The Lonely Lobster

Overview

Pan is the Greek god of the wild, shepherds, flocks, rustic music, and rustic prophecy. He’s often seen as the border between civilization and the untamed wild, depicted as a satyr/faun with horns and goat legs. Companion to nymphs and a member of Dionysos’s entourage, many people worship him for his connection hunting, strong sexuality, madness (letting one’s wild side take over,) and undomesticated nature.

Ways to Connect

Spend time outside, particularly in areas where the nature is unkempt. 

Spend time with farm animals, especially ones that can’t be fully domesticated (there’s a reason he’s so strongly associated with goats.)

Dance like nobody is looking 

Ecstatic experiences, like parties and other places you can really let loose

Rustic music, especially with flutes

Help the planet, clean up litter

Offerings and reading Pan’s mythos

Altar Decor Ideas

Pressed plants

Goat and sheep iconography

Furs, antlers, and other animal items (ethically sourced is preferable, of course. If they’re hunted see if it was for meat and if every part of the animal is used, if possible.)

Pan pipes 

Pictures of landscapes and nature

Other Notes

The Roman version of Pan is Faunus. While they are very similar there are some differences between them, especially in their depiction. 

His name is where the word “panic” comes from, using noise to cause chaos against troops in battle or freaking out travelers in his area. 

Pan is the son of Hermes and a nymph. Sometimes this nymph has a name, other times not. 

A really traditional way of worshiping him involves night-long parties, a lot of dance, and knowing he’s shown up to the party when someone gets “possessed.” 

UPG (Unverified Personal Gnosis)

While he can be very serious and even frightening, his normal face-to-face vibe during prayer is more like a weird friendly uncle. 

Due to so many myths of him losing love interests or comforting others who have lost love, I consider him to be a god of heartache as well, willing to help those who are hurting. 

I associate him with patchouli and pine. 

I also associate him with the That’s Not a Deer up in the mountains near here. 

Who is Hecate? She is the Goddess of Witchcraft, Necromancy, Ghosts, Magic, and, in some instances, the Night, Darkness, The Mist, and Moon. For some She is also the goddess of motherhood, protection, and the sea. She is a Hellenic deity, born of the Titans Asteria and Perses. There’s a few beliefs circling around Her being a crone goddess or a Triple Goddess, but those are modern and neopagan beliefs—which She predates. I also consider Her to be a part of the Chthonic deities.

Symbology: Black dogs, Wolves, Keys, Torches, Flames, Torches, Crossroads, Serpents, Daggers, Birds of Prey (crows, ravens, owls), the Moon, witchcraft tools (such as cauldrons, tarot, athames)

Offerings & Devotional Acts for Her:

Figurines of any of Her symbols

keys, skeleton keys, lockets

fire witchcraft and candles, flames, matchsticks

dedicating any lunar or symbolic jewelry to Her

black/dark crystals such as obsidian and onyx

nocturnal animal imagery

black/cool colored glitter

baneful/poisonous herbs and plants

pomegranates/berries (She seems to really like blackberries)

dark blend wines

honey, cinnamon, poppy seeds, chocolates (dark)

mugwort, lavender, roses, jasmine, dragon’s blood

bones and feathers from birds of prey (please check your local laws about obtaining these)

pinpricks of blood (please DO NOT attempt this if you struggle with self harm/etc, blood magic is particularly strong and isn’t for everyone. She will understand if you cannot offer that to her).

Taking midnight walks, setting up altars and rituals at crossroads, paying respects to the dead and practicing your craft in a cemetery 

Any playlists, poems, literature, whether it be your own or just a piece you associate with Her, also make wonderful offerings. 

Lunar Influences & Connections: Reaching out to Hecate tends to work best at night, and really any time the moon is at it’s peak. The Witching Hours, midnight to 3A.M., during strong lunar influences (blue moons, blood moons, eclipses, new moons, etc) all hold strong bonds with Hecate. Also, any time it is particularly foggy or your surroundings are covered in a mist is a good time to try to connect with Her.

Zeus

Oak

Carnations

Olive branches

Styrax incense

Eagle, bull, swan images

Hera

Lilies

Peacock feathers or images

Pomegranate

Incenses

Cuckoo images

Athena

Olive branch/oil/fruit

Weavings

Myrrh incense

Perfume

Owl images

Apollon

Laurel

Red roses, sunflowers

Frankincense (manna) incense

Palm tree

Raven, swan, wolf, mouse, dolphin images

Artemis

Cedar, palm and cypress trees

Tokens of deer

Jasmine

Myrtle, white flowers

Frankincense (manna) incense

Amaranthus

Peanut

Wormwood

Deer, dog, bear, partidge, quail images

Hestia

Incenses

Chaste-tree

Pig images

Poseidon

Sea anemone

Myrrh incense

Pine

Bull, dolphin, horse images

Dionysos

Ivy

Grape vine

Pine

Styrax incense

Leopard, panther, donkey, bull images

Hermes

Tongue-shaped tokens

Rosemary, saffron

Almond tree and pine tree

Frankincense and styrax incense

Mint (for Kthonios epithet)

Cow, ram, hawk, turtle, hare images

Wild strawberry (purslane)

Ares

Bronze weapons

Frankincense (manna) incense

Swan, vulture, dragon/poisonous snake, owl images

Aphrodite

Roses, myrtle, anemone (poppy)

Quince

Apple, pomegranate

Perfumes and fragrances as incense

Dove, goose, sparrow, turtle images

Hephaistos

Daisies

Frankincense (manna) incense

Donkey, dog, crane images

Asklepios

Frankincense (manna) incense

Bread

Serpent, dog, goose, rooster images

Pan

Pine, beech trees

Fern

Wild flowers

Herbs burnt as incense and the smell of perfumes

Reeds

Goat, turtle images

Demeter

Poppy

Tokens of pigs

Styrax incense

Mint (for Kthonia epithet)

Wheat

Dove, bee, pig images

Persephone

Asphodel

Wheat

Hades

Pitchfork

Pomegranate

Daffodil

Styrax incense

Dried laurel leaves

Poplar, cypress trees

Mint

Hekate

Saffron

Rosemary

Garlic

Red Mullet

Amphiphon (candy)

Styrax incense

Dry laurel leaves

Oak

Ferret, dog, bull, lioness images