type are sort of mini-rites that prepare for the major high days. The dates I use are the actual astronomical dates for the quarter and cross-quarter days.)</i><br />
<br />
<b>November 7: SKIRA</b><br />
<i>Descent of the Maiden; Demeter Becomes Crone</i><br />
This is a time to give thanks to the source of all life for your success; to take note of what you have learned and gained; to store resources in a place of protection; to face fear of the unknown; to celebrate courage, transformation, and independence while yet acknowledging the many ways your loved ones, both living and dead, have helped along the way.<br />
<br />
<b>December 21-22: MYSTERIES COMPLEX</b><br />
T<i>his complex of rites includes the joyous Stenia Festival in preparation for The Mysteries </i><br />
<br />
<b>The 21st (Winter Solstice): Stenia Festival</b><br />
<i>P</i><i>ersephone Brings Light and Life to the Darkness; On Earth, Demeter is Cheered </i><br />
A time of great joy and celebration, remembering that the sacred aspects of sexuality and the renewing power of humor are integral to the ongoing creative process. This is a time to personally identify with the Earth and the creative power of the Goddess.<br />
<br />
<b>The 22nd: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleusinian_Mysteries">THE ELEUSINIAN MYSTERIES</a></b><br />
<i>Dedication and Crowning as a Mystai of Demeter</i><br />
The cycle of the blessed seed is shown as the mystery of the soul revealed. Initiates are cleansed, blessed and consecrated as Children of Earth--Children of the Great Mother--Kin to Queen Persephone.<br />
<br />
<b>February 3: THESMOPHOROS PROPER</b><br />
<i>Celebration of Demeter's Divine Laws; Remembering our Divinity</i><br />
We pause in our lives to focus on the sacred values that a spiritual awareness imparts to the life experience. We consider the powers, influences and blessings of the Holy Mother and Daughter. We honor the Great Mother and our inherited Divinity.<br />
<br />
<b>March 6-20: ASCENT COMPLEX</b><br />
<i>This series of rites and festivals culminate with the ascent of Persephone from the Underworld.</i><br />
<br />
<b>March 6: Rites of Proerosia</b><br />
<i>Pre-Plowing/Planting Rites</i><br />
At this time we prepare for our goals, considering not only the practical preparation, but also honoring the forces of divine power that are in play. A time of new beginnings requires sacred prayer, study, education, learning new skills and procuring resources.<br />
<br />
<b>March 13: Rites of Arkichronia</b><br />
<i>Creation of Fertility Talismans. Combining Earth and Underworld Powers</i><br />
There is a magic that is born from the union of life and death. Now is a time to allow the highest influences to combine with your ideas and aspirations. Know that creativity has been influenced, even fed by the barren times. Realize and utilize the effects of the past on the present.<br />
<br />
<b>March 20 (Vernal Equinox): Rites of Nestia</b><br />
<i>The Sadness--Queen Persephone Must Leave Her Beloved Plouton</i><br />
We celebrate both the value and sadness of sacrifice and honor right sacrifice as service and noble action. We give up a well-worn path in order to reach a future goal. We release the sadness of the past while retaining the beauty of our best moments as we proceed forward with our lives.<br />
<br />
<b>March 21: RITES OF KALLIGENIA</b><br />
<i>The Ascent of the Maiden. Persephone Becomes Kore. Joyous Reunion of Mother and Daughter</i><br />
This is an ideal time to begin any new creative endeavor. The childlike energies of excitement and joy fuel the process. Joy and Knowledge are united to forge a powerful beginning.<br />
<br />
<b>May 5: FESTIVAL OF HALOA</b><br />
<i>Celebration of New Green Growth</i><br />
We celebrate the early successes of new beginnings while continuing our right action and prayers. We are grateful for the source of our tools, materials, energy and inspiration. We continue toward our goal while maintaining a healthy sense of humor.<br />
<br />
<b>June 21 (Summer Solstice): FESTIVAL OF CHLOAIA</b><br />
<i>Festival of Flowers; of Verdent Demeter and Kore</i><br />
All that we have worked for now brings its first rewards. We celebrate the pleasures of success while remembering to honor and thank the divine source of life. We continue to seek support through prayer.<br />
<br />
<b>August 7: FESTIVAL OF THARGELIA</b><br />
<i>The First Harvest. Demeter is Harvest Queen. The Seed and Maiden are Matured</i><br />
At this time we gather in what we have sown, reaping the rewards. Blessings abound and now is a time to give thanks.<br />
<br />
<b>September 22 (Autumnal Equinox): FESTIVAL OF KALAMAIA</b><br />
