#aphroditê

And then there nights like tonight

Where I can see with such clarity how the dryads danced through my dreams as a child.

Where I realize that Hekatê taught me potions when I was young, guiding my hands as I collected nuts and plants - placing them in buckets of water. Casting spells and creating magic, things I still do today.

I can almost feel Hermes winged feet, when I think of the years I spent in the Gymnasium - learning gymnastics and competing for ribbons. How when I was young I was always inventing new systems of writing and new languages. And how Hermes Pheletes has (and continues to) save my life when I need him most.

I can see with such certainty how Aphroditê has been calling to me as The Sea for as long as I can remember. Weaving love so strongly into my young soul - branding me with passion and an overflowing heart.

Oh - and I can feel how Apollo guided my hands - molding me out of clay - making me a poet, an artist, a musician, a healer. As soon as I could talk, I started singing - as soon as I learned to walk, I was dancing. I wrote stories in pictures before I knew letters - and all along He was there.

My lord - my guide - my savior.

And Hestia. The flames I’ve loved all my life. Baking. Homemaking. Domesticity. The safeness of the homes I’ve made for myself - that my partner and I have made together.

So tomorrow I may doubt,

but tonight?

Tonight I sing their praises,

Tonight I give them thanks,

Tonight I know for certain - they have been with me-

Welcome to my Altar in a Box mini series! The second Altar in a Box that I made, and the second one I am sharing with you all, is my Altar for Aphroditê.

This Altar in a Box is significantly smaller than my Altar in a Box to Apollôn. This is for a few reasons.

Apollôn is my patron deity - He is the primary God that I work with and worship. In this, I have more to dedicate to Him and also feel more called to do works for Him.

My Apollôn altar was made for the purpose of devotion - my Aphroditê altar was made for the purpose of portability. While my Apollôn altar is somewhat portable - my Aphroditê altar can easily fit into a small bag or large pocket.

I make my Altars in a Box 100% from what I have on hand - I do not purchase any new items for this project. This forces me to be creative - but is also a financial necessity as I currently have no funds to spare.

Here is what the altar looks like when you open it up.

Next we have the items inside. From left to right we have a jar filled with water that contains tiny snail shells, a soft blue tealight candle, a small bundle of matches - wrapped in pink thread, a beautiful ring, and lastly some sea glass and a single seashell.

Lastly: On the outer left side of the box I have adhered a match-light strip for lighting my matches.

While this Altar in a Box may not be as extravagant as the one I made in honor of Apollôn - it was still made with so much love and adoration.

My Beachside Altar for Lady Aphroditê

Oh most radiant Lady Aphroditê

She who leads us to the ocean

She who is wife of Lord Ares

Former consort of Lord Hephaestus

And mother to Divine Hermaphroditos through Lord Hermes

In you we know all beauty

In you we see all splendor

In you we know the ocean shore

And the seafoam you were born from

Take these offerings and altar

As a token of our devotion

Know that it is humble

Like we who kneel before you

Know that it is open

Like the temples we host for you

Know that is is without shame

Like we are when in your sight

Be with us now - and all the days of our lives

Do Ut Des

A Hymn for Aphroditê: 02.09.25

In a recent study of the epithets of Lady Aphroditê, I came along the epithet "philomeidês"

(not to be confused with Philomeides, a King of Lesbos; or Philodemus, one of Penelope's suitors in The Odyssey)

This particular epithet of Aphroditê has several translations, but according to Theoi.com it can be translated to mean "laughter-loving".

And I find this beautiful

Aphroditê of Laughter

Aphroditê of the school yard chuckle

Aphroditê of the slumber party giggle

Aphroditê of the comedy club roar

Aphroditê of the sleepless nights

- where exhaustion turns to humor with a laughter that leaves you doubled over

Having sex with your partner of many years

Having sex with a person you just met

Having sex with your friend, because sex doesn’t have to be romance

Having sex with multiple people, because pleasure is not limited to a coupling of two

Having sex with yourself, for your own pleasure

Declining sex

Postponing sex

Abstaining from sex temporarily

Abstaining from sex permanently

Claiming the title of asexual, and all the nuance that comes with it

Consent - Kink

Good Sex - Bad Sex

Praise be to the great goddess

Born of the severed phallus of Ouranous

Birthed by Seafoam

Transgender deity of all passion, all love, all sex

May I never cease singing your praises

May I never stop honoring your name

DAY ELEVEN QUESTION: What is the clearest sign you’ve received from a deity?

DAY ELEVEN ANSWER:

The first thing that comes to mind is a sign (that I believe was) from Lady Aphroditê that I received late last year.

My partner and I were visiting South Carolina to tour some houses we were considering renting. The whole trip was a mix of good and bad, but on the last day of our trip - before heading back to our home state - we visited one last property.

We were somewhat hesitant about the house, as online there was only a singular photo of the front of the property, but we decided that, due to the affordable cost and desirable location, it was worth taking a look at. The tour went well, and the house was much nicer than we had anticipated. During the tour, just as we were leaving the backyard, I found a small seashell sitting on the back patio.

There were no other seashells in or around the home, and the shell that I found was perfect - free of any chips or imperfections. I picked it up and put it in my pocket, keeping it safe the whole drive back to our home state.

This house ended up becoming our second choice, and one of only two homes we applied to rent. Lo and behold, our application for our first choice was denied - but the application to this home, the home I found the shell at, was approved with no contingencies or requests for an additional deposit.

I had been praying to Lady Hestia and Lady Aphroditê for weeks, giving offerings and imploring them for aid. Asking Lady Hestia for a home we would love and could afford, and asking Lady Aphroditê to bring us to the ocean.

I firmly believe that finding that seashell was a sign from Lady Aphroditê - marking the house we were touring as our next home, as our gateway to the ocean.