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herbs for the summer solstice: 🌞

i’ve been wanting to write more about alchemy and herbalism, but i also wanted to connect it to astrology !! so today i’ll be talking about a few solar herbs and how they can be used to celebrate litha:

juniper: burn the leaves as a form of smoke cleansing, use the berries in your cooking

marigold: plant one in your garden or keep on potted near your front door

chamomile: use a candle or lotion with chamomile in it. you can also drink chamomile tea

saffron: offer some on your altar or use it in your cooking

rosemary: sprinkle some in a line outside your front and back doors to protect your space. use the essential oil as you clean surfaces

sunflower: decorate the house with these or feed your local birds with some sunflower seeds

bay leaves: write a wish down on a bay leaf and burn it

st. john’s wort: hang some near a window or put a little bit in a candle to anoint it

A FEW POINTERS:

perform the ritual during a sun hour

bathe the herbs in sunlight before using them

make sure the herbs have been dried

burn the herbs or involve fire in your ritual

wear gold jewelry or yellow clothing while you do your spellwork

use yellow paper or yellow ink for your spell petition(s)

book a reading !!

my linktree

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In this post I will help beginners understand the basics of Hellenism, which is the oikos! Hope this help and I’ll explain all well! Enjoy your reading💛 (Sorry for my English if I’ve mistaken something, its not my frist language)

The sacred Household in Hellenism🏡

“The gods are not far away — they live among us, beginning at the hearth.”

When people first come to Hellenism, many expect temples, elaborate rituals, and festivals with incense drifting into the sky. And yes, those things exist, and they’re beautiful.

But in traditional Hellenic religion, the true center of worship has always been the household — the oikos. This is where devotion begins.

The oikos is more than just your physical living space. In ancient Greece, it referred to the entire household unit: the family, the home, the land, the goods, and the sacred forces that protected and sustained them.

For Hellenists, our home is a temple in miniature. It’s where you interact with the gods every day, where you make offerings, pray, purify, and maintain order. You don’t need an expensive altar, what you need is intention, reverence, and consistency.

Hestia: The heart of the Home🔥

At the center of the sacred household is Hestia, goddess of the hearth flame.

She is the first-born of the Olympians, and the first (and last) to receive offerings in every ritual.

Hestia represents warmth, safety, peace, continuity. In ancient homes, the hearth fire was never allowed to go out, and when a new household was formed, the flame was lit from the family hearth.

(I will do more about the Gods in specific in other posts)

In a modern practice, you can honor Hestia simply:

Light a candle or lamp in her name.

Offer a drop of oil, water, or wine.

Speak a short prayer:

“Hestia, keeper of the hearth, may your flame burn bright in my home.”

It doesn’t need to be elaborate!

But ancient Greeks honored her a bit differently!

As I said earlier, the hearth (estia) was a literal fire in the center of the home. It was always kept burning as a sacred flame: extinguishing it was considered bad luck or impious unless ritually necessary.

Every meal and domestic ritual began with a libation or offering to Hestia! In fact, no matter which god was being honored, Hestia received the first and last libation in any sacrificial ritual.

She didn’t have many temples, her domain was every home and public places! At city level, a sacred fire to Hestia burned in the prytaneion (town hall or public hearth), symbolizing civic unity.

And then as another ritual, when a couple got married or a new household was formed, a flame from the bride’s family hearth was carried to the new home to light the new hearth, symbolizing continuity and divine blessing!

The Household Gods are more than one!🏛️

The sacred household includes more than Hestia. Such as: Zeus Ktesios, Hermes Propylaios / Hermes Agoraios, ancestors and Household Spirits (like Agathos Daimon).

Of course, there are more Gods that protects Household but these are the most commonly honored ones!

Zeus Ktesios: Protector of the household, provider of goods and food. Many Hellenists keep a ktesios jar, a simple container filled with water, oil, and other symbolic items like bay leaves or coins. It’s kept in a clean corner of the pantry or home.

Hermes Propylaios / Hermes Agoraios: Hermes protects the boundaries of the home and the spaces beyond. He is honored at the threshold, by the door, as guardian of comings and goings. A small stone or figure by your door can be his marker. He’s the god who makes movement and communication possible.

Ancestors and Household Spirits: The dead are never far from the living in Hellenism. Ancestors (both literal and spiritual) are remembered with respect and offerings.

But what can we do as a devotion in our homes?

