Ares Laossous, he who rallies the warriors. Ares Obrimus, he who is mighty. Ares Chrysopelex, he of the golden helm. Hear this prayer for those who have fallen in battle.
Athene Alalkomene, she who averts danger. Athene Nikephoros, she who brings victory. Athene Promakhos, she who is our champion. Hear this prayer for those who have fallen in battle.
May the fallen warriors find a well-deserved rest in the world beyond our own. May the golden Fields of Elyssium welcome them, and the waters of the Lethe take their regrets and sorrows away. With water I make this libation to honor those who have given their lives in the defense of others. May the dead receive drink.
Haides Hagisilaos, he who leads the people. Haides Polydektes, he who receives many guests. Haides Eubouleus, he who provides good counsel. Hear this prayer for those who have fallen in battle.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Convention, Christmas, and Family
I got the hotel form filled out for Otakon, which begins at the end of July. I'm not going to stress over it, because every year it seems something ends up throwing a wrench in the hotel situation. I live close enough to the Convention Center to take a taxi there and back during the convention.
Next weekend there's a staff meeting, and then the last meeting before Con is around the end of June.
I'm feeling a lot better now that most of the clutter is gone. There really was an energy strangulation going on that put me in a stressed mood for a good part of the year. Things are a bit more serene. I'd like to do a general purification ritual soon.
I've got to start thinking about this year's Christmas party. The theme is Dickens, so my costuming and decorative pieces are going to be early Victorian in style. I'm taking the menu from "A Christmas Carol" as well, and adapting it. I'm not doing goose because of the grease factor, so I'm opting for turkey with sage and onion. The gingerbread Christmas pudding I made last year was a big triumph, so I'm going to look for more recipes to see what I can tinker with.
This weekend there's a small family gathering at my aunt's house. Her swimming pool will be open, so I'm praying for Zeus to keep the skies clear. I also miss her iced tea. Nobody knows how she makes it, not even her daughters, but it's the perfect combination of tea and lemon. She uses a large iron pot and stirs in the sugar and fresh lemon juice like a magical potion.
I should get something to eat before heading to my friends' house today. Take care!
Next weekend there's a staff meeting, and then the last meeting before Con is around the end of June.
I'm feeling a lot better now that most of the clutter is gone. There really was an energy strangulation going on that put me in a stressed mood for a good part of the year. Things are a bit more serene. I'd like to do a general purification ritual soon.
I've got to start thinking about this year's Christmas party. The theme is Dickens, so my costuming and decorative pieces are going to be early Victorian in style. I'm taking the menu from "A Christmas Carol" as well, and adapting it. I'm not doing goose because of the grease factor, so I'm opting for turkey with sage and onion. The gingerbread Christmas pudding I made last year was a big triumph, so I'm going to look for more recipes to see what I can tinker with.
This weekend there's a small family gathering at my aunt's house. Her swimming pool will be open, so I'm praying for Zeus to keep the skies clear. I also miss her iced tea. Nobody knows how she makes it, not even her daughters, but it's the perfect combination of tea and lemon. She uses a large iron pot and stirs in the sugar and fresh lemon juice like a magical potion.
I should get something to eat before heading to my friends' house today. Take care!
Monday, May 24, 2010
Holy Crap
I just found out that someone I talk to on a Hellenismos forum (other than Tim Alexander) has written a book about devotional practices to Aphrodite called "In Her Service: Reflections from a Priestess of Aphrodite". I must get this book! Tim even gave it a good review on Amazon.
In other news, June is around the fucking corner. Where did this year go? Seriously! My sister's birthday, my birthday, my friend's birthday, a Bollywood-themed party, and the Gay Pride events are all a stone's throw away. That's not counting Bendideia, the Roman Vestalia, Plunteria, Arrephoria, Skirophoria, and Bouphonia (the Hellenes love their summertime festivals).
I have to think of some quick gift ideas, decide on what foods to serve for the Bollywood party, get some henna, and try not to look a total mess in front of some Adonis-like folks of the male species.
