"I Don't Have A Religion Therefore You Can't Either" Isn't Any Less Colonialist Than "my Religion Is

Saturnalia is coming on soon, so I'd like to speak some more on this peculiar, interesting festive occasion.

It is an Ancient Roman holiday of abundance, feasting, and celebration of harvest, which was supposed to be over by the time the festivities began. After the farmers gathered the crops, they'd celebrate Saturn, God of seed and sowing, for His generosity and richness of the harvest.

The festival, known for its abundant feasts and the peculiar tradition of switching roles of masters and servants, has a complicated history. It laid basis for the modern-day celebration of Christmas with its fairs, markets, street festivities, and gift-giving.

The origins of Saturnalia are much of a mystery as the festival appears to be so Ancient that Roman sources mark it to be older than the city of Rome itself. Saturnalia existed in both Greek and Roman tradition, though it corresponded to the Greek Kronia, which was a similar, but not an identical festival.

Sources speak on different possible origins of the holiday: some mention the temple of Saturn, the largest of the recorded by the pontiffs, being erected in Rome, and thus starting the tradition; whereas others speak on the festival being brought from Greece. Either way, this Ancient tradition is associated with the liberation of the God of harvest.

Saturnalia was officially celebrated on December 17 and, in Cicero's ties, lasted for a week (inclusively), until December 23. The length of the celebration varied depending on the time period as Augustus shortened it to three days only for the sake of letting the civil courts stay closed for less, while Caligula extended the celebration to five days. The original festival, according to Macrobius, appeared to have lasted for only a day; fourteen days before the Kalends of January. The Julian reform shifted the date to the 17th, thus making it into sixteen days before the Kalends. Some believe that the timing for Saturnalia was symbolic, as next followed Winter Solstice, or symbolic Death of the Sun and Birth of the new one.

Regardless, even after the limiting of the festival, Saturnalia seemed to still be celebrated for a full week with the last day being dedicated to Sigillaria, named so after sigillaria, the small earthenware figurines sold in the cities on that day. The original day of celebration was in turn given to Ops, the consort of Saturn and the Deity of abundance and the fruits of the Earth. The celebration in Her honor was called Opalia, and two festivals tended to mix together with Ops' worshippers sitting down during prayer to touch Earth, mother of all.

Saturnalia involved various activities akin to feasts, parties, gift-giving, and ritual rites. The party traditionally started with the guests exclaiming, i Saturnalia, believed to be a shortening from ego tibi optimis Saturnalia auspico, or 'i wish you a happy Saturnalia'. It is believed to be one of the most delightful periods of the year and one of the most beloved Roman festivals. People went into the streets celebrating, marching, setting up shows and street markets. People of all backgrounds could participate in it.

Among the general aspects of Saturnalia were activities such as gift giving, as people exchanged things such as candles, walnuts, dates, and honey. Masters served slaves, whereas slaves became free men as in memory of Saturn's reign when slavery did not exist. Servants walked the streets masked, in Frigio hats, or hats of liberation. The Saturnals were also celebrated in the army; the party was called the Saturnalicium castrense, when the low-rank soldiers sat next to the generals as equals and toasted together. Dice games and public gambling were allowed, but became prohibited again once Saturnalia ended. Mourning was abolished, while courts and schools were closed; starting war or enforce capital punishment was strictly prohibited. The festivities took such a great degree of chaos that some authors of the time report moving to remote suburban houses for the week of the Saturnalia to avoid the noise.

Saturn was one of the few celebrated Deities, as, in Roman times, Dis Pater and Proserpina were also believed to join the festive processions in winter time. They were to be appeased by gifts, festivities, and food; which was believed to make Them return to the Underworld where, as the Gods of subsoil, They would protect the crops and make them sprout in spring.

The official part of the feast consisted of a solemn sacrifice in the temple attended with bare head and during which the wool bandages that wrapped the feet of Saturn's simulacrum melted. A public banquet followed where all the guests exchanged toasts and wishes.

Further celebratory activities were split into days, and precise rites were done on each day of the festival.