There are many ways! But I’ll offer a little simple routine:

Washing your hands (khernips) to purify

Lighting a candle for Hestia

Pouring a libation (water, milk, wine)

Speaking a short prayer

Leaving a small offering: bread, olive oil, fruit, or incense.

Remember that none of this is a RULE and necessary, but it builds Kharis and in more simple words it tells the Gods “this is your home too and may you protect it”, we make space for the Gods and its a simple yet efficent devotional act!

It reminds us that the divine is not far away! In Hellenism, this is where devotion starts!

I hope you enjoyed. I tried to explain this well enough and at the same time as short as I could!

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⋆｡ ﾟ☁︎｡ ⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡ ⋆ A few of my PERSONAL correspondences when doing glamour magic with simple weekly beauty tasks according to the phases of the moon. ⋆｡ ﾟ☁︎｡ ⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡ ⋆

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Strawberry Moon - June 10-11 2025

Grab your baskets and your moon jars, witches - it’s time for the Strawberry Moon!

Strawberry Moon 🍓

The Strawberry Moon is the name given to the full moon which occurs in the month of June in the Northern Hemisphere. The name is taken from the ripening of those little red heart-shaped berries we find in so many summertime treats. Strawberries are typically ready to harvest beginning around the summer solstice, though this will vary depending on variety, planting times, and local weather. Sadly, the Strawberry Moon does not turn red or pink to match the berries.

Other European names for this moon include Honey Moon, Rose Moon, and Mead Moon. North American Indigenous names for the June moon include Blooming Moon (Anishinaabe), Green Corn Moon (Cherokee), and Hatching Moon (Cree).

This month, the moon will reach peak illumination at 3:44am EST on Wednesday June 11th. (You can check the Full Moon Calculator for your local time.)

What Does It Mean For Witches? 🍓

Full moons are excellent times for bringing wishes to fulfillment and plans to fruition, all the more so under one named after a prolific berry. This is an optimal time to make things happen!

Your intuition may be stronger than usual during this time, so pay attention to those little inklings and gut feelings that won’t be ignored. They might be telling you something important. Dreams may also be more vivid, though not necessarily more accurate or revealing.

This is a time to explore things that catch your attention or pique your curiosity, and to let yourself be open to new ideas and new opportunities.

What Witchy Things Can We Do? 🍓

With a full moon ripening in the sky and the summer solstice coming up soon, it’s time to prepare for a full bloom. Here’s hoping you’ve been nurturing those plans and seeds of growth you planted in the spring, because they’re about to start flowering and the way is clear to sow the next stage of your plans. What they will be and what new prospects the summer will bring is entirely up to you.

The full moon is always a good time to look ahead to the future. Think on the plans you have in process and let yourself dream of how things might turn out. If you’re inclined to journaling, make a note of how things are going so far and how you hope they’ll turn out. Pick your favorite divination method and do a reading for the month ahead. (Make sure you write that down too so you can check back later!)

This is a great time to go berry-picking or flower-gathering, so check your area for pick-your-own farms or farmer’s markets with local produce. Have a picnic with friends or just enjoy a quiet afternoon with your own thoughts and a few favorite treats. Make a jar of sun tea or a sweet and summery berry salad. If you’re partial to strawberries, indulge that sweet tooth!

You can also revisit your wildcrafting or foraging spots to see what's growing now that the seasons have changed and the summer greenery is coming in. Enjoy the scenery or gather a small amount for your craft. Just remember to harvest responsibly and give a little water to the rest before you leave. Check out this craft-building exercise for more ideas.

Strawberries are also excellent ingredient in spells for love, beauty, fertility, and emotional healing. Create a charm for self-love or perhaps to attract a summer romance. Enchant your favorite cosmetics or skin care products with a glamour of confidence. Just as expectant mothers once carried strawberry leaves as a folk remedy for pregnancy pains, you can carry a clutch of them in your pocket to help heal a broken heart or assuage the pain of grief. A packet of strawberry leaves is also a potent good-luck charm. Snack on strawberries to bring fertile abundance into your life, whether you’re looking for creativity or opportunity or perhaps hoping to grow your family this year.

Charge your crystals and spell jars and moon water under the light of Strawberry Moon to catch the energy of blooming flowers, ripening fruit, wishes coming true, and carefully-laid plans realized. (If you’re planning to use it for any consumables, please make sure you’re using fresh, potable drinking water rather than rain or runoff.)

