♡ lilac cream tarts
♡ honey lilac posset
♡ rose honey rice pudding
♡ plum blossom honey panna cotta
♡ wild violet sweethearts
♡ white clover pudding
♡ lavender tea milk punch
♡ dutch puff pancake with lemon curd & primrose cream
all recipes sourced from gathervictoria.com, which also has loads of interesting information on ancestral food traditions, herbalism, and women’s history ❦
Der Oktober ist der magische Monat des „goldenen Herbstes“, in dem alle Laubbäume in unseren Wäldern durch den Zauber der Natur mit purpurroten und bernsteinfarbenen Gewändern geschmückt sind. Alle warmen Farbtöne – Scharlachrot, Gelb, Braungold – sind in den Wäldern zu sehen!
Vögel versammeln sich in Schwärmen und fliegen nach Süden... Aus diesem Grund nannte man die erste Oktoberhälfte „Kranichflug“ (журавлиный лёт). Es wurde angenommen, dass der Winter früh und streng sein würde, wenn die Kraniche früh wegfliegen.
Ende Oktober beginnt die Natur allmählich ihre Farben zu verlieren und gleichzeitig werden die Grenzen zwischen den Welten dünner. Deshalb sind die Oktoberfeiertage ungewöhnlich: ruhig, heimelig, zum Nachdenken gedacht und nicht laut. Schließlich sind diese Tage mit der schmalen Grenze zwischen Leben und Tod verbunden. Im Oktober ehren wir die Ahnen, feiern den Tag von Makosch und beenden den Monat mit der geheimnisvollen Nacht von Veles.
4. Oktober: Verabschiedung von Wasser- und Waldgeister
An diesem Tag gingen unsere Ahnen nicht in den Wald und ans Wasser, sie hatten Respekt vor Geistern, die vor dem Winter Lärm machen. Aber am Vorabend oder am Tag danach können wir Geschenke und Leckereien für Wasser- und Waldgeister hinterlassen.
14. Oktober: Pokrowa
Das Fest des ersten Schnees, der die Erde bedeckt und vor der Winterkälte schützt. Zeit der Hochzeiten. Dieser Feiertag gibt uns die Möglichkeit, die Beziehungen zu zweit zu verbessern oder die Ursachen von Einsamkeit und bitterem Schicksal zu heilen. Es wird angenommen, dass an diesen Tagen der Pokrowa alle Rituale für die Liebe eine besondere Kraft haben.
22. bis 29. Oktober: Feier der Herbst-Ahnen
Woche der Ahnenehrung. In der Übergangszeit im Herbst, wenn die Grenzen zwischen den Welten dünn sind, kommen die Geister der Ahnen zu uns. Wir laden sie mit Ritualen ein und sie geben uns ihre Kraft und Unterstützung.
27. Oktober: Herbst Makosch – unser Zuhause
Es gibt mehrere Makosch-Freitage im Jahr, und einer der wichtigsten ist der im Oktober. An diesem Tag führen Frauen Rituale für die Göttin Makosch durch und bitten sie um ein sicheres, gemütliches Zuhause voller Liebe und Harmonie.
31. Oktober bis 1. November: Nacht des Gottes Veles
Gott Veles öffnet die Grenze zwischen den Welten und die Zeit ist magisch. Dieser alte Feiertag ist für den modernen Menschen ungewöhnlich. Es wird nicht von fröhlichen und lauten Festlichkeiten begleitet. In der mysteriösen Nacht von Veles versuchten die Menschen, ruhig zu bleiben und das Haus nicht ohne guten Grund zu verlassen. Dieser Feiertag war die Zeit des Übergangs vom Licht zur Dunkelheit, in der sich die Grenzen zwischen den Welten öffnen und die Wege ganz und gar nicht dorthin führen, wo man sie erwartet hat.
https://t.me/rodowesta
In alten Zeiten wurde das Wildschwein nicht nur wegen seiner physischen Stärke und seines Mutes während der Jagd bewundert, sondern auch als heiliges Tier verehrt, das eng mit der Erdmutter und der Fruchtbarkeit der Natur verbunden ist.
Die Kelten sahen im Wildschwein eine Manifestation der Kraft des Kriegers und des Durchsetzungsvermögen. Es wurde oft in Geschichten und Legenden als Beschützer der Wälder und ihrer Geheimnisse dargestellt.
In der keltischen Geschichte wird das Wildschwein häufig zusammen mit Kriegern und Göttern abgebildet, was seine Bedeutung als Symbol der Macht und des Schutzes unterstreicht.
Für diejenigen, die sich vom Wildschwein angezogen fühlen, mag es eine Einladung sein, die eigenen inneren Stärken zu erkunden, den Mut zu finden, sich Unbekanntem zu stellen, und die Führung zu übernehmen, wenn der Weg vor uns ungewiss ist...
🌱Earth spirits are just about the easiest ones to make contact with. Their forms tend to be less subtle than those of many fairies,and they generally stick to one place- so if you feel a location is haunted by these beings, it will always be haunted. Wherever anything grows, there will be a fairy to attend to it.
🌱 Earth fairies love gardens,and will gather round you while you are planting and watering. At the end of a hot day they exult when you get out the hose or watering can, and will dance among the refreshed flowers with glee. Often they do not like you weeding,though,so make sure you always do this with respect. Leave a patch of your garden to grow wild, for the fairies love this and it creates a space for all the plants that are unwelcome elsewhere- just because humans do not like them, this does not mean they do not have a valuable place in the scheme of things.
To draw close to the gnomes,settle quietly in your garden or in a park,woodland, field, or hillside- close to a barrow-mound may be the most powerful place of all. Gnomes of the deep earth may be experienced in a cave or hollow,whereas others may be more of the flower- or tree-fairy types. Let your bare feet and hands make contact with the earth,mud or stone. Beat a soft rhythm on a drum,if you wish.
Be very still, relaxed,and quiet. Try not to see anything,because that will put you in the wrong frame of mind. Just be there, and be observant- these spirits do not show themselves in the ways you might expect, and seeing them can seem almost ordinary.
Be aware of any little movements out of the corner of your eye, for that is where spirits are often first perceived. An animal running in the undergrowth may also be a shy gnome in disguise. Look out for the face of the Green Man among the leaves, and watch flowers, for they can also be sweet faces, nodding and smiling.
