devoted to the theoi

A sigil to help find your perfect spirit companion owo

Meanwhile Hades is in the background “????? UM??? PRETTY GIRL??? WHY ARE YOU HERE?????? YOU AREN’T DEAD???” 

And Persephone (who was originally called Kore just a little fyi) just looked at him and said “I like it here. I’m staying.”

And Hades kinda just went with it, until Demeter started throwing the temper tantrum of the millenium upstairs and Zeus had to intervene because this shit was getting out of hand and its actually his job to be admistrator of justice. Which considering the shit he gets up to is kinda histerical but that’s another story there. 

And basically Persephone wasn’t a prisoner or kidnap victim at all she just really loved the Underworld and her (eventual) husband, and the Greeks feared her arguably more than her husband because Hades could be reasoned with but Persephone was the one laying the smack down on sinners, and really, who wouldn’t be at least a little scared of someone who’s name means something along the lines of “the destroyer”

 Hestia comforts the children of broken homes, she appears to them as a school councilor that always has cookies. They cry in her arms, and she lets them stay with her for as long as she can. She stopped calling home, stopped making strongly worded comments to the parents. All there is left are broken homes and suffering children.

 Hera sits next to her sister, holds her hand and thinks about the broken marriages that lead to broken homes. She listens to the couples yelling at each other while she walks on the streets. She holds the crying women, she listens to the hopeless men. All of the power that a goddess of marriage possesses cannot help the people who were betrayed by their closest ones.

 After a long day, Demeter sits on the ground in her garden, holds a cup of tea in hands that have dirt all over them. She wishes that more people would remember what is under all of the concrete. She feels the dying of her world, and curses those who do not care for it.

Meanwhile Hades is in the background “????? UM??? PRETTY GIRL??? WHY ARE YOU HERE?????? YOU AREN’T DEAD???” 

And Persephone (who was originally called Kore just a little fyi) just looked at him and said “I like it here. I’m staying.”

And Hades kinda just went with it, until Demeter started throwing the temper tantrum of the millenium upstairs and Zeus had to intervene because this shit was getting out of hand and its actually his job to be admistrator of justice. Which considering the shit he gets up to is kinda histerical but that’s another story there. 

And basically Persephone wasn’t a prisoner or kidnap victim at all she just really loved the Underworld and her (eventual) husband, and the Greeks feared her arguably more than her husband because Hades could be reasoned with but Persephone was the one laying the smack down on sinners, and really, who wouldn’t be at least a little scared of someone who’s name means something along the lines of “the destroyer”

May Hestia help your family to be more accepting of who you are, and not try to change you.

May Zeus help repeal any laws that put you in harm, or try to deny you any basic human right.

May Hera bless your current or future marriage, with a gorgeous ceremony where you and your beloved are entirely safe.

May Demeter make sure you have enough food during any dark times when you don’t know when your next paycheck or meal is.

May Poseidon keep you safe from harassment during those dreaded swim trips before transition.

May Artemis protect you from sexual assault, especially Her sapphic daughters.

May Apollo aid you with smooth hormone therapy, and surgeries without complications, especially His achillean sons.

May Athena give you the strength to deal with ignorant bigots, and explain your identity so they understand.

May Hermes help you stay financially secure through abusive homes and relationships, transition, lost jobs, and moving out.

May Aphrodite bless your love life to find a partner who understands and supports you, and so that you love yourself a little more.

May Hephaestus help you be creative in coming up with new ways to pass a little more, while still being safe.

May Ares help you protect yourself from people who wish you harm, so that you can fight back the oppression.

May Hades comfort your lost brothers and sisters who are now with Him, and help you keep hope.

(I’m having a really bad suicidal day, so this is inspired by @aro–aphrodite)

May Zeus provide you the strength to live, and the safe refuge of his protection for when the urges become too much.

May Hera remind you in your darkest hours, the most important relationship is the one with yourself; and may she bless and strengthen the bond of that very union.

May Poseidon keep you safe in all voyages, including the journey that is life. May he prevent you from drowning in both your thoughts and the waters deep below.

May Demeter keep you warm and love you just like a mother. May she send forth gifts of a still soothed mind, and allow all your efforts in recovery to be fruitful.

May Athena, destroyer of Giants, slay the urges and intrusive thoughts too large to defeat on your own. May she protect you and bless you with the will to keep fighting.

May Apollon be by your side, whether it be during therapy or at your bedside in the ward. May he be a ray of light to give you a glimmer of hope.

May Artemis shield you, and provide you relief. May you never be thrown to the wolves, but rather have the courage to bear your teeth for your own defence.

May Ares cover your battle scars, and protect you from more. May he give you the courage of an entire army, and the support of one to. May you be reminded that you need not to win every battle to win the war.

