#roman devotion

[saintinsawdust]

Another devotional moodboard for Lord Mars, this time focusing on what I consider a softer aspect of His; Lord of Agriculture.

[sleepnowmychild]

My helpol offering plants garden updates:

A while ago, I started planting things as offerings. It's a good way to do offerings because not only do certain gods have associations with particular plants and the act of gardening already, but they can be dried, cooked with, put in vases on altars etc. And the upkeep of watering, pruning, fertilising etc is an act of devotion in and of itself. Definitely recommended having a deity garden, or even just some pot plants.

Strawberries for Aphrodite: after dealing with the caterpillar that ate half of them, they're doing good! Finally got to actually eat some for myself. I think I picked them a day or two early because the center was a bit sour, but other than that, they're doing good.

Orange/yellow hibiscus for Apollo: we had the annual Australian summer heatwave, and it got a bit cooked. But it's making a comeback. The dead leaves and stems dropped off and new ones are coming in.

Hypnos' poppies: had to replace them because a damn CREATURE (probably grashoppers) ate the seedlings. But they're up on a higher shelf now and will hopefully make it to bloom by the end of winter/start of spring.

Hypnos' lavander: I literally just plucked some out of the ground on tbe side of a road and put them in a pot. They've exploded. Like doubled in size. Good thing I used a big pot or they'd be overflowing.

I have some mint and tuscan rosemary that's absolutely exploding, too, although I'm not sure who gets to claim those ones. I got a pink drawf hibiscus that's recovering from the heatwave too, unsure who to give that too, maybe Aphrodite since it's a pink beachy flower that smells nice. Newly acquired blue and purple hyacinth bulbs are currently in the fridge to simulate winter before being planted in 6ish weeks. For Apollo and Hyacinthus, obviously. Finally, I saved an avocado seed and put it in a damp container to get started, and it's cracked open and will sprout roots pretty soon. Who gets to claim that I also don't know lol. So we've got some unclaimed plants up for grabs, gods! Take your pick. I DEFINITELY want to grow grapes for Dionysus, but I have to wait until my dad has finished his side quests in the backyard for the room to set up a mini-vineyard. I lived on a vineyard my whole childhood, so I know how to grow grapes. It'll just be a long wait until everything is set up.

I want to grow some snapdragons, daffodils (Narcissius' flower also my birth flower lol), water lily to go with my water bamboo and mulberries because FUCK I LOVE mulberries. But I need to wait for the right seasons and get more pots. I'm fully turning into my Bis Nona... all thats missing is the tomato garden for pesto. Although... I have been eyeing some planters for that.

[lotusriver]

The Poet’s Conversion from Error

From Horace’s Odes, Book I section XXXIV. 

Parcus deōrum cultor et infrequēns, insānientis dum sapientiae consultus errō, nunc retrorsum vēla dare atque iterāre cursūs cōgor relictōs: namque Diespiter ignī coruscō nūbila dīvidēns plērumque, per purum tonantıs ēgit equōs volǔcremque currum, quō brūta tellūs et vaga flūmina, quō Styx et invīsī horrida Taenarī sēdēs Atlantēusque fīnıs concutitur. valet īma sūmmīs mūtāre et insignem attenuat deus, obscūra prōmēns;  hinc apicem rapax fortūna cum strīdōre acūtō sustulit, hīc posuisse gaudet.

(view english version here)

[saintinsawdust]

I've been feeling distant from Lord Mars recently and I'm finding myself.. sad and lost at the feeling so I decided to try to make a devotional for another aspect of Him.

I felt drawn to an aspect of Him from before He was Protector of Rome and before He was God of Agriculture; from when Lord Mars may have been a rustic god. A god that stood at the border between the wild and the city. A god of savagery and freedom. I attempted to hone in on this aspect, envisioning it into a moodboard. I hope I did His wildness justice.

It hasn't felt like I've had very much freedom recently. Everything has been so.. chaotic and I've resorted to digital escapism as a result. Maybe that's why I feel so distant from Lord Mars recently. It certainly doesn't feel like He's leaving my practice. I've just.. become distracted and maybe I could learn something from this side of Mars.

[saintinsawdust]

A devotional moodboard for Lord Mars and how I see Him. Though traditionally venerated on Tuesday, I dedicate Fridays to Lord Mars and His domains.

Protector of Rome. Father of it's founders. Lord of justice.

[saintinsawdust]

A devotional moodboard for She of Hearth and Home, Lady Vesta