whats the story! morning glory?

this is my Hellenism and witchcraft blog enjoyhellenic pagan // kitchen witch // lover of flowers

[granadactonica]

I have read (and see) something about Hades and Persephone having chickens in the underworld, but this is really a fact or is something invent?

[coloricioso]

Chickens were indeed sacred to Hades and Persephone and an example of this are the  terracotta votive tablets from Locri -the ones of the pictures-. There are some books about this subject like Iconography of Religions by Bianchi or Locrian Maidens by Redfield.

The cock/chicken “became the chthonic bird, and was used on tombs, as emblematic of the hope of a reawakening to life”. (Peters) and it is also refered as “an infernal animal of passage” by Bernabe in his book Instructions for the Netherworld: the orphic gold tablets.He also says: ”Cocks allude to the world of the afterlife: as intermediaries between the soul and the Beyond, they intercede between the world of the dead and that of the living”.

Remember Persephone was the goddess of renewal, so at least in Locri, the cock was an usual attribute of her. And in other cultures cocks-chickens were seen as animals related to renewal and life (eggs have that symbolism tooo).

:D so. chickens for Hades and Persephone all the way.

(sources 1 - 2 - 3)

[zooophagous]

I KNEW chickens were sacred, I just didn’t know to whom

[revolutionaryshoe]

“Why did the chicken cross the road?”

“To intercede between the world of the living and that of the dead, as intermediaries between the soul and Beyond.”

“You mean…to get to the Other Side?”

“….yes.”

[thats-howthelightgets-in]

Hey, here's a thought.

A lot of tumblr witches seem to think intent is the end all be all. You don't need anything else in a spell that works properly, as long as you have intent! Let's explore that, shall we?

The biggest argument I get for intent is that "some witches can do things just by wishing them", and that argument is absolutely right; some witches can. I know people who can draw a storm by whistling. I have seen a woman tell me she would draw the wind into existence by thinking about it and she did. These people are anomalies. The average person, however, cannot. What separates the two? There has to be some difference between a non magical person and the kind of person who can curse with a glance. So what opens up your access to the mystical power to manifest things via thoughts?

Is it because you believe you're a witch, and the power of your belief makes things happen? If it was, we'd have a fair few delusional people doing minor miracles. How about actively practicing witchcraft? If it was, we'd have way less witches on tumblr complaining about their homophobic family- why would you let your cousin say slurs at thanksgiving why you could just do a sweetening spell with your mind?

What about initiation, or an internal witch fire you were born with, or heritage, or power from the gods? But wait! You don't need to be a hereditary witch, or born a witch, or initiated or religious to be a witch! Your path is valid no matter what, right?!

So what on earth could it be?!

It's actual fucking work. For every witch who can draw a storm by thinking about it, there's years of work doing storm drawing rituals, being granted magical powers by the deities they worship, venerating the spirits of the sky, doing rituals to gain more power, building relationships, spellwork, and more. For everyone who can curse at a glance, there's hours and hours of practice and power gathering and gnosis.

To neatly sum it all up: Intent doesn't work by itself unless you have put in the effort beforehand.

[upthewitchypunx]

It's kind of the same thing as art or any craft. When you purchase a piece of original art or craft or commission art you aren't just paying for the time it took them to create it, you are also paying for all the years it took to build that skill.

[gothyween]

𝒅 𝒊 𝒐 𝒏 𝒚 𝒔 𝒖 𝒔 ; 𝒘 𝒊 𝒏 𝒆 · 𝒕 𝒉 𝒆 𝒂 𝒕 𝒓 𝒆 · 𝒑 𝒐 𝒆 𝒕 𝒓 𝒚🍷

[please reblog or like if you saved]

[the-clever-cupboard]

Wheel of the Year: Transition Between Sabbaths

Yule to Imbolc: Rest

During the thick of winter when it’s too cold to do anything and always dark, it’s the perfect moment in the year to rest. The focus is on relaxing, taking extra time to sleep and care for the body especially to not get sick. Winter is also ‘spa’ season because the air is so dry and harsh it’s a good time to soak in hot baths and scrub away dead skin and moisturize with protective lotion. Do not try to make new plans, yet sit home, rest and reflect.

Imbolc to Ostara: Cleansing

When winter thaws it’s a great time to clean the home and prepare for spring. Personally, I also like to do a body cleanse since I tend to eat a lot of processed (yet delicious ;-;) foods all year round. This also makes up for all the heavy foods I’ve been eating since Summer (all the BBQs) to Winter comfort foods. As I clean the home and get rid of stuff that has accumulated over the year, I clean the body. Also the focus is on cleaning the home as well. Breathing in the same air, especially if its full of dust, is really unhealthy and it’s good as the days are getting a little warmer to open up the windows for a few minutes to allow in fresh air to circulate. This is also the time of year I throw out old furniture, accumulated things and rearrange furniture in the room as well.