Spend a little time reflecting on how your year has gone thus far. Try to focus on the things that have improved and how you’ve grown as a person and in your life journey. Reflect on your accomplishments and what you plan to do next. Take a moment to be unashamedly proud of yourself for everything you’ve done and for making it this far despite everything life throws at you.

Happy Strawberry Moon, witches! 🌕🍓

Further Reading:

2025 Witches Calendar

Bree’s Lunar Calendar Series

Bree’s Secular Celebrations Series

The Full Moon of June 2025: A Full Strawberry Moon!, The Old Farmer's Almanac.

Strawberry Moon Meaning: The Spectacular Full Moon of June 2025, The Peculiar Brunette.

Witchcraft Exercise - Dig Through The Ditches, Bree NicGarran.

Wild Weed Harvests, Bree NicGarran.

Everyday Moon Magic: Spells & Rituals for Abundant Living, Dorothy Morrison.

Image Source - Pesto and Margaritas

(If you’re enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar, tune in the Hex Positive podcast, or check out my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. 😊)

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happy skira 🧡 khairete athena, demeter, kore! (yes those are all my Warriors books in the back)

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hail Apollo, son of Zeus

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psephoi: greek divination tiles

a while ago i made this post about astragalomancy, a form of divination using four-sided knucklebones. in that i mentioned another post that my friend fritz had made about psephoi. since then, fritz has deleted his tumblr blog so i decided to repost these tiles he made (with his permission) and their interpretations!

BACKGROUND:

psephoi is a method of using 24 tiles each inscribed with a greek letter (much like norse runes and celtic ogham) and chosen randomly. it wasn't just used for divination, of course, as with astragaloi (which were used as dice), but in this case we will only be considering the divinatory method.

THE TILES:

psephoi tiles can be a number of things: pieces of ceramic, wood, or pieces of paper. you can put them in a cup or bag or whatever and draw blindly, or you can swirl them around in the vessel until one/some fall out.

if you don't feel like making your own or want something quick and easy, check out these tiles fritz drew up!

you could cut them out and just use them as is, or paste them onto pieces of wood/stone/whatever you like!

(btw fritz says y'all can feel free to screenshot and print these out to use)

whether or not you make your own tiles, below is a list of the interpretations for your divinatory usage!

INTERPRETATIONS:

Alpha: “The God [Apollo] says you will do everything successfully.” Your entire project will turn out well and you will meet all your goals. You will have good luck in all your activities, or prosperous business transactions and negotiations.

Beta: “With the help of Tychê, you will have an assistant, the Pythian [Apollo].” You are at a critical point, but if you are fortunate, Apollo the Far-shooter will help you if you call on Him. Even with luck, the God will only assist; ultimate responsibility is yours. “Pythian” refers to Apollo as the God at Delphi (which was in Pytho), one of the most important oracular sites. Therefore the help to be expected might be of a prophetic nature.

Gamma: “Gaia will give you the ripe fruit of your labors.” You will have a successful harvest, or you will reap all your profits from the Earth. The Mother of All will bring your labors to a fruitful conclusion. Gaia will give you your just deserts.

Delta: “In customs inopportune strength is weak.” Ill-timed force will be ineffective; act with precision; timing is everything. Knowing where and when to strike is more important than strength; misapplied ability is disability. Blind conformity to customs is spineless; overly strict adherence to rules is self-defeating. Unreasonable or undue force will defeat itself; a tyrant must fall.

Epsilon: “You desire to see the offspring of righteous marriages.” This is a statement of fact, not a command or prediction. The obvious meaning is that the querant wants children or grandchildren from suitable marriages. However, it can also mean he or she is in love with seeing this, that is, obsessed by the idea. The “rightness” of the marriage admits many interpretations; it could be a terrible marriage if that was fitting and righteous (i.e. deserved). The oracle may also refer to seeds, other than children, sown by the marriage (e.g. family alliances, marrying into wealth or influence). Finally, marriage may be taken metaphorically to refer to any alliance or union.

Zeta: “Flee the very great storm, lest you be disabled in some way.” Don’t make a sea-voyage in bad weather. It is futile to fight the force of the ocean; likewise, bucking the inevitable will weaken you and hinder your progress. Avoid raging storms of any kind; save your energy for when it can be effective. Sometimes flight is wiser than fight.

Eta: “Bright Helios, who watches everything, watches you.” The life-giving Sun will care for you. Helios is an enforcer of oaths and promises, and He knows the deceit in your heart.