May Aphrodite shower you with the love you deserve, including the love of yourself for yourself. May she remind and teach you that you are beautiful.

May Hephaistos provide you a creative outlet; a distraction to keep hands busy without a blade. May he teach you you can’t forge yourself without the flame, but you have been setting yourself on fire far too long.

May Hermes provide you a safe haven; be it a support group, or even just long drives in the rain to clear your head. May he hold your hand as you cross bridges, and let you find change on the ground after you do not jump.

May Dionysos put a smile on your face, and stand strong along side you, urging you to dance; he knows mental illness all to well. Dance away the demons, dance into relief.

May Haides, somber but not always impartial, lead you away from the incoming cars, and drop sweet nectar into your mouth. It is not yet your time.

May Persephone remind you that the greatest fall can lead you to the greatest heights. There is something honourable about walking out of rock bottom with your head held high, or walking on through like you own the place.

May Hestia keep you warm when your emotions are spent, leaving you numb and cold. May she bless you with a feeling of home whenever possible, and keep those hearth fires burning. And your own inner fire strong, as well.

Like or reblog if you are a decent human being, as well as:

A witch (any and all paths welcome)

A pagan (again, any and all paths)

A spirit companion and/or spirit worker

Anything remotely similar to the above!

Hello everyone! In order to draw in more submissions for a blog I help moderate, I’ve decided to hold a hymn contest! Just like in ancient times!

You can write for whoever you’d like* and in whatever aspect you want to, as long as it fits the criteria for the blog @theoi-community-hymns. Make sure to submit your beautiful writings there, and tag me if it’s for the contest!!

I’ll read each and every hymn, and try to reblog them with a comment in the tags. The winner will be decided based upon style, use of creativity, and interesting details. I’ll pick a winner by July 5th, so get your hymns in by then!

Good luck everyone! :)

@templeswreathedinlaurel

“Hymn to Dionysos and Apollon”

I’m using “masterpost” kinda loosely here – this is a collection of my posts about the Muses and questions I’ve answered about them. I’ve tried to clearly indicate in each post what’s my personal opinion vs historical research, but if there’s any question, feel free to ask me! (Questions or things I should expand on or write about more are also always welcome.)

General information about the Mousai:

there’s different sets of Muses? (yes there are!)

shrine/altar suggestions for the (Olympian) Mousai

the Mousai Titanides (Mneme, Melete, Aoide) 

children of the (Olympian) Mousai

other deities can be lowercase-m muses and inspire people, too 

Which Muse for which subject/art?:

my personal updated-but-historically-based ideas about the Muses’ spheres of influence

Polymnia and Apollon: overlapping influence

Calliope, other muses for a novelist, and spheres of influence

my personal view of Hermes-the Mousai-Apollon’s relationships to art

Worshiping the Mousai (how/why):

invoking the Muse(s) and spheres of influence

worshiping the Mousai/how to start

thanking the Mousai, as an artist

the Mousai’s relationship to the Kharites

my personal experiences/relationships/practice:

the Mousai to whom I’m closest: Melete, (Euterpe), Ourania, Erato 

my personal experience with Melete

why I describe myself as “beloved of the Mousai”

You are not less of a devotee if you live in a family that disapproves of your practice

You are not less of a devotee if your mental illness makes it hard to keep up with rituals/offerings/meditation/prayer

You are not less of a devotee if the path is new to you and you are anxious about getting things right

We are all human

We all make mistakes

This is a blog challenge that was created by Arrin Deuognatos, cited by echtrai here.  Please don’t remove credit.

A basic introduction of the deity

How did you become first aware of this deity?

Symbols and icons of this deity

A favorite myth or myths of this deity

Members of the family – genealogical connections

Other related deities and entities associated with this deity

Names and epithets

Variations on this deity (aspects, regional forms, etc.)

Common mistakes about this deity

Offerings – historical and UPG

Festivals, days, and times sacred to this deity

Places associated with this deity and their worship

What modern cultural issues are closest to this deity’s heart?

Has worship of this deity changed in modern times?

Any mundane practices that are associated with this deity?

How do you think this deity represents the values of their pantheon and cultural origins?

How does this deity relate to other gods and other pantheons?

How does this deity stand in terms of gender and sexuality? (historical and/or UPG)

What quality or qualities of this god do you most admire? What quality or qualities of them do you find the most troubling?

Art that reminds you of this deity

Music that makes you think of this deity

A quote, a poem, or piece of writing that you think this deity resonates strongly with

Your own composition – a piece of writing about or for this deity

A time when this deity has helped you

A time when this deity has refused to help

How has your relationship with this deity changed over time?

Worst misconception about this deity that you have encountered

Something you wish you knew about this deity but don’t currently

Any interesting or unusual UPG to share?