<i>The Threshing. Freeing the Seed Grain from the Chaff. </i><br />
We see what is good in past experiences and choose to release those influences we no longer want. We make decisions of where best to spend our resources, keeping some for now, some for the future, and some to devote to the sacred. We honor the source of our bounty and those who taught us the skills by which we profit.<br />
<br />
THE WHEEL TURNS. THE CYCLE BEGINS ANEW.<br />
<br />
Blessed By the Mystery,<br />
-<a href="http://www.facebook.com/mnashley?ref=profile">M. Ashley</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270642198672901054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2855237173359268938.post-74137796645174453972010-04-03T13:43:00.001-05:002010-04-19T13:52:38.994-05:00Neokoroi Noumenia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/S8ymZ5yeBSI/AAAAAAAAAPc/mbe1c1AkB4I/s1600/newmoon2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/S8ymZ5yeBSI/AAAAAAAAAPc/mbe1c1AkB4I/s200/newmoon2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>If I haven't already mentioned it, <a href="http://www.neokoroi.org/index.htm">Neokoroi--The Temple Keepers</a> is a marvelous, active and intelligent group of <a href="http://www.neokoroi.org/index.htm">Hellenic Polytheists</a>. One of the things they do incredibly well is supply the community with extremely well-written and, most importantly, entirely do-able rituals. As day follows night, so the new moon follows the dark. The following is the <a href="http://www.neokoroi.org/index.htm">Neokoroi </a>Noumenia (new moon ritual), to be performed on the night of the new moon--the night after <a href="http://eleusianways.blogspot.com/2009/09/hekates-diepnon-light-way-to-change.html">Hekate's Deipnon</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>NOUMENIA</b><br />
<br />
-wash face and hands-<br />
<br />
<b>Invocation: </b><br />
<br />
O Athanatoi, (Deathless Ones) Gods of Starry Heaven, broad Earth, and the Great Below. Xairete, <a href="http://neokoroi.org/gods.htm">Theoi</a>! <br />
<br />
Hear, and attend. Bless us with your presence, as we would honor you. <br />
<br />
<b>Libations (spondai): </b><br />
<br />
Receive these libations, and rejoice, for your joy is ours this night. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://neokoroi.org/hestia.htm">Hestia,</a> Goddess of the hearth, keeper of the Sacred Flame, guardian of the home, for you I pour out the first portion, as yours is the first and the last. <br />
<br />
-pour a portion of wine or other liquid offering into the libation bowl- <br />
<br />
Be well disposed. <br />
<br />
For the gods of the Noumenia, I pour out the next shares, for it is under your auspices we gather tonight. <br />
<br />
For <a href="http://neokoroi.org/apollon.htm">Apollon</a> Neomenios, Lord <a href="http://neokoroi.org/apollon.htm">Apollon</a>, Phoibos, golden-lyred, Shining Leto's glorious son.<br />
<br />
-pour libation-<br />
<br />
Be well disposed. <br />
<br />
For <a href="http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/greek-mythology.php?deity=SELENE">Selene</a>, <a href="http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/greek-mythology.php?deity=TITANS">Titaness,</a> brilliant, crescent- crowned, lamp bearer, who courses among the stars, <br />
<br />
-pour libation- <br />
<br />
Be well disposed. <br />
<br />
For the <a href="http://neokoroi.org/agathos_daimon.htm">Agathos Daimon</a>, winged serpent, god of good fortune, beloved of <a href="http://neokoroi.org/tyche.htm">Tyche</a>, kindly one, <br />
<br />
-pour libation- <br />
<br />
Be well disposed. <br />
<br />
And for all <a href="http://neokoroi.org/gods.htm">the Blessed Gods</a>, resplendent, beautiful, immortal, I pour now <br />
an equal measure of sweet milk. <br />
<br />
-pour libation- <br />
<br />
Be well disposed. <br />
<br />
<b>Reading of Orphic Hymn </b><br />
<br />
Kind Zeus and Gaia, heavenly and pure flames of the Sun, sacred light of the Moon and all the Stars; Poseidon too, dark-maned holder of the earth, pure Persephone and Demeter of the splendid fruit, Artemis, the arrow-pouring maiden, and kindly Phoebe, who dwells on the sacred ground of Delphi. And Dionysos, the dancer, whose honors among the blessed gods are the highest. Strong-spirited Ares, holy and mighty Hephaistos, and the goddess Aphrodite, foam-born to whose lot fell sublime gifts; and you Plouton, divinity excellent, who is king of the Underworld. I call upon Hebe, and Eileithyia, and the noble ardor of Herakles, the great blessings of Justice and Piety, the glorious Nymphs and Pan the greatest, and upon Hera, buxom wife of aegis-bearing Zeus. I also call upon lovely Mnemosyne and the holy Muses, all nine, as well as upon the