swanblessings

[swanblessings]

Working with Aphrodite has made me so much more aware of what beauty really means. Of course physical beauty is very real, but there is something about someone's heart that really shines. Whenever I'm feeling a bit insecure about myself I think about who I am as a person. I like to think that the goddess has led me to adopt that way of thinking, that beauty is so much more than what the eyes can see.

[swanblessings]

This is the sacred duck he got an important message:

[swanblessings]

Love and War 💞❤️‍🔥🕊️

Happy valentines everyone!🥰 Februarys illustration is of Ares and Aphrodite looking very flirty and in love, or at least some form of it.

[swanblessings]

In ancient Greece, Hekate's Deipnon was observed during the dark phase of the moon, marking the last day of the Hellenic lunar month. This lunar calendar begins with the new moon, when the first sliver of light is visible, and ends with the dark moon, when no light reflects from the moon at all.

Hekate's Deipnon was dedicated to the goddess Hekate, who was associated with purification, expiation, and protection against restless spirits. Her name, according to the Liddell and Scott Greek-English Lexicon, means “bringer or giver of light" (Ekate Phosphoros), although she was most strongly associated with the liminal spaces between life and death and the mysteries of the underworld.

The Deipnon served multiple purposes, including purification of the home and self. This purification process, known as oxuthumia, involved sweeping and cleaning the home, gathering leftovers from previous rituals, and smoking the house with a censer to create a clean, ceremonially purified space.

In ancient Athens, it was believed that restless spirits roamed on the night of the Deipnon. Offerings, including leftover food, ashes, and a clay censer, were left at crossroads to honor Hekate and appease the souls. It was also customary to scrifice a dog if the household felt particularly polluted or if they needed to make amends with Hekate. In this case, the family would touch the dog to transfer any "pollution" onto it before the sacrifice, which served as a scapegoat ritual. (This is just historical. Please don't s4crifice a dog)

Traditional offerings include: sweeping from the house, garlic, eggs, leeks, things you don't want to bring into the next. You could leave it on alter or a three way crossroad. As in antiquity, the Deipnon is a time for clearing out the old and preparing for a fresh start. Some practitioners also perform divination or meditation during the Deipnon to connect with Hekate and reflect on personal intentions and needs.

Modern offerings include: clean out the refrigerator, tend to the worm composter, dispose of the previous month's contents of Kathiskos (I’ll make a post on this) while cleaning out or taking stock of what's in your kitchen pantry, fulfill your previous month's obligations, duties, promises, pay off all debts (financial and emotional) etc.

For many modern polytheists, Hekate's Deipnon is a monthly devotional act of honoring Hekate rather than focusing on appeasing restless spirits. Rituals are adapted to fit contemporary lifestyles and spaces, but the emphasis on purification, transition, and renewal remains central to the practice.

There are differing theories as to if Hekate's Deinon is solely a meal offered to Hekate, or if there is a secondary intent of the meal offering going to the less fortunate. For example: Aristophanes, Plutus 410 ff (trans. O'Neill)(Greek comedy C5th to 4th B.C.): "Ask Hekate whether it is better to be rich or starving; she will tell you that the rich send her a meal every month li.e. food placed inside her door-front shrines] and that the poor make it disappear before it is even served."

Check for dates at Hellenion.org/calendar or watch out for the lunar cycles.

Sources:

1. Liddell, H. G., & Scott, R. (1940). A Greek-English Lexicon. Clarendon Press.

2. Johnston, S. I. (1990). Hekate Soteira: A Study of Hekate's Roles in the Chaldean Oracles and Related Literature. Scholars Press.

3. Aristophanes. Plutus 410 ff. Trans. O'Neill, 5th-4th century B.C.

4. Kearns, E. (1989). The Heroes of Attica. Center for Hellenic Studies.

5. Burkert, W. (1985). Greek Religion: Archaic and Classical. Harvard University Press.

6. Parker, R. (2005). Polytheism and Society at Athens. Oxford University Press.

7. Ogden, D. (2002). Magic, Witchcraft, and Ghosts in the Greek and Roman Worlds: A Sourcebook. Oxford University Press.

8. Hellenion.org and other Hellenic polytheism blogs/texts

(These sources are the same for the other posts I’ll make for noumenia and agathos Daimon)

[swanblessings]

I love studying the classics because it offers a chance to just learn about the gods. I’m currently taking a class on witches of Ancient Greece and Hekate has already been mentioned so many times :) I love being able to ask questions and just talk about her.

[swanblessings]

I just had a friend tell me the other day that sometimes when she thinks of me something relating to Aphrodite appears. It makes me think of the gods as like proud parents sometimes, eager to make themselves known whenever their worshippers come into conversation.

