I begin to sing of rich-haired Demeter...

A religious blog in honor and reverence of Demeter, Great Goddess of the Harvest

[templeof-demeter]

Welcome to the temple of Demeter!

Before we begin

This is not a fandom or roleplay blog, this is a religious dedication to Demeter Goddess of the Harvest. This is a safe space for all. Those of different races, genders, sexualities, disabilities, mental illnesses, etc are always welcome here.

All in all, be respectful.

I have signed the Xenia deceleration

The goal of this temple is to be a safe place for those to learn more about Demeter and Hellenic Polytheism, along with showing dedication and devotion to her. My posts are infrequent because of wanting to have longevity, and because of having a very busy personal life.

My name is Florence, I use it/they pronouns and am 23 years old. I have been researching and practicing Hellenic Polytheism for nearly a decade now.

Thank you @temperamentalgreen for the Temple Icon!

I am not a priest, I am not an oracle, and I am not the end all be all of communication with Demeter.

More Information & Credit

About the Temple

About Florence

Dividers by vibeswithrenai

[milkdromeda-d]

Winter is coming...

Demeter and Persephone

[brigitte-poetry]

It's such a fucking shame that everyone hates Zeus because they took the myths too literally because a God King of hospitality, foreigners and the protector of immigrants would be SUCH a good guy to be calling on right now. I literally cannot think of a better god to call on for current political issues but suuure enjoy sitting on your mythic literalism high horse guys

[theoxenia]

Wildfires scorch Greece as heatwave grips parts of Europe

Nearly 5,000 firefighters assisted by 33 aircraft deployed in Greece as flames stoked by winds and hot, dry conditions.

Greece is facing its hardest days yet of this year’s wildfire season, a senior firefighting official said, after dozens of new blazes erupted in a single day and extreme weather hampers extinguishing efforts.

Strong winds, prolonged dryness and intense heat have worsened conditions across much of the mainland and on the islands, forcing evacuations and dramatic rescue operations in recent days.

Kostas Tsingas, head of the fire brigade officers’ association, told broadcaster ERT News on Wednesday that 82 new fires were recorded across the country the previous day, a number he called “exceptionally high”.

The situation is particularly dangerous near the western city of Patras, on the hard-hit Peloponnese peninsula, where two large fires are burning.

Major blazes are also raging in the region of Preveza in the northwest, as well as on the islands of Zakynthos and Chios.

On Chios, the coastguard picked up dozens of people at the small harbour of Limnia because the smoke was so intense.

Some 13 firefighters have been treated for burns and other injuries, fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis told a televised briefing on Wednesday.

Nearly 5,000 firefighters assisted by 33 aircraft were deployed since dawn to contain the flames stoked by winds and hot, dry conditions near Patras, on the tourist islands of Chios and Zakynthos and in at least three inland spots.

“Today, it will be another very difficult day, as the wildfire risk for most of the country’s regions will be very high,” Vathrakogiannis said. Temperatures were forecast to reach 34 degrees Celsius (93.2 Fahrenheit) in some places.

Greece has requested help from fellow European Union members and applied for four firefighting aircraft through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

Pray for Greece, and for all of Southern Europe, and for the Earth.

[temperamentalgreen]

"Terracotta group representing two seated women, one older, the other presumably younger due to her smaller scale. Perhaps the goddesses Demeter,and Persephone, the latter of which holds the remains of an object, perhaps a lyre."

British museum

Museum number 1842,0728.760

[melinoestale]

chat, it's okay if the gods have a ""dark"" side. like I've been seeing people trying to cover the "immoral" part of them and that doesn't make any sense.

some of you have the christianised idea of god being merciful, generous and good like that religion tells others, but in reality that statement doesn't fit in the theoi (not even in christianity lol but I'm not the one to tell)!

Hermes is a thief, Apollo is a plague god, Dionysus is a madness god... let them be, why are you trying to make them look good? they're gods, understand their nature if you want them to be around you

[templeof-demeter]

Hello!

I realized I did not make a formal post on this, but my personal life has gotten to be very intense. A broken engagement that ended in betrayal, moving apartments, finding a new job, relapse and going through intense depression. I have not been actively practicing as it’s just been too much to handle- especially since many days I cannot do more than drink a glass of water.

When my life is put a little more back together again I hope to post on here more often again. This will hopefully not take too long, as I am currently at the tail end of moving to a new place, finally being no contact with my ex-fiancée, and looking into finding a therapist for my addiction.

I wanted to thank everyone who still follows, despite my lack of active worship I know the Theoi are here for me and that this happened for good reason. I am excited for this new chapter of my life, and excited to continue my spiritual journey when I am ready.

Anyways, I wanted to make this post to be up front about where I am. Demeter and the Theoi have not abandoned me and I have not abandoned them. And I think I say this as both a reassurance for myself and a reminder that even when we go through perils and stagnation in religious practice, we can always come back.

