Life of a Hellenic Polytheist

Well this week has been an interesting one and this Tuesday was no exception. I was out and about my local town and went window shopping in my local charity shops, of which are many. So you can imagine my joy when I came across a Greek plate in the Cancer Research Charity shop.the plate depicted the image of Hermes! I instantly had to have it and only when I got to my friends house that is discovered the following. The depiction on the plate was of Sarpedon King of Lycia, being wounded and is carried by Hypnos and Thanatos (in greek lettering) with Hermes overlooking them in the middle "Sarpedon King of Lycia. He had gone to Troy to help Priam and was supposedly teh son of Zeusand Europaand the brother of Minos and Rhadamanthos. Some believed that he was the son of Zeus and Laodamaeia, daughter of Bellerophon. Although he was the son of a god, he lost his life through a javelin that was thrown by Patroklos. On the orders of Zeus, Hypnos (sleep) and Thanatos (Death) undertook to ...

XXX. TO EARTH THE MOTHER OF ALL   I will sing of well-founded Earth, mother of all, eldest of all beings. She feeds all creatures that are in the world, all that go upon the goodly land, and all that are in the paths of the seas, and all that fly: all these are fed of her store. Through you, O queen, men are blessed in their children and blessed in their harvests, and to you it belongs to give means of life to mortal men and to take it away. Happy is the man whom you delight to honour! He has all things abundantly: his fruitful land is laden with corn, his pastures are covered with cattle, and his house is filled with good things. Such men rule orderly in their cities of fair women: great riches and wealth follow them: their sons exult with ever-fresh delight, and their daughters in flower-laden bands play and skip merrily over the soft flowers of the field. Thus is it with those whom you honour O holy goddess, bountiful spirit. Hail, Mother of the gods, wife of starry Heaven; f...

XX. TO HEPHAESTUS     Sing, clear-voiced Muses, of Hephaestus famed for inventions. With bright-eyed Athene he taught men glorious gifts throughout the world, -- men who before used to dwell in caves in the mountains like wild beasts. But now that they have learned crafts through Hephaestus the famed worker, easily they live a peaceful life in their own houses the whole year round. Be gracious, Hephaestus, and grant me success and prosperity!

XXII To Poseidon I begin to sing about Poseidon ,the great God, mover of the earth and fruitless sea, god of the deep who is also lord of Helicon and wide Aegae. A two fold office the gods allotted to you, O' shaker of the earth, to be a tamer of horse and saviour of ships! Hail Poseidon , holder of the Earth, dark haired lord! O'blessed one, be kindly in heart and help those who voyage in ships.

Many people appreciate lavendar (lavandula agotifolia or lavandula officinalis) for its wonderful and delicate fragrance, used in soaps, shampoos and sachets for scenting clothes. The name Lavender comes form teh Latin root lavare , which actually means "to wash" . And lavender may have earned this name because it was frequently used in baths to help purify the body and spirit. However, this herb has also been used as a remedy for a range of ailments from insomnia and anxiety to depression and fatigue, and relatively recent research has indeed confirmed that lavender produces slight calming , soothing and sedative effects when its scent is inhaled and /or consumed. The cultural symbolism and communication message medium came to full expanse and an d'culmination during the victorian ers. Many flowers during that time were thought to culturally embody a different emotion or characteristic, which was then used to communicate messages , allowing individuals to express f...

XVII. TO PLUTO [PLOUTON] Pluto [Plouton], magnanimous, whose realms profound are fix'd beneath the firm and solid ground. In the Tartarian plains remote from fight,  and wrapt forever in the depths of night; Terrestrial Jove [Zeus Khthonios], thy sacred ear incline,  and, pleas'd, accept thy mystic's hymn divine. Earth's keys to thee, illustrious king belong,  its secret gates unlocking, deep and strong. ' Tis thine, abundant annual fruits to bear,  for needy mortals are thy constant care. To thee, great king, Avernus is assign'd,  the seat of Gods, and basis of mankind. Thy throne is fix'd in Hade's dismal plains,  distant,  unknown to rest, where darkness reigns; Where, destitute of breath, pale spectres dwell,  in endless, dire, inexorable hell; And in dread Acheron, whose depths obscure,  earth's stable roots eternally secure. O mighty dæmon, whose decision dread,  the future fat...

XII. TO HERA I sing of golden-throned Hera whom Rhea bare. Queen of the immortals is she, surpassing all in beauty: she is the sister and the wife of loud-thundering Zeus, -- the glorious one whom all the blessed throughout high Olympus reverence and honour even as Zeus who delights in thunder. Hail Hera Queen of all Olympus! 

XXIII. To the Son of Cronos, Most High  I will sing of Zeus, chiefest among the gods and greatest,   all-seeing, the lord of all, the fulfiller who whispers words of   wisdom to Themis as she sits leaning towards him. Be   gracious, all-seeing Son of Cronos, most excellent and great! Hail to you Zeus 

XVIII. TO HERMES I sing of Cyllenian Hermes, the Slayer of Argus, lord of Cyllene and Arcadia rich in flocks, luck-bringing messenger of the deathless gods. He was born of Maia, the daughter of Atlas, when she had made with Zeus, -- a shy goddess she. Ever she avoided the throng of the blessed gods and lived in a shadowy cave, and there the Son of Cronos used to lie with the rich-tressed nymph at dead of night, while white-armed Hera lay bound in sweet sleep: and neither deathless god nor mortal man knew it. And so hail to you, Son of Zeus and Maia; with you I have begun: now I will turn to another song!  Hail, Hermes, giver of grace, guide, and giver of good things!    

