a shrine to aphrodite

The Gods love you.

They love you when you smile.

They love you when you cry.

They love you even if you have a hard time noticing them.

They love you and are with you.

They love you both when you're feeling down or when you're feeling like your on top of the world.

They love you even if you haven't prayed in a while or can't pray.

They love you when you haven't made any offerings in a while or can't make them.

They love you even if you forget about festivals or don't participate in them.

They love you when you reconstruct in your practice and they love you when you don't.

They love you even if you have doubts.

They love you when you can't get out of bed.

They love you when you're batteling your own thoughts.

They love you when you find it hard to take care of yourself.

They love you when you've fallen and they'll help you get back up.

They love you when you struggle and they see you.

They love you when you think you are not enough but you are enough to them just as you are.

They love you, value and recognise you as a beautiful, unique being that you are.

this can be used while making a wish / casting a spell

subtle like water

powerful like rain

aphrodite

don’t let my prayer be in vain

be with me

aphrodite

make my intentions true

Note: My experiences with Apollo seem to be a bit different from other people’s. This post is about my UPG, my personal experiences, and yours may be different. And that’s ok! :)

Who is Apollo?

Apollo (sometimes Apollon) is the Greek god of many things: health and healing, music, dance, and poetry, prophecy, truth, and knowledge. He also represents light and pulls a chariot carrying Helios, the sun god, across the sky each day.

His personality in Greek mythology can vary from stern and easy-to-anger to kind and warm-hearted. He’s shown to take vengeance, to fall in love (usually with tragic results), and to act as an intermediary between gods and humans.

While many of his devotees describe him as intimidating, distant, moody, or scary, this hasn’t been my experience with him at all.

I find Apollo to be warm and brotherly, like a proud mentor, but we talk to each other like good, lifelong friends. He can be witty and outright hilarious, especially when bantering with Hermes. But he can also be serious and thoughtful and philosophical.

He aids me with research and writing, pushes me to grow in different areas I study, keeps me positive about my chronic illness, and boosts my confidence. He also grants inspired thought during my tarot sessions and provides insightul moments of strong intuition.

I hope that you can use the things I’ll talk about here to connect more closely with Apollo. I know that many people find him hard to connect with, but Apollo can be such a rewarding god to work with.

How do I interact with Apollo?

I practice my devotion to Apollo on a combined altar with the other gods I follow. This might not work for everyone, but for me, it feels like the gods are convened together in a sacred space that replicates Olympus.

On the altar, I offer Apollo handmade gifts, art inspired by his comics, and things that remind me of him. Some of my writing is also dedicated to Apollo, and I offer him the music I make when I play the piano. I play songs for him on Spotify, and I’m working on a playlist.

I ask Apollo for help with my health and the health of those I care about. I ask him for inspiration, especially if I have writer’s block. And I ask him for logic when my anxiety gets out of hand.

He speaks to me through strong intuitive pushes, sudden thoughts that appear in my mind, books that fall open to significant pages, or incidental signs or nudges that I notice around me. We also communicate through meditation and tarot.

Intuitive pushes and thoughts

By this I mean sudden predictive thoughts that appear in my mind. They’re not just “feelings.” They’re more like someone put all the facts together, considered all the logical posibilities, and then generated a thought based on the most objective probability. This is partly how my mind words and partly a function of Apollo, so I think this is why we work well together.

An example of this: I might put a glass of water on a table and then immediately see an image in my mind of the cup getting bumped and knocked over, spilling water everywhere. Inevitably, if I ignore this push, the cup will spill and I’ll be left cleaning up the mess and regretting not listening. If I do listen, the cup won’t be spilled and all will be well.

As another example, if I try to do something, like going out to eat, and everything seems to be going wrong – I stub my toe, I can’t find the shirt I wanted to wear, I’m running late – then I’ll decide not to go. Personally, these obstacles represent a larger trend and I feel like they’re a sign to just stop and take care of myself instead. Inevitably, I’ll have a flare up of my illness if I don’t listen and what was going to be a fun night out will become miserable.

Words

Sometimes I’ll feel a thought so loudly that I absolutely must say it out loud. While I may not even feel strongly about the subject or the words may not agree with my own opinion, I feel compelled to express them anyway.

Sometimes these words so clearly belong to Apollo that my wife has deemed them “inspired speech,” or the words of a god expressed through a devotee.

I’m not yet sure how I feel about thinking of it this way, but I’m open to the possibility. Apollo tends to be the main god who expresses themselves like this for me and I’m sometimes surprised by the things he says. If the connection is really strong, tears start flowing from my eyes for no reason.

Signs

Sometimes I’ll see something in the environment around me that just makes me think of Apollo. For example, like a sign on the subway or a comment on Twitter. Signs are very personal, and only you can know if what you’ve seen is a sign from a god or not. Apollo’s signs for me may include the image of a crow in a place I don’t expect it, a sudden reminder on Twitter to drink water or practice self-care, or the sun coming out from behind a cloud.

