BARLEY

witchcraft + hellenic polytheism // he/hymn

[forthe-theoi]

hello!! this is like attempt 5000 of running this blog, but I hope you guys had a great day :D,, anyways lets get to the introduction !!

★ 01 : about me ★

I previously went by yarrow, but now I go by barley !! My pronouns are he/hymn, and I'm the host of a system (I'll be the only one posting here, though,,).

I'm a Hellenic polytheist, a magical practitioner, and, yeah !! I guess my 'main' deities are Athena, Apollon, and Aphrodite??? Not entirely sure. But I'm also close with Zeus, Hestia, Demeter... yeah!!

I love music too, and usually listen to 'alternative music' (rock, metal, etc.), and folk, among a few other things.

★ 02 : about blog ★

tag system !! at least the one at the moment:

#🏛️ : HELPOL

#🏺 : THEOI

#🐍 : DAIMONS

#🦴 : HEROES

#🍷 : OFFERINGS

#🌾 : RITUALS

#🧹 : WITCHCRAFT

#🐓 : SPIRITS

#🕯️ : SPELLS

#⭐ : DIVINATION

#🕰️ : SCHOOL

#🌙 : MISCALLANEOUS

#☀️ : MASTERPOST

★ 02 : masterpost links ★

THEOI MASTERPOST

PALESTINE MASTERLIST

[countrydionysia]

Submit your vote!

Submissions are now closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted a piece for this edition of the Rural Dionysia! Are listed below this year's entries. Enjoy the read!

Freestyle Poetry

mint by @forthe-theoi

I Do Not Know How To Sing by @holywineandmadness

66 Days by @kallisto-aglaia (cw: death, cw: grief)

The gifts of Aphrodite by @piristephes

The Chthonic Sun by @khaire-traveler

Hearth Hazards by @arathergrimreaper

Untitled ('And I know you think') by @hawkmothdraws (tw: blood mention, tw: weapon)

Apollo by @beastial-bacchanal

Freeform Musing on the Zeus of China by @lavendervillage

Love of Man by @junooddly

for furor club (óðinn and dionysos) by @disir-ex-machina

The Hill at the Backyard by @straight-up-paranoia

Untitled ('Oh Enodia, brightest one') by @morteumdragonis

Modern Hymn

Dionysus by @beastial-bacchanal (tw cannibalism, tw gore, tw blood mention)

Praise to the Phosphoroi Theoi by @piristephes

To Psyche, the Hope Bringer by @starry-polytheism

Anima Bacchi by @binchtids

An Attempt of A Hymn of A Foolish Farmer Scholar by @lavendervillage

Untitled ('Hail Lord Apollon, hail golden Phoebus') by @achillesoul

Complete the fragment

fragmented (prayer?) by @eyeofnewttoungueofdog

Sing the melody, calm your mind. by @piristephes

My God by @definitelynotkiylen

To vote:

Voting takes place via poll. You will be asked to vote for 1 entry per category. You have until Dec. 18th to vote and we will be announcing the winners on Dec. 19-20th latest.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE

[countrydionysia]

Last day to vote! I'll be closing the survey at midnight PST!

[forthe-theoi]

Thinking of writing some more informational posts, hrm.

[forthe-theoi]

Now that I'm going to be back at school (after being sick with two separate illnesses in a row) I might do some studyblr stuff on this blog too (cause I refuse to put everything in separate sideblogs)

Thinking of starting with a "30 days of productivity" (which will include HelPol and witchy things)

Teehee

[forthe-theoi]

From my tiktok

[hestiashearthfire]

Sharing this little snippet of my current altar with y’all. Gods bless!

[paintedwingz]

what if beans spoke and went "dont fucking eat me thats mean"

[forthe-theoi]

I have GOT to show you guys my altars !!

(I say altars as i have like. my main one, a travel one, and more im planning on setting up in my room)

brb

[forthe-theoi]

Okay so

This is the main one (well, half of it, since I still need to fix up the non-helpol half)

And here's a travel altar to Hermes !!

[forthe-theoi]

I have GOT to show you guys my altars !!

