Tips for Daily Practice & Ritual II

To answer Thy Druid's question let me say before I begin to provide more ideas and tips to use for daily practice … LOL … is I don't do these all personally nor do I do each tip I offered everyday. I do a few of these for the most part when I can like the morning and evening prayer with the lighting of incense as an offering with a small amount of meditation. It is really hard for me to meditate I have a hard time to be still or quiet. I find that group meditation works best for me so I am still learning how to meditate alone! What I would like to do is change things up and follow a Ancient Greek/Athenian Calendar in pray to different deities and make offerings to different deities on specific days of the month. If you try to follow a Hellenic/Greek Ancient Pagan Ca lander for example you try to show your respects to different Gods/Goddesses on specific days and take into consideration lunar cycles as well. Now one does not have to be that technical unless you want to be a 'recon' (Reconstructionist) and there is nothing wrong with that but I personally don't want to be so regimented that I can't enjoy myself or celebrating my spirituality.

But to provide you with an example of what I mean lets take this month which is June, also known as Hekatombaion (an epithet of Apollon, alluding to his role as accepter of sacrifices). tTo me this fits because it marks the time of Midsummer and the Sun God shines at its fullest here and enters the stage of death and rebirth. The Ancient Greek/Athenian Calender begins in the middle of the month, or rather the time when the new moon surfaces, in this case June 24th hs to July 22nd. So this month the new moon is scheduled for the 23/24 these days you would pay homage to the Greek Goddess Selene and make offerings to her. And over the next few days are sacred to other Gods/Goddesses. To continue with June I will illustrate further here:

June 24/25 = Agothas Daimon (your favorite spirit personifications you choose, in Ancient Greece these were house spirits and Gods, Hestia and Zeus would qualify here too!) New Moon

June 25/256= Athena

June 26/27 = Aphrodite, Heracles, Hermes and Eros

June 28/29 = Artemis

June 29/30 = Apollo

June 30/ July 1 = Poseidon & Theseus

Other ancient festivals celebrated .. this ancient month would be:

June 26-27: Aphrodisia -- The bathing festival of Aphrodite and Peitho (Persuasion). First the temple was purified with dove's blood, then the altars were anointed. Finally the two statues were carried in a procession to the washing place.

July 4-5: Kronia -- A festival in honor of Kronos as a god of the harvest, portrayed with a reaping scythe. A huge harvest feast was held, where slaves were invited to dine with their masters. A sacrifice was also made to Artemis on this day in the deme of Erchia.

July 8-9: Synoikia -- A celebration of the Synoecism, the combining of Attika into one community. Every other year, it was celebrated for two days instead of one. On the second day, a sacrifice was made to Zeus Phratrios, god of the tribal brotherhoods (like clans). A sacrifice was also made to Athene in a formal manner. Eirene, goddess of peace, was also worshipped on this day.

July 20-21: Panathenaia -- The celebration of Athene's birthday, when gods and mortals feasted together. A vigil was held the night before the Panathenaic procession. At sunrise a sacrifice was made to Eros and Athene at the altar of Eros in the Academy, then a torch race brought the sacred fire to the altar of Athene. Every fourth year, the Greater Panathenaia was held, when a new robe was given to the goddess. A huge procession brought the robe to her statue in her temple, where it was placed on Athene's knees, and later stored in the treasury; she was officially re-robed during the Plunteria. Sacrifices were also made to Athene Hugieia (Health) and Nike. The three or four days following the procession featured contests of sport and art.

I also do something special during the Dark Moon also known as the period of the New Moon each month for Hekate since she is one of my patron Goddesses.

Now this is pretty specific and each Ancient Greek Athenian Month has different festivals to celebrate.

No I didn't really cover tips for daily practice other then what can be down on specific days of the month. I will continue this stream thought later since I need to be getting ready for work, but I could address offerings too that would be pleasing for each Greek God/Goddess as well. I hope this helps anyone who may be interested in Greek Pantheons.