To show they have drawn close to you, gnomes will often give you a tangible gift,such as a coin or a piece of jewelry. If you find this on your path,treasure it, for it is very lucky.
Grimoire/book of Shadows decoration ideas and ideas of what to put in them:
I struggle sometimes with what to write in my grimoire, so I thought I’d write a list to help myself and others :) and even though I keep my personal grimoire plain on the covers, I will include decoration ideas because not all people want theirs plain, and the decoration could also be for the inner pages :)
📖 paint the covers a colour or pattern that gives you energy
📖 a picture collage
📖 a pressed flower and leaf collage
📖 draw sigils, which are practical as well as pretty
📖 draw a pendulum or ouija board in your book, which is also functional as well as decorative
📖 washi tape borders, book marks and page keys!
📖 when writing in your grimoire, you can separate bits of information in boxes. Using coloured pens/pencils or patterned lines looks nice :)
📖 carefully paint the edges of the pages. I like it when this is done with metallic paint but the colour is a personal choice :)
✨ write a list of trees, types of animals, flowers etc that you feel a connection to if you think nature is important to your craft
✨ you could also do a list of objects in general
✨ write magical recipes that you like into your grimoire and what properties you feel the finished product has
✨ a list of your crystals and stones and what vibe they give off, and their properties
✨ write about solstices if you follow them
✨ when you do a spell, I recommend writing down your method and what result you got, for future reference. This way you can repeat the spell easily and it can be tweaked if necessary :)
✨ write about deities you have a connection to, if any
✨ write about your familiar if you have one
✨ If you feel drawn to a certain type of animal, you could write about what animal you have this feeling towards. It may be worth looking into getting one if your situation allows it! I believe that the animal I feel drawn to (more so after practicing witchcraft for a while!) could be a future familiar for me. For example you could write about how to care for them, whether they have any magical connotations, and name ideas if you think you’ll get one! :)
✨ tarot card spreads
✨ results of tarot/pendulum/ouija sessions
✨a list of sigils so you can remember them (they don’t have to be activated if they’re just for reference)
✨ if you feel drawn to a particular tarot card or one of your pendulums (if you don’t have multiple pendulums that’s fine! You could write about the one you have) write about it and how it makes you feel
✨ magical correspondences of herbs
✨ general information about the path you follow (or if you are eclectic, parts of each type that interests you :))
Obviously there is way more to write about and way more decoration ideas! Feel free to reblog and add ideas if you have any!!
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Iron in any form or shape has always been considered the very best protection against fae – in almost all legends, the metal is like kryptonite to Superman. If you kept an iron nail in your pocket, you couldn’t be carried away by them. Sometimes iron nails were sewn into the hems of children’s clothing for that reason. A pair of iron shears hung on the wall near a baby’s bed was said to prevent the child from being swapped for an ugly fae baby.
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Steel is also effective against the faeries because it is created from processed iron. If a faery is cut by a steel or iron blade, the wound will not heal or will take a very long time. In some stories, the Fae is slowly poisoned by such a wound. Steel or iron weapons are among the few things that can actually kill a Fae being.
However, unless it was plainly self-defense (and sometimes even that wouldn’t help your case), you could expect the rest of the faeries to exact a terrible retribution!
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You can put one above the main entrance of your house and it will help protect the entire home. For added protection, put iron near any opening a person could go through. If you have large windows, you may want to place some nails near it to make a barrier. You can do the same with your dog’s house to keep the fairies out.
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Bells were also said to have frightened off evil faeries in Medieval Ireland and elsewhere in Europe. Specifically the big, deep-sounding Church bells that would ring to draw the people to Church. So this theory can be applied to your home by hanging deep-toned chimes on your front or back porch or by using deep sounding bells during magickal ritual.
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Traditionally, bread and salt provided protection from the Fae. Carrying yeast-risen bread with you had a two-fold effect. It would repel some faeries. Other faeries would accept it as an offering and leave you alone.
My gramma taught me a Welsh tradition of leaving a saucer of milk and a slice of bread or some bread crusts on the back porch as an offering to the faeries, so they wouldn’t play pranks on the family or trouble the livestock. Sometimes, if you were seeking the faeries’ aid, you might add berries, honey, or cheese.
Even humble oatmeal was believed to be a fairy repellent. You could carry a handful of dry oatmeal in your pocket or sprinkle it on your clothes. As long as you didn’t mind looking flaky, you’d be safe.
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Salt’s association with purity made it an excellent tool against otherworldly beings. Spreading salt across the threshold and along the windowsills has long been the primary method of keeping faeries, demons, and spirits out of houses. If you had to carry food to the farmhands in the fields, sprinkling it with salt was said to keep the faeries from taking it – or from extracting the nourishment from it unseen!
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Leave a pail of fresh milk, butter, or cream outside of your front door on the eight holy days to appease the fae and keep them from wreaking havoc on garden and home. Leaving faery offerings and libations dates back hundreds of years, and if you have any Celtic ancestors, you probably have ancestors who partook in this tradition. Some people in Europe still do! This is a preventative method of protection from trickster and evil fairies. Make them happy at the back door so they don’t intrude.
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Historically, garlands were often made of marsh marigolds and hung over the barn doors to protect the horses from being ridden to exhaustion by faeries in the night. Flowers, especially primroses, were spread over windowsills and hung above the door-posts of the house for safety. Your best bet, however, was a plant called St. John’s Wort. Wearing it was said to provide strong protection from fairy magic and mischief.
Fairies could vanish at will and remain invisible to mortal eyes for as long as they pleased. Carrying a four-leafed clover would allow you to see the faeries – but only once. A Celtic tradition was to sew several of the clovers into a tiny bag to be worn around the neck. You could then discern the faeries once for each clover in the bag. In some legends, the clover was said to allow you to see through fairy glamors and magical disguises.
Red berries were believed to keep fae at bay, especially if they were from rowan trees, mountain ash or holly. So did red verbena (a flower). Daisies were often tucked into children’s pockets or woven into fanciful chains to wear around their necks to prevent them from being taken away by the fae. And if you were walking through the woods, it was best to carry a walking stick or staff made of ash or rowan wood.
