A Changing Altar

PSA: All posts written after August 1st 2020 are also posted on my Wordpress, as well as some chosen older articles. 

So this blog has reached its 2000 followers milestone this week. Warm welcome to my new followers, glad to see you there. 

Because I suck at keeping a consistent tagging system, I’ve figured that maybe a masterpost would be necessary. If you’re new, you can refer to it and catch up with some of my older posts. 

About Dionysus

30 day of Dionysus Masterpost

About my oath to Dionysus

About my magpie UPG

About his aspects

About my worship of Dionysus + how it happened

Why pine is sacred to Dionysus

Debunking the 12 days of Dionysus

About the Haloa festival

Tips on how to take your worship to the next level

Tips on researching Dionysus’ chthonic aspects

My understanding of Dionysus-Hades: an orphic perspective

How NOT to act with Dionysus (or any god for the matter)

Dionysus’ less known epithets

Dionysus’ link to swamps

Reading recommendation on Dionysus + tips on further research

The Cult of Dionysus in Roman Britain and Northern Western Europe

Maenadism, Artemis and Dionysus

Gender neutral term for dionysian worshippers

Addressing the Dionysian Phallus

Raw meat meals for Dionysus

On satyrs

Wine posts

Wine basics 1 and 2

Prime wines in Dionysiac worship

About Pan

Cultic information on Pan 1

Cultic information on Pan 2

The Caves of Pan 1

The Caves of Pan 2

About Silenus

He deserves worship and respect: a rant

Worshiping Silenus 1

Worshiping Silenus 2

About Priapus

Introduction to Priapus

Practical information on the cult of Priapus

More information and historical offering list

I love Priapus (a rambly rant)

Priapus the Sailor + “sacred” birb

An updated list of Priapus Epithets

Hymns for Priapus (which I wrote)

About Aristaeus

About Aristaeus

Offering ideas

Poem request for him written by @winestainedpoetry

Prayer request for him written by @adri-le-chat

About Aphrodite

On Aphrodite Areia (a very rambly post, sorry)

Respect pigeons

Sacred prostitution: an overview on the historical debate

On Aphrodite’s “gravedigger” and “she upon the graves” epithets

Aphrodite of the Sea

About Zeus

Worshipping Zeus 1: Why is he the King of Heavens?

Worshipping Zeus 2: Civic and legal aspects

Worshipping Zeus 3: Zeus as a paternal and domestic god

About Hera

General information on Hera

Why Hera is not “a jealous wife”

Tips on researching her cult

About Hephaestus

He deserves respect and worship: a rant

Hephaestus’ return to Olympos and Dionysus

About Athena

Weaving in Ancient Greece

About the owl

About Asklepios

Introduction to Asklepios

About Prometheus

Prometheus and his cult in Athens

Generalities

Book recommendation for beginners + more books

About the Hellenic Calendar

On the fact that myths are written by mortals

Why divine silence is normal and good

Tips to get over bad representation in myth (example of Poseidon)

Why fearing the gods is counterproductive

Tips for beginners + Can I introduce myself to all the gods at once? + Can I address an offering to multiple gods?

Why consistency in myth is not an issue

About oaths

Delphic maxims and core values of Hellenic Polytheism

About Cerberus

Tree cult and sacred groves in Ancient Greece Part 1

Tree cult and sacred groves in Ancient Greece Part 2

Anacreontic poetry and why it’s underrated

The Auloi

The Mushroom Discourse (a rant)

Werewolves in Greek myth and folklore (Halloween special)

Orphism

A few things about Orphism

About the first Orphic Hymn to Hekate

Offerings and devotionals

About food offerings

Examples of daily devotional activities

Another example of devotional activities (more recent)

About private sacrifices

About clay offerings and making your own + additional information about clay offerings

Offering flowers (check notes for additional info)

Some sacred plants

Salt is sacred

Offerings for special events

Why water is not a “lazy” offering

On offerings of fruits and nuts

Offering jewelry

The Golden Phallus I made for Dionysus

Can I offer this drink? A chart

Opinions and personal viewpoints

My personal viewpoint on death and the hellenic afterlife

My personal opinion on veiling

Scents I associate to the gods

My personal example of local cultus (can help if you live by the sea, not up to date with my current practice)

Why I don’t worship my “native deities”

Why I don’t trust pagan authors 1

Why I don’t trust pagans authors 2

Why I have trust issues with pagan groups

My opinion on the reconstructibility of Orphism

My opinion on timezones in worship (the case of Pan)

I really like figs

Professional patrons, a fun list

About my views on philosophy and my own

I’m going to be sharing some of my own rituals that I’ve prepared to celebrate festivals honoring the Greek gods; some will be modern versions of festivals known in the ancient world, others will be new, and I’ll clear about which are which.