[swanblessings]

I know things are stressful right now with just EVERYTHING in the world. Just take this reminder the gods love you and let them fill you with comfort. Take a breath, drink some tea, watch a comfort show. I hope that everything is well for everyone and that you have peace of mind. Blessed be <3

[swanblessings]

I’ve never experienced a religion before in which the higher power actually gives an answer. Yeah, the gods love to make themselves known in my experience. Recently something has happened that I’ve been praying to Aphrodite about and whenever I do I sense her presence. And they have such distinct personalities in my experience to. I’ll be doing a reading and Aphrodite will give me cards with much more emotion love based and Hecate loves giving cryptic warnings and just more stoic cards. It’s just so incredible to me that the gods really answer us when we take the time to listen.

[swanblessings]

୭🧷✧˚. ᵎᵎ 🎀 As a broke devotee I don't possess many methods of divination for communicating with the deities. While I do have my oracle deck - I thought it important to have multiple means of divining! I realized that this may be the case for others sooo... Here are some other free and accessible tools I use~;

Labyrinthos App - My Favourite! (Has tarot, runes and lenormand for daily readings and has tons of educational content for you to learn divination.)

Coins - Nothing more simple then a coin flip, I flip a 2 dollar coin for yes or no readings!

Dice - This one is more personal and fun! you can put different answers for each side of the dice and just roll!

୧ ‧₊˚ 🍓 ⋅ ☆ I strongly suggest checking these if you're in a similar place!

[swanblessings]

Offerings don’t have to be extravagant things. It can be stressful to worry you are not giving enough or doing enough. But even the smallest things mean the world. Drinking tea and thinking of a god, writing a poem, talking to them in your head.

Please don’t stress. Every little thing is dear to the gods.

[swanblessings]

Just a quick shoutout to Aphrodite >3 ❤️ 🦢

[swanblessings]

I had to write a myth retelling for one of my classes and ultimately chose Aphrodite and Adonis. It took me some time to get it right because I wanted Lady Aphrodite to approve of it and I wanted to portray her well. But I'm very happy with how it turned out and my professor complimented it :) Thank you, Goddess!

[swanblessings]

Tonight I feel the presence of Lady Hekate so strongly :) Thank you, goddess!!

[swanblessings]

The Gods and Comfort

Recently I've been going through a very rough time in my personal life. I've been so tired and worn down that I haven't had the energy to worship aside from whispered prayers or the occasional pull of a card. But I did a reading just the other night with Hekate and every card was positive. My reading represented healing and connection. She made it very clear that taking time for ourselves is important, and that the bond between us and our gods is not broken when we need to take time for ourselves or to rest.

Please do not forget the gods love you. Do not feel stressed or guilty if there are times when you cannot give your all. They know our hearts and our intentions.

[swanblessings]

Today is a day when the veil is thinner. Oftentimes, especially with Lady Hekate, I do not feel a strong physical presence with the gods. Lady Aphrodite occasionally makes herself present, but I rarely hear from Lady Hekate aside from purposeful divination or clear signs. But today I have already felt a strong presence from her multiple times.

The veil is very thin today. It is a day of connecting with the divine and the gone. It may be a day of strong connection with any deities or spirits we work with or worship. I wish you all a wonderful day and hope you feel the magic in this day. Blessed be!

[swanblessings]

Do you ever just have a god appear so instantaneously in your life that it’s almost baffling? I feel like with some gods it’s a very slow process of getting to know one another and the devotee trying to understand if the signs are really there? But sometimes it’s just an instant HI THERE and it’s almost so shocking to me.

[swanblessings]

𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐧

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What is Samhain?

Samhain, celebrated from October 31st to November 1st in the Northern Hemisphere and from April 30th to May 1st in the Southern Hemisphere, is a sacred time when the veil between worlds is at its thinnest. During this festival, the boundaries between realms dissolve, allowing the unseen to come forward. It’s a time to honor our ancestors and offer them hospitality as we transition into the darker half of the year. While it marks the end of the old year, Samhain also heralds the beginning of a new one, reminding us that death is always followed by rebirth, making this festival a powerful moment of transformation.

It is pronounced "Sow-en," which means "summer's end" and aligns with Halloween in the Northern Hemisphere. Samhain marks the time when the Earth enters a period of rest, the days shorten, and winter begins its slow arrival. During this time, the air becomes crisper, the nights grow longer, and the warmth of summer fades, symbolizing the end of one cycle and the start of another.

Samhain holds deep significance as it is a time to remember and honor those we have lost. The thinning of the veil allows for a stronger connection with ancestors, spirits, and otherworldly beings. While it’s a time to venerate these spirits and fair folk, who are particularly active during this liminal period, it’s also essential to protect oneself from any harmful entities that may cross through.

A key aspect of Samhain is honoring and respecting the dead. One simple yet meaningful tradition is to set an extra place at the table for any spirit or ancestor, offering them a meal. Many witches also visit cemeteries to pay respects, not only to their own ancestors but also to those forgotten by time, ensuring no spirit is left without recognition.