Ostara to Beltane: Sowing

Spring is a great time to germinate sprouts along with other seeds and clean the backyard or garden to grow plants. If you like to compost it’s a time to start mixing in the vegetable/fruit/plant scraps with the soil. Spring is also a great time to sow bigger changes in life as well. Something about the warm new season brings an air of flirtatiousness and ‘socialness’ that makes it perfect for making new friends or finding a partner. (Probably because people can finally come out of hibernation). It’s also a fantastic time to work on your image and portfolio and apply for long term jobs that begin in the summer or fall. Spring is the season for new beginnings and putting long term plans into action.

Beltane to Litha: Growing

A tradition I like to do on Beltane is repotting of plants and gardening. Repotting plants is a tradition I try to focus on every year because it’s very easy for house plants to die due to dead soil. Plus it makes the inside of the house super vibrant and lively to have fresh new soil in pots. From this point to summer solstice is the point of growth. Growth in the garden but also growth of personal goals. May and June feel like hectic months where there are so many events and opportunities to advance your work or change your social scene, that if I am not personally progressing, I focus all of my attention on my growth.

Litha to Lughnasadh: Thriving

Its the heat of summer! It’s time to get out and feel the intense hot energy and use its power to focus on goals and networking! Where I am there’s usually an exciting event every week where it’s an opportunity to make more connections and meet more friends but also since its warm and nature is so vibrant it’s time to take some days to relax and get away to enjoy the heat and life of nature. Go to the beach, go hiking, swim in a lake, sleep under the stars. Be active since the efforts will pay off.

Lugnnasadh to Mabon: Reaping

This is the time you earn what you’ve sowed both literally and metaphorically. If you have a garden its the time it will start giving back. If you are an active goer of a farmers market you will notice how beautifully abundant the stands are. If in Spring you’ve sent out tons of job applications, and in Summer got the job you’ve wanted and worked hard, then by now you should start seeing some results. If there are no results being seen it’s a time for reflection and re-strategizing. There is a second chance in this time to start again before the cold and the holiday season bulldozes through.

Mabon to Samhain: Harvest and Gather

This is the time to gather and harvest. Usually family tends to gather now since it’s the holiday season. There’s not much other than gathering to be done since family and holidays are bombarding you from all sides. Also there is an abundance of food. This is great to store for the next transition which is

Samhain to Yule: Preparation

This is the moment to prepare for winter. My wardrobe completely changes here, I take up knitting projects that were abandoned last Imbolc, and I store food and herbs for the winter to use. Also making preserves from things in the garden or hand knitting clothes make great presents for the winter holidays. This is also a time to prepare the garden for hibernation. Take in potted plants, harvest the last of the herbs and food (that are not potted). Make sure plants you do not want to die have a place to chill in the house.

[mikeybooch]

Lady of the Golden Blade, the Fruit-Bearer Demeter who sends forth gifts. 

In Ancient Greece, this time of year would be marked by the festival to Demeter and Persephone called Thesmophoria which was celebrated to promote fertility and agricultural bounty. The festival was only celebrated by married free women and it was said to last for three days.

[hexandbalances]

I've been thinking about ways to celebrate Lupercalia this year. I've written before regarding the reading I've been up to but it's not exactly tenable to celebrate in the old ways.

Feasting is best, so I'll begin with a menu:

A log of goat cheese bathed in a simple sauce made of honey and fig jam (and perhaps pepper flakes?), sprinkled with roughly chopped pistachio

A salad of arugula, thin sliced fennel, radish, toasted hazelnuts, grapefruit, pomegranate seeds, and red onion

Goat (if I can find it, lamb if not) slow cooked in spices, served over a creamy polenta

Shortbread cookies made with fig, honey, and rosemary as both dessert and offering

I've found a good location in which to house an outdoor shrine. On the days right before the feast I will "break ground" both spiritually and literally, with the intention of establishing a place in which to leave offerings.

I celebrate Lupercalia for the She-Wolf, the feral female. I dream of running through forests in the night air but realistically this is not a safe thing to do without more thorough planning. Instead, I may go for a run on a secured track or safe route, ideally with a partner. As a back up plan, I'm attempting to interest my coven to go dancing.