Theta: “You have the helping Gods of this path.” The “way” may be a concrete road, a plan of action, a spiritual path, a way of life, etc. In any case, the Gods who oversee this way will help and defend you, so you may go forward with confidence; you are under divine care because you are following your destiny.

Iota: “There is sweat; it excels more than everything.” There will always be hard work; work is never done. Hard work is the surest means of success. When you have lost all other possessions, you still have your labor as an asset. The oracle recommends elbow-grease.

Kappa: “To fight with the waves is difficult; endure, friend.” In time, the force of ocean waves can grind down anything; they can be a metaphor for repetitive, unstoppable processes. It is difficult, dangerous, and painful to try to resist them; the sensible thing to do is to wait until they abate, or if that is impossible, then to endure the inevitable with courage.

Lambda: “The one passing on the left bodes well for everything.” Since the left is traditionally the sinister side, the oracle may mean that an apparently sinister thing or event may be a blessing in disguise. The left is also associated with the unconscious, lunar mind, and so unconscious processes or intuition may signal a favorable outcome. A promising sign comes from an unpromising quarter.

Mu: “It is necessary to labor, but the change will be admirable.” Through toil and distress a change will be made for the better. Hard work will result in a good return.

Nu: “The strife-bearing gift fulfils the oracle.” Something will be given (to you, by you, or from one to another) that brings strife with it; this will discharge the force of the oracle. The import seems to be that this gift will be the answer to the question asked of the oracle. So, for example, if the querant asked when something will happen, the gift is the sign that it’s immanent.

Xi: “There is no fruit to take from a withered shoot.” There is no good to be gained from an angry young man or woman. The frayed end of a good line. Harshness and stinginess will achieve nothing. You can’t get blood from a turnip; you can’t get water from a stone. Don’t polish a turd.

Omicron: “There are no crops to be reaped that were not sown.” What we spread about, comes back to us. What goes around comes around. You must plan ahead in order to achieve anything.

Pi: “Completing many contests, you will seize the crown.” If you persist in your struggles, after many trials you will succeed. Perseverance through adversity.

Rho: “You will go on more easily if you wait a short time.” If you will hold your ground for only a short time, you will be able to proceed (more easily or with greater cooperation). You will go faster by waiting than by going now; on the other hand, delaying too long may provoke reckless action. By standing fast you live recklessly. By remaining where you are, you live life thoughtlessly.

Sigma: “Phoibos [Apollo] speaks plainly, ‘Stay, friend.’” Neither advance nor retreat; wait or hold your ground, as appropriate; the best action is inaction. “Phoibos” refers to Apollo as Bright and Pure, which also characterizes His advice in this oracle.

Tau: “You will have a parting from the companions now around you.” This may be an unwelcome parting from friends or a welcome release from enemies; in either case they are now around you. This may also mean a growing apart or forced separation of a person from his or her family, peers or fellow travelers on the path.

Upsilon: “The affair holds a noble undertaking.” There is some issue to be resolved, or some deed is under consideration; it involves high-mindedness, either in commitment, deed, or professional pursuit. The oracle may tell us that the affair is admirable due to this noble element, or that the situation may guide us to seek the appropriate noble undertaking or profession. The hero’s quest. On the other hand, the oracle may mean that the situation hinders this fine undertaking. Thus you should try to understand the situation: does it demand an excellent undertaking or impede it.

Phi: “Having done something carelessly, you will thereafter blame the Gods.” Take responsibility for your actions (or inactions); don't blame the Gods (or the universe, or fate, or society, or nature) for your own failings. The ancient Greeks said, “Hermes will help you get your wagon unstuck, but only if you push on it.”

Khi: “Succeeding, friend, you will fulfill a golden oracle.” “Golden” may be a metaphor for rich, noble, excellent, etc. This admirable oracle will be fulfilled by you attaining your ends, or a mere chance meeting could constitute the golden event.

Psi: “You have this righteous judgment {Psêphos} from the Gods.” Literally, a psêphos is a stone used for divination, voting, counting, and similar purposes, so this oracle refers to collective judgment rather than individual judgment. This implies that the majority of the Gods concur in this judgment, and that this judgment is appropriate, fair, and righteous, though there is no implication that the result is that desired by the querant.