Books

As the god of knowledge and truth, I associate Apollo with learning, research, and books. I have an unquenchable thirst for learning new things, and I feel Apollo’s presence there every step of the way. Sometimes a book will open to a page I hadn’t intended and something will stand out to me. Or a book that I wasn’t looking for will suddenly stand out and I’ll know it’s what I need to read.

Meditation

When I want to communicate directly with Apollo, I stand before my altar or sit on the bed nearby and close my eyes. I picture Apollo or a representation of him in my head, like how he makes me feel or things I associate with him. I’m not very formal with him, and I talk directly to him. And we talk about how I’m feeling, self care, and ideas. He helps me work through my thoughts and understand them.

This is in addition to the normal constant mental conversation I have with all of my gods throughout the day. And meditation doesn’t have to look like traditional meditation. I consider anything that gets me into “flow” to be meditation. So if I’m writing and feeling particularly inspired, I think of that as meditation. If I’m soaking in a tub and feeling very relaxed and letting my thoughts flow, I think of that as meditation.

Tarot

I should say up front that I don’t believe humans have the ability to know the future as a pre-written timeline. (I reserve the right to change my mind, though, in case we discover something new about the nature of time and reality that convinces me.) This may seem like a contradiction since I work with Apollo, a god of prophecy, but let me explain.

I do think that we can make educated and/or intuitive guesses based on our experiences. And I work with Apollo to identify the possibilities and understand and plan for them.

I usually shuffle the cards until enough fall out on their own to fill in my spread. (I also work with Fortuna/Tyche and ask for her help in this part of the reading, to ensure the cards I need to see are the ones that appear.) Then, I walk through each card, what it means, and how it applies to my life and the current challenges I’m facing.

The cards help me look at my problems from a different perspective and get some distance from the emotional, stressful aspects. They let me look at it from a more objective point of view. I work with Apollo throughout the reading, asking him for advice, help with understanding how it’s all connected, and enlightenment as I use the reading to come up with solutions.

(I’ll post a separate post about how I read tarot based on intuitive nudges and prediction with Apollo. Please look out for it!)

Other ways

Sometimes Apollo’s presence feels like a warm glow or a feeling of well-being. I actively imagine my aura/spirit absorbing that feeling and making it part of myself.

Sometimes it’s more like a sudden brainstorm, where I need to write down all of the ideas before they’re gone. I have so many files of Apollo-inspired thoughts!

I also write poetry for him, then burn it in a small cauldron and offer the words up to him. No one else has ever read those words; I don’t post or publish them anywhere. They’re just between me and Apollo, an offering of creative energy.

There are so many ways to connect with Apollo. There’s no way I could list them all. The main thing to remember is that if you think you may be connecting with him, you probably are and you should follow that train of thought to see where it goes.

Thank you for reading!

It’s been so rewarding following a god like Apollo.

He’s inspired me to take better care of myself, go to doctors, and listen more to my body. He helps me with anxiety and insomnia. I’m truly grateful!

this is a nice guide that’ll help all of you who are curious how to affirm and get what you desire!

What are Affirmations?

a statement that is used in effort to reprogram your subconscious mind.

How do I affirm?

repeat a phrase in your head a couple of times a day. that’s it. it’s that easy.

How many times a day should I affirm?

you can affirm as little or as much as you want. just don’t let it be a chore to the point you are forcing yourself to affirm.

some people only affirm once a day, a couple of times or for an hour straight. it all depends on you, honestly.

you should also affirm anytime you think of your desire, and go a mental diet. i talk about mental diets here.

Do I have to believe in my affirmations?

no, you don’t. eventually, you’re going to believe it anyways. if you still don’t, that’s fine!

your subconscious mind is who you are trying to convince anyway. anything you tell it, it believes. just because you don’t believe doesn’t mean you should give up. who knows? your manifestion could be right around the corner.

What if i don’t see progress?

affirm anyways. your affirmations are working behind the scenes!

who knows? maybe that money is finding its way to you right now, your SP is thinking about you, or your boss is thinking about giving you that promotion. it’s ALWAYS working. stop looking for validation from your circumstances — the only validation you need is from your imagination!

remember, your reality is just a reflection of your subconscious mind. it’s literally a mirror. getting angry at the mirror (your current circumstances) is illogical and will do you no good. so stop complaining about your circumstances, because circumstances don’t matter!

i don’t care if you’re dead broke, you got rejected or your SP tried to push you off a mountain. that situation was literally created by you, and YOU can change it! ignore the 3d.

AFFIRM NO MATTER WHAT YOU SEE.