The idea is to connect with that wild, untamable aspect that we spend our lives suppressing through spontaneous movement. I want to feel the kind of clean that's achieved by joyous exhaustion by the end of the night. I can achieve it alone but the camaraderie of like-minded women deepens the feeling for me.

Khaire 🐺💀🖤

[lavender-and-lemon-apothecary]

[the-purvashadha]

Hestia Devotion Tip

It's really basic, but cook in her honour, if you can.

Cook your favourite meals, cook for your friends, cook for your family, cook for your loved ones. Cook and feel her love in the warmth of the food.

[mostlyiwant-tobekind]

In classical definitions, hubris referred specifically to a defiance of the gods or of divine order. The contemporary definition of hubris, however, is broader. It includes the defiance of other types of authority, such as a general disregard for the limits of human capability. (Source).

1. V. E. Schwab / 2. Paul Gustave Doré / 3. Mary Shelley/ 4. The Bible / 5. Jacob Peter Gowy / 6. X

[servantofthefates]

How to Do the Major Arcana Grand Tableau

This spread uses all the Major Arcana to give you an overview of your whole year ahead. It is best performed on your birthday or on New Year’s Eve.

STEP 1: Lay out the Major Arcana in order.

Line 1: The Fool to The Lovers Line 2: The Chariot to The Hanged Man Line 3: Death to The Star Line 4: The Moon to The World

STEP 2: Shuffle the Minor Arcana.

As you do this, ask your higher power to show you a glimpse of your destiny for the upcoming year.

STEP 3: Draw a Minor for each Major.

One by one, take 21 cards from the top of the deck and place them over the Major Arcana, starting with The Fool. Then take the card at the bottom of the deck, and place it over The World.

STEP 4: Read the Minor against the Major.

The Major Arcana represent the important aspects of your life. The Minor Arcana reveal what will take place within these aspects.

The Fool – What will begin in your life?

The Magician – What dream will manifest?

The High Priestess – What secret will be uncovered?

The Empress – What will you harvest?

The Emperor – What will you have control over?

The Hierophant – What will remain unchanged?

The Lovers – How will your love life be?

The Chariot – What will make you victorious?

Strength – Where will you find strength?

The Hermit – What will you need to reflect on?

Wheel of Fortune – Where will you find luck?

Justice – Who will avenge you?

The Hanged Man – What will you have to sacrifice?

Death – What will be reborn?

Temperance – What will bring balance into your life?

The Devil – What will you be most passionate about?

The Tower – What will trigger a profound change?

The Star – Where will you find hope?

The Moon – What will stay clouded?

The Sun – What will bring you joy?

Judgement – Which of your oppressors will be punished?

The World – What will give you a sense of accomplishment?

Sample Interpretation:

The Four of Pentacles on The Lovers – “Your romantic partner will be very protective of you, maybe even to the point of being possessive.”

The Ace of Wands on The Hanged Man – “You will need to sacrifice a part of your career or pause a project you are passionate about.”

The Ten of Cups on The Devil – “You will be focusing all your attention and energy on starting or expanding your family.”

If we tie it all together, we arrive at: “You will get pregnant this year, prompting you to leave your stressful though fulfilling job, so you could focus instead on ensuring you have optimal health to carry the baby to term. During your pregnancy, your spouse will be taking care of you even more than before.”

STEP 5: Identify the court cards.

The Kings, Queens and Knights are the people who will play a vital role in your life, positively or otherwise.

King of Wands – Leo (Fixed Fire)

Queen of Wands – Aries (Cardinal Fire)

Knight of Wands – Sagittarius (Mutable Fire)

King of Cups – Scorpio (Fixed Water)

Queen of Cups – Cancer (Cardinal Water)

Knight of Cups – Pisces (Mutable Water)

King of Swords – Aquarius (Fixed Air)

Queen of Swords – Libra (Cardinal Air)

Knight of Swords – Gemini (Mutable Air)

King of Pentacles – Taurus (Fixed Earth)

Queen of Pentacles – Capricorn (Cardinal Earth)

Knight of Pentacles – Virgo (Mutable Earth)

Sample Interpretation:

There are two couples here — the King and Queen of Wands and the King and Queen of Pentacles: “You and your other half will be highly supportive of each other. You could be a Taurus and they could be an Aries, or vice versa. Either way, you will strongly feel the love and passion in your relationship.”

STEP 6: Notice the dominant suit.

Wands – Passion will overflow.

Cups – Emotions run the show.

Swords – The battle is in your mind.

Pentacles – Finances will be bright.

Sample Interpretation:

There are nine Wands and nine Pentacles each: “Your year will definitely not be lacking in passion and stability — materially and emotionally.”