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Morrigan x Dagda and Samhain

According to legend, the Irish deities the Dagda and the Morrigan consummate their relationship today to ensure the fertility of land, people, and animals for the year to come. The Dagda, “the good god,” is the tribal father god; the Morrigan, “the phantom queen,” is often described as a “battle goddess,” although that only hints at her powers. She begins the Great Rite in the form of an old hag but is rejuvenated by the union, regaining her youth and beauty. On the eve of Samhain, the Dagda, god of strength and fertility, meets the Morrigan, goddess of war and fate, at the River Unius. As he prepares for battle against the Fomorians, ancient enemies of the Tuatha Dé Danann, he encounters the Morrigan bathing in the river. They make love, a symbolic act representing the union of the land (the Morrigan) with its protector (the Dagda). In return, the Morrigan promises to aid the Tuatha Dé Danann, using her powers of prophecy and battle to help them secure victory. Her role as a goddess of fate is essential, shaping the outcome of the war and the future of the land.

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Magic Correspondences:

Planets: Pluto, Saturn

Season: Autumn

Element: Water

Time of Day: Midnight

Tarot: The Death, The Devil, The Magician

Colors: Black, Orange, Gold, Silver, Red, Yellow, Purple

Herbs: Rosemary, Mugwort, Sage, Patchouli, Frankincense, Calendula, Garlic, Bay, Apple Leaf

Fruits: Pomegranate, Apple, Pear, Grapes, Hazelnuts

Vegetables: Pumpkin, Squash, Carrot, Potato, Turnip

Runes: Eihwaz, Jera, Othala

Crystals: Obsidian, Onyx, Carnelian, Cat’s Eye, Labradorite, Smokey Quartz, Black Tourmaline, Granite, Amber

Trees: Birch, Rowan, Hawthorn

Goddesses: Hecate, Banba, Cerridwen, Macha, Badb, Persephone, Cailleach Bheur, Kali, Bastet, Nephthys, Durga, Arianrhod, Baba Yaga

Gods: Hades, Loki, The Dagda, Cernunnos, Osiris, Anubis, Belenus, Arawn

Dragon: Grael

Flowers: Yarrow, Hawthorn, Marigold, Chrysanthemum, Blackthorn

Animals: Spider, Owl, Bat, Cat, Wolf, Dog, Rat, Snake, Raven, Cow

Magical powers: Transformation, Death, Life Cycles, Honoring the Dead, New Beginnings, Spirit Communication, Witchcraft, Faery Magick, Mirror Spells, Reincarnation, Astral Projection, Balance, Wisdom

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Activities to do:

👻 Honor your ancestors

👻 Connect with your loved ones that have passed away. Give them offerings, talk to them, and remember the happy moments

👻 Watch your favorite spooky movies

👻 Clean your altar (if you have one)

👻 Carve a pumpkin with symbols of what you want to attract (heart = love, water drops = healing)

👻 Talk with spirits through tarot cards, runes, or a pendulum

👻 Connect with your magick and your craft

👻 Honor and connect with your deities, leave them some offerings as it's an important celebration for everyone

👻 Light candles around your house

👻 Write wishes and place them on your jack-o'-lanterns

👻 Eat Samhain food or any food that makes you feel close to this sabbat

👻 Do guided meditations

👻 Make a special recipe and add some intentions

👻 Do some spells! October, especially Samhain, is the most magickal time!

👻 Leave some milk outside for Cat Síth!

👻 Honor the dead and respect life :D

👻 Write your wishes on bay leaves and burn them

👻 Honor the forgotten dead, those who don't have anyone to remember them, and light a candle for them

👻 Cleanse yourself and your house

👻 If you feel comfortable, visit a cemetery

👻 Eat lots of candy

👻 Light a Bonfire

👻 Eat apples (you can also use them as offerings)

👻 Take a walk in nature and appreciate the beauty of autumn

👻 Wear colors associated with Samhain, especially black

👻 Do candle magick

👻 Collect autumn leaves and place them in your house

👻 Use pumpkin seeds for spells—they're great for prosperity, abundance, or even love

👻 Put up photos of your loved ones who have passed, leave them food, and light candles

👻 Place figurines around your home with cats, crows, pumpkins or other Samhain symbols

👻 Throw a Samhain/Halloween feast with the people you love

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Food and drinks:

Meat – pork, especially (it’s completely okay if you don’t want to consume it), pumpkin – anything with pumpkin like pumpkin pie, seeds, bread, soup, corn – sweetcorn, popcorn, cornbread, apples – apple cake, apple pie, apple juice, apple cider, spiced wine, cider, mulled wine, honey, potatoes, roasted vegetables, stew, biscuits, salads made with veggies from your garden, recipes loved by your ancestors, pomegranates, squash

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useful sources: Wicca: A Modern Guide To Witchcraft & Magick; Encyclopedia of Witchcraft: The Complete A-Z for the Entire Magical World by Judika Illes

gifs credit: Pinterest

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