#act of devotion

[great-goddess-aphrodite-areia]

Oh Lady Aphrodite Areia,

lady of all love and war,

kind and gentle yet ruthless and merciless,

the adoration I have for you is above all else.

The first goddess I’ve ever worked with,

the one I always start with after taking breaks,

I love most of all your war like nature.

The way you keep your head high in battle,

walking into the battle field at Lord Ares’ side,

beautiful yet dangerous

as you hold your weapon without trembling hands.

I aspire to be like you,

beautiful yet deadly,

though I shall never be quite as amazing as your greatness.

[theholyvibecheck]

Act of Devotion

Tarot Spread!

I’ve only done this once before because I’m not very well versed in tarot quite yet, but I came up with a general conversation spread a few months ago! Here it is:

First Card- Who I’m talking to? This is just to double check that I’ve got the right Deity. The card should be something that represents Them, this is subject to interpretation, though

Second Card- What have You been doing/How have You been? I think it’s nice to check in on the Gods. Ever since I was little I wondered if people prayed to say hi to their god or if they always asked for something. It feels polite and I guess that’s my whole point

Third Card- How is Your day? This is in the same vain, check on your deities! They have feelings! Be considerate! You can have a quick chat about whatever comes up, especially if it looks like They’re having a rough day

Fourth Card- How do You feel about the coming week/day/month? This one depends on how often you reach out. I suggest asking about Their week just because people are more likely to have an opinion on that than their month?

Fourth Card- Is there anything You’d like me to know/work on? This is a great time to check on your own progress. When I did my spread, Zephyrus warned me that I’d have to make a big change if I wanted to keep up my worship. Your Gods care about what you’re up to! If They see a place for improvement or something to watch out for, They’d be happy to let you know

[theholyvibecheck]

Act of Devotion

Retell or Interpret a Legend Lord Zephyrus doesn’t show up in a lot of myths of His own, but everyone knows about Him and Hyacinthus. Everyone knows that, in a fit of jealousy after Hyacinthus chose Apollo, He redirected a discus and killed the poor kid. This makes Him, to put it scientifically, the bad guy of the story. There’s not even any more important information that may redeem Him. This was a mistake.  It’s always odd when I see poems about Hyacinthus where Zephyrus is portrayed so coldly. He wasn’t cold then, He was hurt. He loved Hyacinthus a  lot, and while that doesn’t excuse murder, it hurts to see someone you care about so much and know they chose someone else over you. A lot of people would be hurt in that situation. A lot of people would make an impulsive decision. I don’t think He meant to kill Hyacinthus. I don’t think He meant to do much of anything other than get out some emotions. I think that when a god makes a mistake it will always have terrible consequences. I think He’s still sorry. 

[theholyvibecheck]

Act of Devotion

Information About Zephyrus

Sacred Animals: Tiger (He is said to have created them), Horses (His sons Xanthos and Balios were the horses that pulled Achilles’ chariot), and Swans (may or may not be sacred to Him, but He definitely liked to sing with them)

Symbols: A Basket of Unripe Fruit (to represent Spring)

Wife: Chloris, Goddess of Flowers (He’s also said to be married to Iris, Goddess of the Rainbow and Messenger to the Gods, and Podarge (The Harpy who gave birth to Xanthos and Balios)

Favorite Color: Sort of a Yellow Green (from my experience, every time I asked His opinion for a colored thing in school He pointed me towards that light green)

[theholyvibecheck]

Act of Devotion

Key Words About Your Deity and What They Mean Zephyrus/Ζέφυρος - God of the West Wind and Harbinger of Spring, He and Persephone work together to make sure Spring happens just the way it should

Spring/Ανοιξη - The Second Season of the Year, a time for growth and renewal. It’s full of migration and change and new starts. Lord Zephyrus is responsible for this season.

Anemoi/Άνεμοι - This literally translates to Winds, but in this situation it refers to the Four Wind Gods: Zephyrus, Eurus, Notos, and Boreas. Each Brother oversees a different cardinal direction, the winds that blow from that direction, a season, and a type of weather.

Tiger/Τίγρη - One of Zephyrus’ Sacred Animals, the tiger is known for its swiftness and ability to hold a grudge, which is something Lord Zephyrus can relate to. Some sources claim He’s the father of tigers, while others happily refute the idea

Swan/κύκνος - Another of Zephyrus’ Sacred Animals, it’s said that He often sings with the Swans and has made a pact with them to always do so

Eos/Ηως - Goddess of the Dawn and Mother of Zephyrus, She’s Fantastic and Deserves More Appreciation

Astraeus/Αστραιος - Titan of Stars and Planets, and Father of Zephyrus. We can thank Him for Astrology and yes, He also deserves more appreciation

[theholyvibecheck]

Act of Devotion

Conversations You’ve Had With Them

I can’t think of any one conversation that really stands out, though when I first started and went on daily walks in the morning I would take the tome to say goodmorning to Zephyrus and His Brothers which was always nice. It was fun because the wind would come from everywhere and it really felt like we were having a conversation. 

A few times in the afternoon I would walk my dogs out to a little field near my house and listen to music. I’d pick a song and see if Zephyrus liked it, now I’ve got a short little playlist made up.

 I miss those days, where I’m living now doesn’t really give me the option of a safe secluded space where I can listen to music and talk to Him. I’ll get that back someday, though, I just have to keep my eye open for the opportunity! 

[granddaughterofawitch]

Project - a month for Hera and Parvati

🦚 What is a "month for a goddess"?

It's my personal practice that I started doing last year. I dedicate an entire month to a goddess whose support I need or whom I want to get closer to. It involves doing one small thing every day for her (or one act of devotion, if you prefer) but also completing a small ritual at set time (it doesn't have to be something like "6 a.m." but rather "after waking up").

🐄 Why Hera and Parvati?

My love life is very messy and disappointing for me at the moment and I need Hera and Parvati's energy and support to get through this tough period - both as a partner (Hera is a patron of marriage and Parvati - of harmony) and as a woman (Hera is a patron of women, Parvati - of devotion).

🦚 What will I do for them?

for Hera, I will:

wear a silver ring resembling a wedding ring as a symbol of being in a relationship but also of loyalty to myself (every day)

light a candle (every day)

do one little thing for her (every day)

listen to / recite hymns (at least once a week)

for Parvati, I will:

wear a gold nose ring as a symbol of fierceness and femininity (every day)

light a candle (every day)

do one little thing for her (every day)

listen to / recite mantras (at least once a week)

Additionally, Mondays will be fully dedicated to Parvati and Thursdays to Hera (you can read more about it here).

🐄 What do I expect from it?

I hope that the two goddesses will bless me with comfort and peace of mind. But, the end of the month is not a "deadline" for them. I believe in divine timing and I definitely don't expect them to fulfil my wishes and wants. That being said, I do hope I'll be more peaceful and I'll understand my situation better.

[hymnrevival]

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