pagan witch blog

(Shh, it’s April 30th in my heart /j) 

30. How do you want your relationship with Aphrodite to look like in the future?

When I say I don’t give up, I mean it, lol

21. What do you wish more people knew about Aphrodite?

I think this extends to deities in general, but it’d be nice if people knew that she can look any way she wants to. She will not appear the same way to every single person. Some people view her as she’s drawn in old classical paintings - pale skin, red hair. To me, she has dark skin and long, curly hair. If you go by mythology, we can’t even see a god’s “true form” because we’ll basically explode (/hj) so gods appear to us in whatever way they think we need or whatever way they feel like. It’s literally their choice how they look, not ours.

22. Which member of Aphrodite’s retinue do you connect to or want to learn more about?

I’ve found it very difficult to get information about Eudaemonia but I think I was most drawn to her when reading about Aphrodite’s retinue.  

23. Which of Aphrodite’s lovers is your favorite and why?

I hope this doesn’t feel like a basic answer, but probably Ares honestly! I don’t work with/worship him necessarily, but obviously I respect him.

24. What is one question you’d like to ask Aphrodite?

Is it difficult work? (I will not provide context to what this question is about) 

25. Create a new modern epithet for Aphrodite

I am not going to attempt to write in Greek as I don’t know the language, but given how Aphrodite has helped me during awful times, I think I’d want it to be related to protection and love in equal parts. Like “loving protector”. If anyone knows Greek and can translate that into Greek, I think that’d be sweet.

26. What is the most shocking thing you learned about Aphrodite?

I can’t recall ever really being shocked by things I’ve learned about her to be honest.

27. Share an experience you’ve had with Aphrodite.

My experiences with her are pretty personal I think, due to how my mental and physical illness affects my worship and craft. I’m not sure I can comfortably share my experiences.

28. How has Aphrodite changed and impacted your life?

She’s definitely been a source of comfort for me over the years. Aphrodite has helped me through a lot of difficult times.

29. How has your opinion of Aphrodite changed since you began worshiping her?

As with a lot of deities, I think I was really intimidated by her at first. I was afraid of making mistakes. Nowadays I’m trying to embrace mistakes and negative emotions as well. Only loving the “good” parts of yourself isn’t fully self-love/acceptance after all.

18. Which aspect of Aphrodite do you connect with or work with the most? I think honestly, it’s a mixture of her as the goddess of love and her connection to the ocean. I’ve mentioned it a lot in the past posts but those are the aspects of her that I usually give offerings to.

19. Share a poem/lyrics/quote that reminds you of Aphrodite?

“You’re a lighthouse, guiding me home And I’m sailing the waves that will crash on the stone”

and from the same song;

“Send me a lullaby, gods up above End my own agony delivered from love-”

-It’s You, It’s Me, It’s Us by Reinaeiry

20. In honor of the New Moon, what’s something new you’d like to bring into your worship of Aphrodite? I’m not sure. I’ve not been able to do much worship, so maybe just more worship in general, to be honest!

15. Which misconception about Aphrodite bothers you the most?

There are some homophobic/transphobic idiots who think Aphrodite wouldn’t work with gay/trans followers. This is blatantly untrue and frankly, highly insulting to her. The gods do not care what gender/sexuality you are - in fact, they’re very welcoming of the lgbtq+ community. If you think otherwise, you’re wrong. Historically, morally, and factually wrong.

Also, some people seem to think Aphrodite is vain, jealous, or mean, which is highly insulting and untrue. Gods have flaws, this is important and good to acknowledge, but she would not take out things on her followers. She has been nothing but kind, patient, and gentle with me, and I’m sure it’s the same for her other followers.

16. What fictional character reminds you of Aphrodite?

17. Which real life person (celebrity, historical figure, or someone you know) has Aphrodite energy?

I’m combining 16 and 17 to say that I really do not relate fictional characters or real people to the gods. I just don’t think like that. It’s incredibly rare for me to relate them to fictional characters even, so I will instead pick a depiction of Aphrodite in media that I like;

The Hades game depiction of Aphrodite! I really like her in this game. The way her hair curls into vague heart-shapes is a neat little detail that I adore.

(aka oh gods where did my last 3 days go)

12. What movie/tv show do you associate with Aphrodite?

Would you believe me if I said I immediately forgot every single movie/tv show I’ve ever watched when I read this question? /j

I have genuinely never thought about this. If I had to pick off the top of my head, I’m afraid I have to go with the funniest answer possible - the Romantic Killer anime. It’s about a girl who absolutely rejects all possibility of romance but still manages to find platonic love with the boys that the plot tries to force towards her romantically. Honestly I think it’s not a bad association because Aphrodite isn’t simply the goddess of romantic love, but all forms of love - and it shows you don’t need to force yourself into romance to be happy or find any love at all, because she has her own found family with her friends and that’s love enough.

13. Share your favorite piece of art that depicts Aphrodite or reminds you of Aphrodite.

I’ve only just found it now, but this post!;

https://www.tumblr.com/rustycowboy/670668450148073472/aphrodite?source=share

This post has the closest resemblance to how Aphrodite has appeared to me. I feel something very inexplicable and beautiful when I see it. 