STEP 7: Note the numbers that appear at least thrice.

Aces – A year of beginnings

Twos – A year of dilemmas

Threes – A year of affairs

Fours – A year of stability

Fives – A year of changes

Sixes – A year of harmony

Sevens – A year of challenges

Eights – A year of labor

Nines – A year of completion

Tens – A year of harvest

Sample Interpretation:

No number appeared more than twice. There is no discernible theme, numerology-wise.

STEP 8: Observe the ruling colors.

Black – Loneliness, regret, obstacles, purging

Red, Yellow, Orange – Passion, love, happiness, power

Blue, White, Green – Spirituality, logic, innocence, intuition

Sample Interpretation:

Red, yellow and orange are the ruling colors: “Your year will be filled with a passionate love that will bring you joy and a strong sense of control over your life.”

STEP 9: Record your grand tableau.

Take a photograph of your spread, and write down your interpretations of it.

STEP 10: Review your grand tableau.

At the end of each quarter, note which predictions have come true. By the end of the year, compare your interpretations to how the spread manifested. Doing so allows you to reflect on your past year, and improves your divination skills.

[winedarkarchive-deactivated2023]

O DEATHLESS SEA / irene by simon harsent / the invading surf by frederick judd waugh / the mediterranean in the ancient world by fernand braudel (trans. siân reynolds) / stormy sea by ivan konstantinovich aivazovsky / dancing in odessa by ilya kaminsky / i lived the beloved name by odysseus elytis (trans. olga broumas & t. begley) / strong winds and high tides battered a coastal road close to newtownards, northern ireland by peter morrison /  shipwreck off the cliffs of dover at night with dover castle in the distance by eugène lepoittevin / the odyssey, book 13 by homer (trans. emily wilson) / seebild by ingo kühl

[brickrocksock]

Theres a serenity that comes with taking care of smth dead like yes this is how its always been and will always be. Something dies and something alive takes care of it - there is no other way

[ivy-kissobryos]

“The method of ‘whispering’ the incantation or charm is reminiscent fo the practices we find in Russian folk magic. The whispering technique also has the advantage of accessing the charm in a more concrete and physical manner, where the breath uttering the spell can be blown in a specific direction. For example, the breath is commonly blown into a glass of water or alcohol, which is then drunk by the client or applied onto an object. The magical force is thus transferred from the mind and mouth of the magician into a specific target which is imbued with its healing or harming power.”

— Historiola: The Power of Narrative Charms by Carl Nordblom

[philhelias-moved-deactivated202]

Silver-tongued Mercury, I sing of you today, 

of you, master of the golden wand, hawk-winged, fast-paced messenger,

of you, keeper of paths and roads, one who guides the lost ones, kind traveller, 

of you, leader of heralds, brother to shepherds, pipe playing lyre-maker, 

of you, lord of robbers and thiefs, deceitful trickster, lie-singing joyous athlete, 

of you, friend of man, loving protector, one who does no harm, dear companion, 

let my love translate into each tongue for you deserve it, 

let my adoration grow by day for there is never enough, 

let my trust keep you warm through your long travels

for you are in my heart,

busy one, 

and shall remain there forever.

[ivy-kissobryos]

Rituals like the lesser banishing ritual of the pentagrams were unknown in the ancient world. You banished an area by cleaning it—literally. The literal cleaning also cleaned away spirits who might be there. When, for example, Odysseus kills the men occupying his house (and trying to occupy his wife), his next step is to clean away the blood with water and sulfur. Disinfecting the house also rid it of the angry ghosts … Chernips is a wonderful means of clearing away kakodaimones. 

Source: The Practical Art of Divine Magic by Patrick Dunn

[ivy-kissobryos]

“[…] the beauty of ritual is not the cosmetically altered beauty of the facile modern age; it is the splendor of the sublime, the awe that is beauty and terror—and for there to be terror something must be effective. A ritual should excite all the extremes of aesthetic experience or it is unlikely to attract the attention of the spirits, and unlikely to lift the veil of familiarity from mankind’s eyes long enough to reveal the numinous.”

— Sounds of Infinity by Lee Morgan

[hellenic-norse-kemet]

Praise To Lord Hermes

The swift-footed god who may tread wherever he please.

Be it the realm of the gods, the land of men, or the home of the dead, none is barred to Lord Hermes.

The great traveler who knows the names of all places even those that have been long forgotten.

The great slayer of Argus, his protective gaze upon travelers, merchants, laborers.

He oversees the great flowing of gold, silver, bronze, green, that makes this world go round.

Riches he gives to those in his favor, cunning he bestows upon those he holds dear.