Welcome! My name is Lacy, I'm 31, and I live in Kansas. I'm a witch and a hellenic polytheist. I've been interested and growing my spiritual path for a good 15 years (?) its definitely forever changing.
More Bits About Me
I read tarot/do divination and have for 15ish years
I'm an artist, I like to paint and draw. (instagram!)
Pansexual and like to embrace sexuality/support sexual education
I work with the I/DD (Intellectually/Developmentally Disabled) and have for over 10 years.
Rocks and Crystals and Odd Things Collector
Mentally ill (adhd, depression, anxiety, bpd, pmdd, probably other things going on)
My "Main Squeezes" at this time deity wise are Hestia, Apollo, Aphrodite (Hera, Hades, and Dionysus in the past)
Interested in learning more about folk magic, mundane magic, and ancestral veneration!
***Under the cut are NSFW ways of worship, since Himeros is quite literally the God of Sexual Desire (and Unrequited Love but that's not inherently NSFW); I would prefer minors to not interact with this particular post below the cut please ^^;***
Work on projects/hobbies that you're passionate about
Listen/sing to music that makes you feel empowered, passionate, and good about yourself
Exercise to vent excess energy; get your body moving
Practice saying "no" to things that make you uncomfortable; it's ok if this takes time
Learn what your personal boundaries are, and practice asserting them
Wear clothes that make you feel good about your appearance
Give yourself a compliment about your physical appearance every day, even just one little thing you like; it's ok if this is difficult at first
Place sticky notes/notes around your space with encouraging affirmations/messages for yourself
Wear jewelry that reminds you of him
Have a candle that reminds you of him (no altar needed)
Keep a picture of him in your wallet
Learn about archery; practice archery yourself
Exercise; move your body in some way
Keep imagery of bows, arrows, wings, a taenia, wreaths (of vine, laurel, or whatever you feel called to), seafoam (reference to Aphrodite), conch shells (reference to Aphrodite), hearts, and anything you personally associate with desire/an unrequited love
Keep a stuffed animal of any animals you associate with unrequited love/desire; I can't find any sacred animals specific to him, unfortunately, but I'd suggest doves, swans, Kaua'i 'O'o bird (bird who was recorded singing a final mating call but was the last of his species), or rabbits
Treat your body gently; show it some kindness and compassion; you're doing your best โค๏ธ
Cook a meal for your partner; if you don't have one, cook something for someone you love
Gift your partner with chocolates, sweets, or berries; if you don't have a partner, gift this to someone you love
Engage in random acts of kindness; do so without expecting anything in return
Be aware of who you're giving your time and energy to; try not to stick around people who only drain you
Practice prioritizing your own well-being; it's ok if this takes time
Spoil yourself a bit; treat yourself to something nice
Link to my Subtle Worship Master list (including this here due to the cut)
Learn about kinks/fetishes, especially if you don't know much about them; engage in those that interest you
If interested in things like BDSM, learn about safe BDSM practices
Make sure to introduce safe words, the green light system, or something similar into your nights of passion
Educate yourself about safe sex; educate yourself about human sexual anatomy
Read/write sexual fanfiction or novels
Explore your kinks and fetishes; engaging with things online definitely counts for this!
Engage in sexual teasing with your sexual partner (edging works great); fuel each other's desire
Wear things that make you feel good about your body during sex, be it a prosthetic, lingerie, or anything similar
Try aphrodisiacs with your sexual partner (do this with the other person's explicit consent)
Treat your sexual partner to a spontaneous night of fun
Spoil yourself spontaneously; purchase fun new things to use later on c:
Learn about different toys and how to use them properly
Go at your own pace; don't pressure yourself to do more than you can handle
Practice and engage in after-care, both with your sexual partner or on your own
Get experimental with your partner; try things that you haven't done before
Drink some red or pink wine before doing The Devil's Tangoโข (do this with the other person's SOBER consent as well as your own)
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You know that one guilty pleasure kink/fetish you have? Indulge the hell out of it for one night
Link to Subtle Worship Master list
NOTE: Devoting sexual activity to deities is a controversial topic, and one that I encourage you to read more about/educate yourself on! Practice in accordance with your comfort. c:
This was my list of discreet ways to worship Himeros! I hope someone finds this helpful. I may add more in the future! Take care, and may Himeros ignite all of your passions in life, if you wish him to. โค๏ธ
Still experimenting with the layout and corresponding meanings, but I am absolutely thrilled with how my weekly divinatory practice is harmonising so far โจ๏ธ
I wrote this last year. I came up with it on the spot during ritual, and wrote it down.
