#setup saturdays

Welcome, Devotees!

Building up a foundation for your devotional work? Try one of these:

Home Maintenance: Are you happy with where your shrines are located? If not, take a look around your living space to see if there’s a better place for your shrines. Do divination to see if the location is one the Spirits and Divinities consent to.

Shrine Improvement: Check your shrines to see if all the objects on them are in their right place. Would moving shrine objects around help the space feel better, the energy flow more freely?

Self-Improvement: Is there a habit you’ve been trying to cultivate in yourself? Find three ways you can encourage yourself to build that habit. (Examples: if you want to eat better, you can search for recipes online and develop a shopping list; if you want to work out in the morning, try sleeping in your workout clothes so you’re ready to go; if you want to spend more time away from your computer, turn your computer off when you aren’t sitting at it.) If you like, you can dedicate this self-improvement to your Gods and Spirits.

Today in the Hellenic Calendar:

Today is the 17th of the lunar month.

If you like incorporating daily hymns into your prayers, Drew Campbell recommends the following prayers for today: To Dionysos Bassareus Triennalis (a fox-like epithet of Dionysos, who had a dedicated festival every other year in the northern reaches of Hellas and into Thracian territories); To Liknitos Dionysos (an epithet of Dionysos tied to initiatory Mystery Traditions, which used a liknon, or large basket, as a ritual tool); and To Dionysos Perikionios (an epithet of Dionysos that emphasizes his role in releasing the bonds of prisoners, particularly in Thebes).

Welcome, Devotees!

Building up a foundation for your devotional work? Try one of these:

Deity Devotion: Is there a Deity you’ve wanted to set up a shrine for? Try setting one up today. It doesn’t need to be perfect–find a suitable space, make sure it is clean, and give it a simple set-up, even if the only thing you put in that space is an offering to that Deity.

Ancestor Work: If you have an ancestor shrine or altar, examine it today and see if its setup needs to be tweaked. Regular veneration can sometimes nudge things out of place even on well-organized altars, so it never hurts to take a look and tidy up!

Build Others Up: Do you have a friend or loved one who is working on changing up their religious or devotional work? Get together with them to plan out some of the nuts and bolts, like shrine layouts, when and how to pray, or whatever they might want help with. Even if you’re new to this, you may know more about devotional work than you give yourself credit for. (Can’t get together with them today? Make plans with them for a time when you can.)

Today in the Hellenic Calendar: 

Today is the 24th of the lunar month.

If you like incorporating daily hymns into your prayers, Drew Campbell recommends the following prayers for today: To Trieterikos, an Orphic (and possibly Thrakian) aspect of Dionysos honored with a festival every other year in Delphi; To Amphietos Bakkhos, an aspect of Dionysos associated with the annual grape-growing cycle; and To Silenos and the Retinue of Dionysos, including satyroi, nymphai, and bakkhoi/bakkhai.

Welcome, Devotees!

Building up a foundation for your devotional work? Try one of these:

Home Maintenance: How organized are the materials you use in your religious practice? Take some time today to make sure that you have places for items that you use in your practice, but might not always have out in the open or on the altar. It’s also a good time to make sure that your non-perishable offering materials (e.g. candles, incense, matches/lighter, electric candle batteries) are easily found, easily accessible, and well-stocked.

Self-Improvement: Find three ways you can ensure that you pray at your shrine every day. Examples: schedule set prayer times; before you go to bed, make sure tomorrow’s offerings are ready to go; think of ways to reward yourself if you keep up with daily prayers for a certain amount of time.

Go Outside! Seeing other religions in action can be an inspiration to a religious practice that feels stagnant. It can also help us feel less alone. Today, look up local places of worship that are open to visitors, and visit one (or make plans to do so). While it’s not the goal of the visit, you might even find someone you can talk to about your practice. In the meantime, see how other religions live and thrive. Of course, this blog does not condone cultural appropriation–if you incorporate elements from another tradition, do so responsibly!

Today in the Hellenic Calendar: 

Today is the 3rd of the lunar month.

In Hellenic traditions, the first few days of a new lunar month tend to be special days for honoring important Deities in one’s area.  In the Athenian calendar, today is sacred to Athene.

If you like incorporating daily hymns into your prayers, Drew Campbell recommends the following prayers for today: To Pallas Athene; and To Nike (Victory).

Welcome, Devotees!

Building up a foundation for your devotional work? Try one of these:

Shrine Improvement: Check through your shrine and devotional tools to see if there’s anything you need to re-stock soon. Make a shopping list, and plan how you’ll get what you need for your shrine and rituals.

Go Outside! Do you have any outdoor shrines? If so, today is a good day to check in on them and see if they need any maintenance.  If not, take a few minutes to see if you’d like to create one.  You might end up planning one out, or you might decide it’s not for you–whatever works!

Shrine Improvement: Try dreaming big today. If you had unlimited amounts of money and resources, what would your ideal shrine look like? Try planning it out. Who knows–you might find a way to improve your current shrine that still fits into your budget.

Today in the Hellenic Calendar: 

Today is the 10th of the lunar month.

In Hellenic traditions, the first few days of a new lunar month tend to be special days for honoring important Deities in one’s area. In the Athenian calendar, today is sacred to Helios the Sun and Rhea the Mother of the Gods, and is associated with the completion of small cycles.

If you like incorporating daily hymns into your prayers, Drew Campbell recommends the following prayers for today: To Gaia (the Earth); To Pan (“All”); To the Nymphai; and To the Horai (Seasons).

