A few nights ago, I had the wonderful opportunity to talk to talk with Dan and dawn on the Erotic Awakening podcast. We chatted about my experience as a priestess of Aphrodite, sacred sexuality, my book Cult of Aphrodite and about the Babalon Rising Festival at which I'll be presenting from June 10-13.
Check it out at www.eroticawakening.com
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
Hemera Aphrodites
Today, on Aphrodite's honored day within the week, I give Her thanks and praise for allowing me to stand witness at a beautiful wedding at the end of the Beltaine weekend at Our Haven.
A couple who were already legally married wished to exchange spiritual vows before the Gods. The couple are Pagan/Wiccan, and wanted a handfasting -- specifically with the blessings of Aphrodite and Pan. Though I practice Hellenismos for myself, I am actually quite happy to officiate a Pagan handfasting (and am ordained to perform legal marriages). I was and will always be a 3rd Degree HPS within a certain witchcraft tradition, and I am happy to put that training and knowledge into the service of Aphrodite Gameli.
As it happens, a long-standing friend of mine (and devotee of Pan) was also there, and we officiated together. Glaux and my sweet, sweet bunny also had important roles. Glaux called the quarters and was the lepus-bearer. The lepus himself, sacred to both Eros and Aphrodite, chose mainly to stand at the bride's feet and offer the couple his fecundity.
Thank you, Nikki and Mike, for letting me bear witness to your love and vows. And thank you, Aphrodite, for continuing to bless me with such amazing testaments to your power.
A couple who were already legally married wished to exchange spiritual vows before the Gods. The couple are Pagan/Wiccan, and wanted a handfasting -- specifically with the blessings of Aphrodite and Pan. Though I practice Hellenismos for myself, I am actually quite happy to officiate a Pagan handfasting (and am ordained to perform legal marriages). I was and will always be a 3rd Degree HPS within a certain witchcraft tradition, and I am happy to put that training and knowledge into the service of Aphrodite Gameli.
As it happens, a long-standing friend of mine (and devotee of Pan) was also there, and we officiated together. Glaux and my sweet, sweet bunny also had important roles. Glaux called the quarters and was the lepus-bearer. The lepus himself, sacred to both Eros and Aphrodite, chose mainly to stand at the bride's feet and offer the couple his fecundity.
Thank you, Nikki and Mike, for letting me bear witness to your love and vows. And thank you, Aphrodite, for continuing to bless me with such amazing testaments to your power.
Aphrodite Shrine Becoming a Reality
This may be one of my last "planning" posts in regards to the Aphrodite shrine that I am helping care for. I believe that I now have most (if not all) of the money together to bring all of the elements together.
We already have the beautiful rock shrine base.
And now we've selected the actual arbor:
We already have the beautiful rock shrine base.
I'd already decided on a lovely replica of the Medici Venus:
And now we've selected the actual arbor:and the species of climbing roses (Blaze):
It's going to be so lovely once it's all completed. I'm so happy that I have access to land where this is possible.
All of these pieces will be in place by June 9. That is the set-up day for the Babalon Rising festival at Our Haven, and the shrine must be in order by then.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Exegete of Aphrodite for Neokoroi
I am really happy to announce in this space that my friends and peers at Neokoroi have given me the opportunity to serve in an official capacity as an "Exegete of Aphrodite." :: happy dance ::
Here is the description of an exegete within Neokoroi (copied directly from the this page):
The term exegetai (plural) was used throughout ancient Greece to refer to religious specialists. They gave advice about carrying out cultus to different gods and interpreted religious laws and customs. They also offered legal guidance to other people upon request, sometimes in law cases (particularily in ancient Athens).
Here at Neokoroi, we have a tried and tested group of religious advisors, well educated in the cultus of our gods. We do not call these exegetai "priests" because in Hellenic times, priesthood was tied to a specific temple or cult, and could be an hereditary or purchased position.
Within our organization, the exegete (singular) advises on the practices related to a specific god, or of Hellenic ritual in general. Those who wish to take on this role must be willing to be available to anyone who needs them, within reason. This includes the Hellenic pagan community beyond Neokoroi, potentially.
An exegete is NOT, however, a personal counselor or mouthpiece for the god. They are simply knowledgeable individuals who offer advice on how to recognize and interpret the actions of their deity, information on how to conduct rituals, and so forth. But always, they are simply an individual, someone whose opinion is to be respected because of their experience and contributions - but not an authority in the sense that they are above questioning and critique.
I am so pleased to serve both Aphrodite and my community in this capacity, and I have been thrilled already to talk with some members about questions relating to Aphrodite.
Khairete Neokoroi! And hail sweet Kypris!
Here is the description of an exegete within Neokoroi (copied directly from the this page):
The term exegetai (plural) was used throughout ancient Greece to refer to religious specialists. They gave advice about carrying out cultus to different gods and interpreted religious laws and customs. They also offered legal guidance to other people upon request, sometimes in law cases (particularily in ancient Athens).
Here at Neokoroi, we have a tried and tested group of religious advisors, well educated in the cultus of our gods. We do not call these exegetai "priests" because in Hellenic times, priesthood was tied to a specific temple or cult, and could be an hereditary or purchased position.
Within our organization, the exegete (singular) advises on the practices related to a specific god, or of Hellenic ritual in general. Those who wish to take on this role must be willing to be available to anyone who needs them, within reason. This includes the Hellenic pagan community beyond Neokoroi, potentially.
An exegete is NOT, however, a personal counselor or mouthpiece for the god. They are simply knowledgeable individuals who offer advice on how to recognize and interpret the actions of their deity, information on how to conduct rituals, and so forth. But always, they are simply an individual, someone whose opinion is to be respected because of their experience and contributions - but not an authority in the sense that they are above questioning and critique.
I am so pleased to serve both Aphrodite and my community in this capacity, and I have been thrilled already to talk with some members about questions relating to Aphrodite.
Khairete Neokoroi! And hail sweet Kypris!
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