Graces, the Seasons, the Year; fair-tressed Leto, divine and revered Dione, the armed Kouretes, the Korybantes, the Kubeiroi, great saviors, Zeus' ageless scion, the Idaian gods, and upon Hermes, messenger and herald of those in heaven; upon Themis too, diviner of men I call, and on Night, oldest of all, and light-bringing Day: then upon Faith, Dike, blameless Thesmodoteira, Rhea, Kronos, dark-dwelling Tethys, the great Okeanos together with his daughters, the might of preeminent Atlas and Aion, Chronos the ever-flowing, the splendid water of the Styx, the holy Daimon and our beloved ancestors too. Then upon the divinities dwelling in heaven, air, water, on earth, under the earth and in the fiery element. Ino, Leukothea, Palaemon giver of bliss, sweet-speaking Nike, queenly Adresteia, the great king Asklepios who grants soothing, the battle-stirring maiden Pallas Athena, all the Winds, Thunder, and the parts of the four-pillared Cosmos. And I invoke the Mother of the immortals, Attis and Men, and the goddess Ourania, immortal and holy Adonis, beginning and end too which is the most important, and ask them to come in a spirit of joyous mercy to this holy rite and libation of reverence.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.neokoroi.org/index.htm">Neokoroi</a> section: </b><br />
<br />
O, Makares, (Blessed Ones) as the moon in its cycle is timeless, waxing and waning, it ever returns, so we, the <a href="http://www.neokoroi.org/index.htm">Neokoroi</a>, return each month at the time of the New Moon in the timeless act of worship, echoing with our prayers and our offerings the moon's ageless promise of renewal and return. This night, beneath the new moon, we gather to reinstitute your worship, to reforge the sacred bond of xaris, and to renew the hope with which <a href="http://neokoroi.org/gods.htm">the Gods</a> bless humankind. <br />
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Elthete (Come) <a href="http://neokoroi.org/gods.htm">Theoi,</a> (gods) Bless us with your presence, and partake of what we offer in reverence of you. <br />
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-ennumerate offerings: At this point individual worshippers may choose to make individual or special offerings of their own, the list below may serve as an example-<br />
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We offer sweet milk, fragrant incense, and a hymn of praise as sustenance for your hearts. And with our prayers we entreat you: <br />
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Watch over us and sustain us. Look kindly on our efforts, for it is through you we receive all blessings. <br />
<br />
-At this point individuals may offer prayers of their own, and may add anything to the ritual that they may want to include.-<br />
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Final Libations / Last Libation for<a href="http://neokoroi.org/hestia.htm"> Hestia</a>: <br />
<br />
-take libation glass and bowl outside-<br />
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Beloved <a href="http://neokoroi.org/gods.htm">Theoi</a>, (Gods) we offer thanks to you. <br />
<br />
-pour libation to all <a href="http://neokoroi.org/gods.htm">the Gods</a> into libation bowl-<br />
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And for <a href="http://neokoroi.org/hestia.htm">Hestia</a>, as yours is always the first and last. <br />
<br />
-pour libation to <a href="http://neokoroi.org/hestia.htm">Hestia</a> into libation bowl-<br />
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-pour libation on ground-<br />
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Hail <a href="http://neokoroi.org/gods.htm">Theoi</a>, be well disposed.<br />
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-replace libation bowl on altar and extinguish candle-<br />
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Hail <a href="http://neokoroi.org/hestia.htm">Hestia</a>--the first and the last.<br />
<br />
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May this new month bring you inspiration and opportunity as bright as the lovely Selene herself.<br />
<br />
Xairete,<br />
