swamppuppy

Kymopolei, goddess of violent storm waves.

Draw them, every stroke of your pen full of devotion and love?

Praying Zeus when it starts raining, especially after a period of drought.

Greet Helios and say a little prayer to him when I wake up (at the first ray of sunlight in winter).

Greet Nyx and say a little prayer to her when night falls (but more often when I go to bed).

Praying to Hermes before and after a trip (I travel a lot because I'm in a long-distance relationship).

Dedicate my singing and writing sessions to Apollo.

Devote my sessions studying the Delphic maxims to Athena.

To thank Her when I act with discernment, give good advice and calm down when I'm angry.

Thanking Aphrodite when I spend time with my boyfriend.

Greeting Gaia and Demeter when I spend time in nature.

You're young Artemis and you're your father's daughter. You come to him first when you're upset or hurt because, intimidating as he is to many, he always holds you close, laughs fondly, and makes your distress easier to bear. You know that whoever hurt you will not sleep at night and your wounds will heal.

You're young Apollo and you're your mother's child but your father's favorite son. You and him share understanding looks that no one else comprehends. When you wake up from your first prophecy, you are terrified and confused, but you feel a steady, big, warm hand under yours and it's alright. He teaches you the art of fate. You know his mind like no other.

You're young Athena and you're your father's delight. He always finds newer and newer ways to engage your rapidly thinking mind, and he chuckles fondly at your theories. "You would be a mighty king, my child," he tells you and you know it is the highest praise though you don't delight in calls of power. You watch competitions and games standing by his side. You are, still, his greatest pride.

You're young Hermes and you always make your father laugh. He tells you stories of your mother, all scented with strawberry tree fruits and wild flowers, and you wonder how big a man's heart is to store so many loves. He chides you a little for your constant pranks but you can tell that he loves you from the little glint in his eyes. He always sits you close during banquets and listens to your stories even if they're made up.

You're young Dionysus and your father finds you perplexing. He might not understand you as well as his other children, but you watch him from afar and get him, somewhat. The grab for power and the need to keep it, the desire to make others bow to your might: you've felt it since you were much younger. Always a demanding son, always a ruthless little leopard. He'd pick you up and look at you in wonder, "you are so much like me".

Today I would like to explain some ways in which you can incorporate honoring the sun into your daily routine. All of which are rather low effort, and can be done without contributing too much energy. These are all based on my personal practice, of course.

Honoring the Sun in your daily life:

🔆 Wearing jewelry with depictions of the Sun - a necklace, hair pin, earring, rings, any form of accessory. 🔆 Eating sunflower seeds. 🔆 Putting honey in your drinks instead of sugar. 🔆 Say good morning to the sun whenever you wake up and goodnight to the sun whenever it sets. 🔆 Incorporate the colors brown, orange, yellow, and red into your outfits. 🔆 Wear gold jewelry - doesn't have to be real gold. 🔆 Wear bronze jewelry - doesn't have to be real bronze. 🔆 Wear a veil. Even though the Sun is traditionally masculine, veiling is a good way to protect your scalp while being out in the sun. 🔆 Wear outfits authentic to yourself. 🔆 If you can, pick up gardening. Plants feed on the Sun, and by being outdoors gardening, you can feed off of the sun, too. 🔆 Go for a hike. Or simply go for a walk through your neighborhood. 🔆 Try waking up at sunrise to rise with the Sun. Or go outside and watch the sunset. Not everyone can wake up at the crack of dawn. 🔆 If you can, put your bed near a window facing East so you can wake up to the sun shining in.

Please feel free to contribute your own ideas and methods of honoring the Sun in the comments and reblogs. Thank you so much for reading.

Best wishes, and blessed be, from Rafael.

If you saw my previous post you'd know I went to an antique store where I found an Aphrodite sculpture as well as a little brass bowl with a dove and lamb engraved onto it. So that was kind of my first sign that I was being called to by Lady Aphrodite, so I went and bought those to keep on my altar.

Anyways, today shit got even weirder.

I was driving home when this bright white dove (!!!) flew RIGHT next to my car window on my side. I didn't get a pic cuz I was driving and in such disbelief (I don't think I had ever seen one irl before), then I watched it fly away. It was most definitely a dove, brightest white I've ever seen on a bird.

Fast forward, I've been home for a few hours when I remembered I put out a jar of water with a few rose quartzes in my backyard to charge in last night's full moon. So I went to go pick it up- except I stopped because this HARE was sleeping right next to it.