Then after all that, there's Otakon looming overhead. Help.
In other news, June is around the fucking corner. Where did this year go? Seriously! My sister's birthday, my birthday, my friend's birthday, a Bollywood-themed party, and the Gay Pride events are all a stone's throw away. That's not counting Bendideia, the Roman Vestalia, Plunteria, Arrephoria, Skirophoria, and Bouphonia (the Hellenes love their summertime festivals).
I have to think of some quick gift ideas, decide on what foods to serve for the Bollywood party, get some henna, and try not to look a total mess in front of some Adonis-like folks of the male species.
Then after all that, there's Otakon looming overhead. Help.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Cleaning
I decided to be true to my word and begin clearing out the clutter in my bedroom. I'm about halfway done, and still need to figure out what to do with all the books that I've accumulated in the past 20-something years.
The good news is that I can get to my altars again. Yay! The first thing I did was re-dedicate my hearth area and light some incense. My bedroom smells like roses and cinnamon now.
It also occured to me that I had a lot of catalogs and magazines from up to five years ago. Those things are crazy, because you don't want to throw them away in case you're going to need them later, but more keep coming in month after month. I decided to only save the ones with recipes in them. I put those in a separate box, that way I can sort through them, copy them down on the computer, and then recycle them.
The books are actually in four neat piles now. I'm going to go through my larger bookcase and give a lot of those a home in there, and hopefully next month I'll have another bookcase to house the rest.
I actually got all my Pagan-related books onto one shelf of my short altar bookcase. I'm so happy! Granted, it's not arranged in any particular order aside from the Hellenismos books being in one corner, but at least they're not lying around on my bedroom furniture or in boxes anymore.
More to do tomorrow. I'm enjoying this blitz of productivity.
The good news is that I can get to my altars again. Yay! The first thing I did was re-dedicate my hearth area and light some incense. My bedroom smells like roses and cinnamon now.
It also occured to me that I had a lot of catalogs and magazines from up to five years ago. Those things are crazy, because you don't want to throw them away in case you're going to need them later, but more keep coming in month after month. I decided to only save the ones with recipes in them. I put those in a separate box, that way I can sort through them, copy them down on the computer, and then recycle them.
The books are actually in four neat piles now. I'm going to go through my larger bookcase and give a lot of those a home in there, and hopefully next month I'll have another bookcase to house the rest.
I actually got all my Pagan-related books onto one shelf of my short altar bookcase. I'm so happy! Granted, it's not arranged in any particular order aside from the Hellenismos books being in one corner, but at least they're not lying around on my bedroom furniture or in boxes anymore.
More to do tomorrow. I'm enjoying this blitz of productivity.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Beyond the Usual
If men are from Mars, and women are from Venus, why do people treat me like I'm from Neptune?
This is a rant.
I wear makeup. Not in the drag queen way, mostly because I'm not that committed to shaving everywhere and applying foundation with a spatula. I like wearing eyeliner and shadows, usually in colors that compliment my eyes or that add a slight touch of dramatic flare behind my glasses. Having less than immaculate skin, I also pray at the altar of the concealer Gods.
Now I realize this is not usual for men in our society, or at least our modern society. Makeup was originally unisex, and remained so until around the 19th century in places such as France. Lined eyes were very popular among both men and women in Egypt, as images on sarcophagi and wall paintings clearly show. During Punjabi wedding ceremonies in India, the bridegroom traditionally wears kohl eyeliner.
I expect people to take notice, because it isn't a common occurance around here. What I don't like, however, are the people who stare at me like I'm of a different species, or make disgusted remarks to my face. There's a thing called politeness, people. While I may personally think that your face looks like the back end of a baboon, I'm certainly not going to say as much out loud to you.
Really though, haven't we been through the "androgynous as popular" thing before? I mean I know I'm not the first guy to go out in public a little tarted up. It's like glamrock in the 70's never happened, or people don't look at the magazine covers featuring whatever punk band is popular (though I've noticed that most of the modern punk songs tend to sound like the same whiny 14-year-old boy is singing them, but that's another rant).