Before that, though, I thought I should say a bit about the ritual format I use and why.

The rites are written to be used by a single person or a small group and might require some adaptation for a larger group. Please feel free to use them for inspiration, to make changes to suit your situation, or to follow the script as is. (I personally like to have a script ready when I perform a ritual although I may or may not stick with it throughout the rite. I know others who work strictly off the cuff, which I admire greatly but cannot count on myself to do well every time!) There’s a consistency among the different rites I do and some portions (particularly the framework) tend to stay the same because I like to maintain a cohesive liturgy–it puts me in a ritual frame of mind. :)

I try to use a format based on what we know of ancient practice, and I usually try to keep it simple (again a matter of personal preference). Please note that what follows is a description of how I, myself, do ritual; other Hellenic polytheists may and do use different methods and formats, and you may well see other rites with different or additional steps depending on how the rite was interpreted.

Procession

Historically, most festival rites began with an elaborate procession, ending at the ritual site. Typically such a procession would be a parade through the city; while this is not an option for most of us, the significance of the procession remains, as a period of transition into a sacred space from a mundane one. I sometimes “process” by consciously taking a few steps and standing before the altar, thus moving from outside to inside a sacred space and a sacred state of mind.

Purification of participants

This stage of purification is accomplished with lustral or holy water. You’ll need a bowl of clean water and a stick to light (a thin piece of wood or an incense stick will work). To create the lustral water, light the stick and extinguish it in the clean water, saying “May all who wash in this water be made pure!”

After the water is ready, all participants lightly wash their hands and face with it. With a medium-to-large group I’ve found it works well for the officiant to use a ladle to pour water into participants’ hands over the bowl.

Purification of ritual space

The purification of space is accomplished with barley. You’ll need a small bowl of uncooked barley grain (either hulled or pearl barley is fine). Pass the bowl among the participants so that each can take a small handful of the grain.

To purify the altar space, say “May all that is impure be gone from here!” and throw the barley on the altar. If you’re indoors you may want to do this carefully; if you’re lucky enough to be using an outdoor altar, feel free to hurl the barley with great abandon!

Invocation

A call to the deity or deities being honored in the ritual. (The term “invocation” is used here in the liturgical sense rather than the magical. :)) This serves both to get the deity’s attention and as an invitation to the deity to join the rite.

Statement of purpose

A reminder of why we’re all here and what we are celebrating. Even if it’s just me, I include this step as a further affirmation of purpose.

Actions specific to the ritual

Different festivals will have different things going on at this point. For example, at the Khalkeia, a festival for Hephaistos and Athena, I include a blessing of crafting implements.

Libations

Libations are made with any drink appropriate for the occasion and the deity or deities being honored; wine is common and traditional, but other beverages such as juice are fine as well. If the rite is to honor a chthonic spirit, a libation of milk or of honeyed water might be appropriate.

In order, libations are usually made first to Hestia, then to the deity or deities being honored for the festival, then again to Hestia (who receives her due first and last). Finally, once the gods have received their libation, the cup is (usually but not always–for example, in a chthonic rite the offering is generally not consumed) passed and shared among the mortal participants in the rite.

Thanks

Here we thank the deities being honored, for their presence and for the blessings we have received from them.

Closing

Ending the ritual with a specific statement helps with making the move from sacred space back into everyday space.

The PBW Witch Shop is a curated selection of witchcraft and magic related zines, books, pin-back buttons, tarot cards and more.

We focus on traditional and folkloric witchcraft, animism, chaos magic, secular witchcraft, magical herbs and plants, queer witchcraft, tarot & Divination, witchcraft & magic in politics, history, culture, and social & racial justice,  and aspects of non-Wiccan forms of witchcraft, magic, and paganism.

Pre-Covid the Portland Button Works primarily made custom pinback button. Selling zines and books was secondary and more of a hobby for me to share things I’d like to read. Right now our business is pivoting to focus on books and zines that people can read in the comfort and safety of their own homes. Some items are from well known witchcraft and occult publisher and some are titles from small publishers with interesting items I don’t see in other shops but I’m excited to elevate.

