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“In ancient Greece, if you needed wisdom greater than human you went to the market square of Pharae in Achaea and created libation for Hermes, god of communication, messages, storytelling. There stood a statue of the bearded god. After burning incense, lighting the oil lamp, and leaving coin on the right of the deity, you whispered your question in its ear. Once complete, you swiftly turned and left the sacred area with your hands over your ears. Once out, you removed your hands, and the very first words you heard were Hermes speaking back to you. You curated these insights into your heart, pondered and then acted on them. You didn’t see Hermes, you heard Hermes. You listened.”

— Martin Shaw, We Are In The Underworld And We Haven’t Figured It Out Yet 

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comic practice: conversations with a sphinx

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Lord Hermes

42x59cm

I'm quite happy with this one, I loved expressing myself with all the colours and lines✨

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A guide to worship of Hermes - cheat sheets

Hellenic cheat sheets

If you like my content consider supporting me on: https://ko-fi.com/screeching0wlet

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A City Where I Feel Less Alone in My Pagan Beliefs

A City Where I Feel Less Alone in My Pagan Beliefs

The scent of incense hits my nose–warm vanilla and sage. I feel myself relaxing, soaking in the atmosphere and heading towards its source. Sitting on a shelf near the back of the store is a large statue of a woman with wings. Pieces of paper are folded before her, some half-hazardly tossed and others carefully placed. The incense wafts from sticks placed on either side of the woman, other…

[emberalis]

To Hermes

I hail thee, Hermes, trickster god,

Giver of joy riding swift winds

Who delights at the burning feast

Luck-bringer on gentle wings-

Guide my soul as you guide the lost

Who weep and reach for wretched meaning,

Guide my poem, guide my words

As I sing of You, as I learn

Of Your glad-hearted bright presence.

May this poem serve as off'ring smoke,

Rising and spiraling towards You.

[emberalis]

[emberalis]

Cemetery Etiquette

As someone who has been in more cemeteries than I can count just about since the day I was born and has transitioned into death work, I have a list of rules/etiquette that I personally use in cemeteries- and I've finally gotten around to typing it up!

These are just some of the rules I follow, and they aren't in any particular order of importance. I might even add more in the future, but for now, here's a few!

1) Respect everything around you- even the stuff that doesn't seem important

2) NEVER lean/stand on headstones, no matter how stable they look- they aren't half as steady as they look and it's a good way to get hurt

3) DO NOT take any money, trinkets, flowers, stones/rocks, or anything else you might find on/around headstones or grave sites- you can't know what's important to the residents of the cemetery, or what holds cultural significance for those that are buried there

4) Respect the cultural practices of the cemetery you're in!

5) Listen to your intuition- if one area of the cemetery feels better/worse than another spot, listen to yourself! Either stay in that area (if it feels like a good place to be) or stay away from that area (if it feels like a bad place to be)

6) Clean up after yourself/others! Trash/debris aren't nice to look at, and they aren't nice to live around, so clean up what you can

7) If you meet any child spirits, play with them! As a death witch who mostly works with child spirits, they want to play more than you know- even something so simple as rolling a ball around or telling a cheesy dad joke goes way further than you'd ever expect

8) Honestly, play/laugh/tell jokes/have fun within the walls of the cemetery! Spirits are lonely more often than not- acting like a normal, regular, human person (while still being respectful) makes them feel better than you could imagine

9) Don't speak ill of the dead, regardless of if they're buried in that cemetery.

10) When you enter, greet the cemetery as a whole and say hi to the spirits within. Similarly, when you exit, say goodbye to the cemetery and the spirits- especially the ones you've talked to

11) Put your phone on silent and don't use it if you don't have to!

Hades/Persephone Discord || Asks

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“Dawn appeared, her fingers bright with flowers.” 

I’ve been listening to Dr. Emily Wilson’s translation of The Odyssey and was especially captivated by her description of Eos, goddess of the dawn. Though often described as “rosy-fingered” I wanted to include flowers that bloomed at first light. 

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Getting on a plane for the first time in nearly two years this weekend. Since I stopped working, I finally have time to volunteer with a nonprofit I’ve wanted to for years. Thank you, Hermes, for sticking by me even when I haven’t been traveling the world. I’m ridiculously excited to start that up again (safely, of course, with COVID protocols in mind).

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*sees a feather on the ground* *small gasp* a gift

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Slowly working towards making offerings to more than just Hermes again. I feel like I’m rediscovering Hellenic polytheism. Working through my deep-seated feelings of shame and identifying those triggers (thanks Brene Brown!) is making a massive difference. Shadow work is difficult but so, so necessary.

I’m finally starting to trust my intuition again. It feels wonderful.

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Count Your Blessings

I make an offering to Aphrodite for the first time in nearly two years. This is what happens. It’s mid-afternoon and I’m anxious. I’m anxious because it’s one of those post-breakup days that are harder than the others. It’s one of those days where I can’t stop making up scenarios in my mind. It’s one of those days where I convince myself that this person hates me, even if that’s far from…

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Persephone’s invocations 🖤

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I got into a car accident. I’m fine, just a little shaken. Emotionally drained. My car’s a little banged up though.

Curse these snowy Midwest roads.