-<a href="http://www.myspace.com/inkfont">M. Ashley</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270642198672901054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2855237173359268938.post-26031451183358973652010-03-27T13:50:00.001-05:002010-04-19T13:51:52.513-05:00Hekate's Deipnon--Light the Way to Change<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/S8ymDqHr7DI/AAAAAAAAAPU/d0ZQh9fiGfw/s1600/art_hekate2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/S8ymDqHr7DI/AAAAAAAAAPU/d0ZQh9fiGfw/s200/art_hekate2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>I am at a point in my life where the old adage that "the only constant is change" has never seemed more true. As I discussed in my post "<a href="http://eleusianways.blogspot.com/2009/09/surviving-eleusian-face-lift.html">Surviving the Eleusian Face-Lift</a>" most of these changes have been extremely positive. Now though, I find myself faced with some new challenges surrounding which there is much uncertainty. There couldn't be a better time to post the following ritual, <a href="http://www.neokoroi.org/hekate.htm">Hekate's Deipnon</a> or <a href="http://www.neokoroi.org/hekate.htm">Hekate's Supper</a>, which should be performed on the last day of the lunar month, (today is such a day), is all about asking this Great Goddess to light the way in uncertainty so that you may take the most positive and life-enriching course possible.<br />
<br />
The things you will need for this ritual are: <a href="http://neokoroi.org/hestia.htm">Hestia</a> candle or lamp, milk for making libations, a libation bowl, an offering of non-perishable food for your local food bank, a small offering of perishable food for <a href="http://www.neokoroi.org/hekate.htm">Hekate</a>, and a private spot at a nearby three-way crossroads.<br />
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<a href="http://www.neokoroi.org/hekate.htm"><b>Hekate’s Deipnon</b></a><br />
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-sweep your home and clear out all garbage--<br />
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-wash face and hands; prepare a small libation glass of milk; bring offerings to the altar; light <a href="http://neokoroi.org/hestia.htm">Hestia</a> candle or lamp-<br />
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To <a href="http://neokoroi.org/hestia.htm">Hestia</a><br />
<i>We call upon <a href="http://neokoroi.org/hestia.htm">Hestia</a> this night--you who are the first and the last--and we thank you for your constant care, love, warmth and protection. Ancient hearth mother, Goddess of the spiritual flame. Please come and dwell here. make of our home your home. Make of our hearth your hearth. Make of our temple your temple. Make of our hearts one heart--your heart.</i><br />
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-pour libation to <a href="http://neokoroi.org/hestia.htm">Hestia</a>-<br />
<br />
-light incense-<br />
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To <a href="http://neokoroi.org/demeter.htm">Demeter</a> and <a href="http://neokoroi.org/persephone.htm">Persephone</a><br />
<i>We call now to the Holy Mother <a href="http://neokoroi.org/demeter.htm">Demeter</a>--all that is born rises from within her. All that sustains us flows from her. We call upon the holy maiden <a href="http://neokoroi.org/persephone.htm">Kore</a> whose power is joy ever reborn. Teach us, O Goddesses, to tend to our lives with gentle wisdom and to our days with love’s compassion. Teach us to honor your rites and mysteries--to bring justice, peace and fertility. Bless us that we may know the cycle of the living seed as the mystery of the soul revealed. We praise royal <a href="http://neokoroi.org/persephone.htm">Persephone</a> who at our deaths will greet us. We praise the Holy Mother whose love is the light of eternity. May we know our immortal beings, and drink of her cup everlasting.</i><br />
<br />
-pour libation to <a href="http://neokoroi.org/demeter.htm">Demeter</a> and <a href="http://neokoroi.org/persephone.htm">Persephone</a>-<br />
<br />
To <a href="http://www.neokoroi.org/hekate.htm">Hekate</a><br />
<i>We call upon great <a href="http://www.neokoroi.org/hekate.htm">Hekate</a> this night--Most ancient Goddess, powerful, swift, unseen. Ever watchful, nothing escapes your understanding. Your domain is unbounded. The secrets of the heavens, the earth, the sea and the underworld are yours. You hear our dreams, our joys and our lamentations. In reverence we call upon you now that you might dwell among us, hear us, and come to our aid in our lives and in this rite. </i><br />
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-pour libation to <a href="http://www.neokoroi.org/hekate.htm">Hekate</a>-<br />
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To the Ancestors<br />
<i>Our dearest ancestors and our beloved dead who are among us, we call upon you now and offer our thanks for the many blessings your give us. We welcome you openly and without reservation into our home and our hearts. We honor your lives and ask that you use your wisdom to lead and guide us in ours. </i><br />
<br />
-pour libation to Dearest Ancestors and Beloved Dead-<br />
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-place your hands over the offering you intend to make to your local food bank-<br />