At the beginning of Saturnalia, a rite of lectisternium was held. During the ritual, statues of Jupiter and 12 Olympians were seated in a dining position upon a special bed, or couch, and offered food, prayers, and gifts. They were spoken to with due respect and asked for protection of Rome and its people as well as for help with current affairs. After the first step, a procession was sent off to the Temple of Saturn and animal sacrifices were made at the site. A banquet with cheeses, focaccia, olives, and wine was held, to which everyone was invited - all provided by the state.

Starting day one, no-work days began, and gifts as well as greeting cards were exchanged between the citizens. Myrtle, laurel, and ivy - symbolic elements of the Saturna - were given; the trees were respectively sacred to Venus, Apollo, and Bacchus. The first day was signified by banquets, during which the Princeps of Saturnalia, the ruler of the festivities, Princeps Saturnalicius, was elected. During the first day of the festival, people changed from togas to synthesis and pileus; a casual home robe and a cap like headdress.

On the second day of the festival, Rome was still abundant with noise and feasts, to which everyone invited everyone. Stalls and juggles were in the streets alongside dancers and musicians. Celebrations were accompanied by the feast in honor of Epona, Celtic Goddess of horses, much adorned by the equites, whose importance during Saturnalia was due to Her connection to fertility and richness of feasts. The second day of Saturnalia, the 18th of December, marked the beginning of the triad of days of Mercatus, much similar to today's city fairs.

The third day of Saturnalia was the initial day of the celebration (before the reform of the calendar) and was devoted to the Goddess Ops, Deity of Sabine origin introduced to Rome under Titus Tatius. She was praised as the Deity of abundance, protector of rich harvest, giver of fruits of the Earth, and respected consort of the God Saturn. Her Temple at the Capitol hill was erected on that day, and thus received attention and became a center of worship of the Goddess as it was the anniversary of its establishment. Ops was prayed to and asked for blessings of harvest.

The fourth day of the Saturnian festivals, December 20, was dedicated to gift-giving and worship of the Lares, house guardian Deities of Ancient Rome. Terracotta figurines, sigillaria, were made out of paste, wax, or terracotta. Bronze statues were a rarity as bronze was expensive, while sigillaria made out of sweet dough were meant for the children. These statuettes were exchanged as gifts between the citizens as well as given to Saturn as offerings. He was seen as the God of time, and, thus, Death, and the figurines were to be given to Him as ways to redirect Death from coming for the giver, instead letting the figurine take it.

On the fifth day, Rome was filled with visitors from all across the Empire who came to see the city at its peak, blooming with festivals and street activities such as shops, shows, and a multitude of banquet spots. Fod, souvenirs, sigillaria (sigillaria<sigillum<signum+illum), clothes, ornaments and jewels were sold on the street. Artisans from all over the Empire offered goods made of leather, wood, terracotta, bronze, brass, silver and a special alloy of gold and silver, electrum.

On day six of the festivities Rome welcomed dancers, singers, and other performers from across the Empire who came to join the celebration as the entirety of the Empire was involved in it. Gift-exchanging with the guests, also known as xenia, was performed. Marcus Valerius Martialis wrote Xenia and Apophoreta for the Saturnalia, both of which were published in December and intended to accompany the "guest gifts" that were given at that time of year.

On the seventh - and last - day of the celebrations the Gods were thanked for everything given. The streets were full of torches and braziers, and the day passed between banquets and the baths decorated with ribbons and garlands for the occasion. Aulus Gellius relates that he and his Roman compatriots would gather at the baths in Athens, where they were studying, and pose difficult questions to one another on the ancient poets, a crown of laurel being dedicated to Saturn if no-one could answer them.

Saturnalia ended at sunset.

Sources in pinned.

Shield of Light: A Simple Protection Spell

Ingredients:

A white candle

A small piece of clear quartz or black tourmaline

A pinch of sea salt

A small bowl or dish

Instructions:

1. Preparation:

 Find a quiet and comfortable space where you can focus without distractions. 

Set up your altar or sacred space with your materials.

