There are so many things that I want to explain to my daughter. Some of them, I know she will have to wait to understand. My question is more likely how to START to explain them. How do I explain that the flame IS the “image” of Hestia, but that She is represented AND immanent…

[60] LX. TO NEMESIS A Hymn.Thee, Nemesis I call, almighty queen, by whom the deeds of mortal life are seen:Eternal, much rever’d, of boundless sight, alone rejoicing in the just and right:Changing the counsels of the human breast for ever various, rolling without rest.To every mortal is thy influence known, and men beneath thy righteous…

If you’ve read my blog for a while, you might have noticed that I write on Hestia more frequently than many of the other Hellenic Gods. The reason for this is that I actually feel a strong connection to her and feel that ‘someone’ has to speak about things relating to her. One thing that…

HYMN TO NOMOS Upon the holy lord of men and gods I call heavenly Nomos, who arranges the stars and sets a fair limit between the earth and the waters of the sea; it is his laws that ever preserve nature’s balance, obedient and steady. Journeying on the heavens, he brings the laws from above,…

TO HESTIA Queen Hestia, daughter of mighty Kronos mistress of the ever-burning fire, you dwell in the center of the house, May you raise the holy initiates, in these sacred rites. may you grant them unwithering youth, wealth as well, prudence and purity. Home of the blessed gods, men’s mighty buttress. eternal, many-shaped, beloved, grass-yellow, smile, O…

XXI. TO APOLLO [1] Phoebus, of you even the swan sings with clear voice to the beating of his wings, as he alights upon the bank by the eddying river Peneus; and of you the sweet-tongued minstrel, holding his high-pitched lyre, always sings both first and last. And so hail to you, lord! I seek…

While people will look at this as not being a “Hellenic” festival, I tend to disagree. The ancient Greeks were very involved with the seasonal rhythms that affected everyday life. And even if it is NOT an “ancient” festival, if we acknowledge that it is a festival that the Hellenes of today are celebrating to…

First, of all, I’m still in the middle of the festival of the Dionysia ta astika. And a major celebration honoring one of the Theoi will ALWAYS trump the “celebration” of a Christian saint — even if it is done in a Dionysian manner in the US. The St. Patrick’s Day “celebration” makes a mockery of…

There is a lot going on in the Pagan blogosphere about Wicca and Wiccanate privilege. And those of us who are devotional polytheists of types OTHER than Wiccan are starting to say “We are here too”. And some of us are feeling like we are finally being “allowed at the BIG kid’s table”. It is…

Although I will not be celebrating with a glass of Dionysus’ signature drink today, I am still planning on honoring HIM. I will be focusing on his role as Liberator and Enlightener. His hymns show that he not only is the God of Drunken Revelry that most people think of him as. He is one…