Eleusinian Mysteries

On the 6th till the 12th of September, the Hellenic Eleusinian Mysteries is observed.

The Eleusinian Mysteries is a time celebrating  Demeter and Persephone’s mystery cults in the town of Eleusis outside of Athens.

This is an auspicious time to dedicate yourself to your Hellenic Gods or traditions or retake your vows with the same.

Offer symbols of rebirth like wheat.

Here is a hymn you can use in your devotionals:

Homeric Hymn to Demeter (translated by Gregory Nagy)

Homeric Hymn to Demeter

 

(C) T. Georgitsis

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Demokratia Festival

On the 3rd of September, the Hellenic Demokratia festival is observed.

The Demokratia is a festival celebrating democracy in Athens and is devoted to Themis, Zeaus Agoraios and Athena Agoraia (which are all gods connected to the sacred agora ie marketplace).

This is an auspicious time to celebrate democracy in our lives which was created by the Ancient Greeks.

Offer incense such as frankinscense.

Here is a hymn you can use in your devotionals:

Orphic Hymn to Themis

Illustrious Themis, of celestial birth, thee I invoke, young blossom of the earth; 
Beauteous-eyed virgin; first from thee alone, prophetic oracles to men were known,
Giv’n from the deep recesses of the fane in sacred Pytho, where renown’d you reign;
From thee, Apollo’s oracles arose, and from thy pow’r his inspiration flows.
Honour’d by all, of form divinely bright, majestic virgin, wand’ring in the night: 
Mankind from thee first learnt initial rites, and Bacchus’ nightly choirs thy soul delights;
For holy honours to disclose is thine, with all the culture of the pow’rs divine.
Be present, Goddess, to my pray’r inclin’d, and bless the mystic rites with fav’ring mind.

(C) T. Georgitsis

Artemis Agrotera/Kharisteria

On the 28th of August, the Hellenic Artemis Agrotera/Kharisteria festival is observed.

The Agrotera/Kharisteria is a festival of feasting which is dedicated to Artemis the Huntress.

This is an auspicious time to celebrate success in battles and in modern times victory over what you’ve been fighting for.

Offer meat such as goat or lamb.

Here is a hymn you can use in your devotionals:

Hymn to Artemis

I sing of Artemis, whose shafts are of gold, who cheers on the hounds, the pure maiden, shooter of stags, who delights in archery, own sister to Apollo with the golden sword. Over the shadowy hills and windy peaks she draws her golden bow, rejoicing in the chase, and sends out grievous shafts. The tops of the high mountains tremble and the tangled wood echoes awesomely with the outcry of beasts: earth quakes and the sea also where fishes shoal. But the goddess with a bold heart turns every way destroying the race of wild beasts: and when she is satisfied and has cheered her heart, this huntress who delights in arrows slackens her supple bow and goes to the great house of her dear brother Phoebus Apollo, to the rich land of  Delphi.  There to order the lovely dance of the Muses and Graces. There she hangs up her curved bow and her arrows, and heads and leads the dances, gracefully arrayed, while all they utter their heavenly voice, singing how neat-ankled Leto bare children supreme among the immortals both in thought and in deed.Hail to you, children of Zeus and rich-haired Leto! And now I will remember you and another song also. 

 The Homeric Hymns  Translation by Hugh G. Evelyn-White

 

(C) T. Georgitsis

 

Genesios Festival

On the 27th of August, the Hellenic festival of Genesios is observed.

This is a festival which is dedicated to the dead.

This is an auspicious time to honor your ancestors who have passed.  Visit their grave or memorials and remember the things they did in life.

Offerings which can be made during this time include water, incense, flowers, bay laurel, honey and milk.

Here is a prayer you can use to honor on this day which I wrote for my ancestors:

Imperishable Stars

Imperishable Stars

Never to rise nor set

Your luminous hearts fixed

Watching in abject silence

Epithets eternally emblazoned

Within and upon your earthly kin

Eternally through the promised premise

Incandescent in dogging darkness

(C) T. Georgitsis 2016

Niketeria Festival

On the 24th of August, the Hellenic Niketeria festival is observed.

The Niketeria is day dedicated to Nike the Goddess who embodies victory and is often seen as a personification of the Goddess Athena.

On this day Athena won the competition of naming the city Athens over Poseidon by creating the olive tree – the sign of peaceful prosperity.

This is an auspicious time to start putting into action some of your projects you wish to be victorious in.

Offer olive oil, olive branches, incense and fresh water.

Here is a hymn to Nike (33) by Orpheus you can use on the day to honour her:

“I call on the mighty Nike, the longing for mortality, 
Which only frees the dead from violent lusts 
And from the heavy position caused by mutual fears, 
Settle in disputes to gain their merits, 
Bring them the overwhelming, sweetest war fame of victory; 
For you have everything, and the great fame of every fighter lies [as]
a swelling sacrifice for the famous Nike, 
Hejze, blessed, come, trust the radiant face, 
bringing the end of all good deeds”

(C) T. Georgitsis

 

Isis-Seshat 2017 Summer Issue: Summer Festival

The latest issue of Isis Seshat (the journal for the Fellowship of Isis and the like) has just come out and I have an article about a summer festival in the southern hemisphere  – get your copy now: PDFs are available for purchase at $5 USD each; just email me via PayPal at anna dot applegate at yahoo dot com.