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At this season, the Winter Court is in rule and you will want to look out for malicious, harmful beings in your interactions with the fae. You can make yourself a protection charm using:
St. John’s Wort
Sea Salt
Lemon Zest
Rosemary
Eggshells
An Iron Nail
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One of the MOST effective forms of protection against evil faeries (and other spirits in general) is to invite your ancestors and gods into your home. Once your guides and guardians take up residence in your home, they do most of the work of keeping out negative forces like evil fairies and the like. In fact, my ancestors are SO good at protection, I have to ask their permission to allow any other spirits inside the home!
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Decorate a small box by painting it and gluing on glitter or plastic gems. Inside place leaves, pinecones, crystals, and plants. Add a piece of felt or fleece in the centre as a soft bed you can add essential oil to. Draw a sigil on it that will protect you from harmful fae. At night, light a fake candle by the box, and leave out some food.
Make sure to protect yourself from negative influence. Then invite those of good intention to see the place you’ve prepared for them to rest in, and stay with you through the night if they wish to. Leave the candle on, as long as it’s a fake one, and then go to bed.
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Another effective yet simple technique of faery protection consists of using one’s mind and energy. If you are used to using visualization in your meditations, rituals, and spells, this method of fae protection should be familiar to you. It’s what I like to call the Circle of Light.
You can do this visualization exercise any time of the day, any day of the week and as often as you’d like. For me particularly, I do it every night as I’m lying in bed and before I go to sleep to continue to build the circle’s strength around my home
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Fae folk are unable to cross streams and rivers, so in any pursuit leaping from bank to bank will be a sure escape for the hunted human. Water courses running south are said to be especially efficacious.
Oddly, nevertheless, fae seem to have no objection to still water. They actively seek it out for washing themselves and they are from time to time associated with wells. For example John Rhys in Celtic folklore (1901, p.147 & chapter 6) notes the existence of several ‘faery wells’ in Wales which demanded attention from local people, in the absence of which they would overflow or flood.
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According to John Aubrey, if a person could locate stones through which natural erosion had created a hole, they could protect their horses from night-riding by fae by hanging the stones over each horse’s manger in the stables- or by tying the stone to the stable key. The fairies would not then be able to pass underneath.
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Sources : http://aminoapps.com/p/4sn2it
Okay, so I’ve updated the original list about a hundred times since I first posted it and now there are a hundred different versions re-blogged all over Tumblr 😅
So I just decided to rewrite and update it and post it as a new list. I’m confident that this version has enough detail and is organized enough to help the novice, enthusiast, polytheist and whoever else get a basic understanding of the Greek gods.
THE TWELVE OLYMPIANS + DIONYSUS & HADES
THE GODS & GODDESSES WHO RESIDE ON OLYMPUS
Zeus ( ΖΕΥΣ ) Pronounced: zĕfs; the diphthong εύ is pronounced like the ef in ‘left’.
Zeus is the supreme god of the Greeks. It is said even fate is subservient to him. He is the great olympian, whom even the gods obey; he is the king and father of gods and men. His sister Hera sits at his side and is his equal. He oversees and manages the whole cosmos, he hears everything; therefore it would have to be assumed that he possesses some sort of omnipresence. Zeus is the source of all prophecy and Apollo speaks his oracles. He rules the sky, lightning and thunder and tempest (winds), which he produces by shaking his mighty Aegis. He cares for all the affairs and sufferings of man and punishes those who commit injustice. He presides over the entire state and every family and person. The dominion of Zeus is that of justice, law and order. Zeus is god of hosts and god of guests who protects travelers and strangers and presides over hospitality and the rights and sanctity of suppliants. He presides over oaths, which are sworn to his name. The lion and the eagle are associated with him, as well as the oak.
Hera ( ΗΡΑ ) Pronounced: EE-rah.
Hera is often depicted in the mythology as an angry wife, defending her marriage against what is portrayed as Zeus’ infidelity. She pursues and torments the recipients of her husband’s advances, including the resulting offspring, most famously Herakles. While the mythology fabricates a negative impression of the goddess, her majesty and greatness of soul are ineffably prodigious. Hera is the queen of the heavens, the matriarch, she looks over women and their families, and protects the institution of marriage and the fidelity which should accompany it. She is on equal footing with Zeus and possess the same amount of power and authority over the cosmos. Similar to Artemis and other goddesses, she watches over childbirth.
Poseidon ( Ποσειδῶν ) Pronounced: poh-see-DOHN, accent on the last syllable
According to the mythology, he was determined by lot to have dominion over the seas and oceans. Therefore, he has the ability to grant safe voyage over the sea and save seafarers from marine calamity. Poseidon is said to have a similar power as Zeus, the ability to cause storms, but at sea. He has a particular interest in horses, according to Homer, he created the horse, and taught man how to ride with the bridal. He is said to have instituted the racing of horses. Poseidon is described as holding the earth, because his dominion, the sea, is thought to surround the earth, and, therefore, he has the ability to shake the earth, i.e. to produce earthquakes.
Demeter ( Δημήτηρ ) Pronounced : dee-MEE-teer, the d (delta) is pronounced like the soft th in ‘this’.
Demeter is the great Goddess of fertility and of the fruitful earth. She has given us agriculture and, particularly, the cultivation of fruits, vegetables and grains, and by doing so she has given us the ability to rise above the level of the beasts of the world. She is the goddess of abundance, breathing life into the seed, allowing all plant, animal and human life to grow and multiply. Demeter is the mother and the giver of food and nourishment. Because she is in control of the life and death cycle of nature she is also worshipped as the goddess of seasons. Demeter gives us awesome mysteries which sweeten our lot in this life and bestow hope for good things after death. She is one of several goddesses who protects marriage and bestows peace and the laws which enable peace to flourish.
Hestia ( ΕΣΤΙΑ ) Pronounced: ĕs-TEE-ah.
Hestia is a virgin goddess. According to the homeric hymn to Aphrodite, Apollo and Poseidon asked her hand in marriage, but she swore an oath to Zeus to remain a maiden. In ancient times the temple of delphi was the home of an eternal flame or hearth representing the fire of the goddess. In like manner, every city had a sacred hearth which ordinarily procured its fire from delphí. The fire of Hestia dwells in the hearth of the home. Since the hearth, symbolically, is the center of the home, and the goddess is its fire, Hestia is the source of all the blessings of domestic life, the very founder and support of the family. Hestia is, therefore, the tutelary goddess of the home and, by extension, she is the protector of the safety and concord of the state. She is the recipient of the first portion of all sacrifices. In every ritual, she is honored first, always, with the recitation of her orphic hymn. In addition, it is traditional to offer a libation before and after meals to her.