BB ~ Bia' Aletheia

word count = 825

Tips for Daily Practice and Ritual

Okay so I have basically decided to write about things I should do on a daily basis to communicate with my Gods. Now this can also be done weekly, monthly or on those special Pagan Holidays, with a group or alone. It can be elaborate or very simple. You can add to them or take away. You can meld these ideas into your own pantheons and daily practices. But the idea here is to create a list of neat ideas that can be used for private practice and to help promote that consistent daily practice (which has already been established that I need). Some tips I have used already, some ideas I plan to use, some ideas will require ritual space, a shrine, or nothing but a little of imagination and fore thought! Rituals involve three basic elements and they are: When - At what time are you going to do the activity?, and Where - Where are you going to do it? And finally How - In what manner, in what order, and using what? Feel free to share with me any of the kind of things you do on a daily, weekly or monthly basis that you do to communicate with your Gods! Feel free to share your thoughts on this topic all together. So lets begin! Oh before I do again, this is my disclaimer ... you will see many of my practices fall under a Greek Pagan Pantheon and some are actually ancient Greek traditions I researched and tweaked for modern times. You will also see a few things that can fall under a Celtic and Shaman (Native American Pantheon) since I have walked these roads as well.

1.Say a morning prayer to your Gods as you greet the day (I try to do one for Hekate but I need to do one for Hermes too)
2.Ring a bell three times (Trinity Symbols Sacred to Hekate) I keep one on my night stand.
3.With your morning coffee light an incense and meditate, save some coffee for libation share with your Gods, always.
4.Give First Fruits at every meal, this means you give some of you daily food and first to your Gods that you prepare ~ always a good idea to share with Hestia or whatever God/Goddess you desire that is responsible for giving you Fire
5.When you see the sun at first blow it a kiss (a Greek Tradition)
6.Get up early enough to watch the sun rise and say a prayer to Apollo and thank him for the light
7.Do a besom sweep of your home to let out negative energies that may have accumulated
8.If you shower in the morning light a candle in honor of Hygieia's and/or Aphrodite's so they may help you with cleansing and beatification power
9.Draw a daily Tarot and meditate on its God/Goddess imagery
10.Leave some food in a bowl outside for spirit guides and spirit travelers
11.Libate some Red Bull because it has wings and will fly up to the heavens (do this for Hermes).
12.Leave some food out on a stone pile (called Hermia in Greek tradition in honor of Hermes).
13.Libate some Olive Oil on an outside alter or one stone pointing towards the heavens for Zeus to ask for heart and home protection.
14.Sit by a tree and lean into it while listening for the winds … try to speak to the wind (Native American)
15.Hug a tree
16.Leave a fairy offering by a tree
17.Coins are sacred to Hermes and so start a Hermes jar and give him some coins on a daily basis or whatever Gods have been linked to coins. After a year buy something spiritual with the money like a statue or some other representation of your God/Goddess.
18.Start a wishing well and place it on your alter and write a daily affirmation or wish and place it in the box make some sort of offering
19.At a crossroad leave some sort of offering food, plant. wine, coins.
20.Say and evening prayer to your Gods (I try to do one for Hekate)
21.Meditate with your favorite stone or crystal energies.
22.Moon gaze and concentrate on the Gods and Goddess that correspond with each moon phase.

Okay here are twenty tips and I already have 724 words … I will continue more tips tomorrow because I have only scratched the surface on some of the Ancient practices that I tweaked and would like to share a bit more on this topic. Meanwhile feel free to share your own tips too! Perhaps this can be a blog challenge! What kind of rituals or daily practices do you use?

Bia' Aletheia

So How Do I Speak to My Gods ... How Do They Speak To Me?

It is obvious then that I need to make more of an effort to be CONSISTENT in what I do, and more CONSISTENT in what I say I will do! I need to follow through with my intentions and do more for my Gods. It really has a lot to do with the 'stick-to-it-idess” I had talked about in an other blog. Or else how can I even call upon them when I am in need. Its not fair of me to ask when I have neglected them or myself. I once read somewhere that it is vital to take time for yourself, because we are divine and in that breath we celebrate the divine by taking self-care. With the all the other demands we have in our mundane life we often do neglect ourselves and often forget our about communicating with our Gods in the manner that we should.

So I wanted to share with you ways in which I do try to communicate with my Gods. But here lately it has been my Gods trying to communicate with me and I will start with how they have been subtly telling me 'HEY DO YOU SEE ME … WELL YOU NEED TO WAKE UP AND PAY MORE ATTENTION TO ME. I AM …RATHER ... WE ARE RIGHT HERE”!

