Gothic Aphrodite

She's passion, the raging fire that burns between the hearts of two friends or lovers when one is under duress,

She's the unbreakable bond of family (found or bio), everlasting, infinite, no matter how close or far they are,

She's the pain of a broken heart, manifest in anger and vindication, the one standing behind you as you confront an abusive partner/friend/family member,

She's salvation for everyone who has ever been or is being hurt,

She is self love for everyone with self esteem issues, looking you in the eye as you stare into the mirror and saying 'You are wonderful just as you are',

She's the comfort when you're in your darkest times, Her hands cradling you as you cry into Her shoulder,

She's the swelling of your heart when you experience new love or when you pick up a child,

She is justice for every queer person of the world just trying to exist peacefully-- transgender/sexual, intersex, aromantic, asexual, non-straight,

𓆸 Χθονια, Chthonia — of the earth/Underworld

𓆸 Καρποφοροσ, Carpophorus — bringer of fruit

𓆸 Σωτειρα, Soteira — saviour

𓆸 Μεγαλα Θεα, Megala Thea — great goddess

𓆸 Ἁγνη, Hagne — holy one

𓆸 Δαειρα, Daeira — knowing one

𓆸 Πραξιδικη, Praxidice — exacter of justice

𓆸 Δέσποινα, Despoina — the mistress

𓆸 Μελιτώδης, Melitṓdēs — sweet as honey, honeyed

𓆸 Μαλιβίνα, Malivina — sweet friend, soft

𓆸 Αυξησία, Auxesia —  who grants growth and prosperity to the fields

𓆸 Ἀζησία, Azesia — to dry fruits, to seek

𓆸 Νεωτέρα, Neōtéra — the younger one

࣪ ִֶָ☾. Ἐνοδία, Enodia — of the crossroads

࣪ ִֶָ☾. Χθονία, Chthonia — of the Underworld

࣪ ִֶָ☾. Κλειδοῦχος, Kleidouchos — key-holder

࣪ ִֶָ☾. Φωσφόρος, Phosphoros — light-bringer

࣪ ִֶָ☾. Τρίμορφος, Trimorphos — three-formed

࣪ ִֶָ☾. Βριμώ, Brimo — the terrifying

࣪ ִֶָ☾. Σωτείρα, Soteira — savior

࣪ ִֶָ☾. Ἀμαιμάκητος, Amaimaketos — unconquerable

࣪ ִֶָ☾. Περσηίς, Perseis — daughter of Perses

࣪ ִֶָ☾. Βυθιος, Bythios — of the depths

࣪ ִֶָ☾. Ἐμπουσα, Empousa — phantom

࣪ ִֶָ☾. Σκυλακῖτις, Skylakitis — protectress of dogs

࣪ ִֶָ☾. Προπύλαια, Propylaia — guardian of the Threshold

࣪ ִֶָ☾. Κουροτρόφος, Kourotrophos — nurse of the young

࣪ ִֶָ☾. Λιμενῖτις, Limenitis — of the harbor

࣪ ִֶָ☾. Δαδουφόρος, Dadophoros — torch-bearer

࣪ ִֶָ☾. Ἀποτρόπαια, Apotropaia — averter of evil

࣪ ִֶָ☾. Aἰώνιος, Aionios — eternal, agelong, ever-flowing

࣪ ִֶָ☾. Αγλάος, Aglaos — beautiful, bright, pleasing

࣪ ִֶָ☾. Ερωτοτόκος, Erototokos — producing love, bearer of love

࣪ ִֶָ☾. Ινδαλίμος, Indalimos — the beautiful

࣪ ִֶָ☾. Κροκόπεπλος, Krokopeplos — saffron cloaked

࣪ ִֶָ☾. Πρόπολος, Propolos — who serves/attends

࣪ ִֶָ☾. Προπύλαια, Propulaia — before the gate

Happy Spring Equinox, Queen Hera 🩷

Happy Valentine’s Day 💕

Dionysus Eriounios

Link to Part 1 (Astragaloi)

Link to Part 2 (Scrying)

Alphabet Stones are stones or small tokens made of clay, wood, bone, or resin that are marked with single letters of the Greek alphabet. Each letter is assigned a phrase starting with the same Greek letter. I learned this method from John Opsopaus' book. The most crucial academic sources on this appear to all be in German. If you know German and can/have read them, please let me know! I'd love to have a list based on the inscriptions from the archaeological findings in Nollé's paper for completeness. That said, the below list is based on Heinevetter.

How To

The process of doing an alphabet stone reading is pretty simple. You can keep your stones in a cloth bag (which is what I do) or a box, basket etc. Shuffle them around without looking and pick one out of there. If you have your stones in a bag, you can sort of rustle the bag from the outside until a stone falls out. Make sure to consider the material of your stones to prevent any damage. You can also do this reading using astragaloi (i.e. ungulate knucklebones) or dice.

Meanings

This is a simplified version of Opsopaus' table that excludes his interpretations. I'm not going to list the numerical correspondences for each letter if you use dice or knucklebones instead of alphabet stones for simplicity's sake. If you'd like to see his analyses and the corresponding dice rolls, please see his website linked in the References section.

Α (Alpha): “The God (Apollo) says you will do everything successfully.” Β (Beta): “With the help of Tychê, you will have an assistant, the Pythian (Apollo).” Γ (Gamma) :“Gaia will give you the ripe fruit of your labors.” Δ (Delta): “In customs inopportune strength is weak.” Ε (Epsilon): “You desire to see the offspring of righteous marriages.” Ζ (Zeta): “Flee the very great storm, lest you be disabled in some way.” Η (Eta): “Bright Helios, who watches everything, watches you.” Θ (Theta): “You have the helping Gods of this path.” Ι (Iota): “There is sweat; it excels more than everything.” Κ (Kappa): “To fight with the waves is difficult; endure, friend.” Λ (Lambda): “The one passing on the left bodes well for everything.” Μ (Mu): “It is necessary to labor, but the change will be admirable.” Ν (Nu): “The strife-bearing gift fulfills the oracle.” Ξ (Xi): “There is no fruit to take from a withered shoot.” Ο (Omicron): “There are no crops to be reaped that were not sown.” Π (Pi): “Completing many contests, you will seize the crown.” Ρ (Rho): “You will go on more easily if you wait a short time.” Σ (Sigma): “Phoibos (Apollon) speaks plainly, ‘Stay, friend.’” Τ (Tau): “You will have a parting from the companions now around you.” Υ (Upsilon): “The affair holds a noble undertaking.” Φ (Phi): “Having done something carelessly, you will thereafter blame the Gods.” Χ (Khi): “Succeeding, friend, you will fulfill a golden oracle.” Ψ (Psi): “You have this righteous judgment from the Gods.” Ω (Omega): “You will have a difficult harvest season, not a useful one.”

References

A Greek Alphabet Oracle