Omega: “You will have a difficult harvest season, not a useful one.” Concretely, there will be a poor harvest, or autumn will be difficult; the harvest will be too early, before the fruit is ripe. More abstractly, too early grasping of the fruits of your labor (whether voluntary or necessary) will yield a poor return; the rewards will not be suitable for their purpose. Your youth will be rough; you will have to grow up before your time.

SOURCES:

patheos.com

for the interpretations

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Knocking On Wood

You have probably heard before the phrase "knock on wood!" when wishing for something too or too not happen, but do you know that originates in Celtic Folk Magic?

Knocking on Wood began on the Celtic Isles to invoke a divine spirit. Early English Christians used it to invoke the spirit of God to symbolize knocking on wood. Early Gaelics and Celtics used it to invoke nature spirits for good luck.

Now, many Irish, Welsh, Scottish and English diasporas and citizens use it in a similar way! So next time you need a little bit of help from a spirit; knock on wood.

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Hellenic Witchcraft and Magic Reading List

Apollonius of Rhodes. Voyage of the Argo. Trans. Emile Victor Rieu. 2nd ed. N.p.: Penguin Classics, 1959. Print.

Bracke, Evelien. “Of Metis and Magic: The Conceptual Transformations of Circe and Medea in Ancient Greek Poetry.” Doctoral thesis. Maynooth, 2009. Print.

Clark, Brian. “The Witches of Thessaly.” N.d. MS.

Collins, Derek. Magic in the Ancient Greek World. N.p.: Wiley-Blackwell, 2008. Print.

D'Este, Sorita. Hekate: Liminal Rites. N.p.: Avalonia, 2009. Print.

Euripides. Medea. Trans. Rex Warner. Rep Una ed. N.p.: Dover, 1993. Print. Dover Thrift Editions.

Faraone, Christopher A. Ancient Greek Love Magic. N.p.: Harvard University, 2001. Print.

Flint, Valerie, et al. Ancient Greece and Rome. Ed. Bengt Ankarloo and Stuart Clark. Philadelphia: U of Pennsylvania, 1999. Print. Vol. 2 of Witchcraft and Magic in Europe. 6 vols.

Gager, John G. Curse Tablets and Binding Spells from the Ancient World. N.p.: Oxford University, 1999. Print.

Griffiths, Emma. Medea. N.p.: Routledge, 2006. Print. Gods and Heroes of the Ancient World.

Johnston, Sarah Iles. Ancient Greek Divination. N.p.: Wiley-Blackwell, 2008. Print.

- - -. Hekate Soteira: A Study of Hekate’s Roles in the Chaldean Oracles and Related Literature. N.p.: Oxford University, 1990. Print.

- - -. Restless Dead: Encounters between the Living and the Dead in Ancient Greece. Reprint ed. N.p.: U of California, 2013. Print.

Lucan. Civil War. Trans. Matthew Fox. N.p.: Penguin Classics, 2012. Print.

Luck, Georg. Arcana Mundi. N.p.: John Hopkins University, 2006. Print.

Ogden, Daniel. Greek and Roman Necromancy. N.p.: Princeton University, 2004. Print.

- - -. Magic, Witchcraft, and Ghosts in the Greek and Roman Worlds. 2nd ed. N.p.: Oxford University, 2009. Print.

- - -. Night’s Black Agents: Witches, Wizards, and the Dead in the Ancient World. N.p.: Bloomsbury Academic, 2008. Print.

Ovid. Metamorphoses. Trans. David Raeburn. Reprint ed. N.p.: Penguin Classics, 2004. Print.

Penman, Elicia Ann. “Toil and Trouble: Changes of Imagery to Hekate and Medea in Ovid’s Metamorphoses.” Doctoral thesis. Queensland, 2014. Print.

Rabinowitz, Jacob. The Rotting Goddess: The Origin of the Witch in Classical Antiquity. N.p.: Autonomedia, 1998. Print.

Seneca. Medea. Trans. Frederick Ahl. N.p.: Cornell University, 1986. Print. Masters of Latin Literature.

Spaeth, Barbette Stanley. “From Goddess to Hag: The Greek and Roman Witch in Classical Literature.” 2014. Daughters of Hecate: Women and Magic in the Ancient World. Ed. Dayna Kalleres and Kimberly Stratton. N.p.: Oxford University, 2014. 41-70. Print.

Turkilsen, Debbie. “Magic in the Ancient World.” N.d. MS.