[templeof-demeter]

Demeter takes part in your meal, not just homemade breads. She is in each microwave dish, each quick cup of ramen, each fast food delivery too. You do not need endless energy and resources of fresh meals to be connected to her, any nourishment of yourself is nourishment of her realm.

[eternallyluvved]

if i may add,,,

demeter is there for every moment you spend in recovery

every bite, every tear, every step you take against your disorder, she’s there

she smiles and laughs and cries along with you

she sits with you and brings the fork to your mouth, she stirs the pot in your kitchen, talking to you about your day

she loves you and she wants you to be able to enjoy her domain to its fullest, she wants to see you happy and healthy

[bodhi-devotee]

devotional journal tips!

they can be great for having no altar space or supplies! here are some ideas of what to put in it to get you started

prayers -

this is good for those who don’t feel safe speaking their prayers out loud. it can be meaningful to keep a written log of all your prayers instead of keeping them in your head. some day you may be able to look back at all the prayers your deity has answered, or at all the ways your prayers have evolved. if you want to memorize a prayer you can write it in the journal to repeat later!

aid + questions -

are there times in your day that you felt like you received your deities’ aid? or, are there times where you wished you’d received help and felt like you hadn’t? will you need aid in the future? similarly, do you have any little questions? write down the question or request, and then what symbols or signs you’ll be looking for as an answer. this can help you keep track of what certain signs mean and what questions you’ve asked/requests for aid you’ve done in the past that have been answered.

symbols -

have you noticed any symbols of your deity in your day that made you think of them? what did seeing that symbol make you feel like your deity was trying to communicate? this relates heavily to the section above. this can include historical symbols or signs that you’ve personally learned to associate with your deity!

offerings -

it might be helpful to record your offerings, past present & future! perhaps journaling IS the offer? if you want to offer your deity writing, do it here! out down your poems, short blurbs, brainstorming, doodles, etc. and dedicate it to your god!

drawings -

as mentioned a couple times above, if you like to draw, feel free to! you can draw the symbols you’ve seen, images of your god, and offerings you’ve given or plan to give, or just whatever comes to mind. the art you create for your deity is personal and yours to make!

divination -

jot down the results of any divination with your god specifically! if you do tarot, what cards did you pull, and what did they mean to you? what answers did your dice, smoke, or pendulum give you? it can be fun to look back after time has passed :))

i would recommend having a journal per deity for organizational purposes but also i’m not a cop! your relationship with your gods is yours alone, develop it as you see fit

happy worshipping & journaling!!!

[theoxenia]

Our sources suggest that religion happened not just in the rituals and at the shrines of sacred beings, but also in the way people imagined their relationships with the gods, in the stories that they told about those relationships, in the ever present kharis, and the presence of sacred beings in daily life. [...] Even when not testing institutional limits, narrative provided individuals with a place to play a leading role in the telling of their own religious story and understanding of the divine. Religious storytelling can be found in the memories of past rituals told by parents (such as Isaeus’ Ciron) who trained children in proper religious comportment, in the tales told by old nurses and mothers to infants, in the images woven by women into tapestries and fabric, in the chronicle plaques posted after seeing Trophonius at Lebadeia, or the images offered at shrines that represented and recorded divine encounters. The gods were present in these stories and at the location of storytelling itself, at the altars with attentive parents, by the beds of infants, near the weaving basket and loom. Certainly, it is well-recognized that in Greek religious thought, sacred presence and absence carried important theological and philosophical significance.

"Devotionalism, Material Culture, and the Personal in Greek Religion" by K.A. Rask

[bronzeageecho]

hades and persephone enthroned | c. 600 - 550 BCE | lokroí epizephúrioi, magna graecia (modern-day locri, italy)

in the museo archeologico nazionale di napoli collection

[templeof-demeter]

Offerings to Demeter

Why give offerings?

There are many reasons to give The Gods offerings. For one, to show love and respect for them. Ideally, we eat everyday, and unfortunately many of us go without. Food is sustenance of the world that we should be grateful for, and Demeter gives us this. Also, they work in a reciprocal relationship, so if you desire help or advice it’s always good to give an offering before and after asking.

These are some offerings both historically and modernly given to Demeter. Give what works for you and for her:

🌾 Mint products

🌾 Poppy flowers

🌾 Barley

🌾 Olive Oil

🌾 Breads

🌾 Beer

🌾 A meal

🌾 Seasonal fruits and vegetables

🌾 Water

🌾 Pastries

🌾 Gold and green items (candles or crystals are typical in modern settings!)

And offering your time is important too, some things you can do for and in honor of her are:

🌾 Honor her and her family by reading myths of them

🌾 Learn about indigenous plant life and crops in your area

🌾 Watch a video about farming or crops you frequently consume

🌾 Tend to plants! This can be as small as one houseplant or as vast as a full garden.

