Fallen from the sky. ☆

Lesser Known Deities ✨Astraeus 🌟

Culture Greek.

Aka. Astraios “starry”

Astraeus belongs to the tribe of Titans and is the son of Crius and Eurybia. His siblings are Perses and Pallas, his consort is Eos. With Eos he fathered the winds and stars, said to be conceived during sunrise. (Something to think about while watching the sun rise)

The only work Astraeus had an important roll in, that we know of, is Dionysiaca. According to the poem, Demeter went to him seeking a prophecy about Persephone. People started noticing she was attractive and her mom wanted to know how to protect her. Specifically from marrying Hephaestus.

Alternatively, Astraeus is said to be son of Tartarus and Gaia according to Huginus.

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Sources

Wikipedia Astraeus

theoi.com Astraeus

Khernips and prayer:

Always wash your hands & don’t forget khernips (water used for ritual handwashing to purify people or places from spiritual pollution, miasma) before prayer.

To put simply, miasma is "stain," "defilement," or "pollution". Its a spiritual impurity that us humans have. It’s not at all wise to approach the gods and their altars while having this “impurity”, this is why we wash our hands or make a Khernip.

To make a Khernip, it doesn’t at all require much. All you need is:

A bowl and put clean water into it

Sprinkle in salt

Light a bay leaf and extinguish it in the fire (you can also use incense)

As you do so, say “Xerniptosai” (Zer-nip-toe-sigh, meaning: be purified in greek. its a key invocation used during the making of a khernip)

And you’re done! A khernip can be left on or by your altar and you can use it until it’s time to make more.

How to write your own prayers:

If you struggle with making prayers and often read ones you find online, then this is the guide for you!

Address the God you’re praying to (e.g. Aphrodite, Goddess of Beauty, Love, and sea foam, etc.)

Mention their parents or birthplace

Talk of things they do in their domains

Thank them for what they do or ask for them to do something

Be sure to thank them once more

Remember: Always wash your hands before prayer.

How to offer things to a God

Present the offering you wish to give, saying something along the lines of “Hi, Aphrodite, look, I got this (insert thing) for you.”

Explain why you got it for her, something along the lines of, “I got this for you as an appreciation for all of the beauty and love that you have brought into my life.” Be specific for what you’re appreciating.

mabon is the pagan celebration of the autumn equinox, or the beginning of autumn. it typically falls between september 21st and 23rd in the northern hemisphere.

it marks the transition into the darker time of the year, when days are shorter and nights are longer. it’s a time for gratitude and to start preparing for the winter by letting go of that which no longer serves us.

ways to celebrate 🍂

mabon is a great time for protection, prosperity, and cleansing. especially related to the home.

do a gratitude ritual

get rid of what no longer serves you, whether physically or more symbolically

hold a mabon dinner with foods of the season.

celebrate persephone and her descent into the underworld

visit a farm or vineyard

make an autumn vision board or playlist (my personal favorite)

redecorate your altar or space in general

forage for herbs, plants, etc.

meditate & reflect on yourself

tend to your garden or plants

spend time outside, observe the seasons changing

correspondences 🍂

COLORS: Orange, yellow, red, gold, violet, brown

FOODS: Wine, pies, pomegranates, apples, grains, pumpkins, squash, grapes, corn, wheat, acorns, cider, nuts, berries

FLOWERS: Aster, chrysanthemum, marigold, sunflower, lavender, dahlia, goldenrod

HERBS: Marigold, myrrh, sage, yarrow, thistle, rosehips, cinnamon, cedar, maple, rosemary, thyme, cloves, chamomile

ANIMALS: Wolves, owls, stags, goats, butterflies, dogs, ravens, squirrels, foxes, bears, hawks, swallows, swan

CRYSTALS: Amber, aventurine, citrine, clear quartz, amethyst, lapis lazuli, carnelian, smoky quartz, yellow topaz, moss agate, yellow jasper, lapis lazuli

DEITIES: Modron, Persephone, Inanna, Demeter, Mabon, Dionysus, Thoth, Ishtar, Ceres, Pomona

SYMBOLS & IMAGERY: Acorns, pine cones, cornucopia, autumn leaves, harvest tools

My Altars !! yes it's finally here !!

below the break!

Digital offering to Lord Apollon !!

O' Phoebus Apollon, you shine your light on my life, at my highest high and my lowest low you remain constant and steady.

You lift me up with a gentle yet confident hand. You remind me that I am not my darkness, for I posses a bright flame that has persisted through every storm.

it is you I honor, O' Apollon in every moment of creativity, when the sparkle of innocent and joyous inspiration lights my eyes, it is you i think of.

It is you I found first and just as the Sun peeks through the clouds, you have made my life so much brighter.