I’ve been fairly neglectful towards both tumblr and my website in the last few months due to personal misevents. I got a divorce, ran through two different jobs, but now I find myself again with a purpose. I got accepted and re-enrolled in school (which I start in a few days), and I have a new lover who appreciates me for who I am—mental illnesses and all. About four months ago I formally devoted myself to the Goddess, Aphrodite. I had felt a pull towards her in the last year and finally decided to do something about it. And boy, am I glad I did. I can’t begin to describe what a wonderful experience it is to know and be known by such a divine being.
Anyway, to the real point of this post. I wanted to share all the information I’ve gleaned thus far in my adventure with the Mistress of Honey. I hope this can be of use to fellow devotees and love priestesses alike.
The Names of ΑΦΡΟΔΙΤΗ / Aphrodite:
Αντηεια (ANTHEIA): the blooming, or the friend of flowers
Αποτροπηια (APOTRO′PHIA): “the expeller,” the goddess who expelled from the hearts of men the desire after sinful pleasure and lust.
Γενετψλλισ (GENETYLLIS): the protectress of births
Πειτηο (PEITHO): The personification of Persuasion
Ουρανια (Urania): Heavenly, Divine
Πανδημος (Pandemos): Common to All People
Μαχανιτις (Machanitis): Skilled at Inventing, Deviser, Contriver
Επιστροφια (Epistrophia) She who Turns to Love
Αποστροφια (Apostrophia): Averter of Unlawful Desires
Νικηφορος (Nicephorus): Bringer of Victory
Αρεια (Areia): Warelike, Of Ares
Μορφω (Morpho) Of Shapely Form, the fair shaped
Πυρηναια (Acraea): Of the Heights
Ακραια (Cepois): Of the Gardens
Ποντια (Pontia): Of the Sea
Λιμενια (Limenia) Of the Harbour
Κηποις (Anadyomene): Risen from the Sea, Goddess Rising from the Sea
Φιλομμειδης (Philommides): Laughter-Loving
Αφρογενεια (Aphrogeneia): Foam Born
Ποθων Μητηρ (Pothon Mater): Mother of Desire
My Personal Titles for Aphrodite:
Η κυρία των περιστεριών (I kyria ton peristerion): The Lady of Doves
Χρυσή Θεά (Chrysi Thea): Golden Goddess
Φύλακας των γυναικών (Fylakas ton gynaikon): Guardian of Women
Βασίλισσα της ευχαρίστησης (Vasilissa tis efcharistisis): Queen of Pleasure
Φύλακας των μελισσών (Fylakas ton melisson): Keeper of Bees
Αυτή που είναι επενδυμένη με τριαντάφυλλα (Afti pou einai ependymeni me triantafylla): She that is clad in roses
Αυτή που ηρεμεί τις παλίρροιες (afti pou iremei tis palirroies): She who calms the tides
The Symbols of Aphrodite:
That Which is Holy to Aphrodite:
Holiest Shrine: Paphos, Island of Kypros (Cyprus)
Holy Days: Friday, 4th Day of the Month
Holy Celestial Body: The Planet Venus
Holy Festivals: Valentine’s Day (2/14), Aphrodisia (7/20), Adonia (8/4)
Sacred Animals: Doves, Bees, Hares, Sparrows, Geese
Sacred Plants: Red Rose, Apple, Pomegranate, Narcissus, Myrtle, Myrrh, Lettuce, Cherries, Strawberries, Lime, Anemone, Seaweed, Kelp
Sacred Stones: Rose Quartz, Amethyst, Kunzite, Rhodonite, Rhodochrosite, Ruby, Lepidolite, Pink Opal, Amazonite, Aquamarine, Sunstone, Blue Lace Agate, Sodalite, Lapis Lazuli, Opalite
Sacred Metals: Gold, Bronze
Sacred Shells: Abalone, Conch, Scallop, Clam
Sacred Magics: Sea, Storm, Love, Curses, Sex, Feminine, Glamours, Green
The 12 Virtues of Aphrodite (from @ginandjack)
The Favours of Aphrodite:
Luck in both Love and War
Unnatural Desires (Incest, Bestiality)
Learn a musical instrument to play in her honor
Paint or draw portraits of her
Make a Monthly Donation to Planned Parenthood or RAINN
Make a Pilgrimage to Paphos, Cyprus (a pretty far out suggestion, I know. But its something I personally would love to do someday)
Support Cruelty free beauty products like LUSH
Support Ocean Charities, like the Adopt an Orca program through the Whale Museum in Friday Harbor, WA
Sappho’s Hymn to Aphrodite
(In the original Greek and translated into Modern English)
Ποικιλόθρον᾽ ὰθάνατ᾽ ᾽Αφροδιτα,
παῖ Δίοσ, δολόπλοκε, λίσσομαί σε
μή μ᾽ ἄσαισι μήτ᾽ ὀνίαισι δάμνα,
πότνια, θῦμον.
