Blade of Fire, Pen of Flame

as someone who does not syncretize Apollon with the Helios, i love to explore His wide array of non-solar aspects; in this, i can perfectly understand why people have come to view him as a symbol of radiance/the Sun. Apollon is the embodiment of what makes life more than survival. He represents civilization and the further refinement of this civilization. He is the light-bringer, enlightening and furthering society with both his artistic and civil aspects. art, music, and poetry move people to explore the social systems they live in; graceful athletics asks us to be in our bodies in a meditative, controlled way instead of relying on pure instinct; divining asks us to tap into a world beyond the here-and-now, beyond reactivity; health and the decline of it causes us to cherish our time.

these qualities shine brighter when contrasted against His twin sister. Artemis' influence over the hunt, wilderness, and Her refusal to settle into a typical family dynamic seems to directly counter Apollon's affinity for social order. you can view it as a push and pull, or as a coordinated dance— either way, both are critical and worthy of our worship. where Artemis runs in the woods, Apollon plans the city infrastructure. while Artemis slays beasts, Apollon acts as an oracular political advisor. Artemis is grounded, Apollon elevates.

i formalized it just for you. and @ilions-end. but mostly you

This tradition of depicting Hercules as Buddha’s bodyguard started in the Greco-Bactrian kingdom of Gandhara, a part of Northern India conquered by Alexander the Great. This is important because Gandhara just happens to be the place Buddhism spread to the far east (it’s “the west” in the famous Chinese novel Journey to the West). 

Hercules acquired a scary, bestial mien and thunderbolt swords in Asia via association with Buddhist guardian monsters, the Vajrapani, who had the traditional job of protecting the Buddha. Hercules and the Vajrapani were confused with each other and traits of one rubbed off on the other. This slowly transformed him into a thunderer all the way to Japan and Vietnam.

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Part 3

Blessed Lughnasadh everyone♡🍞🌻 This is the magick jar I made for this year’s Lammas <3 I wanted it to feel as radiant as possible and to reflect the bright, golden energy of mid-summer. I’ll keep it lit both on August 1st and the day after, since I’ll be celebrating on both days <3

Here’s what I used to make it ♡:

the runes Sowilo, Jera, and Wunjo

a little corn decoration

corn, wheat, and sunflower seeds

crystals like carnelian, green aventurine, and citrine

flowers in the Sabbath’s colors

a dried wheat stalk

a toy bread

an orange candle

The Judgment of Paris