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<i>Beloved <a href="http://www.neokoroi.org/hekate.htm">Hekate</a>, companion of all who must travel in darkness, we offer you this (enumerate offerings to be made to the needy) that it may bless the lives of those less fortunate than ourselves--that it may feed them, body and soul, and bring your love and blessings into their lives, should they so desire. </i><br />
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<i>We also offer you (enumerate offerings to be made at the crossroads) which we will leave at your sacred crossroads as a token of our devotion. We ask that you come to us in the days and weeks ahead, bearing light in your hands. Be our guide in dark places. Protect us from unseen dangers and richly inspire our dreams.</i><br />
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-take crossroads offerings to the spot you have chosen and leave them there on the ground-<br />
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<i>Mother <a href="http://www.neokoroi.org/hekate.htm">Hekate</a>, this offering is in your honor. Bless us that as the crossroads of our lives unfold before us, we may make the decisions that will lead us to greater enlightenment, a truer understanding of our earth and our fellows, a more honest and open heart, an overflowing abundance, and an unwavering trust in your wise counsel and that of all our precious Theoi. </i><br />
<br />
-informally ask Goddess <a href="http://www.neokoroi.org/hekate.htm">Hekate</a> for help with certain decisions that you will be making in the coming month-<br />
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<i>As we return home, we pledge not to look back at this offering in honor of the ever-growing bond of trust between us. Hail <a href="http://www.neokoroi.org/hekate.htm">Hekate</a>!</i><br />
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-walk away from the offering site, not looking back. Return to the altar and take libation bowl outside in order to pour its contents on the ground-<br />
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<i>Hail most gracious <a href="http://neokoroi.org/gods.htm">Theoi</a>--this libation is made in your honor. You are most welcome here.</i><br />
<br />
-return to the altar, replace the libation bowl and extinguish the Hestia candle-<br />
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<i>Hail <a href="http://neokoroi.org/hestia.htm">Hestia</a>--you are the first and the last!</i><br />
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-bring offering of food for the needy to your local food bank as soon after the rite as is feasible-<br />
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May the right course in all your decisions be illuminated to you by <a href="http://www.neokoroi.org/hekate.htm">Hekate</a>'s undying light.<br />
<br />
Xairete,<br />
<a href="http://www.myspace.com/">-M. Ashley</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270642198672901054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2855237173359268938.post-80043959332978265732010-03-20T13:55:00.000-05:002010-04-19T13:56:15.093-05:00The Rape of Allegory<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/S8ym6pk8pyI/AAAAAAAAAPk/y4pEpSTf6t4/s1600/perseus-modena-picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/S8ym6pk8pyI/AAAAAAAAAPk/y4pEpSTf6t4/s200/perseus-modena-picture.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="http://shop.history.com/">The History Channel</a> series <a href="http://www.history.com/video.do?name=ClashoftheGods"><i>Clash of the Gods</i></a> has caused many a heated debate in the <a href="http://www.neokoroi.org/">Hellenic Polytheist</a> community--usually over how much or how little they "got it right" and how offended or vindicated we feel about that. For me, the concern is much less over how much of the myth they got correct--as "correct" isn't really a word properly applied to myths that have as many variations as the people and personalities who told and retold them--but rather my concern is with the way in which the interviewees analyze the myths--an uneasy and seemingly haphazard mix of literalism and allegory.<br />
<br />
