Hellenic Holiday: Theseia and Oskhophoria (2017)

When the sun goes down these two holiday's appear. Theseia is linked with Theseus and Oskhophoria is linked with Dionysus. I hope that you all have a good one.

Hellenic Holiday: Puanepsia (2017)

When the sun goes down I will be doing this festival, which honors Apollon. Yesterday's ritual was great and I loved honoring both Artemis and Demeter. I blended both rituals together to honor them. I hope that you all have a good one and here's some info about the day.

Pyanopsia, also spelled Pyanepsia, in ancient Greek religion, a festival in honour of Apollo, held at Athens on the seventh day of the month of Pyanopsion (October). The festival’s rites incorporated remnants of rustic magic, including two offerings, consisting of a hodgepodge of pulse (edible seeds) and a branch of olive or laurel bound with wool, around which were hung fruits of the season, pastries, and small jars of honey, oil, and wine. The offerings were carried to the Temple of Apollo, where they were suspended on the gate. The doors of private houses were similarly adorned. Both offerings have been connected with the Cretan expedition of Theseus, who vowed a thank offering to Apollo if he were successful in slaying the Minotaur.

Delphic Maxims #20: Love Friendship

Here’s the last one for this month and it’s Love Friendship. What this means is to love your friends, to cherish them, and to always have their back. Friendship is the most important thing that we have and it can help us when we need it. So love your friends, love friendship, and protect it.

The Athenian Month of Puanepsion Begins

When the sun goes down the new Athenian month begins. Here's the list of festivals.

September 21: Noumina
September 22: Honor Agathos Daemon
September 23: Honor Athena
September 24: Honor Aphrodite, Hermes, Heracles, Eros
September 26: Honor Artemis/Proirosia
September 27: Honor Apollon/Puanepsia
September 28: Honor Poseidon and Theseus/Thesire/Oskhophoria
September 29: Stenia
October 1-4: Thesmophoria
October 4: Sacrifices to Heroines
October 5: Full Moon (Honoring Selene, Hecate, and Artemis)
October 9-12: Apaturia
October 14: (Daylight) Libations to Poseidon
October 18: Khalkeia
October 19: Hea Kai Nea (New Moon, Honoring Hecate)

Have a good month.

Delphic Maxims #19: Do Not Use An Oath

So this is the next to last one for this month and it’s ‘Do not use an oath.’ What this means is don’t use someone’s oath against them. When someone makes an oath to you don’t use it in a way that brings dishonor. That’s the only thing that I have to say.

Sacrifices to the Nymphai, Akhelōos, Hermēs, Athēna, and Gaia (2017)

This one I will be observing, but only because I don't have to work the next day. Now days the rituals that I do is based on if I have to go to work the next day. The only one that I don't actually observe is Akheloos, who I know nothing about. I do hope that you will all have a good one.

Delphic Maxims #18: Honor providence

So this was another one that I had to look up. So what does this mean? To honor providence means to honor those that are caring for you or who is giving you guidance. When someone gives you guidance it means that they know more. Those that are caring for you are helping you because they know that you can’t do it on your own. I think that’s the most important thing that can be learned.

Libations to Demeter and Persephone

While I'm at work it will be the libations to Demeter and Persephone. Since I do get a break I'll use that time to do a small libation to them. It won't have incense or candles but it will have libation. We honor them and we wish Persephone well as she heads down to the underworld to spend time with her husband, Hades. Have a good one.

Late Post: Epidauria (2017)

Yesterday I celebrated Epidauria, which honors Asclepius and Hygeia. This observance took place much later and he became even more popular after Athens had a great plague. I had a good time and enjoyed myself.

Eleusinian Mysteries (2017)

Starting when the sun goes down it will mark the beginning of the Elusinian Mysteries. Here’s some info about the festival, which comes from http://www.britannica.com.

Eleusinian Mysteries, most famous of the secret religious rites of ancient Greece. According to the myth told in the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, the earth goddess Demeter went to Eleusis in search of her daughter Kore (Persephone), who had been abducted by Hades (Pluto), god of the underworld. Befriended by the royal family of Eleusis, she agreed to rear the queen’s son. She was, however, prevented by the queen’s unknowing interference from making the boy immortal and eternally young. After this occasion, she revealed her identity to the royal family and commanded that a temple be built for her into which she retired.

According to the Hymn to Demeter, the Mysteries at Eleusis originated in the two-fold story of Demeter’s life—her separation from and reunion with her daughter and her failure to make the queen’s son immortal. After Eleusis was incorporated, the city of Athens took responsibility for the festival, but the festival never lost its local associations.

 The Mysteries began with the march of the mystai (initiates) in solemn procession from Athens to Eleusis. The rites that they then performed in the Telesterion, or Hall of Initiation, were and remain a secret. Something was recited, something was revealed, and acts were performed, but there is no sure evidence of what the rites actually were, though some garbled information was given by later, Christian writers who tried to condemn the Mysteries as pagan abominations. It is clear, however, that neophytes were initiated in stages and that the annual process began with purification rites at what were called the Lesser Mysteries held at Agrai (Agrae) on the stream of Ilissos, outside of Athens, in the month of Anthesterion (February–March). The Greater Mysteries at Eleusis was celebrated annually in the month of Boedromion (September–October). It included a ritual bath in the sea, three days of fasting, and completion of the still-mysterious central rite. These acts completed the initiation, and the initiate was promised benefits of some kind in the afterlife.

Delphic Maxims #17: Exercise prudence

So this one I had to look up.  Prudence means being cautious. So, in other words, this one is talking about exercising caution. Using good judgment keeps you from making mistakes. Exercising caution, evaluating the risk, can keep you alive. Your instincts can tell you when something is safe and you must listen to that little voice inside. Do that and you will avoid problems.

Demokratia (2017)

When the sun goes down this holiday will be next. The only thing that I know about it is that it's a day to celebrate Democracy in it's present form. However Demokratia excluded about 80 to 90 percent of the population. Glad we don't live in those times.