2. Grounding and Centering

Take a few deep breaths, grounding yourself in the present moment

Visualize roots growing from the soles of your feet, anchoring you to the Earth

Feel your energy centering and aligning with your intentions

3. Candle Preparation

Light the white candle

Hold the quartz or black tourmaline in your hand, infusing it with your intention of protection

4. Casting the Circle

Using the small bowl or dish, create a circle around the candle with a pinch of sea salt, moving clockwise.

As you sprinkle the salt, envision a shimmering barrier forming, shielding, and protecting you from all negativity.

5. Invocation

Call upon the divine or any deity or spirit guide you feel connected to for protection. You can use your own words or try the following:  "I call upon the divine light and protection, Surround me with a shield, strong and true. Guard me against harm, negativity, and deception, May only love and light pass through.“

6. Charging the Crystal

Hold the crystal in your hands and visualize it filling with radiant, protective energy.

State your intention clearly, such as, "This crystal is charged to shield me from all harm and negativity.”

7. Activating the Shield

With the charged crystal in hand, pass it over the flame of the candle, visualizing the flame igniting a powerful, protective light.

As you do this, repeat your intention of protection, reinforcing the shield’s strength.

8. Closing the Ritual

Express gratitude to the divine or any entities you called upon for their protection and assistance.

Extinguish the candle, knowing that the shield of light remains active and present.

9. Maintenance 

Keep the crystal with you, carrying it as a talisman or placing it in a safe and sacred space.

Repeat this spell as needed, especially during times when you feel particularly vulnerable or when facing challenging situations.

Remember, the most powerful protection comes from within. This spell serves as a tool to focus your intentions and amplify your energy, but it’s crucial to cultivate a mindset of self-awareness, discernment, and personal responsibility in maintaining your well-being and protection.

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Just wanted more Apollo with puppies in my life.

𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑑𝑠 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑒 … ✧˖ °🐚✩°｡⋆

Hephaestus :D

I feel very protective over the Sky Father today, so here’s a fair reminder that Zeus was never seen in a disrespectful light by the Ancients, and all of those stories of Him that involve kidnapping of individuals or taking of women never changed the fact He was always seen as Hospitable, Protective, and All-Giving. The trick to start seeing Him as such is to understand that Zeus’ aspects are representations of the idea of masculinity of the time, and His cult needs to be looked at diachronically.

Some of you have to start realizing that there’s a two thousand year gap between the time these stories were written and today’s reignited religion. Zeus never received negative titles, never was written off as cruel or dangerous, was never avoided. Sexual intercourse with a God (yes, even forced) in the Antiquity was not seen a bad because the God would be granting one the kharis of their presence. You can’t speak of the Old Times in modern terms. This alone should hint for you that these stories of forceful takings and kidnapping were seen as a norm for someone of His caliber: and of course they were, Ancient Greece is not comparable in terms of civil rights to our modern countries. He is the King of Gods, He can do what He desires.

Gods evolve, and perspectives change. The renewed Zeus wouldn’t be associated with such matters any longer, though He would still remain as demanding and as controlling as the Ruler of Gods can get. Zeus is not an assaulter or aggressor. These concepts were not seen as a crime or a punishable act two thousand years ago; but they are now. Let the God evolve with the society He is forever connected to and remember that Zeus represents the ideal of man, husband, and ruler.

He is not a dangerous God. You can’t possibly apply societal standards of Antiquity to the modern world, or vice versa, and believe you’ve done good analysis.

Peaky Blinders Season 3 | Episode 2

Revere Hephaestus as a disabled God

Give me Hephaestus in a power chair building ramps in the old Temples. I want Him at His forge, sitting at a lowered table in His wheelchair and reaching for His tools with a hand grabber. Let Him sit in hospitals with burn care patients, showing them scars of His own. Show Him transferring from His wheelchair to His throne, some days with ease, some days with struggles. I want him sitting on a rollator, knees in braces, riding an elevator to the top of Mount Olympus.

Let’s stop portraying Hephaestus as an ‘ugly god’ and revere his disabled form.

And stop using slurs like cr*pple to describe Him.