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Chinaware in Irish Folk Magic

While this might not be a widely practiced folk magic of the Irish, my family did practice this! The thought was your plates, cutlery and glasses have imbedded magic to how you wish a guest to feel. A lot of this belief is based in the thought that nicer things means more comfortable guests.

Chinaware will influence guests to be kind, well-mannered and a pleasure to have.

Ceramics will give guests a more homey feel. They will open up more. Use this for if you wish to deliver or receive emotional news.

Glass will bring in clarity. The more complex the glass, however, the more difficult it will be to see true intentions. Be wary.

Plastic will cause guests to be transparent. They will bring in their true intent.

Many times in my family of Irish and Hungarian immigrants, we would be served on plastic. My grandmother had a china cabinet ready to go, and would only serve the highly esteemed guests on this. My mother followed by building collections of ceramics and china. It is no wonder we go to my grandmothers for special events, and my mothers for taste of home.

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Hii! I was wondering if you could shed some light on whether the Deipnon was a real ancient tradition? I watched this video [ https://youtu.be/jMEcXJpPHt4?si=5TxmS8CyT68-sGSD ] where the OP claimed that there are no ancient sources about the Deipnon and it’s just a modern misconception, so I’m curious

Is Hekate's Deipnon a real ancient tradition?

Hello there!

I watched this video recently as well (within the last few weeks) and wanted to get back to it at some point - and here we are.

To anyone reading this and interested in what I have to say, the context is important! So have a listen to this video which is just under 20 mins long, and you can increase the playback speed too.

I like this video! And I'm surprised that I haven't heard of it sooner. Because it does dive into how fragmented our sources for Hekate's Deipnon are and how lacking they are, too.

I don't intend to re-analyse each fragment and the commentary provided by Fel, but instead here's my perspective on the situation, which doesn't necessarily make me an expert or "right"!

Assumptions When Reconstructing an Ancient Religion

Fel includes a quote from Sarah Iles Johnston's "Restless Dead" which I will pull some sub-quotes from to help explain my thinking here.

It has sometimes been assumed that these suppers were taken to the crossroads every month [...]

But like the Selinuntine rite for the Tritopatores, it is also possible that [...]

The monthly suppers are not mentioned in an festal calendars, which would tend to support the latter idea, although the omission may also mean only that they were taken to the crossroads by individuals on their own behalf [...] In either case, their regular offering does not seem to have been understood as so critical to the health of the polis as a whole.

Johnston demonstrates how we approach reconstructing concepts of Ancient Greek religion. Much of what we know about the practice, in a scholarly sense for academics and practical sense for hellenic polytheists, is based on educated assumptions.

You might ask someone in the field of classics, archaeology, or ancient history how they know if something was done or seen a certain way back then. They are likely to tell you that they don't know and that they tend to be careful with their wording because they never know when new evidence might be uncovered that changes what we have recorded of ancient civilizations and of this religion. Or even if we "never" uncover further evidence, they surrender to the idea that they are more than likely to never know.

When we apply this idea to the fragmented evidence of Hekate's Deipnon, we can make the following assumptions ourselves:

We don't actually know if it wasn't celebrated at all.

As noted from Johnston, the omission of the tradition in a common source (in this case, the festal calendars) doesn't necessarily mean the omission of the tradition entirely. Hekate's Deipnon could've been a household/private practice (in line with household purification rites) for those who wanted to honour the dead or cleanse their home or honour Hekate.

Fel mentions that Plutarch, who in a translation of Moralia writes of suppers to Hekate, in his time much later than Classical Athens, could have been writing based on literature we no longer have [or haven't found] on this potential tradition.

And I have a few notes under the section "What else do we know about Hekate's Deipnon?" with some topics and sources that can be further delved into when exploring this topic which weren't in the video - whether or not they tell us if this was a real ancient tradition.

2. We don't know if it was celebrated at all.

Fel notes in the video, based on their independent study, that the nature and existence of Hekate's Deipnon is not conclusive (i.e. we can't conclude that it was celebrated). I agree, to the best of my knowledge!

I mean, we don't have much of a record of any other festal calendar traditions for Hekate either. And Hekate is said to have "joined" the hellenic pantheon later than other deities were established (especially in discussions about Hekate's roles as a deity in the hellenic pantheon, and the potential overlaps. See example: Johnston's chapter Hecate and the Dying Maiden from Restless Dead which theorises on Hekate's entrance to the hellenic pantheon and how overlaps with other deities such as Artemis influenced what we know of Hekate's functions). (Does this mean she may have had holidays that weren't recorded in a way that we have evidence on these days? Does this mean they didn't exist in the first place? We don't know.)