My Akhu: Not for Your Personal Use

 

One of my family akhu who is lovingly known as “Thea” has had more of a dominating presence of late (what’s new as she’s always been the dominant one when it comes to family akhu) and yesterday in shrine I got the distinct impression from her that she is waiting for me to put in writing the story of her life I have collated from various family members and those who knew her.  I feel this will honor her greatly as well as framing the large portrait of her, which I had made which needs to be placed on the wall backing my Akhu shrine.

Speaking of Thea, an old coven member of mine, who moved, years back, tried to call her to assist her with her personal crisis and all I can say is Thea was NOT impressed.  This old coven member said that she’s been trying to connect with Thea for the last couple of years and she’s not been able to.  Whilst the old coven member was telling me this over the phone in that instant I felt Thea’s presence come up behind me and I felt her say in Greek in quite an arrogant and pissed off way  “who is SHE for her to call favours from me – I don’t owe HER a thing” and the vibe I got from Thea was that she was really put out by being summoned by someone she has no connection to.

If you knew my Thea you knew NEVER to piss her off as not only was she quite a powerful magician in her day she had a wicked temper and was only loyal to her blood relations.  So I questioned this old coven member as to why she’s been calling to my Akhu, as after all she has her own and she’s not even practicing the kemetic or witchcraft path anymore. I was told that she needed help and didn’t know who else to call upon.  I suggested that she call upon her own Akhu and I had to delicately explain to my old coven member that Thea has been ignoring her and that her call for help will go unheard because she’s not bound to her in anyway and is not going to help her.

Thea has helped this old coven member before on one occasion but that is because I interceded and asked her to help them.  Also I feel Thea was annoyed with this old coven member because. 1. no one commands Thea 2.  Thea always takes payment for her services and 3.  Thea does what she pleases – even in the spirit world.

So moral of the story is – don’t use other people’s Akhu…its disrespectful and might actually annoy your ancestors!

(C) T. Georgitsis 2017

Kourotrophos Festival

On the 9th of August, the Hellenic Kourotrophos festival is observed.

The Kourotrophos is a festival which is dedicated to Hekate and Artemis.

This day is dedicated to these goddesses who protect women, children and childbirth.

Here is a simple prayer you can use to honour Hekate on this day:

“We pray that other guardians be always renewed, and that Artemis-Hekate watch over the childbirth of their women.”

 Aeschylus, Suppliant Women 674 ff (trans. Smyth) (Greek tragedy C5th B.C.) 

(C) T. Georgitsis 

 

HoN Kemetic Wep Ronpet Dates

Here is a basic Kemetic ritual for Wep Ronpet I wrote and use yearly:

Wep Ronpet Ritual

Here are the dates for the end of the year and Wep Ronpet:

July 28th Last Day of the Year: Feast of Lights at Esna (and Sais)

Epagomenal Day 00 – July 29th: Day Dedicated to Yinepu and Khonsu

Epagomenal Day 0 – July 30th: Day Dedicated to Djehuty

Epagomenal Day 1 – July 31st: Birthday of Wesir

Epagomenal Day 2 – August 1st: Birthday of Heru-wer

Epagomenal Day 3 – August 2nd: Birthday of Set

Epagomenal Day 4 – August 3rd: Birthday of Aset

Epagomenal Day 5 – August 4th: Birthday of Nebt-het

1 August 5th – Wep Ronpet

 

 

Panathenaia Festival

From the 17th to 30th of July, the Hellenic Panathenaia festival is observed.

The Panathenaia is a festival which is dedicated to the city of Athens.

Historically celebrations included an all night service, a race involving torches (where only Athenians could participate) and a meal for all citizens paid for by the city containing meats.  This was the early beginnings of the Olympic games with the event being open to all Greeks every forth year around 566 BCE.

This is an auspicious time to honour Athena with food, drink (a communal meal), offerings (such as olive oil) and prayers.

Here is a prayer you can use to honour Athena on this day:

“To Athena

I begin to sing of Pallas Athena, the glorious goddess, bright-eyed, inventive, unbending of heart, pure virgin, saviour of cities, courageous, Tritogeneia. Wise Zeus himself bare her from his awful head, arrayed in warlike arms of flashing gold, and awe seized all the gods as they gazed. But Athena sprang quickly from the immortal head and stood before Zeus who holds the aegis, shaking a sharp spear: great  Olympus began to reel horribly at the might of the bright-eyed goddess, and earth round about cried fearfully, and the sea was moved and tossed with dark waves, while foam burst forth suddenly: the bright Son of Hyperion stopped his swift-footed horses a long while, until the maiden Pallas Athena had stripped the heavenly armour from her immortal shoulders. And wise Zeus was glad.

And so hail to you, daughter of Zeus who holds the aegis! Now I will remember you and another song as well.”

The Homeric Hymns and Homerica with an English Translation by Hugh G. Evelyn-White

(C) T. Georgitsis