(I say altars as i have like. my main one, a travel one, and more im planning on setting up in my room)

brb

[forthe-theoi]

★ Hekate's Deipnon ★

WHAT IS HEKATE'S DEIPNON?

Hekate's Deipnon (or Hekate's Supper), at its most basic, is described as a religious offering meal given to Hekate and the restless dead once every lunar month on the new moon.

However, there is more to the event than just that. The Deipnon itself contains about two events; the ritual purification (Oxuthumia) and the actual supper (Deipnon). As well as this, many modern polytheists will also do a physical cleaning of the house and ending things that were started the previous month (such as paying off bills, finishing projects, etc.).

OXUTHUMIA

Oxuthumia is the ritual purification of the home before the actual Deipnon.

This purification can include;

cleansing via smoke/incense

sweeping the home

physical cleaning and decluttering

cleaning of any altars/shrines

Many like to include house sweepings in the main offering for the Deipnon, so be sure to save them for that if you want!

THE DEIPNON

The Deipnon itself is the act of giving offerings to Hekate and the restless dead, usually at the crossroads, on the night of the new moon.

Traditionally this was done at some form of crossroads, but if you cannot do this outside for any reason, the offering can be left at the altar.

Usually, the offering consists of:

garlic or leek

a liquid libation, whether wine, honey, water, etc.

eggs

house sweepings (from the Oxuthumia)

You may be wondering, who are the restless dead?

The restless dead are essentially people who have died and not received a proper burial, died violently, or died prematurely. These are what you may see be called 'ghosts'.

One superstition about the Deipnon is, "once you give the offerings at the crossroads, walk back home and don't look back or you may see the restless dead, giving you bad luck". (unfortunately I cant find where I read this, so please take it with a grain of salt).

OTHER WAYS TO CELEBRATE

paying off all bills that need paying

paying off other debts, financial or otherwise

giving thanks or offerings to deities you forgot to during the past month

finishing projects

cleaning or other housework

writing out thank you cards, notes, etc.

getting rid of things no longer needed/wanted

emptying your Kathistkos, if you have one.

EXTRAS

Orphic Hymn to Hekate

translation by Apostolos N. Athanassakis, Benjamin M. Wolkow

Lovely Hekate of the roads and of the crossroads I invoke. In heaven, on earth, then is sea, saffron-cloaked, tomb spirit reveling in the souls of the dead, daughter of Perses, haunting deserted places delighting in deer, nocturnal, dog-loving, monstrous queen, devouring wild beasts, ungirt and repulsive. Herder of bulls, queen and mistress of the whole world, leader, nymph, mountain-roaming nurturer of youths, maiden, I beseech you to come to these holy rites, ever with joyous heart, ever favoring the oxherd.

SOURCES

Circle for Hekate - Volume I by Sorita D'Este

Hekate: Her Sacred Fires by Sorita d’Este, Raven Digitalis, Vikki Bramshaw

Hekate Liminal Rites by Sorita d’Este, David Rankine

Observing Hekates Deipnon

A look at the Deipnon and my own rituals and observances during this Junes Deipnon.

[forthe-theoi]

★ Homeric Hymn 12. To Hera ★

Sources:

The Homeric Hymns - Michael Crudden

The Homeric Hymns - Diane J. Rayor

Of Hera I sing, whose throne is golden, whom Rhea bore,

The immortal Queen, beyond compare in beauty of form,

The glorious sister and spouse of Zeus who thunders loud,

Whom all the blessed gods upon tall Olympos rank

In dread and honour as equal to Zeus whom thunder

Delights.

Michael Crudden's translation used here

Notes

This poem lacks a proper hymnic conclusion, and thus seemingly unfinished. This hymn acknowledges the equality between the king and queen of the gods, while in most myths she is under Zeus in power, however with Hera's status in actual worship being quite high, it makes sense.

[forthe-theoi]

★ 01 . mint ★

Stepping softly into the warm greenhouse as the grass outside freezes over with fallen twigs, I stare at the seedlings, sprouts, and sprigs as the Queen returns home with her spouse. I devoted a mint plant to Demeter today.