What if I don’t know what I want?

you can use general/vain affirmations. for example, “i am blessed.”

with this affirmation, you will manifest things that will be considered blessings TO YOU. your subconscious mind is creative, and make sense of this affirmation, even though you don’t know what you want.

if your friend used this exact affirmation, both of you would get different things, because both of your definitions of “blessings” are different. for example, you might manifest a new job, she might a boyfriend. both are considered “blessings.”

i also really really REALLY recommend self concept affirmations and working on your self concept as well!

Can I change my mind affirmations frequently?

if it implies your desire? yeah. for example:

clear skin - “i have clear skin” - “my skin is flawless.” that is completely fine.

however, if you constantly make big jumps in what you want to manifest, it probably won’t manifest. you can’t affirm for a million dollars, then for 10 million two minutes later. you’re just going to confuse your subconscious mind.

PLANT THE SEED AND LET IT GROW.

What affirmations should I use for ____?

use whatever you’d like. create your own affirmations, and let them feel natural to you. for example, here are some examples.

clear skin - “i have clear skin.”

500,000 - “i have 500k in my bank account” i

boyfriend - “i have the perfect boyfriend.”

keep your affirmations short, easy and direct to the point. you can even exaggerate them if you wanted to. affirm in present tense, as if you already had your desire.

beauty - “i possess more beauty that aphrodite herself.”

wealth - “i am the richest person in the entire world.”

love - “my girlfriend worships the ground i walk on.”

don’t ask me for affirmations. you want something? affirm for it. if you struggle to find the perfect affirmation, think to yourself “what would i say if i had my desire right now?”

Do I have to feel happy when affirming?

feelings don’t matter when affirming. you can affirm when you’re sad, happy it you feel hopeless. and guess what? YOU CAN STILL GET WHAT YOU WANT.

PERSIST in your affirmation no matter what you feel. the way to feel is irrelevant. affirm anyways. this notion that you have to have “high vibrations” to manifest is fucking bullshit! i literally had a meltdown and i still affirmed, and guess what??? i still got my desire!

Outro

that’s it, folks! remember that you can manifest anything, you don’t need me to pat you on the back!

Summary

an affirmation is a repeated statement in effort to reprogram your subconscious mind

affirm as little or as much as you want

you don’t have to believe in your affirmations

there is always progress

affirm no matter what you see

don’t change your desire too quickly

Hello, love!

Well it depends on how you define “prayers”. I speak to the gods often but not in any formal poetic words.

For many people interacting with the gods in a formal manner feels right to them and that’s wonderful! But for some of us we prefer a more familiar way and that’s wonderful too!

These are just my routines for how I worship Aphrodite daily, weekly on Fridays, and monthly every 4th. I’ll make another post including how I worship each of Aphrodite’s holy days (Aphrodisia, Adonia, etc).

Daily Routine

This one’s pretty simple; I wake up, bind my hair immediately (I always keep a hair tie by my bed), pray, and spritz rose water on myself and her shrine. Then I pray to the rest of my deities and get ready for the day, sometimes veiling.

Friday Routine

Rather than getting dressed after praying, on Fridays I switch things around. I quickly rinse off in the shower to cleanse myself spiritually(I usually take proper showers in the evening, I like curling up in bed all warm and clean), then I get dressed and veil my hair. I pray and spray my rose water as usual, but then I’ll leave an offering usually of incense or a candle. Then I’ll do a divination tarot spread. I do various forms of divination throughout the week with all of my deities but this is my weekly check in with Aphrodite - I do a spread to check on our relationship and a spread to check on messages and lessons from her. Then I thank her and go about my day.

Fourth Day of the Month Routine

000 -  The universe is letting you know that new beginnings will help you elevate your vibration and connect with your full potential 

111 - You’re on the right path to abundance, alignment, and creating your dream reality. You’re manifesting things with ease. 

222 - Trust you are on the right path. Stay focused on the things you want in your life rather than what you don’t want. 

333 - The Universe is working with you on making your dreams a reality. Belive in yourself and trust your intuition.

444 - Your being guided and supported through whatever you’re focusing on at the moment. Don’t stop, continue and keep going.

555 - A quantum leap is ahead, Embrace yourself for massive shifts. Be open to new opportunities in all areas of your life. 

666 - You’re distracted and need refocusing on your goals. The Universe is telling you to wake up to your higher self

777 - You’re in the frequency of manifesting your dreams. Good things are coming your way, let it flow your way. 

888 - Financial abundance is on it’s way to you. The Universe is letting you know you’re successful.

Fatigue looks at things such as tiredness, drowsiness, exhaustion, weakness, lethargy and memory issues and says “I can do all that and more!”. It leaves you feeling utterly trapped in your own body; unable to move, or even think at times. It fluctuates, but is always looming. 