Hephaestus ( ΗΦΑΙΣΤΟΣ ) Pronounced: EE-fĕs-tohs, with the accent on the first syllable.
The most important characteristic of Hephaestus is his fire. In the theogony, he, along with his sister Athena, were taught skills by the cyclopes. They taught him how to make beautiful works of bronze. He is depicted in the mythology as dwelling in a glorious palace in Olympus, in which he crafts beautiful things such as the armor of Achilles, the palaces of the gods, their jewelry, and many other things. Therefore, Hephaestus is associated with workers, smiths, sculptors, skill, and craftsmen. Both Hephaestus and Athena bestow skills to artists and craftsmen and teach the arts to civilize and beautify life. He is the son of Hera and Zeus, this according to Apollodorus, although some sources say that he is a “wind-child” of Hera alone, that is, conceived without the help of Zeus, this according to Hesiod.
Athena ( ΑΘΗΝΑ ) Pronounced: ah-thee-NAH, the accent falling on the final syllable, or not accenting any syllable.
Athena is the daughter of Zeus and Metis. Zeus swallowed Metis while she was pregnant with Athena for fear that Metis would give birth to a son who would overthrow him. Hephaestus, split the head of Zeus with an axe and Athena emerged in full battle-gear. Athena is prudently warlike in that she protects the state from external enemies. She is the protector and companion of heroes such as Odysseus and Perseus, who are distinguished for their valor and strength of character. Athena is a great goddess of wisdom, knowledge, and the arts: those things and institutions which civilize man and distribute wise counsel. She maintains and protects law and justice and has an interest in everything which creates stability, strength and abundance in the state. She is the patroness of invention, weaving, various crafts, and martial metalwork and martial craft. She invented all sorts of womanly arts. She invented numbers, the trumpet, the chariot, and navigation. Athena taught mankind to yoke oxen, having invented the plow and rake. She taught the breeding and taming of horses. Like Artemis and Hestia, Athena is a virgin Goddess.
Hermes ( ΕΡΜΗΣ ) Pronounced : ĕr-MEES, accent on the second syllable and rolling the r very slightly.
Hermes is the great herald. He is the angel or messenger of Zeus. He also performs this task for others of the high gods in all the three realms. Thus he is a great god of speech; he is the deity who bestows skill, cleverness, and eloquence in language and communication, as well as gracefulness in social interactions and persuasion. Hermes is the messenger who delivers to man the dreams sent by Zeus in sleep. He is the psycho pomp, the great escort, who guides the souls of the dead as they embark on their journey between lives. He is the great friend of mankind and the protector of slaves as well as their liberator. The interests of Hermes include commerce and measures and weights, and thus he bestows wealth, especially unexpected good fortune. He watches over roads and protects travelers. Thus, statues of the god were erected at forks in roads and doors and gates. Hermes is associated with gymnastic games and is the patron of the gymnasium. Hermes invented the military arts, numbers and the alphabet, and the science of astronomy. A pastoral god, he protects the flocks and bestows fertility to sheep and protection to shepherds and pastures.
Apollon ( ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝ ) Pronounced ah-POH-lohn.
Apollon speaks out the unfailing testament of his father Zeus, at whose right hand he sits. He is the god of truth for he never tells a lie. He is the patron of the divine, prophets and oracles. Zeus speaks through Apollon and Apollon speaks through his oracles. He is the god of light, who has dominion over the sun (Helios) itself. He is not the personification of the sun, despite what some ancient literature would have us believe; he simply has dominion over it, especially it’s light. The actual sun god is Helios. He is the great god of enlightenment, fostering everything which brings about understanding: reason, education, logic, knowledge, and every kind of expansive thinking. Like his sister Artemis, Apollon possesses the bow and arrow. He rules over the realms of archery. He is believed to use his arrows to both bring disease upon men and boys and relieve them of it. He is a skilled musician who plays the cithara, a type of lyre. Apollon is involved with all which is splendid, music, song, poetry, theatre, dance, science, astronomy, history, and literature.
Artemis (ΑΡΤΕΜΙΣ) Pronounced: AHR-tæ-mees
Like Athena and Hestia, Artemis is a virgin goddess. She is unblemished and overflowing with wholesomeness, energy, and health, all of which she bestows on mortals. She is the patron of the wilderness and the animals that call it their home. She prefers to run through the countryside, forests and mountains with her entourage of maidens and hunting dogs. Artemis protects children generally, young girls before they marry, and the sucklings and young of wildlife. She assists in childbirth and protects the flocks of herdsmen. Artemis has dominion over the moon (Selene) itself. She is not the personification of the moon, despite what some ancient literature would have us believe; she simply has dominion over it, especially it’s light and the effect it has on nature. The actual moon goddess is Selene. She is the huntress who pursues game and like her brother, she possesses the bow and arrow. She is believed to use her arrows to both bring disease upon women and girls and relieve them of it. She can be seen in the iconography hunting and is, therefore, the goddess of the chase.
Aphrodite ( ΑΦΡΟΔΙΤΗ ) Pronounced ah-froh-DEE-tee, roll the ‘r’ slightly; the d (δέλτα) is pronounced like the soft th in ‘this’
Aphrodite is the great goddess of sexuality and beauty. She is said to be the most beautiful and desirable of all the goddesses and no one, except Athena, Hestia and Artemis, can ignore her powers. She is often associated with the sea because of the mythology that she was born from the foam which arose from the severed genitals of Ouranos which fell into the ocean, and, thus, the scallop-shell is associated with her. Aphrodite is the personification of nature’s generative ability. Thus, she is popularly believed to be the goddess of love and procreation, and thought of as the most beautiful and graceful of the gods. Like the Goddess Hera, Aphrodite governs and blesses marriage. She possesses a girdle or belt which has the ability to attract the object of one’s desire to the one who wears it. The poppy flower as well as the rose, myrtle, and the apple are sacred to her. The dove and the swan are birds which are sacred to the goddess, as well as swallows and sparrows.
Ares ( ΑΡΗΣ ) Pronounced: AH-rees.