I think it's fair and reasonable, based on what Fel has concluded in their video and if we were to look into what Fel said ourselves (i.e. actually look at/for the sources and consider our interpretations), to go forward saying: "Hekate's Deipnon is a [modern] celebration that we assume took place on the last day of the lunar month in antiquity and is assumed to involve [...]" -> and in stating this, we try our best to research into the potential traditions we're discussing (for example, purification rites involving Hekate, even if they aren't particularly associated with Hekate's Deipnon) and provide sources or be ready to provide sources.

If you wanted to, you could even say that "we lack the sources to confidently refer to Hekate's Deipnon as tradition from Ancient Greece" - which I also consider reasonable to state. Perhaps this is what I will say from now, until more evidence comes along.

Though we may now consider, what does this mean for current day celebrations of Hekate's Deipnon?

Modern Day Deipnon

My personal belief is that we shouldn't go around telling worshippers of Hekate that Hekate's Deipnon is fake and to never celebrate it because of our lack of sources. (I'm not assuming you would, Anon - I'm just making myself clear here).

I respect if other hellenic polytheists decide that they don't want to include Hekate's Deipnon on their festival calendars [anymore] after watching Fel's video and looking into the sources themselves. I imagine that celebrating better-sourced festivals (or some may interpret celebrating festivals that existed in antiquity) may be important to their practice and that's fine.

For myself, I intend to continue celebrating Hekate's Deipnon as a monthly observance either at the end of the lunar month or the start of a new one (the cusp, even, if that's your jam) because it fits into my practice and I like how it brings me closer to Hekate. I think it's okay and even good to celebrate new festivals for our deities, in a solitary practice or with a community.

From my understanding, this isn't a misconception in the same way as the maiden, mother, crone depictions of Hekate. MMC is a Wiccan concept which has its own issues around misogyny and the bastardisation of Hekate and other goddesses.

I would still consider Hekate's Deipnon as an ancient tradition as a misconception, yes, though one that is unproblematic.

Hekate's Deipnon doesn't make new assumptions about the goddess herself. Observing the deipnon doesn't change who Hekate is. Hekate's association with the restless dead is separate from the deipnon. Her association with crossroads offerings is separate. The deipnon being celebrated on the new moon doesn't necessarily make Hekate the goddess of the new moon (the new moon is simply the end of the lunar month). Deipnon being the concept of supper is separate from Hekate's Deipnon.

If some practitioners may form new associations with Hekate based on Hekate's Deipnon, that is less about the observance itself and more to do with missing research or knowledge (in my opinion!).

Again, the main turning point I see here is how we refer to it as a tradition. Rather than confidently stating that this was something the ancients did back then, we can acknowledge how little we know about Hekate's Deipnon plus consider how Hekate's Deipnon has become a religious development for many hellenic polytheists.

Religion changes and evolves. New traditions are and can be created.

(Plus the Attic calendar of festivals isn't the only one and there are many festival calendars we may never know about from different cities, rural areas, sanctuaries and more! Who knows what festivals were celebrated for the Theoi in Ancient Greece and around the world that we might recreate unknowingly nowadays?)

That is to say, I actually quite like how Hekate's Deipnon has evolved despite the rocky sourcing. It has become more than an assumed recreation of what was practiced in Ancient Greece. A fleshed out modern celebration for a goddess who is largely misunderstood. It brings worshippers together, teaches worshippers about the important concept of purification, honours the goddess, and puts Hekate on the calendar for those who want her on their festival calendars.

What else do we know about Hekate's Deipnon?

Apart from what was mentioned in Fel's video, I have a few more things to throw in the ring. These may or may not support or be associated with Hekate's Deipnon as an ancient tradition. All of these require more research on their origins and associations.

At some point I want to write something up about what I find on all these, but for now you can have this list to explore yourself if you'd like:

ἕνη καὶ νέα (hene kai nea) - "old and new", stated to be the last day of the lunar month, and sometimes associated with Hekate. A name/phrase that Hekate's Deipnon (or sometimes the triad of Deipnon, Noumenia and Agathos Daimon) has been referred to as. Mentioned: https://www.worldhistory.org/article/833/the-athenian-calendar/, https://chs.harvard.edu/primary-source/hesiod-works-and-days-sb/#fn27.