(Disclaimer: There's no actual evidence that Dionysus birthday was ever celebrated on or around the winter solstice. Trust me, I checked. But I am choosing to celebrate his birthday on the winter solstice anyway.)
Ritual setup: An altar laid out with the Toys of Dionysus, statues of him, candles, fake ivy, grape agate, and a chalice of wine. I also had a thyrsus on hand.
Toys of Dionysus: A top, a ball, a bullroarer (noisemaker), astragaloi (dice or jacks are fine), a pinecone, an apple (ideally gold), and a mirror.
(The pink tube thing is my bullhorn. You spin it and it makes a whistling sound.)
Last year I began this ritual with Aristides' Oration. This year I might begin with Jack Grayle's invocation to Dionysus from The Hekataeon. Pick your favorite invocation!
Liturgy below:
Hear how Dionysus was born. On this, the longest night of the year, when the khthonic daimons reign without fear of the sun. Hear how Zeus Khthonios, lord of the heavens and the Underworld, Lord of the Universe, came to Persephone in a cave. Dread Persephone, dark Persephone, queen of those below. Queen of dark places. Hear how he came to hear in the form of a dragon, great and terrible, sensuous and scaled, how he coiled around her like a vine.ย
Hear how Dionysus was born on this longest night. In this subterranean place, he was born: the dark gods, the dread god, the baby Lord of the Universe, with the horns of a bull. Like the bull who took Europa to Crete. Like the bull that crosses the starry night sky, the bull in the center of the Labyrinth, the bull that pulls the moon. A crown grows out his head, proclaiming his divinity and sovereignty.
Hear how Zeus brought his son to Olympus, how he brought Zagreus from the deepest pit to the highest heaven. How he placed him on the throne of Heaven and gave him thunderbolts to play with as trifling toys. The great spears of heaven, in the hands of a child, energy coursing through his body.
Hear how the Queen of Heaven was angry to see this khthonic prince on the throne of Heaven. So she called the beasts of the earth, the nameless Titans, to destroy him. Hear how they distracted him with shiny toys, much more appealing than thunderbolts:
The Top:ย The top, that whirls and spins like the ecstatic mystic in a trance, until it collapses from exhaustion. The top, that is lashed as it spins. The top, that marks the boundary between waking and dreaming. [Yes, this is anย Inceptionย reference. Ariadne is literally in it, and she's played by a trans man. How Dionysian is that?]
The Bullhorn:ย The sound of the ritual cry. (No more words, just swishing and spinning it.)ย
The Apple:ย The apple of immortality, of the Hesperides; drink of it and never die. Eat of it and know the secrets of the gods, the things they endeavor to keep hidden, the difference between you and them.
The Astragaloi:ย The astragaloi, that determine the fates of men. The astragaloi, of games of chance.
The Pinecone:ย The pinecone, the source of life. The fruit of winter. The pinecone, that drips with honey, like a phallus.
The Sphere:ย The sphere of the earth, the sphere of the universe. The Platonic sphere of the One, the spheres of reality that extend in every direction. Dionysus chooses to be in our sphere with us.ย
The Mirror:ย The mirror, in which you contemplate yourself. No one knows me better than I know myself. I know myself. Nothing about me is hidden from me. Look into the mirror and see your own divinity, like light in your eyes. I am Dionysus. I AM DIONYSUS!
Hear how, when the baby god was distracted by the mirror, the Titans rent him apart and ate him. Consumed him. Imbibed him. Took him into themselves.ย
But even in pieces, gods do not die. When Zeus blasted the Titans to ash with his thunderbolt, Dionysus returned, in a lesser state, but still there. He returned in pieces. Eight billion pieces. We are all pieces of Dionysus.
Here is a deity worship guide for Lord Thanatos as always this isnโt a set guide and you might find other things that work for you and his relationship. โฅ๏ธ
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If you're reading this you probably already know who Lord Thanatos is, but in case you don't here's a brief overview.
He is the God Of Peaceful Death. He is known for collecting souls and bringing them down to the underworld. His godly parents are sometimes listed as just Nyx or Nyx and Erebus, and among many other siblings, he has a twin brother named Hypnos.
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With Chthonic (Commonly called the Underworld Gods) you pour your drink offerings outside and bury your food offerings (If you can't that's fine). Anything with the symbols on it (cloths, drawing, etc.) can also be offerings.
Here's a list of a few devotional acts you could do for him.