So I was like 'wait...are hares sacred to a certain deity?' Checked Google and Theoi.com and yup! Sacred to Aphrodite just like the dove! Thank GOD I got a pic this time. I haven't gotten the jar back yet cuz he's still out there sleeping next to it, but I'll pick it up later when he leaves :) I guess I gotta go pick up something to make as an offering to Aphrodite cuz WOW.

[Selene & Artemis Doodle]

To the person who asked for Selene and Artemis :) (I was too lazy to do a proper reference for them,,)

Made Selene a lot more radiant and dramatic. Notes being that her silver armour glows, her shawl is threaded moonlight and the marks across her face r actually the moon cycle!!

Άφροδίτη Πόντια

Aphrodite of the Ocean

Zeus Ombrios- of the rain

Zeus Aphesios- releasing (rain-but I also interpret it to mean release in general)

Zeus Skotitas- dark, murky

Zeus Keraunios- of the thunderbolt

Zeus Astrapaios- of the lightning

Zeus Kataibatês- descending

Zeus Labrandeus- furious, raging

Zeus Konios- of the dust

Zeus Maimaktês- boisterous

Zeus Euênemos- of fair winds

Zeus Basileus- king, chief, ruler

Zeus Koryphaios- chief, leader

Zeus Ktêsios- of the house, property

Zeus Amboulios- counselor

Zeus Teleios- of marriage rites

Zeus Mêkhaneus- contriver

Zeus Kosmêtês- orderer

Zeus Theos Agathos- the good god

Zeus Epidôtês- giver of good

Zeus Philios- of friendship

Zeus Xenios- of hospitality, strangers

Zeus Phyxios- of refuge

Zeus Katharsios- of ritual purification

Zeus Prostropaios- turner of pollution

Zeus Apêmios- averter of ills

Zeus Sôtêr- savior, deliverer

Zeus Meilikhios- gracious, merciful

Zeus Laoitês- of the people

Zeus Eleutherios- of freedom

Zeus Stratios- of war, warlike

Zeus Sthenios- of strength, strong

Zeus Tropaios- turns to flight, defeats

Shhhh the girls are bonding

PS . Love your content and one day would love to commision you

Aw, thanks for the compliment! I hope one day we can work something out for you. Keep in mind I always discount for friends ;)

And as for tips for working with and worshipping our lovely sun god Helios, here’s what I’ve got:

This kind of goes for all Gods, but learn about his myths, retinue, consort, children, and family history. Connecting with a God comes from a place of wanting to learn, and what better way than to get to know him the way you would a person? Except unlike a person, just about everything you’d usually ask in conversation is written so I’d start there.

Remember that he’s a Titan god, learn about what that means. Learn specifically about how titans are worshipped as opposed to the others. I personally haven’t found that it’s much different, but it’s an aspect of him that important to keep in mind.

Bask in the sun, if you can, and say hello. I like to lay on my picnic blanket, looking up at the sky, and say a little morning prayer that I can share on my page after I post this. Enjoying the sun, or learning to enjoy it, is a good way to honor him and his “job.” If you’re sun sensitive, don’t worry! Seeking shade from the sun isn’t disrespectful at all, in fact it would honor his Power and great strength for guiding the sun on his aureole. Even just saying hello to him as you walk from your door to your car on the way out is a great practice.

Be receptive. In my experience, he’s very gentle and soft. He won’t shout so you may have to listen a little harder. I’m not a very experienced diviner, if you can even call me a diviner with as little divination as I do, so I don’t have any tips in that particular regard.

If you can get out of bed for sunrise, welcome him and wish him a safe journey. He’s done it for as long as time, but in my experience he always appreciates well wishes. Also, at sunset or at bedtime, I wish him goodnight in his palace. By doing this, you recognize his labor and honor it. It’s a great thing he does, driving that chariot. Without it, we’d freeze!! And if he did it poorly, we’d burn!

Personally, I make art. If you’re an artist, doing art of a God can be a great way to feel their presence. For example, when I made that Artemis icon, I felt her with me so strongly even though I had never contacted her before or even asked her to be with me. When I do art for pleasure, I usually have the mousai with me. When I do art for worship, I ask that God to be with me. It’s a great way to spend time with them while worshipping them.

My relationship with Helios is very personal, so try to make yours personal too! For example, my mood and well-being are very casually related to the sunshine. So I thank him for that whenever I can. Another example, if you’re a gardener, your plants well-being will be directly tied to sunshine (and other factors) so thank him for keeping your crops, flowers, etc in bloom and thriving! Try to think of some way the sun affects you personally, and go from there!