Ares is the deity who presides over courage and war. According to the mythology, Eris or strife, the sister of Ares, calls forth war supported by her many children, and that Zeus, who has dominion over fate, directs its course. Ares is accompanied by his sons Deimos (Fear) and Phobus (Strife) and his other sister Enyo, the goddess of battle. It is said that Ares loves war. He is known to relish in the confusion and roar of battle, and thus he confronts these struggles with great force and pleasure. And because he has dominion over war, over battles, over struggles, he loves and understands it. The greeks were ambivalent toward him. He embodies the physical valor necessary for success in war but can also personify sheer brutality and blood-lust. An association with Ares endows places, objects and other deities with a savage, dangerous, or militarized quality.
The Question of Dionysus and Hades (Plouton)
Many sources include Dionysus as one of the Olympians. Those who promote this belief say that Hestia stepped down from her seat and gave it to Dionysus. This silly idea was concocted by English poet and novelist Robert Graves. There is no evidence of this idea from antiquity and it is not even viewed as worthy of discussion by teachers and scholars. For many reasons, the idea does not make any sense at all. The tradition held by many is strictly Orphic. While Dionysus is not an Olympian, he is incredibly important. He is the great son of Zeus but he is not an Olympian God!
Although Hades is a major Greek god and was the brother of the first generation of Olympians (Zeus, Poseidon, Hera, Demeter, and Hestia), his realm is the underworld, far from Olympus, and thus he was not usually considered to be one of the Olympians.
Dionysus ( ΔΙΟΝΥΣΟΣ ) Pronounced: The D in Dionysus is pronounced like the soft th in thee, not like the hard th in thesis. The accent is on the second syllable: thee-OH-nee-sohs.) Dionysus is commonly called by the name Vákkhos (Βάκχος) or Anglicized as Bacchus.
Dionysus is the god of wine, vegetation, pleasure, festivity, madness and wild frenzy. He is depicted as either an older, bearded god or an effeminate, long-haired youth. His attributes include the thyrsos (a pine-cone tipped staff), a drinking cup and a crown of ivy. He is usually accompanied by a troop of Satyrs and Mainades (wild female devotees). The origins of theater in the west have their roots in ancient Greece, with their source the festivals of Dionysus called the Rural Dionýsia. It is said that the plays began as performances of religious hymns by groups of men in goat-masks, the goat being sacred to the god. Dionysus is described as the god of drunkenness and irrationality. He is often contrasted with his brother Apollon who exemplifies moderation and reason. According to the orphic theology, Zeus conceived his son, Dionysus, who came to mankind with his mysteries to free them from the sorrowful cycle of births. Dionysus is the action of Zeus working on earth in a plan to save us from our suffering.
Hades ( Ἅιδης ) Pronounced: HAY deez and / or Plouton ( Πλούτων ) Pronounced: PLOO-tohn
Hades is the king of the underworld and god of the dead. Not only does he have patronage over the souls of the dead but is a terrestrial (chthonic) deity as well. He presides over funeral rites and defends the right of the dead to due burial. Hades is also the god of the hidden wealth of the earth, from the fertile soil which nourishes the seed-grain, to the mined wealth of gold, silver and other metals. Hades is depicted as a dark-bearded, regal god. He is depicted as either Aidoneus, enthroned in the underworld, holding a bird-tipped scepter, or as Plouton (Pluton), the giver of wealth, pouring fertility from a cornucopia. The Romans named him Dis, or Pluto, the Latin form of his Greek title Plouton, “the Lord of Riches”.
THE PRIMORDIAL GODS
THE FIRST GENERATION OF GODS
Achlys- The goddess and personification of the death-mist–the clouding of the eyes preceding death, goddess of poisons. The personification of misery and sadness. Said to have existed before Chaos itself.
Aether - The god and personification of light and the upper atmosphere.
Aion- The god and personification of eternity, personifying cyclical and unbounded time.
Ananke- The goddess and personification of inevitability, compulsion, and necessity.
Chaos- The goddess and personification of nothingness from which all of existence sprang. Depicted as a void. Initially genderless, later on described as female.
Chronus- The god and personification of empirical time, sometimes equated with Aion. Not to be confused with the Titan Cronos (Kronos), the father of Zeus.
Erebus- The personification of darkness and shadow.
Gaia – The goddess and personification of the earth. The ancestral mother of all life. Mother of the titans and wife of Ouranos.
Hemera- The goddess and personification of the day.
Hypnos – The god and personification of sleep. Brother of Thanatos.
Nemesis- The goddess and personification of retribution. Also called Rhamnousia or Rhamnusia
Nesoi - The goddesses and personifications of the islands and seas. They were thought to have been ‘Ourea’ who were cast under the sea during one of Poseidon’s rages.
Nyx - The goddess and personification of the night.
Ourea- The gods and personifications of the mountains. the deep abyss that is used as a dungeon of torment and suffering for the wicked and as the prison for the Titans.
Phanes- A first-born god of light who was said to emerge from a void or a watery abyss and gave birth to the universe. Orphic tradition states that Phanes passed the sceptre to Nyx; she later gave the sceptre to her son Ouranos; Cronus seized the sceptre from his father Ouranos; and finally the sceptre held by Cronus was seized by Zeus, who holds it at present.
Pontus- The first sea god, father of the fish and other sea creatures. Husband of Thalassa.
Tartarus- Both a deity and a place in the underworld. The deep abyss that is used as a dungeon of torment and suffering for the wicked and as the prison for the Titans.
Thalassa- The goddess and personification of the sea and consort of Pontus.
Thanatos - God and personification of death. Brother to Hypnos (Sleep) and in some cases Moros (Doom).
Ouranus (Uranus) - The god and personification of the sky and one of the Greek primordial deities. According to Hesiod, Uranus was the son and husband of Gaia (Earth), with whom he fathered the first generation of Titans.
THE TITANS
THE SECOND GENERATION OF GODS
Anchiale- Titan goddess who perhaps represented the warmth of fire.
Anytus- One of the younger titans or curetes. Anytus was said to be an attendant of the goddess Demeter who fostered her arcadian daughter Despoine.
Asteria- Titan goddess who presided over the night, stars and nocturnal prophecy. She was the mother of the goddess Hecate. After the fall of the titans, Asteria was pursued by Zeus and but leapt into the sea to escape him where she was transformed into the island of delos.
Astraeus- Titan god of the dusk, he married Eos, goddess of the dawn. Together as nightfall and daybreak they produced many children who are associated with what occurs in the sky during twilight. He was originally a titan god of the stars, the winds, and the art of astrology. He is the father of the four directional winds and the five wandering stars (the planets).
