Shattered Divinations

No like... really, between nails and hair there's parts of us that are trimmable without hurting us, so like... that means we could have ashes of ourselves while we're still alive. Just go around the world yourself and sprinkle them around wherever you want to haunt in your afterlife.

This would probably have some side effects.

When we think of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, beauty, and desire, we often envision romantic pursuits and joyous celebrations. However, there exists a less explored aspect of her divine persona that delves into the depths of grief and loss: Aphrodite Kataskepis. This epithet of Aphrodite highlights the nuanced interplay between love and sorrow, illuminating the goddess's connection to mourning and the complexities of human emotions.

Who is Aphrodite Kataskepis?

Aphrodite Kataskepis is often translated as "Aphrodite of the Underworld." This title signifies the goddess's role in the realm of grief, death, and the mourning of lost love. While traditionally associated with passions and romantic encounters, this aspect of Aphrodite serves as a reminder that love does not exist in a vacuum; it is intricately woven with the experiences of loss and heartache.

The Dual Nature of Love

The presence of Aphrodite Kataskepis speaks to the duality of love. Love can bring immense joy, but it is also susceptible to pain and sorrow. The essence of Aphrodite in this context acknowledges that loss is an inevitable part of the love experience. In embracing grief as part of love's continuum, Aphrodite embodies the understanding that the bonds we form are often shadowed by the potential for heartbreak.

The Myth of Adonis

One of the most poignant narratives illustrating Aphrodite Kataskepis is the myth of Adonis. Adonis, beloved by Aphrodite, represents the beauty and fleeting nature of life. His tragic death and subsequent descent into the underworld deeply affect Aphrodite, plunging her into a profound grief. Her sorrow over Adonis serves not only as a personal loss but also as a reminder of the impermanence of beauty and love.

As Aphrodite mourns, she captures the essence of human experience—a deep connection to those we love, coupled with the pain of their absence. This myth underscores the notion that love extends beyond the boundaries of life and death, establishing a bridge between the living and the departed.

The Role of Ritual and Mourning

In ancient rituals, Aphrodite Kataskepis was invoked in contexts of mourning and remembrance. Offerings to the goddess were made to seek her favor and comfort during times of grief. By calling upon her during funerals or memorials, people sought solace in the understanding that love persists, even in the face of loss.

Aphrodite's presence in such rituals highlights the belief that love continues to influence our lives, even when intertwined with sorrow. Her association with the grieving process encourages the acknowledgment of emotions we often try to suppress—allowing space for healing through remembrance and connection.

Embracing Loss and Healing

Aphrodite Kataskepis invites us to embrace the full spectrum of love, including its capacity for grief. When we experience loss, it's essential to honor our feelings and understand that mourning is a natural part of the love experience. By acknowledging the connection between love and sorrow, we can find a path toward healing.

In reflecting on the depth of our connections, Aphrodite Kataskepis teaches us that love is both a source of joy and a reminder of what we hold dear. Grieving does not diminish the significance of love; instead, it enriches our understanding of its power.

Firstly, Lucifer!

He has such a beautiful presence. Whenever I see the stars, I immediately get reminded of him. His energy is so incredibly warm & comforting.

He’s so incredibly funny, yet so wise & serious. He is so full of personality, it’s insane!

I love when I hear violins & just know he would enjoy it.

I love when I see flowers & just know he would want me to pick them for him.

I’m so thankful to have him as a patron. He’s so inspiring, & encourages me so much to fully be myself.

Thank you so much to the great illuminator

"Bender, being God isn't easy, if you do too much, people get dependent. And if you do nothing, they lose hope. You have to use a light touch..." - God

And the end:

"When you've done things right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all." - God

It makes me think of the gods themselves and the experiences I've had with them answering my own prayers. There have been many times that I've been unsure whether or not something was influenced by the gods or just happened as a natural consequence of life. I have also found myself wondering why they seemingly chose not to take action in certain cases.

Sometimes our prayers aren't answered immediately. We want them to be, but they aren't. Other times, they're not answered in the way that we want or expect them to be, and it can be jarring when they finally play out. I've found that typically I don't notice a prayer has been answered in the moment. It usually isn't until I reflect on it later that I notice the subtle influence of the gods. Their touch is gentle and light as a feather. It can easily be overlooked. And whether we recognize their efforts or not, they answer us anyway.

When they seemingly don't answer, that's when things become difficult. We can lose hope. We can lose faith. But the thing is, not every prayer requires an answer. I've found many times that Lord Hermes will specifically not give me a direct answer because he wants me to trust my own judgement. Sometimes there is a lesson to be learned without a direct answer, and even though it feels like hell in the moment, it allows us to grow as people in the end.

the gods understand that we're not perfect, that we're just fleshy meat sacks and that some of us aren't able to do things as much, and you shouldn't compare your craft to anyone else's! it's yours after all.

All of my content focused on more sexual/beauty/etc. aspects of Astrology get so much engagement but content that does not focus on that gets very little.

Even when observing other people's posts. It's the same. Love/Sex/Beauty gets all the attention but posts that are not focused on that barely get any.

Don't get me wrong, the sexual and hot parts of Astrology can be fun. That is not all it is though.

I want to talk about deeper things. I value the deeper parts of Astrology. I value talking about aspects, configurations in charts, reading the charts of people in history, all those things.