For example yesterday Hermes about caused a three car pile up on County Line Road while I was heading to work. Shortly after my blog on CONSISTENENCY and on my way to work there was this tiny turtle (sacred to Hermes) crossing the road, and the three cars speeding down the highway West towards US 19 almost wrecked pulling over and skidding into the ditch just to avoid hitting the little guy. I was chuckling even though the incident could have been much worst and knowing Hermes to be the trickster and cunning it was most definitely his way in say “Yo Bia' Aletheia you can't ignore me no matter how 'little' you have been paying attention to me lately! He is right I have been neglecting him and that needs to stop and the 'almost' three car pile up was a definite form of communication. Zeus has been making his presence known to me that's for sure these daily thunder and lightning showers are most apparent but I really aught to thank Him more properly because we needed that water and rain! I know for a fact that Hekate is very sore with me in fact it would be safe to say she is pissed. I used to do these daily devotionals to her when I woke up and before I fell a sleep. She has stopped communication there and I can tell so I need to get back to the grind and pay her back 'BIG TIME'. I owe her that much if not more. She still vaguely sends out messages in 'threes' to remind me of her Trinity but they seem to be more of a warning not just a reminder to be careful! As you all know, and from a previous blog of mine Hera had blessed my sister and her twin boy (my nephews) with guardian Peacocks. She answered my prayers so I must also pay homage to HER lest She forget me and my request! Poseidon also need s a little offering and communication from me … I don't go visit the beach or a large body of water as often as I should and its sad really because I live right here in Florida! What the Hades is that all about? I love the water I use to love swimming as my favorite summer fun activity and relax time... I would love to go down the river on a raft or go tuubing as I did as kid and fantasize about the magickal woodland nymphs, fairies and mystical water creatures I see before me! I would listen to wind and look back at the rays of Apollo trickle down between the leaves of the trees making the light dance on my face! Ah to be free and wild like the GODS themselves. I need to get back to that childlike joy!

So having said all that how do I communicate with my Gods … I believe I communicate to them all the time but not in the proper format They so deserve! I do believe they speak to me through my dreams and by showing me things daily that are sacred to Them. For example also on the drive home I see at least a dozen or more dear (sacred to Artemis) eating grass on the side of the road. There are many other ways They reveal themselves but may go unnoticed! Don't get me wrong though I do make offerings and make libations some of the time, but is it consistent as it should be … to be honest no! I do some things right but for the most part I need to remember the true meaning and importance of observing a daily practice or conducting a daily ritual … it keeps us humble. It teaches us discipline and further more it keeps us connected to our sacred -divine-selves as well as our Divinities, Gods and Spirit Guides! I need to develop a plan I can stick to that not only makes me proud to say 'I not only talk the talk but I am walking the walk'! I want my Gods to know me as They have shared Themselves with me!

Blessed Be

Bia' Aletheia

word count = 928

Consistency

I have a problem with consistency. I think most people do. I get all wound up about something, the newest epiphany, the latest craze, and I start all in. Whether it is about something mundane, (I’m going to make sure to keep up with my organization!) or religious, (I’m going to perform daily devotional day and night everyday!) I start something but somehow, life gets in the way and it seems like I’m never able to truly carry it out, even with the best of intentions. Then I feel guilty, make resolutions and the cycle starts again.
What is it that keeps getting in my way? My crazed schedule. Between a very physically, emotionally and mentally draining job, my situation with Thomas, helping with my family and barely trying to keep afloat financially, I feel that I barely have time to breathe let alone add another demand to my life.
But what in life is truly important? Obviously everything on the list is to some degree, I need a job for income to keep a roof over my head, I need to be there for my family, I need to be there for my Gods, but what comes first? My Gods – and that seems to be the place where my consistency is lacking. I guess because we have to answer immediately for everything else - my boss, my family, my landlord- but do we have to answer to Our Gods in the same way? Are they in front of us, or on the phone, demanding the rent check, or asking for family time? No, they are usually subtle in their demands, never appearing in front of us saying, “You know you’ve been slacking… I’d like some libations, and you better make them GOOD!” but being Pagans, we know when our Gods would like a little attention.
But why is the one thing that I should be consistent in is something I have difficulty with? I think it has to do with the fact that religion is so personal, it is part of the essence of you, and what is the last thing I focus on? Myself. I’m so wrapped up in the demands of other people, and putting them first, that I miss out on a truly deep connection to my Gods because devotional time is essentially “me” time to everybody else in my life. Zoe said in one of her blogs that she was told her patron didn’t know who she was, and I’m feeling that same way. Will they remember me when I call on them? Will they turn away from me?
It’s time to put priorities in order – It’s time to take care of myself, and nurture that which makes me comforted and nourished, which is my time with my Gods.