ἀλλά τυίδ᾽ ἔλθ᾽, αἴποτα κἀτέρωτα
τᾶσ ἔμασ αύδωσ αἴοισα πήλγι
ἔκλυεσ πάτροσ δὲ δόμον λίποισα
χρύσιον ἦλθεσ
ἄρμ᾽ ὐποζεύξαια, κάλοι δέ σ᾽ ἆγον
ὤκεεσ στροῦθοι περὶ γᾶσ μελαίνασ
πύκνα δινεῦντεσ πτέῤ ἀπ᾽ ὠράνω
αἴθεροσ διὰ μέσσω.
αῖψα δ᾽ ἐχίκοντο, σὺ δ᾽, ὦ μάσαιρα
μειδιάσαισ᾽ ἀθάνατῳ προσώπῳ,
ἤρἐ ὄττι δηὖτε πέπονθα κὤττι
δἦγτε κάλημι
κὤττι μοι μάλιστα θέλω γένεσθαι
μαινόλᾳ θύμῳ, τίνα δηὖτε πείθω
μαῖσ ἄγην ἐσ σὰν φιλότατα τίσ τ, ὦ
Πσάπφ᾽, ἀδίκηει;
καὶ γάρ αἰ φεύγει, ταχέωσ διώξει,
αἰ δὲ δῶρα μὴ δέκετ ἀλλά δώσει,
αἰ δὲ μὴ φίλει ταχέωσ φιλήσει,
κωὐκ ἐθέλοισα.
ἔλθε μοι καὶ νῦν, χαλεπᾶν δὲ λῦσον
ἐκ μερίμναν ὄσσα δέ μοι τέλεσσαι
θῦμοσ ἰμμέρρει τέλεσον, σὐ δ᾽ αὔτα
σύμμαχοσ ἔσσο.
Shimmering-throned immortal Aphrodite,
Daughter of Zeus, Enchantress, I implore thee,
Spare me, O queen, this agony and anguish,
Crush not my spirit
Whenever before thou has hearkened to me–
To my voice calling to thee in the distance,
And heeding, thou hast come, leaving thy father’s
Golden dominions,
With chariot yoked to thy fleet-winged coursers,
Fluttering swift pinions over earth’s darkness,
And bringing thee through the infinite, gliding
Downwards from heaven,
Then, soon they arrived and thou, blessed goddess,
With divine contenance smiling, didst ask me
What new woe had befallen me now and why,
Thus I had called the.
What in my mad heart was my greatest desire,
Who was it now that must feel my allurements,
Who was the fair one that must be persuaded,
Who wronged thee Sappho?
For if now she flees, quickly she shall follow
And if she spurns gifts, soon shall she offer them
Yea, if she knows not love, soon shall she feel it
Even reluctant.
Come then, I pray, grant me surcease from sorrow,
Drive away care, I beseech thee, O goddess
Fulfil for me what I yearn to accomplish,
Be thou my ally.
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