I really don't know where I'm going with this rant now, other than a desire for people to mind their own damned business and act a little civilized toward people they don't know, especially if they're businesspeople. I don't care what I look like to you, I'm a paying customer and I'd like a little respect.
Also, I discovered a website that sells religious medallions with the faces of the Olympian Gods on them. I am a happy Hellenist. ^_^
This is a rant.
I wear makeup. Not in the drag queen way, mostly because I'm not that committed to shaving everywhere and applying foundation with a spatula. I like wearing eyeliner and shadows, usually in colors that compliment my eyes or that add a slight touch of dramatic flare behind my glasses. Having less than immaculate skin, I also pray at the altar of the concealer Gods.
Now I realize this is not usual for men in our society, or at least our modern society. Makeup was originally unisex, and remained so until around the 19th century in places such as France. Lined eyes were very popular among both men and women in Egypt, as images on sarcophagi and wall paintings clearly show. During Punjabi wedding ceremonies in India, the bridegroom traditionally wears kohl eyeliner.
I expect people to take notice, because it isn't a common occurance around here. What I don't like, however, are the people who stare at me like I'm of a different species, or make disgusted remarks to my face. There's a thing called politeness, people. While I may personally think that your face looks like the back end of a baboon, I'm certainly not going to say as much out loud to you.
Really though, haven't we been through the "androgynous as popular" thing before? I mean I know I'm not the first guy to go out in public a little tarted up. It's like glamrock in the 70's never happened, or people don't look at the magazine covers featuring whatever punk band is popular (though I've noticed that most of the modern punk songs tend to sound like the same whiny 14-year-old boy is singing them, but that's another rant).
I really don't know where I'm going with this rant now, other than a desire for people to mind their own damned business and act a little civilized toward people they don't know, especially if they're businesspeople. I don't care what I look like to you, I'm a paying customer and I'd like a little respect.
Also, I discovered a website that sells religious medallions with the faces of the Olympian Gods on them. I am a happy Hellenist. ^_^
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Thinking About Stuff
My thoughts have been gravitating toward Otakon and the Art Show. It's getting close to that time of year. I think this year's convention will be the make or break point for me. Are the benefits of volunteering there worth the stress that we all end up facing. I mean the event itself lasts maybe four days for us, five if you count setup at the center, yet it takes weeks to emotionally recover from dealing with people who are not only ignorant (please for the love of Zeus use your real names on the official paperwork, we don't care who you're dressed up as) but also have entitlement issues.
My spiritual practice has lapsed a bit since I've been babysitting. I have about a month's break now and would like to get back into daily devotions, libations, and meditations. I also haven't seriously prayed in awhile. I miss my conversations with Hestia, and the feelings of warmth and comfort that come from her. My June project includes cleaning up clutter and reconsecrating a sacred space to the Olympians within the home. I would like to find an appropriate vessel I can use to contain the khernips on my altar (the steel mixing bowl just seems out of place). I've been looking at the websites of some very skilled artists who do replica Mediterranean pottery in the traditional fashion. I do have a fondness for handcrafted ritual objects.
I just finished reading the third book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. I think I like it more than the Harry Potter series, but I'm also very biased because of my love for the Olympians. I need the fourth book like grandma needs whiskey.
Anyway, anyway. I've got stuff to do and I'll post again soon. Bye!
My spiritual practice has lapsed a bit since I've been babysitting. I have about a month's break now and would like to get back into daily devotions, libations, and meditations. I also haven't seriously prayed in awhile. I miss my conversations with Hestia, and the feelings of warmth and comfort that come from her. My June project includes cleaning up clutter and reconsecrating a sacred space to the Olympians within the home. I would like to find an appropriate vessel I can use to contain the khernips on my altar (the steel mixing bowl just seems out of place). I've been looking at the websites of some very skilled artists who do replica Mediterranean pottery in the traditional fashion. I do have a fondness for handcrafted ritual objects.