First Aid Training/Just Learning About It
Treating Common Ailments
Learn About The Body
Learning things about the body and learning medicine is a great way to honor Lord Thanatos and is very useful. You might ask Jay why would learning medicine be useful for the god of death?? Well, my sweet, sweet friend one of his major epithets, Paean, is translated to Healer and he is the god of peaceful death. So in simple terms learn medicine to prevent people from dying not peacefully.
You don't have to have first aid training as a devotional act, it's just listed (and I've linked the American Red Cross's page at the bottom if you do want to take their classes), you can learn simple ways to care for people in your home. Learn how to take blood pressure and check heart rates, learn the correct doses of common household medicines (Tylenol and Aspirin) for children and adults, learn how to break fevers, and learn why things like chicken noodle soup or other similar classic home care things can help common sickness.
Learning about the body in general is a good way to honor Lord Thanatos (and several other deities). You can learn how to prevent illness. Learn about what happens when we die or research Thanatology (a scientific discipline that examines death from many perspectives, including physical, ethical, spiritual, medical, sociological, and psychological).
Learn About The Grieving Process and How To Help People Process Death
Learn About Death In Different Cultures
Death Doula Training
Learning about death is the most obvious devotional act you can do for him. You can study death in different cultures, ex: Dรญa de Los Muertos. Understanding the Grieving Process and how to help people work through it are great things to learn. You don't have to start by trying to help people mourn the loss of their grandma or dogs, you can start, or even just stay, at helping people grieve aspects of their lives they feel like they are losing. Helping people move on in any capacity, is a great way to honor Lord Thanatos.
Death Doula training is something you can look at. A death doula is someone who helps people prepare for death.
Write Prayers Or Hymns
This one is also kind of obvious but you can write prayers or hymns or literally make any type of art and dedicate it to him. Crochet a butterfly and place it in an area for him. Whatever you can do for him he will be happy with. Once again this isn't a set list and if something doesn't work for you but it gives you some ideas of what you can do then this post still did its job.
Once again this isn't a set list, you can offer other things, and if something doesn't work for you but it at least gives you some ideas of what you can do then this post still did its job.
Here are some links where you can read up a bit more and where I got a lot of the information for the offerings portion, and if you would like to talk feel free to reach out.
I present an offering of flowers upon your altar, Great Apollo, as they remind me of all these sweet things;
In their brightness, I see your light and oracular talents reflected
and in their liveliness, your healing energy flows,
and as they wilt I will remember Fate, my mortality, my health, and I will know it is all in Your firm, unyielding hands! There is no better place to be!
comfort food feast - every participant brings their comfort and favourite food
breakfast for dinner feast - make pancakes, sandwiches, omelettes, and everything else that you usually eat for breakfast, and best of all, add coffee to that
pizza making feast - make a station for making your own pizza toppings
soup night feast - soup, soup and more soup
hera
culinary challenging feast - learn a new difficult recipe with your friends and then taste it together
zeus
back in time feast - each course comes from a different decade or time period
demeter
garden harvest feast - everything is prepared with fresh and seasonal vegetables, drinks are fruity
persephone
vegetarian/vegan feast - self-explanatory, vegetarian and vegan options only
hermes
around the world feast - each piece of the dinner represents a different country
street food feast - recreate your favourite street food
dionysus
wine and cheese feast - featuring a little wine/mocktail tasting and a few charcuterie boards full of snacks matching the wines
cocktail/mocktail making feast - prepare a little station for making drinks and, of course, a lot of snacks
poseidon
seafood feast - dishes where seafood is the main point
gentle reminder that your practice doesn't have to look like everyone else's. I haven't seen any evidence that the Theoi expect the exact same thing from everyone regardless of circumstance, or that they want us to over-extend or hurt ourselves in order to do things in the "proper" way. If anything, I've seen evidence of the opposite. If you need to adjust your practice do it: you deserve accommodations in your religious/spiritual life just as much as in other areas.
If all you can do is a prayer in your head, that's fine. If you oscillate between being able to do things constantly and only managing one offering a week, that's completely okay. Make khernips in a spray bottle. Use hand sanitizer or baby wipes instead of washing your hands. Offer the steam from your meal instead of burning a portion or leaving it out on your altar. Turn taking your meds into a devotional act. You can only offer once a month? Cool. Can't burn incense or scented candles because they're rough on your sensory issues? Perfectly fine. Whatever it is you need to do, do it. It's okay. If you're worried about it, you can always ask the gods. In my experience, and the experience of many others I've seen, they've been very understanding. Trying your best (sustainably, none of that "110%" bullshit) is enough. Existing as you are is enough.
You See All My Light, And You Love My Dark @domestichearthwitch - Tumblr Blog | Tumgag