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Some good books to get you started studying witchcraft:

Grovedaughter Witchery by Bree NicGarran

Making Magic by Briana Saussy

Magical Power for Beginners- How to Raise & Send Energy for Spells That Work by Deborah Lipp

Weave The Liminal by Laura Tempest Zakroff

Some creative books to help build your witch craft practice:

Spellcrafting- Strengthen the Power of your Craft by Creating and Casting Your Own Unique Spells by Arin Murphy-Hiscock

D.I.Y. Magic -a Strange & Whimsical Guide to Creativity by Anthony Alvarado

Psychic Witch- a Metaphysical Guide to Meditation, Magick, & Manifestation by Mat Auryn

Urban Magick by Diana Rajchel

Standing and Not Falling - a Sorcerous Primer in Thirteen Moons by Lee Morgan

Tarot Books

Queering the Tarot by Cassandra Snow

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Condensed Chaos by Phil Hine

Advanced Magick for Beginners by Alan Chapman

Chaos Protocols by Gordon White

Hands on Chaos Magic by Andrieh Vitimus 

Liber Null & Psychonaut by Peter Carroll

Other books in the Chaos Magic section

Anthologies: Becoming Dangerous: Witchy Femmes, Queer Conjurers, and Magical Rebels, Bringing Race to the Table: Exploring Racism in the Pagan Community, Shades of Ritual: Minority Voices in Practice

Magical Resistance: Witchcraft Activism by David Salisbury, Magic for the Resistance by Michael Hughes, Revolutionary Witchcraft by Sarah Lyons

Witches and Feminist Perspectives: Caliban and the Witch by Silvia Federici, Witches, Midwives and Nurses by Barbara Ehrenreich and Deirdre English , Witches Sluts Feminists by Kristen J. Sollee

Pagan Anti-Capitalism: Pagan Anarchism True to the Earth: Pagain Political Thology by Kadmus, All That is Sacred is Profaned: A Pagan Guide to Marxism by Ryhd Wildermuth, A Pagan Anti-Capitalist Primer

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Check out the Witchcraft Culture and History and Witchcraft Politics and Resistance sections of our website.

Green Witchcraft: The Green Witch by Arin Murray-Hiscock, Green Witchcraft by Paige Vanderbeck

Plants and Herbs: Under the Witching Tree by Corinne Boyer, Under the Bramble Arch by Corinne Boyer

The Poison Path: Veneficuim: Magic, Witchcraft and the Poison Path by Daniel Schulke, Pharmo/Gnonsis: Plant Teachers and the Poison Path by Dale Pendell , Plants of the Devil by Corinne Boyer

Witchy Crafts: Pestlework: a Book of Magical Powders and Oils by Bree NicGarran, Sew Witchy by Rachel Henderson, Sigil Witchery by Lara Tempest Zakroff

Other books in our Plants, Herbs, and Magical Crafts section

Books on Atheopaganism

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Atheopaganism by Mark Green

Other Pagan Perspectives

Jailbreaking the Goddess: A Radical Revisioning of Feminist Spirituality by Lasara Firefix Allen

The Wakeful World: Anismism, Mind, and the Self in Nature by Emma Restall Orr

Circling the Star by Anthony Rella

All That Is Sacred is Profaned: A Pagan Guide to Marxism by Rhyd Wildermuth

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Traditional Witchcraft: A Cornish Book of Ways by Gemma Gary

A Deed Without A Name: Unearthing the Legacy of Traditional Witchcraft by Lee Morgan

Crooked Path: An Introduction to Traditional Witchcraft by Keldon

Backwoods Witchcraft by Jake Richards

Besom Stand and Sword A Guide to Traditional Witchcraft the Six-Fold Path the Hidden Landscape by Christopher Orapello & Tara Love Maguire

Southern Cunning: Folkloric Witchcraft in the American South by Aaron Oberon

Folk Witchcraft by

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Craft of the Untamed by Roger Horne

Check out the rest of the books in our Traditional & Folkloric Witchcraft Section

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Here are some of the other titles we carry:

You Were Born For This: Astrology for Radical Self-Acceptance by Chani Nicholas

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Radical Brewing by Randy Mosher

You Black Friend by Ben Passmore

Learning Good Consent an Anthology edited by Cindy Crabb

How To Talk To Your Cat about Gun Safety and Abstinence, Drugs, Satanism and Other Dangers that Threaten Their Nine Lives

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Honoring your Ancestors by Mallorie Vaudoise

Do-it-Your Self Guide to Fighting the Big Motherfucking Sad by Adam Gnade

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Full online catalog of books, zines, buttons and more can be found at PortlandButtonWorks.com and the PBW Witch Shop can be found here.