14. Where do you most find or feel Aphrodite?

In the small moments I think. Sitting by my window and staring at the sky and realizing that I love this world. Music that makes me feel the absolute depths of yearning. The words of lovers eternalized in books. Small and yet significant moments of love. 

-

I admit that it’s getting harder to answer these questions due to my own experiences but I am sticking to this as best I can! I do not quit and I want to honor her through this.

11. Share a funny experience you had with Aphrodite.

This one is probably going to be short. I genuinely don’t have one. I would have swapped to the other version for this day but I couldn’t answer that one either. If I’ve ever had a funny experience with her, I don’t remember it. Most of my interactions with her have been very gentle or serious.

Goodness I feel really bad that I can’t do this every day, but it’s been hectic. Being a chronically ill witch isn’t easy lol,

8. Do you do any devotional acts for Aphrodite? If so, share them, If not, what devotional acts would you like to do for Aphrodite?

I try to devote some self-care time, writing my romance stuff or reading romance, thinking about things I love and seeing things in a more positive light (not in a toxic way, of course), and helping other worshippers who want to connect with Aphrodite has made me feel good. 

9. Describe how you personally see Aphrodite (as in her physical characteristics)

Forgive me as I get to slight cringe-levels of poetic; When I had a vision of Aphrodite years ago, she was backed by a blinding light. I could make out bits and pieces, but mainly she was a gorgeous silhouette against a porcelain white background. Her skin is very, very dark, I’d describe it as this beautiful umber colour with blue undertones. Her hair is long, dark, and curly. Her presence is extremely comforting, and her hand on my shoulder felt like pure embodied love. I’d never felt safer than in that moment. Her figure was hard to make out, but I think she was a bit slender, and in a dress. I couldn’t see her face but I didn’t really need to, her beauty is like an instinctual knowledge.

10. What animal(s) do you associate with Aphrodite?

Honestly? I’ve never really associated any animals with her. It’s never come across my mind once. If I had to pick, possibly butterflies? It’s the first thing that comes to mind. Specifically, an Agrias Butterfly, maybe more magenta than red. Either way, very vibrantly-coloured butterflies. 

7. What offerings do you enjoy giving Aphrodite?

Seashells primarily! I feel very drawn to the ocean aspects of Aphrodite. I also like to give her chocolate, dedicate self-care time to her, and devote time to writing my silly little romances. 

I wasn’t able to get on my computer yesterday because I was so busy, so I’m combining days again!

5. What aspect of Aphrodite do you want to learn more about?

I would say Areia, as I’ve always been fascinated by her connection to war - however, I recently learned that she also had the epithet Melainis which I find very interesting. It’s unfortunately hard to find information on this though.

6. Which of Aphrodite’s epithets are your favorite and why?

Currently I’ve mainly worshipped her aspects with the ocean and love, so I’d say the epithets Anaduomenê and Pandêmos, but as I’ve said - Areia and Melainis are both very interesting to me! 

I had a bit of a rough day yesterday but I’m going to stay caught up and do both 3 and 4 today!

3. What was the first ritual you ever did for Aphrodite?

I’m not really big on rituals due to being so low-energy but I think it’s the self-love spells I talked about before. I’d like to do more if I can, but I’m not sure if I’ll be physically able to anytime soon.

4. Share a song you associate with Aphrodite.

I’ve actually only just found this song but it’s so beautiful and I think it resonates;

It’s very much a love song with a lot of ocean/water themes and I think that’s wonderful for her. The way the song makes my heart swell as well, it’s definitely something I’m putting in her playlist.

2. What was the first offering you ever gave Aphrodite?

I fear I have a similar answer as the first day - it’s just been so long that I struggle to remember, but I think I may have offered a self-love spell in her honour? I’m not quite sure. I’ve never had many material items or even energy to devote to offerings and back then I wasn’t sure what to give in the first place aside from my gratitude and caring for myself - though those are valid things to give! In terms of items, I mainly give what I can and that tends to be some chocolate or sweets, or simply time dedicated to caring for myself and resting. I also like to think about the many things in the world that I love since I believe that counts.

I’m going to be doing a mix of the general and experienced versions of this, if that’s alright! I’ve been on and off with my practice due to my physical health so I haven’t worked with Aphrodite as much as I’d like, and I really want to do this Aphrodite April thing for that reason. 

Today I’m doing the experienced question;

1. Share the origin story of your relationship with Aphrodite

It’s honestly been so long, I think she was the third deity I ever felt called to which was really big for me because at the time, I was very slowly inching my way into witchcraft and paganism. I was coming from a traumatic religious background but she’s always been very patient with me, I think. 

I think honestly, to the deities I was worshipping back then I was kind of just the sopping wet cat they were trying to calm down and dry off. /j

Jokes aside Aphrodite helped me a lot back then and even now, I think. I love writing romance just as I did back then and through that, as well as my desire to focus on self-love, I connected with her. I remember doing self-love spells for myself long before I knew at all what I was doing. They were some of my first big spells that I dedicated both to self-love and to Aphrodite because of her connection to love.

Due to working through my old religious trauma and my physical health, I haven’t practiced much with any of the deities I worship. I’ve been wanting to reconnect with Aphrodite lately, and I think this is a great opportunity for that.

Speaking of self-love and self-care, I am now going to take a nap. I am very sleepy. /hj