Word count 464

Cernunnos ~ the Horned One

What I about to share is deeply personal but I feel compelled to share with you here because it helps me internalize the issues I need to deal with . I welcome any advise and feedback you may have on the subject. I know many of you have a partner who is disabled and has medical or mental health issues that you have somehow come to terms with, or have found a way to overcome … or at the very least deal with it. I guess you could say I am seeking advice on what kind of things I can do to cope or keep the faith to survive this problem.


Last night I got real upset and angry with the boyfriend and I was so angry that I thought I would never be able to sleep because of how upset I got. I hate it when we argue but sometimes I get so frustrated with the really off the wall things he does(as I perceive it anyway). I know there is mental health illness involved and that sometimes he can't comprehend or even understand that my anger is misplaced care and worry for his health and well being. I tell him so and often! He sees it as an issue of me wanting total control and I see it as an issue of wanting to 'protect him' and the fear of him getting hurt, used or abused. I have been with him now for almost 14 years on and off, but more on then off. He always seems to make the wrong kind of friends, ones who use him, ones who possess criminal mind sets, one that look at what they can get out of people, or how they can con folks. Because he is so desperate for friends or the need to feel a part of something, or a desire of belonging he tends to do things to please folks whose intentions are not good at all (part of the illness). In fact some of his associations in the past have gotten him in legal trouble. Its rather sad really and I feel really bad for him and I despise those folks who hurt him and use him like that, because they don't see the part of him that I do. He is funny, smart, and a good friend. Even though I feel in a position to take care of him he has taken care of me too in the ways he can. Despite the fact there are two “LEOS' under one roof and we argue for argument sake we do love each other and Thomas is a person worth knowing … I just wish he could see that in himself, for if he did, I just know he would start making better choices for himself and I wouldn't feel compelled to micromanage his life! I am not trying to take away his independence as he sees it but he needs my help and he knows it he told me today he was sorry and realizes that he does need my help and he should take my advice more often. But there is that mental health illness that needs immediate attention and we are working on it (he saw a Mental Health Therapist today by the way ~ so one session has shed some light I guess). But I still believe the mental health issues coupled with his medical issues has clouded his judgment a great deal. He is severely depressed and it worries me. Me getting angry with him I am sure does not help the situation at all and I really need to work on that … and I WILL! What you don't know is Thomas use to get a disability check once upon a time and I use to be his payee, person responsible for managing the monies because he really can't folks would visit him on check day and disappear the next and not hang with him until check day. He lost his disability by default and not enough thorough research on the governments part but we think they may be trying to rectify that now after 10 years. Hopefully after his medical assessments we will be able to get him the help he needs. He has major back issues too and I fear its too late to repair the damage he has now is permanent. He needed surgery years ago but did not have the health insurance anymore. Maybe the Gods will bless us with some light at the end of this dark tunnel. I have been the predominant bread winner and the only income earner for years and this can be financially daunting too at times. It has been tight. And much of my stress has been financial … it sucks when you have to worry about things like: will rent get paid this month, should I cancel one of the phones, or cut back on this … and pray the car wont' break down! I believe Thomas' off the wall act was not the only reason I got angry, its expected with the illness. I got angry because he was right I do need to let go a little and not worry so much about him. I need to heed the words 'live and let live' I should not de-mascualte him. If I dislike being the stronger person and always in charge ...why do I do it? He needs to feel more like my equal then I allow him to. Thomas has matured somewhat from his younger years … I have trust issues and rightly so! But its not fair to him to be punished all the time for past events. I need to stop this too! I need to move on. I just need to know how?


I do believe last night I got part of my answer. I got a message last night from an old friend and a Celtic God last night that I have not spoken to in a long time (have switched to a Greek Pantheon) when I finally did fall asleep . When my eyes closed I saw Cernunnos ~ the Horned God stand before me with his stag horned head and his green sculpted body. He held a staff in his hand and pointed to the woodland and the wild life there within. He to me has always represented 'new birth'. It is said that Cernunnos is able to influence the winds and rains that refresh and water the wood and field, valley and hearth, keeping them verdant and life-engendered. He is the Lord of abundance and virility. I think he was telling me not to worry and that things will improve. I guess that was my question before I fell asleep … tell me this will pass and will WE see better times and less hardships? i beleive we will ... I hope e will! Interesting to note as well, is that Summer Solstice is upon us, and in Celtic tradition Cernunnos dies as the Sacred King to bring fertility to the land! I do believe His presence in my dream is rather significant and beyond coincidence. One of his many shape-shifting capabilities of His, is the STAG (deer) who also speak to me as a Totem Animal, which also is shared in the Greek Pantheon by Artemis, another of my patron deities. I see thier representations all the time! However my dream spoke to me in Celtic if that makes any kind of sense and I appreciate its message and hope this is what it meant!