I just finished reading the third book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. I think I like it more than the Harry Potter series, but I'm also very biased because of my love for the Olympians. I need the fourth book like grandma needs whiskey.
Anyway, anyway. I've got stuff to do and I'll post again soon. Bye!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Purification
Thargelia is coming up next week. It's a festival I've had a difficult time reconstructing since I started celebrating the Hellenic cycle. On the surface, Thargelia is a celebration of the birth of the twins of Leto, Artemis and Apollo. Beneath the surface are darker ancient customs and sacrifice merging into symbolic purification.
On the first day of the two-day festival, two men were chosen from the city. One to bear the miasma of the men of the town, and one to bear the miasma of the women. Both were given feasts and treated like kings, then both were severely beaten with leeks by the townsfolk, driven out of town, and most likely killed as a human sacrifice when the practice first began. The purification through human life is an old custom, even to the Greeks, and later it was replaced by simply driving the men out of town and allowing them to return after the festival.
Hellenismos is no longer a public religion. Gone are the temples, the elected priesthood, and the religious offices. Thargelia as it was before simply cannot be reconstructed, for this reason and for the human maturity past the idea of human sacrifice as a literal practice.
There is still a sacred metaphor behind the concept of purification through death. We see this echoed elsewhere through the apotheosis of Herakles by being burned alive, and through the sacrifice of Christ upon the cross. Death becomes a transition from one state of consciousness to another. By giving up that which pollutes us spiritually (miasma), we also make that transition through our own awareness, a death of our previous frame of mind. These are the symbols I get from Thargelia.
While the first day which is devoted to Artemis, deals with purification, the second day is sacred to Apollo and fills in the void left by the miasma with a blessing. A sacred bough is cut and wrapped in wool, and from it hang decorations depicting fruits, bread, and cups for wine and oil. Children gave these branches out door-to-door in exchange for a coin. The branches brought with them a blessing from Apollo for prosperity and abundance.
I have my decorated branch from last year in storage, and I plan to return it to its place by the entrance of my bedroom on the second day of Thargelia. As for the rest, I still have a week to come up with something. I will be spending a lot of time over the next week reflecting on personal spiritual pollution and that which is holding me back from a state of grace with the Gods.
On the first day of the two-day festival, two men were chosen from the city. One to bear the miasma of the men of the town, and one to bear the miasma of the women. Both were given feasts and treated like kings, then both were severely beaten with leeks by the townsfolk, driven out of town, and most likely killed as a human sacrifice when the practice first began. The purification through human life is an old custom, even to the Greeks, and later it was replaced by simply driving the men out of town and allowing them to return after the festival.
Hellenismos is no longer a public religion. Gone are the temples, the elected priesthood, and the religious offices. Thargelia as it was before simply cannot be reconstructed, for this reason and for the human maturity past the idea of human sacrifice as a literal practice.
There is still a sacred metaphor behind the concept of purification through death. We see this echoed elsewhere through the apotheosis of Herakles by being burned alive, and through the sacrifice of Christ upon the cross. Death becomes a transition from one state of consciousness to another. By giving up that which pollutes us spiritually (miasma), we also make that transition through our own awareness, a death of our previous frame of mind. These are the symbols I get from Thargelia.
While the first day which is devoted to Artemis, deals with purification, the second day is sacred to Apollo and fills in the void left by the miasma with a blessing. A sacred bough is cut and wrapped in wool, and from it hang decorations depicting fruits, bread, and cups for wine and oil. Children gave these branches out door-to-door in exchange for a coin. The branches brought with them a blessing from Apollo for prosperity and abundance.
I have my decorated branch from last year in storage, and I plan to return it to its place by the entrance of my bedroom on the second day of Thargelia. As for the rest, I still have a week to come up with something. I will be spending a lot of time over the next week reflecting on personal spiritual pollution and that which is holding me back from a state of grace with the Gods.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)