I gently place the seeds in the wet soil and pray they will work out; for if these seeds grow then I shall too, I know. Even through winter and the freezing of trees and cinquefoil, I devoted a mint plant to Demeter today.

This was a poem I wrote for Demeter recently. It means a lot to me and, yeah! Im going to break it down now if your interested ✨

Stanza one and stanza two are kind of different in structure, and for a reason; to symbolize the sheer differences in temperature even just a step away. Stanza one is more uniform with an actual rhyme scheme, for the natural ways of the seasons. Stanza two is more freeform, for the inside of the greenhouse where things grow when they usually wouldn't this time of year.

The motif, or repetition, in the last line of each stanza represents the repeating of the seasons, nature, and also the simple act of giving to the gods.

The juxtaposition between the outside and the inside is just based on personal experience. I am in a gardening class for school, and as winter begins its certainly an experience looking outside and seeing snow, while there are plants growing around you in a greenhouse.

I did actually plant some mint seeds for Demeter last week, about two Friday's ago. It hasn't sprouted yet, but mint does take a bit to sprout so hopefully by Monday it has.

I mention cinquefoil as there is a cinquefoil shrub just outside the greenhouse.

I've also been having a hard time mentally lately, so these seeds are just a bit of hope for myself.

And finally, "The Queen" represents Persephone, and "her spouse" is Hades, which further ties into that its winter.

Overall, life continues even through hardship. And that's the point of the poem essentially.

[forthe-theoi]

★ theoi masterpost ★

(wip)

Aphrodite

Information, Offerings, and Myths

(coming soon)

Apollon

Information, Offerings, and Myths

(coming soon)

Athena

Information, Offerings, and Myths

(coming soon)

Demeter

Information, Offerings, and Myths

(coming soon)

Poems, Prayers, and Hymns

poem: 01. mint

prayer: 01. for gardening

Epione

Information, Offerings, and Myths

(coming soon)

Hekate

Information, Offerings, and Myths

celebration: Hekate's Deipnon

Hera

Information, Offerings, and Myths

Homeric Hymn 12. To Hera

Hermes

Information, Offerings, and Myths

(coming soon)

Hestia

Information, Offerings, and Myths

(coming soon)

Zeus

Information, Offerings, and Myths

(coming soon)

[palipunk-deactivated20260328]

Palestine Masterlist 

(this is a list of informative sources, materials, stores, charities, books, documentaries etc to better help Palestinians, learn about the Palestinian struggle, and educate yourselves on us as a people. This list will be added on to with more links as they are recommended to me.)

Introduction to Palestine: 

Decolonize Palestine:

Palestine 101

Rainbow washing 

Frequently asked questions 

Myths 

Al-Nakba (documentary)

The Question of Palestine (book)

The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance, 1917-2017 (book)

The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine (book)

IMEU (Institute for Middle East Understanding):

Quick Facts - The Palestinian Nakba 

The Nakba and Palestinian Refugees 

The Gaza Strip

The Nakba did not start or end in 1948 (Article) 

Nakba Day: What happened in Palestine in 1948? (article)

Donations and charities: 

Al-Shabaka

Electronic Intifada 

Adalah Justice Project 

IMEU Fundraiser 

Medical Aid for Palestinians 

Palestine Children’s Relief Fund 

Addameer

Muslim Aid

Palestine Red Crescent

Gaza Mutual Aid Patreon

Books:

A New Critical Approach to the History of Palestine

The Idea of Israel: A History of Power and Knowledge

Hidden Histories: Palestine and the Eastern Mediterranean

The Balfour Declaration: Empire, the Mandate and Resistance in Palestine

Queer Palestine and the Empire of Critique

From Haven to Conquest: Readings in Zionism and the Palestine Problem until 1948

Captive Revolution - Palestinian Women’s Anti-Colonial Struggle within the Israeli Prison System