Yesterday I got the chance to go into town to do some much beloved  window shopping. I don't necessarily buy  things that I "want" rather that I need, but today yesterday wanted to treat myself to a few little things I have been wanting to get. As few of these things were an acrylic paint set, and maybe a few nick nacks if there was any in the charity shops, which i think are great for jazzing up your altar space. My altar is quite a small one at the moment , but I'm hoping to get a bigger space once the house has been redecorated. Green Ivy cup/vase So I went to my local British Heart Foundation (BHF) charity shop and found loads of Pagan statues such as a beautiful gold and blue statue of Isis and a few dragon statues but unfortunately they were quite  pricey given teh facthey were in a charity shop. I also came across a lovely little black and gold vase, which had   depictions of dionysus on it and another another vase/ handless cup which had a lovely ivy ...

Glorious and Eternal immortal rulers of all that is, You who sit on the thrones of Olympus, Zeus, Hera, Aphrodite, Poseidon, Demeter, Artemis, Apollo, Athena, Hephaestus, Ares, Hermes, and Dionysus. I do not pray for myself this day , but for all the world. We need the wisdom and blessings of you all. I ask for  Zeus’ great leadership,  Heras Protection to all women,  Aphodites love and nature to spread to all on Earth,  PoseidonsTrident to defend the Oceans of Gaia that are under attack from pollution ,  Demeters peace to fill our hearts and the blessings of the land and crops to feed the hungry , To Artemis to give power women oppressed and protect the wilderness and the creatures within and to watch over and protect the infants and children of mankind. To Apollo for his healing touch to be placed upon all the sick and ill, To Hephaestus creativity to be the fire in our hearts,  To Ares to destroy all the dangers to humanity and Ga...

XXIV To Hestia Hestia, you who tend the holy house of the lord Apollo, the Far-shooter at goodly Pytho, with soft oil dripping ever from your locks, come now into this house, come, having one mind with Zeus the all-wise -- draw near, and withal bestow grace upon my song XXIX To Hestia Hestia, in the high dwellings of all, both deathless gods and men who walk on earth, you have gained an everlasting abode and highest honour: glorious is your portion and your right. For without you mortals hold no banquet, -- where one does not duly pour sweet wine in offering to Hestia both first and last. And you, slayer of Argus, Son of Zeus and Maia, messenger of the blessed gods, bearer of the golden rod, giver of good, be favourable and help us, you and Hestia, the worshipful and dear. Come and dwell in this glorious house in friendship together; for you two, well knowing the noble actions of men, aid on their wisdom and their strength. Hail, Daughter of Cronos, and you also, ...

XXVI. TO DIONYSUS  I begin to sing of ivy-crowned Dionysus, the loud-crying god, splendid son of Zeus and glorious Semele. The rich-haired Nymphs received him in their bosoms from the lord his father and fostered and nurtured him carefully in the dells of Nysa, where by the will of his father he grew up in a sweet-smelling cave, being reckoned among the immortals. But when the goddesses had brought him up, a god oft hymned, then began he to wander continually through the woody coombes, thickly wreathed with ivy and laurel. And the Nymphs followed in his train with him for their leader; and the boundless forest was filled with their outcry. And so hail to you, Dionysus, god of abundant clusters! Grant that we may come again rejoicing to this season, and from that season onwards for many a year.

VI. TO APHRODITE   I will sing of stately Aphrodite, gold-crowned and beautiful, whose dominion is the walled cities of all sea-set Cyprus. There the moist breath of the western wind wafted her over the waves of the loud-moaning sea in soft foam, and there the gold-filleted Hours welcomed her joyously. They clothed her with heavenly garments: on her head they put a fine, well-wrought crown of gold, and in her pierced ears they hung ornaments of orichalc and precious gold, and adorned her with golden necklaces over her soft neck and snow-white breasts, jewels which the gold-filleted Hours wear themselves whenever they go to their father's house to join the lovely dances of the gods. And when they had fully decked her, they brought her to the gods, who welcomed her when they saw her, giving her their hands. Each one of them prayed that he might lead her home to be his wedded wife, so greatly were they amazed at the beauty of violet-crowned Cytherea. Hail, sweet...

XXI. TO APOLLO Phoebus, of you even the swan sings with clear voice to the beating of his wings, as he alights upon the bank by the eddying river Peneus; and of you the sweet-tongued minstrel, holding his high-pitched lyre, always sings both first and last. And so hail to you, lord! I seek your favour with my song.     III. TO APOLLO How, then, shall I sing of you who in all ways are a worthy theme of song? For everywhere, O Phoebus, the whole range of song is fallen to you, both over the mainland that rears heifers and over the isles. All mountain-peaks and high headlands of lofty hills and rivers flowing out to the deep and beaches sloping seawards and havens of the sea are your delight. Shall I sing how at the first Leto bare you to be the joy of men, as she rested against Mount Cynthus in that rocky isle, in sea-girt Delos -- while on either hand a dark wave rolled on landwards driven by shrill winds -- whence arising you rule over all mortal men? ...