🌾 Cook a meal! It can be something new, something you know, something nostalgic.

🌾 If you can, spend time with family. This includes chosen family.

🌾 Write poetry, prayer, hymns to her

🌾 Create a playlist or art in any form in dedication to her

🌾 Go on a walk outside, particularly a park or farmers market, though any walk is good

🌾 Learn about the laws in your state, be aware of injustices around you

[templeof-demeter]

Demeter takes part in your meal, not just homemade breads. She is in each microwave dish, each quick cup of ramen, each fast food delivery too. You do not need endless energy and resources of fresh meals to be connected to her, any nourishment of yourself is nourishment of her realm.

[sag-dab-sar]

"I argue that personal religion should not be seen simply of that which is not officially Greek Religion. Nor is personal religion simply 'private' religion, oikos religion, or of those who had no voice in the sphere of politics (metics, women). Rather, 'personal religion' combines aspects of public and private. It is a productive category of scholarly research insofar as it helps us to appreciate the whole spectrum of ways individuals in the ancient Greek city received and (if necessary) altered culturally given religious beliefs and practices." Abstract p35.

"The Greeks themselves did not distinguish between different articulations of the religious along these lines. It has become a commonplace that they did not even have a single word equivalent to our 'religion' referring to the sum of religious beliefs and practices. Given that both 'polis religion' and 'personal religion' are scholarly constructs, then, we may ask how helpful they really are in 'making sense' of Greek religion," p37.

—"Personal Religion a Productive Category for the Study of Ancient Greek Religion?" by Julia Kindt in Journal of Hellenic Studies 2015. Full Article

[templeof-demeter]

For my fellow trans worshippers,

Demeter aids you in the changes you make, she sees your transition and remembers her own journey across the earth and Olympus. Her, you, and I create great change for our truth and what we love. If you choose to medically transition, she is with you each step of the way. She is the reminder to eat so that your HRT progresses swiftly. She knows the satisfying but difficult swallow of a pill, stab of a needle, or rubbing of gel. If you do not medically transition, she is with you too. She knows the difficulties and obstacles that come with being the one to stand up and make change happen. She knows that the choice may not make sense to all, but only needs to make sense to you.

Demeter is change, and she loves you each step of your own.

“God blessed me by making me transsexual for the same reason he made wheat but not bread and fruit but not wine: so that humanity might share in the act of creation.”

[templeof-demeter]

Happy Pride Month!

[hildegardavon]

Johan Tobias Sergel, 1740-1814

Ceres searching for Proserpina,ca. 1780s, plaster

Nationalmuseum, Stockholm, Sweden Inv. NMSk 457

[templeof-demeter]

Holidays of Demeter

This is based off of a mixture of historical evidence and personal experience. The dates, as always with holidays of this nature, are subject to change based off lunar cycles and personal ability. These are the dates I have chosen to celebrate; I follow a solar calendar to keep the dates consistent year-to-year and make it easier for my work schedule and future family.

All of these holidays will eventually be getting their own posts! This is condescend information.

.🌾.

Skirophoria June 10th & 11th

This was a major agricultural festival where the agricultural deities, such as Demeter, Poseidon, Dionysus, Persephone and Helios, were thanked and given seasonal offerings. Some celebratory activities include feasting on honey, cheeses, grains, fruits, and wine. Abstinence also was practiced on these days.

Eleusinia August 18th

This holiday is in honor and thanks to Demeter for the grains she provides. In history games were played in celebration as well as offerings to Demeter. There is more information here, as I only recently learned about this holiday.

Genesia August 31st

This holiday honors the dead and ancestors. The offerings went towards your ancestors, with activities such as telling their stories, looking at memorabilia of them, and visiting graves. I personally also like to pray to chthonic deities such as Demeter, Hades, and Persephone asking them to continue to protect the souls of my ancestors.

Eleusinian Mysteries September 10th thru 20th (pick your own days to celebrate)

In antiquity, this was the initiations for the Eleusinian Mysteries cult, which promised a blessed afterlife for its initiates. I like to celebrate this as a time for Demeter, Persephone, and Triptolemos. This year I will be performing a personal oath during this time, with inspiration from the initiation rites that we have uncovered. Some ways to celebrate include reading the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, a ritual bath, fasting during the day, and giving offerings to Demeter, Persephone, and Triptolemos.

Thesmophoria October 12th, 13th, 14th

This festival is in honor of Demeter, allowing women to celebrate freely. Chasity and abstinence were practiced during this festival, and in antiquity it included pig sacrifices; both of these actions showing ritual purity. This can be celebrated with abstinence, cakes baked into phallic shapes, and singing hymns.

Haloa December 19th

This was another agricultural festival in honor of Demeter, Poseidon, and Dionysus. Celebrations include offerings to the deities, thanking them for our crops and meals, drinking wine and feasting, and baking cakes shaped as phallic symbols.