Earth

Direction: North

Time: Midnight

Season: Winter

Color: Green, brown

Zodiac: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn

Ruling planets: Venus and Saturn

Tarot Cards: Pentacles, Coins

Tools: Pentacle, salt, stones, dirt, crystals, wood, flowers

Cystals: Emerald, Jet, tourmaline, quartz, onyx, azurite, amethyst, jasper, peridot, granite.

Animals: gopher, bear, wolf, ant, horse, stag, deer, dog, cow, bull, bison, snake, worms, moles, voles, grubs

Herbs: Oak, cedar, cypress, honeysuckle, ivy, primrose, sage, grains, patchouli, nuts, magnolia, comfrey, vetivert, moss, lilac, lichen, roots, barley, alfalfa, corn, rice.

Rules: Grounding, strength, healing, success, stability, sturdiness, steadfastness, foundations, empathy, fertility, death, rebirth, wisdom, nature, animals, plants, money, prosperity.

Water

Direction: West

Time: Dusk

Season: Fall

Color: Blue, Indigo, Sliver

Zodiac: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces

Ruling planets: Moon, Neptune, Pluto

Tarot Cards: Cups

Tools: Ocean, sea glass, cup, bowl, seaweed, hag stones, cauldron

Cystals: Moonstone, pearl, silver, aquamarine, amethyst, blue tourmaline, lapis lazuli, fluorite, coral, blue topaz, beryl, opal, coral

Animals: fish, snake, frog, crab, lobster, eel, shark, dragonfly, seahorse, dolphin, sea otter, seal, whale, alligator, crocodile, beaver, octopus, penguin, salamander, turtle, starfish, koi, coral, barnacle, manta ray, manatee, jellyfish, nautilus, heron, duck, geese, crane, swan, water birds, ammonite, dragons, serpents

Herbs: seaweed, aloe, fern, water lily, lotus, moss, willow, gardenia, apple, catnip, chamomile, cattail, lettuce, kelp, birch, cabbage, coconut, cucumber, comfrey, eucalyptus, gourd, geranium, grape, licorice, lilac, pear, strawberry, tomato

Rules: emotion, intuition, psychic abilities, love, unconscious mind, fertility, self-healing, reflection, lunar energy, deep feelings, curses, death

Fire

Direction: South

Time: Noon

Season: Summer

Color: Red, Orange

Zodiac: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius

Ruling planets: Sun, Mars

Tarot Cards: Wands or Swords (depends on belief system)

Tools: Athame, candles, swords, wands, dagger, lamp, flame

Cystals: Carnelian, red jasper, bloodstone, garnet, ruby, agate, rhodochrosite, gold, pyrite, brass, fire opal, lavastone, tiger's eye

Animals: Lion, snake, coyote, fox, ladybug, bee, shark, scorpion, horse, mantis, tiger

Herbs: Cinnamon, cloves, ginger, allspice, basil, cacti, marigold, chilis, garlic, mustard, nettle, onion, heliotrope, hibiscus, juniper, lime, orange, red pepper, poppies, thistle, coffee, jalapenos, lemon, cumin, saffron, coriander

Rules: Energy, will, destruction, strength, courage, power, passion, lust, sexuality, anger, war, new beginnings, protection, loyalty, transformation, action, movement, achievement, creativity, desire, willpower

Air

Direction: East

Time: Down

Season: Spring

Color: Yellow, gold, white, light blue, pastels

Zodiac: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius

Ruling planets: Mercury, Jupiter, Uranus

Tarot Cards: Wands

Tools: Feather, wand, staff, incense, broom, bell, sword, pen

Cystals: Amber, topaz, citrine, jasper, agate, pumice, alexandrite, amethyst, fluorite, mica, clear quartz

Animals: Birds, flying insects, spiders, bats

Herbs: Bergamot, lavender, marjoram, peppermint, sage, dandelion, bluebell, clover, frankincense, primrose, lemongrass, pine, aspen, yarrow, violets, vervain, myrrh, dill, anise, aspen

Rules: Intelligence, wisdom, knowledge, logic, thought, communication, truth, inspiration, intuition, memory, creativity

You can divine by throwing twigs and pebbles onto a graph you made with a sharpie and some printer paper, or use said printer paper to make your own cartomancy deck.

Use cool stuff you find outside as offerings if you want.

My mom taught me how to make wreaths out of porcelain vine or wild grape vines when I was a child, try it. Or teach yourself how to weave a basket.

Use dried "kindling" twigs to make a small besom in the fall.

Find interesting places outdoors, mark them on maps. Create your own correspondences for components you find while out and about.

Raid your own art or office supply storage boxes.

Use twine or tape for binding spells, use staples for curses, fold origami for attracting abundance, use paperclips for memory spells.

And sticky notes for sigils. And felt for poppets.

And a binder with loose leaf notebook paper for your grimoire! Spice it up with dividers for different topics!

Spending money on the tools and ingredients to make a money bowl is incredibly counter-intuitive. Grab stuff from the kitchen like rice, cinnamon, and basil, and stuff from outside like broadleaf plantain, blades of grass, and a cool rock. Scribble some sigils on yellow or green sticky notes, gather some loose change, and toss it all in a bowl you already have with your intention layered between your ingredients and components.