Atlas- Originally a titan god of astronomy and the revolution of the heavenly constellations. After the titan war he was arrested by Zeus and condemned to bear the heavens upon his shoulders.
Aura- Titan goddess of the breeze and the fresh, cool air of early morning.
Clymene- Titan goddess of fame and renown. She was the wife of Iapetos and mother of Prometheus.
Coeus- Titan god who presided over the axis of heaven in the north around which the constellations revolve. At the end of the titan war, he was confined by Zeus into tartarus.
Crius- Titan god of the heavenly constellations and the measure of the year. Associated with the constellation Aries. He was later cast into tartarus by Zeus. Crius was sometimes named as a leader of the Gigantes who rebelled against the rule of Zeus.
Cronos - The youngest of the titans, the son of Οuranos (Uranus) and Gaia. He was married to Rhea, by whom he became the father of Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, Poseidon and Zeus, who are known collectively as the Cronidae. Cronos should not be confused with Chronus.
Curetes- A group of shield clashing daimones who came to the aid of Rhea to act as guardians of her infant son Zeus. The child was hidden in a cave on Mount Ida in crete. They drowned out his cries with a frenzied dance of clashing spears and shields.
Dione- Titan goddess who presides over the oracle at Dodona alongside Zeus. Sometimes named the mother of Aphrodite in some sources.
Eos- Titan goddesses who is the personification of the dawn. She is the mother of the wandering stars (the planets) and the four directional winds by the titan Astraeus who represents the dusk.
Epimetheus- Titan god who was appointed with the task of creating the beasts of the earth. His wife was Pandora, the first woman, as a means to deliver evil into the house of man. Despite the warnings of his brother Prometheus, Epimetheus happily received her as his bride, but as soon as she arrived she lifted the lid of a jar entrusted to her by the gods, releasing a plague of harmful daimones (spirits) to trouble mankind.
Eurybia- Titan goddess who represented the power of the sea and rising of the constellations.
Eurynome- Titan goddess who was believed to rule over earth’s flowery meadows and pastures. Her true identity isn’t fully known. Some sources say she was the first titan queen who ruled beside the titan Ophion who were both eventually replaced by Cronos and Rhea. She is also said to be the mother of the three lovely graces by Zeus.
Hecate / Hekate- Titan goddess of boundaries, crossroads, witchcraft, ghosts and necromancy. She supported the olympians in the titan war and ended up retained all of her privileges. Revered as a goddess of great honor, she was given domain over the sky, earth, and sea. Hecate is associated with the mythology of the eleusian mysteries. She and Helios, the sun, were the only witnesses to the abduction of Persephone. Feeling bad for Demeter, Hecate assisted her in her search for her daughter with flaming torches.
Helios - Titan god and personification of the sun. He is said to ride across the sky in a chariot drawn by four fiery, winged horses. He is brother to the goddess Selene (moon). He supported the Olympians in the titan war and retained all of his privileges as a solar deity. He is a guardian of oaths and also the god of sight.
Hyperion- Titan god of light, and of the cycles of time measured by the lights of heaven – the sun, the moon and the dawn. Hyperion was one of the four brother titans who held Ouranos fast while Cronus castrated him with the sickle. At the end of the titan war he was cast into the pit of tartarus by Zeus.
Iapetos- Titan god of mortality and the allotment of the mortal life-span. He was cast into tartarus by Zeus at the end of the titan war.
Lelantos- Titan god of the breezes of the air.
Leto- Titan goddess of motherhood, womanly demure and the night. She is the mother of the twin gods Apollo and Artemis by Zeus.
Menoitios- Titan god of violent anger and rash action. Zeus blasted him into Erebus with a thunderbolt, where he became a bondsman of Hades.
Metis- Titan goddess of memory and good counsel who was swallowed by Zeus. The Mother of Athena.
Mnemosyne- Titan goddess of memory, words and language. She was the mother of the nine muses by Zeus.
Oizys - Goddess of misery, anxiety, grief, and depression.
Okeanos- Titan god of the oceans. Husband of Tethys and father of the rivers and lakes. According to Hesiod, Oceanus sent his daughter Styx, with her children Zelus Envy), Nike (Victory), Cratos (Power), and Bia (Force), to fight on Zeus’ side against the titans. During the war Hera was sent to Oceanus and Tethys for safekeeping.
Perses- Titan god of destruction. Father of Hecate.
Phoebe- Titan goddess of bright intellect and was the original prophet of the oracle of delphi. She was the grandmother of the gods Apollo and Artemis.
Prometheus- Titan god of forethought. He is best known for defying the gods by stealing fire from them and giving it to humanity in the form of technology, knowledge, and more generally, civilization. In some versions of the myth he is also credited with the creation of humanity from clay.
Rhea – Titan goddess who was the mother of the gods, and goddess of female fertility, motherhood, and generation. Rhea was the wife of the titan Cronos and queen of heaven. She had six children with Cronos: Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus in that order.
Selene -Titan goddess and personification of the moon. She rode across the sky in a silver chariot drawn by two white horses. Her brother is the god Helios (sun). She supported the Olympians in the Titan war and retained all of her privileges as a lunar deity. Selene is best known for her affair with the beautiful mortal Endymion.
Styx- Titan goddess and river that forms the boundary between the earth and the underworld. The rivers acheron, cocytus, lethe, phlegethon, and styx all converge at the center of the underworld on a great marsh, which sometimes is also called the Styx. According to Herodotus, the river Styx originates near Pheneus. Styx is also a goddess with prehistoric roots in Greek mythology as a daughter of Tethys, after whom the river is named and because of whom it had miraculous powers.
Tethys- Titan goddess of the sources of fresh-water. She was known as the great nurse of life and spawned the rivers, clouds and springs. She was the wife of the titan Oceanus, and the mother of the river gods and the Oceanids.
Theia- Titan goddess of sight and by extension the goddess who endowed gold, silver and gems with their brilliance and intrinsic value. She was the mother of Helios, Selene and Eos.
Themis- Titan goddess of the natural order, divine law and tradition. By Zeus she was the mother of the Fates and of the seasons, and has a seat by his side on Olympus as adviser.
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THE EROTES
A group of winged gods associated with love and sexual intercourse. They are part of Aphrodite’s retinue.
Anteros - The god of requited love. He punishes those who scorned love and the advances of others, and is the avenger of unrequited love.