For example, in the episode on <a href="http://www.neokoroi.org/herakles.htm">Herakles</a>, they took great pains to equate the great hero's trials with vice, making the entire thing a spirito-instructional allegory for the triumph of virtue. I don't have a problem with this necessarily--I'm a veritable connoisseur of spirito-instructional allegory--but what I find troubling is that in a later episode on <a href="http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/greek-mythology.php?deity=MEDUSA">Medusa</a>, they drop the allegorical interpretation for a socio-political one instead. <a href="http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/greek-mythology.php?deity=MEDUSA">Medusa</a>, once a beautiful mortal priestess of <a href="http://www.neokoroi.org/athene.htm">Athena</a>, was raped by <a href="http://www.neokoroi.org/poseidon.htm">Poseidon</a> and, because rape made her impure, <a href="http://www.neokoroi.org/athene.htm">Athena</a> punished her by turning her into the snaky-haired monster with which most of us are familiar. All of this, say the interviewees, is a sad reflection of how unfair <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenistic_Greece">Hellenic Greek society</a> was to women.<br />
<br />
Although <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenistic_Greece">Hellenic Greek society</a> may have in fact been unfair to women--certainly a society where it seems normal for a story to contain a <i>victim</i> of rape being punished is not one where women are held in great esteem--but why, I wonder, the drastic shift from the pure allegorical to the pure political. Is it because lobbing pot-shots at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenistic_Greece">ancient Greeks</a> for their attitudes toward women is more compelling for TV than another symbolism-laden discourse on allegory?<br />
<br />
Perhaps it's because I'm a giant allegory nerd that this irritates me so much. Or maybe it's because the switch for sensationalism's sake robbed the loyal viewers, like myself, of a titillating discourse on what is a most pointed, poignant and useful spiritual allegory.<br />
<br />
Let's take it as a simple equation: <a href="http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/greek-mythology.php?deity=MEDUSA">Medusa </a>represents humanity--us; <a href="http://www.neokoroi.org/poseidon.htm">Poseidon</a>, God of the sea and earthquakes, represents unexpected and unpredictable change; <a href="http://www.neokoroi.org/athene.htm">Athena</a> represents wisdom; stone represents physical and/or emotional death.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/greek-mythology.php?deity=MEDUSA">Medusa</a>, ravaged by unpredicted and sorrowful change, unable to properly and healthfully apply spiritual wisdom to pull herself out of it, becomes an unfeeling "monster" who is incapable of seeing others as sentient creatures--either feeling or giving love. When she sees a true reflection of herself, of what she has allowed herself to become, her spiritual death is complete--she herself turns to stone.<br />
<br />
I probably won't win any feminist prizes for my interpretation, nor generate enough ad sales to support a nerdball cable network, but at least I can say that, unlike the interviewees on <i><a href="http://www.history.com/video.do?name=ClashoftheGods">Clash of the Gods</a>,</i> I am consistent--an unholy allegory nerd to the bitter end!<br />
<br />
Xairete,<br />
-<a href="http://www.myspace.com/inkfont">M. Ashley</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270642198672901054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2855237173359268938.post-21289733325294950582010-03-13T13:58:00.000-06:002010-04-19T13:59:44.076-05:00Field Guide to Forbidden Fruit: The Pomegranate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/S8yoArk75iI/AAAAAAAAAPs/q38dHTWGqKQ/s1600/250px-Pomseeds2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g1qn3sXa7ps/S8yoArk75iI/AAAAAAAAAPs/q38dHTWGqKQ/s200/250px-Pomseeds2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font: 10px Helvetica; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I imagine that even if </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaweh"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Yaweh</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> hadn’t forbidden </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_and_eve"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Adam and Eve</span></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> to eat of the fruit--which we are assuming for the purposes of this post was a pomegranate--they would have gotten about three seconds into an attempt at gnawing their way through the leathery rind before ditching the high-maintenance nosh for something sweet and easy like, oh, say, apples. But the myth of the matter is that it was forbidden, special--somehow hyper-symbolic of both the simple knowledge of good and evil and the knowledge that makes gods. </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 10px Helvetica; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 10px Helvetica; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">If