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“Vows (for a gay wedding)” by Joseph O. Legaspi

“Someone” by Joseph O. Legaspi

“Night” by Joseph O. Legaspi

“Whoever You Are Holding Me Now in Hand” by Walt Whitman

“I Sing the Body Electric” by Walt Whitman

“Munich, Winter 1973 (for Y.S.)” by James Baldwin

“Steps” by Frank O’Hara

“Homosexuality” by Frank O’Hara

“Having a Coke With You” by Frank O’Hara

“bare” by Danez Smith

“king the color of space/tower of molasses & marrow” by Danez Smith

“Poem for my Love” by June Jordan

“Poem for Haruko” by June Jordan

“I Have Just Said” by Mary Oliver

“I Know Someone” by Mary Oliver

“When Did it Happen?” by Mary Oliver

“Perihelion: A History of Touch” by Franny Choi

“Dreaming of Lesbos” by Tatiana de la Tierra

“Antinous: A Poem” by Fernando Pessoa

“You, Therefore” by Reginald Shepherd

“Sunshine” by Pat Parker

“My Lover is a Woman” by Pat Parker

“Saying Your Names” by Richard Siken

“Scheherazade” by Richard Siken

“Bone Burying” by Andrea Gibson

“Love Poem” by Audre Lorde

“Recreation” by Audre Lorde

“spellbound” by Karin Boye

“This Is What Makes Us Worlds” by Joshua Jennifer Espinoza

“The Letter” by Amy Lowell

“[Didn’t Sappho say her guts clutched up like this?]” by Marilyn Hacker

When it comes to prayer, there aren’t a lot of rules. Prayer can be as simple, direct and informal as talking to the gods, off the cuff, in a time of need or just because you feel like it. Prayer can also be something you plan and prepare for, whether by making use of the many existing historical or modern prayers to the gods and reading or memorizing them, or by writing your own modern prayers.

You do not have to write your own prayers–it is not a requirement of worshipping the gods. But if you feel called to do it, it can be a wonderful and meaningful way to connect with deity. And while the act of prayer is not an offering, the work you put into creating it can itself be a gift to the gods.

The idea of writing your own prayers to the gods can be intimidating. You look at the readily available surviving texts, the Homeric Hymns, the Orphic Hymns, and they are so beautiful. If that’s the standard, how can we ever attain it?

But it isn’t the standard. It never was. Not all historical hymns were the Homeric hymns. Not all hymns were high art. (And certainly not all prayers were hymns, although the two terms have a lot of overlap in meaning. I usually use the term “prayer” to refer to my own writings, in part because it feels more like I’m focusing on function.)

The Homeric hymns and similar pieces were often performed at festivals and in competitions. The beauty of these hymns, while not separate from their religious significance, is not solely related to their liturgical function. Many of the hymns actually used in ritual were more to the point–more focused on that function. Few of these works survive, and those that do are of widely varying literary quality. (I personally, as a writer of my own prayers, find this idea quite comforting. :))

The Rhetoric of Prayer

I will admit it, I write a lot of prayers of praise and prayers of thanks. I don’t often pray for something and if I do it’s usually pretty informal. (I suspect that says at least as much about my life as it does about my theology.) But many of the same techniques can be used just as effectively in prayers of supplication.

Reciprocity. Like most Indo-European cultures, the ancient Greeks had a view of relationship that included “a gift for a gift.” This does not mean that you are buying friendship–rather, it emphasizes the give-and-take that is a part of any healthy relationship.

A prayer of supplication might include a reminder of past relationship, which can be either a mention of blessings the god has granted you in the past, or a mention of offerings or other services you have provided the god. It can also mention a gift being given at the same time this prayer is being made. Or it can include a promise of future gifts and services. In all cases, it is a statement of relationship.