Bia' Aletheia

word count = 1248 long #SS blog!

Decisions & Actions

“It is our choices … that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities”.
~ J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets, 1999

Today I figured I would examine some more famous quote that strikes a chord with me again, and see how it applies to my life. I wanted to stray away from the Mob Wars, Vampire Wars and the Pirate escapades for a moment on Facebook Land and take a closer look at myself and on a deeper level. I realize its time to be more critical and more serious and quit looking for escapism all the time and actually deal with the things I myself need to deal with. I can't depend on Thomas to fix everything, because Gods know that if I wait it won't get done! When I read Gaelyn's Blog a few days ago you can say that I was in a bit of shock of how refreshingly honest he was with himself. It made me realize one should be honest with oneself often and and its time to 'decide' to take more responsibility for one's life and and hold oneself more accountable for the choices they make and the actions or inactions we take. Instead of complaining about my personal problems and the situations I often find myself in I need to 'do' something about it, and its not enough to just say I will … but do...! Also, once I do make the decisions to make things better more myself, that I stick to my decision and take action. I think part of my own personal problem is that it can be easy to make all kinds of decisions but to follow through or develop the 'stick-to-it-idess' is an other issue all together. I need to get off of my lazy fanny and do it. The house wont' get clean and my stuff get organized, Hades my life will not get better if I make the decision to do nothing! That would be and is a terrible decision. I guess I need to take heed of the dream I had a few weeks ago and quit being a mere spectator in my life!


“We have to many high sounding words, and too few actions that correspond with them”.
Abigail Adams (1744-1818) letter to John Adams, 1774


It's fine to say you will do something but to say it an not follow through with what we had said we will do ... is a lie! We end up lying to ourselves when we make up an excuse for not getting it done, sure there are some things that need to be put off fore more pending situations but why say we are going to do it when we don't? Why do we do it? Its 'denial' and even though we may intend to follow through, and I am speaking for myself here when I say this, is I tend to make up all kinds of excuses for myself ... saying tomorrow is another day and then tomorrow comes and I find more excuses and say again, tomorrow, and then tomorrow ... but what if tomorrow doesn't come? What then? Think of the time I have wasted making these empty promises to myself and I still see a pile of things that need my immediate attention before me and I keep putting it off! This is where I need to take a good hard look at myself and say I can no longer sit idley by and do nothing while telling myself more lies. Its time that my actions match my words! Its time to do what I say I will do!

Bia' Aletheia

Word Count = 550 – quotes not included

I am a Noble Vampire & a Pirate too!

After getting some much needed rest … in other words going to bed around two AM and taking a nap between 12pm to 6 pm for staying up all night the day prior. I feel somewhat normal again, and not as shaky. The Facebook has me in a tiff today because its slow and it freezes up. Do you have the same problem? Okay … another blog on the Facebook … sorry I am like a kid in the candy store and when I find something that peaks my interest I stick with it for a few days. I think though in the same vein you will laugh because I am moving on from Mob Wars … I got invited yesterday to Vampire Wars … very Gothic and really cool. If I am not mistaken I have some folks I know around here in my clan as well! I like that you can dress up your avatar too. Its like playing barbies but for grown ups! LOL! Anyways Lady Bam Bam has converted to barbarism and is know a Noble Vampire by the name of Evee Frost … she was born into one of the oldest vampire clans in the world .. and she is out for blood … hehehe!

Darned Facebook is freezing again … dislike that. I need to get ready for work soon and I have to look at my Avatar or go fight some other Vampire before I go. So this Vampire Wars is very much like Mob Wars … and I know you have already been told that but instead of gaining property and assets you get Minions (folks considered your property who help you gain an income of blood) and special abilities (instead of weapons but considered your weapons like: mind control, animalistic abilities, superhuman strength, etc).

Oh no ... just joined pirate wars too what is it about these role playing games that we tend to like so much? I think I know it is called escapism, it temporarily allow us to get away from reality and live out these exotic fantasies that we wish we had. Its fun and addictive! Well look up Danu O'Malley, descendant of the famous Irish Pirate Grace O'Malley. if you can she is out to plunder to buy herself a cat! I got my boat a couple of twin daggers and a stick with a nail in it some sort of club thingy! Okay I have noticed my blogs are shorter I do intend to write a more meaningful one later but know I really need to get ready for work!

Bia' Aletheia

word count = 439