Eros - The winged god of love, lust and sex. In the earliest account, he is a primordial god, while in later accounts he is described as one of the children of Aphrodite and Ares.
Hedylogos - The god of sweet-talk and flattery. He is not mentioned in any existing literature, but is depicted on ancient Greek vase paintings.
Hermaphroditus - The god of hermaphrodites, effeminacy and androgyny. He is the son of Hermes and Aphrodite.
Himeros - The god of desire and unrequited love.
Hymenaeus / Hymen - The god of weddings and marriage.
Pothos - The god of longing or yearning.
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THE NINE MUSES
The inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts. They are considered the source of the knowledge embodied in the poetry, lyric songs, and myths that are related orally for centuries in ancient Greek culture.
Calliope - Epic poetry
Clio - History
Euterpe - Flutes and music
Thalia - Comedy and pastoral poetry
Melpomene - Tragedy
Terpsichore - Dance
Erato - Love, poetry and lyric poetry
Polyhymnia - Sacred poetry
Urania - Astronomy
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THE ONEIROI
The Oneiroi are the dark-winged spirits of dreams which emerge each night like a flock of bats from their cavernous home in Erebos. The Oneiroi passed through one of two gates (pylai). The first of these, made of horn, was the source of the prophetic god-sent dreams, while the other, constructed of ivory, was the source of dreams which were false and without meaning.
Epiales - The god and personified spirit of nightmares. He was also known as the melas oneiros “black dream”
Ikelos - The god and personification of people seen in prophetic dreams;
Morpheus - God of dreams. The name signifies the fashioner or moulder, because he shaped or formed the dreams which appeared to the sleeper.
Phantasos- God of strange and surreal dreams. They are said to be symbolic and of a deep meaningful nature.
Phobetor- God of nightmares.
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THE FOUR SEASONS:
They are the daughters of the titans Helios and Selene, and are described as the four handmaidens of Hera:
Eiar (Spring)
Theros (Summer)
Phthinoporon (Autumn)
Cheimon (Winter)
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THE TWELVE HOURS:
Auge, first light (initially not part of the set),
Anatolê or Anatolia, sunrise,
Mousikê or Musica, the morning hour of music and study,
Gymnastikê, Gymnastica or Gymnasia, the morning hour of education, training, gymnastics/exercise,
Nymphê or Nympha, the morning hour of ablutions (bathing, washing),
Mesembria, noon,
Sponde, libations poured after lunch,
Elete, prayer, the first of the afternoon work hours,
Aktê, Acte or Cypris, eating and pleasure, the second of the afternoon work hours,
Hesperis, end of the afternoon work hours, start of evening,
Dysis, sunset,
Arktos or Arctus, night sky, constellation (initially not part of the set).
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THE NYMPHS:
Female spirits who represent different elements of nature.
Oceanids (Nymphs of the ocean),
Nereids (Sea nymphs),
Dryads and Hamad Dryads ( Nymphs of ash trees)
Oreads (Mountain Nymphs),
Epipotamides (River nymphs),
Naiads (Nymphs of brooks, lakes and springs),
Crenids (Nymphs of springs),
Limnades (Nymphs of lakes, marshes and swamps),
Nyseides ( Bacchant Nymphs),
Potameides ( Nymphs of fountains, lakes rivers, and springs),
Limoniades ( Nymphs of meadows of flowers) ,
Napaeae ( Nymphs of glens).
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THE CHARITIES (The Graces)
Goddesses of charm, beauty and nature.
Aglaea- Splendor
Euphrosyne- Mirth
Thalia - Good Cheer
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THE MORAI / THREE FATES
The three goddesses who control the thread of life of every mortal from birth to death.
Clotho (Nona) Spins the “thread” of human fate.
Lachesis(Decuma) Dispenses it.
Atropos (Morta) Cuts the thread (thus determining the individual’s moment of death).
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MINOR GODS AND GODDESSES
Achelous - Oldest of the river gods. Son of Oceanus and Tethys.
Acheron- A river god. Son of Oceanus and Tethys.
Adrestia- Goddess of the revolt and equilibrium between good and evil.
Aeolus- God and ruler of the winds.
Afer- the south-west wind.
Agathodaemon- A spirit of vineyards and fields, providing luck, happiness and health.
Aidos - Goddess of modesty, shame, reverence and respect. A companion of Nemesis.
Alethia - Goddess of truth.
Alpheius- River god of Elis. He pursued Arethusa until she was changed into a spring by Artemis.
Amphitrite - Goddess and queen of the seas. The wife of Poseidon. Mother of Triton.
Angelos- Daughter of Zeus and Hera. Possibly an early form of Hecate. Connected with the underworld.
Arte - Goddess of virtue.
Aristaeus - Protector of beekeepers.
Asclepius- God of healing and medicine. Son of Apollo. He was struck down and killed by Zeus for bringing the dead back to life. He became the constellation Ophiuchus.
Asopus- A river god.
Asterion- A river god. Judged the contest between Hera and Poseidon for the patronage of Argos.
Astraea- Goddess of justice.
Ate - Goddess of evil, mischief and moral blindness.
Boreas - God of the north wind.
Caerus- God of opportunities and favorable moments.
Cephisus- A river god. Father of Narcissus.
Cer - Goddess of violent death.
Charis - Goddess of delight.
Chione – Goddess of snow. Daughter of Boreas.
Chloris - Goddess of flowers. Wife of Zephyrus.
Corus - God of the north-western wind.
Crimisus - A river god. Son of Oceanus and Tethys.
Cybele - Anatonian mother goddess who was closely associated with Rhea and Gaia.
Deimos- God of terror. Son of Ares and Aphrodite.
Dike - Goddess of justice and the spirit of moral order and fair judgement
Doris - A sea goddess. Daughter of Oceanus and Tethys.
Dysnomia - The spirit of lawlessness.
Eirene - Goddess of peace.
Eleithyia - Goddess of childbirth. Daughter of Hera and Zeus.
Elpis - Personification of hope.
Enyo - Goddess of battle, destruction, conquest, and blood lust who accompanies Ares on the battlefield. Daughter of Zeus and Hera.
Eosphorus - God of the morning star.
Eris - Goddess of discord and strife. Daughter of Zeus and Hera. Started the Trojan war by creating the apple of discord.
Eunomia - Goddess of lawfulness and good order.
Euphrosyne - Goddess of joy and festivities.