Myth. Mythic references can refer in general to the greatness of the god, or can be used to point specifically toward the theme of the prayer. For example, a prayer to Aphrodite to bring love into your life might mention the story of Pygmalion and Galatea as an example of the goddess’ greatness. It goes without saying that these mythic references should be positive ones–you might use stories from the Iliad in a prayer praising Athena, but probably not in one for Ares.

History. Since we lack a large and thriving worship community, for concrete examples I sometimes refer back to the power and prestige a god enjoyed in the distant past. If you are asking Apollo for divinatory help, a mention of his oracular prowess at Delphi would be appropriate; if you are asking his help in health matters, the role he took at ancient healing temples would be more to the point.

Style. Historically, some sorts of prayer were believed particularly appropriate to certain gods. The dignified paean was Apollo’s, while the livelier dithyramb was for Dionysos. For a modern writer, you may want to keep in mind the rhythm of the words and metre when writing.

Voice. While a hymn or prayer of praise may be written in the third person, all the better to tell a good story, a prayer that asks for something is most often written in the second person, thus providing a direct, personal message from the writer/speaker to the god.

The Elements of Prayer

Although there is no precise and standard form that all historic prayers followed, there are a few guidelines, things that a number of prayers tended to have in common. Generally Greek prayers included three parts, each providing a different function.

Invocation. First of all, you need to get the god’s attention, and to get the interaction off on the right foot. Call to the god by name, including words of praise (pro tip, all the gods are beautiful, all the gods are mighty :)) and by the use of descriptive words and phrases. Referring to Asklepios as “son of Apollo” underlines the sort of healing power he comes from. Referring to Apollo as “swift-shooting” has a different meaning than referring to him as “sweet-singing,” although both emphasize his power and skill.

Note that there is nothing wrong with using an epithet you’ve seen in historical texts, “ox-eyed Hera” and “thundering Zeus” were common phrases and had all the more meaning because they were known and understood by all.

Argument. Here you give reasons why the god should look favorably on your request. (See Reciprocityabove.) You can also include reasons based on something other than personal relationship–for example, asking for help in matters of love from Aphrodite, or in matters of justice from Zeus, because those are among their respective realms. This is where you make your case.

Request. Finally you ask the god to look kindly on your request, to grant you their blessings and gifts.

Example: Invocation: Grey-eyed Athena, daughter of thundering Zeus, Argument: if ever I have poured out sweet wine for you, Request: look kindly on me and grant me your wisdom.

The Act of Prayer

It was traditional to stand while praying, with arms raised toward the heavens.

If praying to a chthonic deity, it would be appropriate to kneel (placing yourself symbolically closer to their realm), or to focus your attention toward the earth in some other way.

Pillars of Hellenismos

Hellenismos in Application Post #1

Xenia

Miasma

Khernips

Veiling & Binding

Giving Offerings to Cthonic Theoi

Giving Offerings to the Ouranic Theoi

Offering Ideas

How I Deal With Being a Secret Hellenist Post #1

How I Deal With Being a Secret Hellenist Post #2

How I Deal With Being a Secret Hellenist Post #3

Festivals and How to Start

Hekate’s Deipnon, Noumenia, and Agathos Daimon

How to Make a Kathiskos

Hestia in Hellenismos

How to Pray, Praise, and Worship the Theoi

The Titanomachy Post #1

The Titanomachy Post #2

The Ages of Mankind

How to Make a Shrine { @modernhellenismos }

Ritual in Hellenismos { @mythologyrules }

Pillars of Hellenismos   { @mythologyrules }

Pillars of Hellenismos { @soloontherocks }

Finding Your Ritual Calendar { @hearthfirehandworks }

Hellenic Terminology Page { baringtheaegis }

What Even is Hellenic Polytheism? What are Some Good Links to Read When First Getting Started? { Royalautumnfrost }

Building Your Worship { @pomegranateandivy }

Pomegranateandivy’s Hellenic FAQ { @pomegranateandivy }

What’s Miasma? { Royalautumnfrost }

Household Shrines { @baringtheaegis }

Household Gods {@hearthfirehandworks } 

Difference Between Hellenic and Hellenistic { @soloontherocks }

Delphic Maxims (Printable PDF) { Hellenicgods.org }

Example of Daily Rituals { baringtheaegis }

Ritual Formula { @mythologyrules }

Relationships with the Theoi { @baringtheaegis }

Bone

Thyrsus

Διόνυσος - Dionysus