you’ve ever gotten into the lengthy and often frustrating process of getting the good stuff out of a pomegranate, you will likely already know that, high symbolism aside, at the very least it takes God-like patience just to endure the process of getting into the thing. I mean, honestly--who ever heard of waiting ten to fifteen minutes for about a half an ounce of snack? But even beyond that, there are a few other things in the preparation reminiscent of godly knowledge</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">. </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 10px Helvetica; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 10px Helvetica; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">First of all, you’ve gotta lose the crown. If you are ever going to get to the fruit or that higher place, any sign of pomp or pretension must go. No divas here, no royalty. No vestiges of the flower of the life that was. No crowns for comparison with the crowns of others. Simple, title-less, humble and ready--that’s how you start.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 10px Helvetica; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 10px Helvetica; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Next is sectioning--scoring symmetrical partitions into the rind--making order out of it, breaking it down into graspable pieces--cutting, wounding deep enough that the transformative water can get to the deepest part, but not so deep as to destroy the whole--at least not yet. </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 10px Helvetica; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 10px Helvetica; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Then submersion. I know, I know--about nine hundred and twenty-three</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptism"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptism"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">baptismal</span></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptism"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">allegories sprang to my mind too, but let me stick to just this one--water makes the fruit pliable. it makes the sections come away one at a time and loosens the sweet seeds from the bitter flesh. </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 10px Helvetica; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 10px Helvetica; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Now pulling the sections apart the treasure comes in clumps, clusters, and sometimes single grains. And every now and then you pop one into your mouth using your palate’s delight at the tart, uncommon flavor to drive you forward into finishing the separation--letting it whisper yes, it is worth it.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 10px Helvetica; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 10px Helvetica; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Finally, you strain the water and last bits of clinging flesh from the seeds, leaving them wet and sumptuous in the bottom of the bowl. You are hungry now, after the work, but the sensual burst of each tiny seed has you sated quickly. En masse these seeds don’t keep well in the dark, so you save a few for when your hunger rises again and the rest you plant to ensure future harvests. </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 10px Helvetica; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 10px Helvetica; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">If, as some suppose, the pomegranate was the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbidden_fruit"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">forbidden fruit</span></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, this intimate and intensive process of extracting the sweet essence buried deep in the bitter body had to be the “benefits” side of the serpent's </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">infamously irresistible sales pitch. </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 10px Helvetica; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 10px Helvetica; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This is the knowledge that makes gods--humility, submission, order, cleansing, release, joy, eternity. </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 10px Helvetica; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 10px Helvetica; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">-</span><a href="http://myspace.com/inkfont"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">M. Ashley</span></a></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17270642198672901054noreply@blogger.com0