Welcome, Devotees!

Building up a foundation for your devotional work? Try one of these:

Deity Devotion: Do some research on different ways one of your beloved Deities used to be honored (if there are any available sources on this Deity). Are there methods of worship, or faces to this Deity, that you can incorporate into your current relationship with Them? How can you incorporate this new information?

Ancestor Work: Do you have an ancestor shrine? They are easy to make and maintain, if you want to create one. Find a suitable space for your shrine, and cover it with a clean cloth–white makes a good color in many traditions, but any color that is suitable for work with the dead can do. Offer a glass of cool, clean water to your ancestors by leaving it on top of that cloth. Refresh the water-offering every day, if possible, and spend a few minutes talking or sharing some quiet time with your ancestors.

Build Others Up: Look up people who can help you with divination when you need it. Even diviners need divination help (trust me on that one). What are their strengths?  What do they need from you in return? How can you start reaching out to them? Having a network like this can be invaluable to a religious practice.

Today in the Hellenic Calendar: 

Today is the 26th of the lunar month.

If you like incorporating daily hymns into your prayers, Drew Campbell recommends the following prayers for today: To Leukothea (a mortal woman who became a Goddess; she helped keep ships safe and saved people from drowning); and To Palaimon (the son of Leukothea, also a savior of ships and the drowning).

Welcome, Devotees!

Building up a foundation for your devotional work? Try one of these:

Home Maintenance: How organized are the materials you use in your religious practice? Take some time today to make sure that you have places for items that you use in your practice, but might not always have out in the open or on the altar. It’s also a good time to make sure that your non-perishable offering materials (e.g. candles, incense, matches/lighter, electric candle batteries) are easily found, easily accessible, and well-stocked.

Self-Improvement: Find three ways you can ensure that you pray at your shrine every day. Examples: schedule set prayer times; before you go to bed, make sure tomorrow’s offerings are ready to go; think of ways to reward yourself if you keep up with daily prayers for a certain amount of time.

Go Outside! Seeing other religions in action can be an inspiration to a religious practice that feels stagnant. It can also help us feel less alone. Today, look up local places of worship that are open to visitors, and visit one (or make plans to do so). While it’s not the goal of the visit, you might even find someone you can talk to about your practice. In the meantime, see how other religions live and thrive. Of course, this blog does not condone cultural appropriation–if you incorporate elements from another tradition, do so responsibly!

Today in the Hellenic Calendar: 

Today is the 20th of the lunar month. With this day, the second decade (10-day period) of the lunar month ends.

If you like incorporating daily hymns into your prayers, Drew Campbell recommends the following prayers for today: To Apollon; To the Mousai.

Welcome, Devotees!

Building up a foundation for your devotional work? Try one of these:

Deity Devotion: Do some research on different ways one of your beloved Deities used to be honored (if there are any available sources on this Deity). Are there methods of worship, or faces to this Deity, that you can incorporate into your current relationship with Them? How can you incorporate this new information?

Ancestor Work: Do you have an ancestor shrine? They are easy to make and maintain, if you want to create one. Find a suitable space for your shrine, and cover it with a clean cloth–white makes a good color in many traditions, but any color that is suitable for work with the dead can do. Offer a glass of cool, clean water to your ancestors by leaving it on top of that cloth. Refresh the water-offering every day, if possible, and spend a few minutes talking or sharing some quiet time with your ancestors.

Build Others Up: Look up people who can help you with divination when you need it. Even diviners need divination help (trust me on that one). What are their strengths?  What do they need from you in return? How can you start reaching out to them? Having a network like this can be invaluable to a religious practice.

Today in the Hellenic Calendar: 

Today is the 1st of the lunar month. Kalà Noumenía (Happy New Month)!

In Hellenic traditions, the first few days of a new lunar month tend to be special days for honoring important Deities in one’s area. The first of the lunar month is sacred to Apollon Noumenios, an aspect of Apollon that helps protect the transition from the old month to the new.

If you like incorporating daily hymns into your prayers, Drew Campbell recommends the following prayers for today: To Apollon; and To the Mousai (Muses).

Later this Lunar Month (calculated through HMEPA): The Lenaia, a festival to Dionysos in the heart of winter, takes place from 8-11 January 2020; the Theogamia, a festival celebrating the union of Zeus and Hera, takes place on 23 January 2020.

Welcome, Devotees!

Building up a foundation for your devotional work? Try one of these:

Home Maintenance: Are you happy with where your shrines are located? If not, take a look around your living space to see if there’s a better place for your shrines. Do divination to see if the location is one the Spirits and Divinities consent to.

Shrine Improvement: Check your shrines to see if all the objects on them are in their right place. Would moving shrine objects around help the space feel better, the energy flow more freely?

Self-Improvement: Is there a habit you’ve been trying to cultivate in yourself? Find three ways you can encourage yourself to build that habit. (Examples: if you want to eat better, you can search for recipes online and develop a shopping list; if you want to work out in the morning, try sleeping in your workout clothes so you’re ready to go; if you want to spend more time away from your computer, turn your computer off when you aren’t sitting at it.) If you like, you can dedicate this self-improvement to your Gods and Spirits.

Today in the Hellenic Calendar: 

Today is the 12th of the lunar month.

If you like incorporating daily hymns into your prayers, Drew Campbell recommends the following prayers for today: To Demeter; To Meter Antaia (a cultic name for Demeter); To the Mother of the Gods (Rhea, sometimes syncretized with or honored in a similar way to Demeter).