Triakas - Another term similar to hene kai nea.

Genethlia - Mentions found in non-english literature on Lagina/Caria and "Reconstructing the Sacred Experience at the Sanctuary of Hekate at Lagina" by Amanda Herring. Potentially a monthly feast of Hekate at the end of each lunar month or a yearly "birthday" feast of Hekate at the Temple of Lagina. Non-English literature includes "Stratonikeia Kuzey Şehir Kapısı Girişleri ve Kült Bağlantıları Üzerine Değerlendirmeler" by Özdemir and Söğüt, and "Les cultes indigènes en Carie" by Alfred Laumonier (pg. 393 - 397)

From what I found, the celebrations of Hekate at the Temple of Lagina may be of interest and a potential origin point for Hekate's Deipnon. (Ironically you should note that even her potential origin in Caria is still a scholarly debate and her geographical/cultural origin is non-conclusive too.)

This is all I have to say at this time on Hekate's Deipnon! I hope that it was insightful and provided some direction for you.

It is quite the development to learn this when we're comfortable in our assumptions about Hekate's Deipnon and hellenic polytheist festivals in general - it definitely took me some time to formulate these thoughts, though I'm glad to have this written up now!

divider credits -> @enchanthings-a and @strangergraphics

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Irish Folk Magic Introduction ☘️

As an Irish-American practitioner of witchery and a Hellenic Polytheist it's important to both honor my roots and honor the theoi. Xenia is important to extend to ourselves as modern polytheists. Many of us find ourselves without Greek roots, or minimal/distant roots. That does not lessen our worship, our piety or our religion. Many of the Gods themselves are immigrants.

Hekate is noted as Persian in several ancient hymns. Dionysus was said to be Indian, Egyptian, Libyan, Arabian or Phoenician. Aphrodite is from Cyprus. Ares from Thrace. Many of the gods have Ethiopian ties. Our gods come from all over. Just like us.

They call for us to embrace ourselves as we embrace them. In honor of this I am beginning a new series where I note all the witchery I grew up with in an Irish immigrant household! This will include spells, incantations, prayers, and much more folk magic!

So for all my Irish Hellenic Polytheists and Irish immigrant children out there, welcome home! I hope to open this space for all of us and anyone else who is interested. So come along with me in this journey!

SPELLS

Chinaware in Irish Folk Magic

Knocking on Wood

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hecate

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Pillars of Hellenic Polytheism

In the ancient world the Pillars did not explicitly exist. Though, many sources were destroyed, modern historians and Hellenic Polytheists have identified the Ancients' values and morals mainly from Plato and Aristotle writings. There can be as many as you please (traditionally up to twelve) though most stick to the following due to overlap.

χαρις - kharis

giving without expectation of return, gratitude for benevolence received

εὐσέβεια - eusebeia

reverence and duty towards the Gods, piety and devotion

ἀρετή - arete

striving to live to one's fullest potential, virtues like courage, justice and wisdom, encompasses moral goodness as well

ἁγνεία - hagenia

spiritual and ritual purity (cleansing) also associated with chasity, however many people do not recognize this aspect. One can acknowledge this aspect of arete by not praying or involving the Gods in sexuality.

σοφία - sophia

the pursuit of wisdom and understanding, encompassing both mortal and divine wisdom and philosophical significance

σωφροσύνη - sophrosyne

healthy state of mind encompassing self-control, moderation, controlling hubris, temperance, prudence and deep sense of self

ξενία - xenia

hospitality, generosity and courtesy regarding those seeking asylum. Offering housing, food, bath and safety to those in need without asking questions.

While most Hellenic Polytheist strive to live by these Pillars, many will focus their efforts on one based on their interests, life or patron deity. Pillar focus may change with time, as everything does.

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devotional Art

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Reminder that even if a religion is open, it can still be appropriated and bastardised.

You can't just cherry pick and choose titles, practices, deities from different practices/religions you think sound cool to use however you like without any understanding or respect towards the cultural/historical/religious context.

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I feel it's important to clarify that miasma isn't something that the everyday person should worry about.

Miasma is not just "pollution," but defilement.

It is something that you incur only when you've acted grossly outside of religious/moral norms, and thus, isn't something that you or I need to remotely fret over as regular-degular worshippers of the theoi.

It is lyma—literally dirt that is washed away with water—that we have to wash away when approaching the gods. Not miasma.