While this post is open for all, it is written for those who truly relate to this all-consuming feeling (due to ME/CFS, other chronic illnesses, mental illness, or undiagnosed causes). Not all of these may work for you, but hopefully they inspire something that will. For general low energy witchcraft, check out my Bedridden Witch Series!

As always: witchcraft is to be used in addition to proper medical care, treatment and medication; not as a sole alternative.

To draw energy:

If you cannot produce your own, magically created will be just fine!

Crystals. 

I tend to use clear quartz for an energy boost, but trust your intuition; if something calls to you, it’s for a reason. 

Keep it near your bedside table, under your pillow, hold it in your hand or place it on your body where you feel the fatigue most strongly centered. 

When on the go, carry it in your pocket or wear as jewelry. If it is larger, carry in a bag and hold it when you need it. 

Charge using a charging board or the elements. 

Crystals for fatigue

Waters.

Physically touching water brings me energy. I keep jars of snow, rain, storm, river, stream (etc, etc.) water and will dip my fingers in it and mark that parts of my body where the fatigue feels strongest. Be aware of pollutants and do not ingest!

The same method can be done with tap water (or water charged under the sun or moon)

Drink sun water or sun tea (start with drinking safe water and let it absorb the energies of the sun).

Some people find moon water to be energizing (same process as above, just with the moon). 

See also: Bedridden witch: Bath edition.

Other elements.

Note what is energizing to you and what is draining to you. Consider: the sun, moon (and it’s phases), weather (rain, overcast, snow, storm, wind), cold vs. hot, the earth, fire, air, etc.

Once you find which elements are energizing to you, find ways to incorporate them into your life. Examples: jars of different waters or soils, rocks collected from places, candles, and more.

I usually draw energy up from the earth by placing my palms flat towards the earth by the sides of my body. So if I was lying down, my arms would be at my sides with my palms facing down.

Expose yourself or protect yourself. I’ll use my personal experiences as an example here… Rain often energizes me. When it rains, I’ll open my windows, and if I’m able I’ll step outside or collect some water. On the flipside, full moons often drain me. I’ll close my windows and curtains, hang an extra blanket over my bedroom window, use water to paint protective sigils on the window and increase my wards.

See also: Bedridden witch: Elements edition and Bedridden witch: Weather edition

To manage symptoms:

Brain fog:

Brainfog lifting

“Brainfog begone” sigil

Fatigue: 

Spoonie spell for energy

Energy gain spell

Energy boost spell

Energy bath

Fatigue recovery spell jar

Headaches (and migraines):

Headache healing

To banish a headache

Anti-migraine spell

Anti-migraine spell bottle

Migraine relief bath

Joint pain:

Arthritis pain relief oil

Joint pain spell

Healing spell for joints

Memory:

Memory masterpost

Memory and concentration spell

Mental reboost tea spell

Muscle pain:

Muscle pain sachet

Warming salve for sore muscles

Crystals for muscle pain (external site)

For more categories of symptoms please see my posts for symptoms relating to chronic illness and mental illness!

Practicing the craft with energy limitations:

Tips and tricks:

I highly recommend preparing things when your energy allows, so it’s always ready to go when you need it (and isn’t dependent on current energy levels). 

Cleansing: Let other things do your work for you. Open your windows/get fresh air, steam or smoke, sound, etc. Bedridden energy cleansing.

Divination: Use apps when physical movement is hard. One card spreads, shorten your pendulum so you don’t need to lift your arm, divine using the elements, etc. Bedridden divination.

Spells: Make your own spell kits. Spell jars and sachets are also an excellent way to already have the spell prepared, set it up so you can simply shake it to re/activate the spell.

Warding: Create physical ties for your wards that aren’t reliant on consistent upkeep (as a failsafe), and reinforce your other ward layers when you have the energy. I create far more layers than I need so when I am unable to reinforce them, they still protect me. 

Worship: Compile prayers and devotions somewhere you can easily find and read them, have a wall altar for easy maintenance, keep offerings simple (a glass of water, for example). Bedridden worship.

Many more tips and tricks in these posts:

Bedridden witch series (masterpost of all my current bedridden witch posts, including some that weren’t linked here!)

Limited hand mobility + witchcraft (divination, spells, working with flames, recording information and more)

Nonverbal witchcraft

You may also like:

Magic to replenish energy

Spoonie witch masterpost

Chronically ill witchcraft: For your symptoms

Mentally ill witchcraft: For your symptoms

Witchcraft & Meds

Low energy cleaning + cleansing

Sigils: (pain + symptoms) (mental illness + energy) (healing + misc.) 

Drink magic masterpost

Rejuvenating witchcraft

Do none of these posts fit your needs? Let me know, I’m always looking for more ways to make witchcraft accessible!

**Do not repost or share on other platforms - reblogging is okay!**