Palestine: A Four Thousand Year History

Except for Palestine: The Limits of Progressive Politics

Before Their Diaspora: A Photographic History of The Palestinians 1876-1948

The Battle for Justice in Palestine Paperback

Uncivil Rites: Palestine and the Limits of Academic Freedom

Palestine Rising: How I survived the 1948 Deir Yasin Massacre

The Transformation of Palestine: Essays on the Origin and Development of the Arab-Israeli Conflict

A Land Without a People: Israel, Transfer, and the Palestinians 1949-1996

The Iron Cage: The Story of the Palestinian Struggle for Statehood

A History of Modern Palestine: One Land, Two Peoples

Where Now for Palestine?: The Demise of the Two-State Solution

Terrorist Assemblages - Homonationalism in Queer Times

Militarization and Violence against Women in Conflict Zones in the Middle East

The one-state solution: A breakthrough for peace in the Israeli-Palestinian deadlock

The Persistence of the Palestinian Question: Essays on Zionism and the Palestinians

Fateful Triangle: The United States, Israel and the Palestinians

The False Prophets of Peace: Liberal Zionism and the Struggle for Palestine

Ten myths about Israel

Blaming the Victims: Spurious Scholarship and the Palestinian Question

Image and Reality of the Israel-Palestine Conflict, New and Revised Edition

Israel and its Palestinian Citizens - Ethnic Privileges in the Jewish State

Palestinians in Israel: Segregation, Discrimination and Democracy

Palestinian Culture:

Mountain against the Sea: Essays on Palestinian Society and Culture

Palestinian Costume

Traditional Palestinian Costume: Origins and Evolution

Tatreez & Tea: Embroidery and Storytelling in the Palestinian Diaspora

Embroidering Identities: A Century of Palestinian Clothing (Oriental Institute Museum Publications)

The Palestinian Table (Authentic Palestinan Recipes)

Falastin: A Cookbook

Palestine on a Plate: Memories from My Mother’s Kitchen

Palestinian Social Customs and Traditions

Palestinian Culture before the Nakba

Tatreez & Tea (Website)

The Traditional Clothing of Palestine

The Palestinian thobe: A creative expression of national identity

Embroidering Identities:A Century of Palestinian Clothing

Palestine Traditional Costumes

Palestine Family 

Palestinian Costume

Encyclopedia of World Dress and Fashion, v5: Volume 5: Central and Southwest Asia

Tent Work in Palestine: A Record of Discovery and Adventure

Documentaries, Films, and Video Essays:

Jenin, Jenin

Born in Gaza

GAZA 

Wedding in Galilee 

Omar

5 Broken Cameras

OBAIDA

Indigeneity, Indigenous Liberation, and Settler Colonialism (not entirely about Palestine, but an important watch for indigenous struggles worldwide - including Palestine)

Edward Said - Reflections on Exile and Other Essays

Palestine Remix: 

AL NAKBA

Gaza Lives On

Gaza we are coming

Lost cities of Palestine 

Stories from the Intifada 

Last Shepards of the Valley

Organizations and News 

Boycott Divest and Sanction (BDS)

Defense for Children in Palestine

Palestine Legal 

United Nations relief and works for Palestinian refugees in the Middle East (UNRWA)

National Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP)

Times of Gaza

Middle East Eye

Middle East Monitor

Mohammed El-Kurd

Muna El-Kurd 

Electronic Intifada 

Dr. Yara Hawari 

Mariam Barghouti

Omar Ghraieb

Steven Salaita

Noura Erakat

The Palestinian Museum N.G.

Palestine Museum US

Artists for Palestine UK 

Muhammad Smiry

Eye on Palestine

[forthe-theoi]

witch-anarchy -> forthe-theoi

[forthe-theoi]

im not really active on this blog anymore but planning on moving my focus to a sideblog, @song-of-the-lyre , which is like a digital altar-ish. Ill still follow and stuff from this blog (since it is my main), but, yeah!

[forthe-theoi]

Okay let's try this blog again

[forthe-theoi]

im not really active on this blog anymore but planning on moving my focus to a sideblog, @song-of-the-lyre , which is like a digital altar-ish. Ill still follow and stuff from this blog (since it is my main), but, yeah!