Eurus - God of the east wind / south-east wind.
Granicus- A river god. Granicus was a river of Ida near Troy.
Harmonia - Goddess of harmony and concord. Daughter of Ares and Aphrodite.
Hebe - Goddess of youth. Cup-bearer to the gods and daughter of Zeus and Hera. Wife of Herakles.
Hesperus - God of the evening star.
Horcus - The personification of the curse that would befall upon any person that broke an oath they had taken.
Hygieia - Goddess of good health.
Iaso- Goddess of healing.
Limos - Goddess of starvation and famine.
Iris - Goddess of rainbows and the messenger of Hera.
Kakia - Goddess of vice.
Ktesios - Spirit who guarded storerooms.
Melicertes - God of ports and harbours.
Moros- Personification of doom.
Nereus - The old man of the sea. Son of Pontus.
Nike - Goddess of victory. A constant companion of Athena.
Nile- The River-God of Aigyptos (Egypt) in North Africa.
Notus - God of the south wind.
Pan - God of nature, the wild, shepherds, flocks, beekeepers, goats, of mountain wilds, and is often associated with sexuality.
Peitho - Goddess of persuasion
Persephone - Queen of the underworld. Goddess of the dead. Wife of Hades and daughter of Demeter. She is the embodiment of spring and the personification of vegetation and crops.
Pheme - Goddess of rumour and report.
Phobos - God of fear and terror. Son of Ares and Aphrodite.
Phyllis - God of escape.
Ponos - God of hard labour and toil.
Praxidice- Goddess of enterprises, evil deeds and their punishment.
Priapus - God of fertility, vegetables, nature, livestock, fruit, beekeeping, sex, genitals, masculinity and gardens.
Psyche - Goddess of the soul.
Satyrs - Half-human woodland spirits, with the legs and feet of goats. Followers of Pan and Dionysus. They have hairy bodies with short horns on their foreheads. Older Satyrs were called Sileni.
Telesphorus- God of convalescence.
Thaumas - God of the awe-striking wonder of the sea. Embodiment of the sea’s dangerous aspects
Triptolemus - One of the original priests of Demeter, one of the first men to learn the secret rites and mysteries of Eleusinian Mysteries. When he died he was deified as the god who presided over the sowing of grain-seed and the milling of wheat.
Triton - The messenger of the sea. Son of Poseidon and Amphitrite.
Tyche - Goddess of fortune and luck.
Zephyrus - God of the west wind. Husband of Chloris.
FOR A LIST OF ROMAN GODS CLICK HERE
FOR A LIST OF NORSE GODS CLICK HERE
SOURCES: Mythology (75th Anniversary Illustrated Edition): Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes by Edith Hamilton and Jim Tierney / The Greeks: A Global History by Roderick Beaton / The Library of Greek Mythology by Robin Hard / Mythology: Who’s Who in Greek and Roman Mythology by E.M. Berens / Apollodorus’ Library and Hyginus’ Fabulae: Two Handbooks of Greek Mythology by R. Scott Smith and Stephen M. Trzaskoma / The Iliad by Homer, Adam Nicholson, et al. / The Odyssey by Homer and Emily Wilson /
~Keep your hair natural and wild. During the summer months, you can make wild flower crowns or adorn your hair with flower petals and daisies.
~Shop for airy, gossamer dresses that you can wear whilst dancing in the forest or while shopping at a flower market. Use a velvet pouch as a purse and keep a few good-luck crystals inside.
~ Makeup essentials include pink plump lips and full rosy cheeks. Use a shimmer powder and glittery eyeshadow to complete your fairy-esque look. Invest in a sparkly body powder to sprinkle over yourself and make it look as if you are a cloud of fairy dust!
~ Go outside and explore the woods barefoot. Bring your favorite book along to read in the meadow or while nestled in a willow tree. Pack a wicker picnic basket and find a peaceful spot to eat your breakfast/lunch.
~ Plant a garden filled with honeysuckles, strawberries, sunflowers, and rosemary. Go berry picking in the summer and go apple picking in the fall. You can use the fruits to make pastries, preserves, or to eat plain!
~Decorate your room with fairy lights, tea candles, floral garland, and succulents. Keep your windows open on sunny days and use an essential oil diffuser to perfume your room with the aroma of lavender. Hang a tulle bed canopy above your bed to add to the whimsical aesthetic.
~Indulge in afternoon tea once a week. Set the table with a clean linen cloth and bake fresh chocolate scones and cucumber sandwiches to nibble on. Make sure to have a floral centerpiece and plenty of teas to choose from!
~Wear silver lockets and delicate charm bracelets. Shop frequently at antique and vintage shops to find other unique jewelry pieces. Arm cuffs and toe rings are also staple accessories.
'There are three great ages; the age of the yew tree, the age of the eagle, the age of the Cailleach.' -An ancient Celtic poem
The Goddess Cailleach is a mother of Celtic Gods, she is an old crone, a witch, and the Mother of Winter. She is so vastly ancient that the Celts when they arrived in Ireland two thousand years ago, addressed her as already ancient and powerful.
Cailleach was reborn again, an old crone, each Samhain and went about chilling the Earth to halt new growth, to frost the ground with a long wand or flick of her hand, and by calling down the snow. She was a tempest who controlled storms and weather along the shores of Ireland and Scotland and she is still spoken of in winter storm myths and legends today. Her staff had the ability to turn plants (and herself) into grey stone, therefore making lonely standing stones sacred to her.
It is said that her long fingernails carved the rivers and valleys of earth, and that she created the mountains from the stones that fell from her apron. Her appearance was fearsome, she was noted to have sharp red teeth and hair white as a frosted snow covered mountaintop. She was a goddess feared, a goddess respected. In many ways, she was Death personified.
Another Celtic goddess, Brigit was the goddess of new beginnings and birth, the sheering of sheep and the budding fertility of the spring. Twice a year, a challenge was issued with Cailleach against Brigit, the Cold Dragon against the Warm Lamb. At Samhain, Cailleach would triumph over Brigit, but at Imbolc the reverse would be true allowing spring to win over winter and warm the earth once again.
Terrifying old crone, witch, Cailleach, we feel her chill and deathly presence in our bones, our roots hit her frozen waters. We all must follow her crisp air into the dark cold winter of the wood. Here the old hag will test us, and we will be allowed to grow new again by the will of the Gods.