Bouphonia 2013

Xairete!

Hoping you've all had a great couple of weeks. It's been great seeing the spring come into bloom around here.

Today's Festival

Today we celebrated the Bouphonia, a festival that goes back so far that the Athenians apparently were known to wonder just why they were celebrating it. Our modern understanding is a celebration of Zeus as the Protector of Justice and of Law.

As you can see, rather that slaughtering an ox and then stuffing it to pretend it was alive again, we be-ribboned one that had never been alive in the first place.

There is also some evidence that this was also a time for recognizing the city's honored dead. Given that we are celebrating Memorial Day in the United States, it made sense to include this aspect with offerings to our heroes and ancestors.

Coming Events

Date	Festival
June 9	Panaphobeia
June 23	Philokhoria
July 6-7	Anadikia/Athenian New Year
July 21	Therapeia/Healing Festival
August 10	RI Pagan Pride
August 18	Founders' Festival

Until next time, have a great couple of weeks!

Peace,
Diane

Thargelia 2013

Xairete!

After a quiet month, we've had a busy couple of weekends at HTAZP, with the Delphinia last Sunday, a naming yesterday, and the Thargelia today.

Decorations on the birthday cake include a sun, a silvery crescent moon that is more visible IRL than in the photo, two arrows, and two bows. Also, apparently Apollon was more interested in having lots of gold sprinkles on His side of the cake, as that was so not planned.

Today's Festival

We started the afternoon with a cleansing ritual utilizing a pharmakos made of raffia. This was followed by a break to ice the cake, which had been cooling during the cleansing, and also to wait for the thargeloi (aka calzones with vegetable filling, our modern interpretation) to be delivered. This led to some amusing speculation as to whether any enterprising Hermes followers might have developed a fast food/delivery equivalent to make a few dinars back in ancient Hellas. Meanwhile, the ritual space was set up and ready to go.

We offered the thargeloi, birthday cake, and wine for thusia and theoxenia, feasted, and then had a rousing game of Hi-Low-Jack aka Pitch.

We had some discussion around plans for future years, including the possibility of incorporating some form of archery, though probably (given our collective lack of experience and skill in this area) using some type of foam "arrows."

Thoughts on Thargelia from the editor

When I try to explain the import the Thargelia has for me as a festival, I sometimes find myself describing it as "Christmas and Easter all wrapped up in one."  Now, in terms of the surface rituals, there is little in common to be seen. There are no trees (that's the Dendraia) or gifts for children (that's the Diasia) or rabbits and eggs (that's the Eiarinia). But theologically and mystically, I find some resonance there that helps me explain what this festival means to me.

At the most obvious level, it's the birthday of not just one but two Deities, Apollon and Artemis. On a more mystical level, there is the purification aspect, which correlates to the period of fast and sacrifice leading up to Easter, followed by celebration, circling back round to the birthday and also encompassing that Spring is now in full bloom, where it was just starting at the Eiarinia. These are the reasons I find this a helpful comparison to make when I start explaining to someone outside Hellenismos what this festival means to me.

Do you have any thoughts on this festival? What are its meanings for you? How do you observe it, or if you do not, what is the reason behind that choice?


Coming Events

The next festival will be the Bouphonia on May 26th. Looking further ahead, June 9th will be the Panaphobeia or Feast of Fear and June 23 the Philokhoria. Then the year will turn and we'll have our annual Anadikia/Athenian New Year Retreat on the weekend of July 6-7.

Until next time, have a great month!

Peace,
Diane

Delphinia 2013

Xairete!

It has been a quiet month in some ways, as various life events have impacted scheduling, but there is still plenty happening and more coming up.

Today's Festival

Today, we celebrated the Delphinia at HTAZP. There are actually some different schools of thought on this festival, due to limited historical information. At HTAZP, we observe this festival as a time to honor Apollon for His protection of seafaring travelers either in the guise of or by sending His dolphins.

Offerings include a staff decorated with wool and ribbons (an iketiria), an ocean-scented candle, tuna salad sandwiches and apple pie, and a "dolphin adoption." It has also become a temple tradition to bring divinatory items to be blessed at this time, due to the association with Apollo's return to Delphi as well.

The iketiria is reminiscent of Theseus' offering in supplication for smooth sailing. There is some thought that this was also a time of transition for the youth of Athens, particularly the maidens who brought these offerings, and so we make this offering with supplications of our own for metaphoric "smooth sailing" in any areas in which we are experiencing transitions.

 About the Delphinia

As mentioned above, there is very little historical information on this festival. Wikipedia actually summarizes what there is fairly well in a very short entry. There is a school of thought that this is actually an Artemisian festival. There is a case to be made, considering the dating would place it on the 6th, a day traditionally associated with Artemis, rather than the 7th, which is Apollon's day. The tale of Theseus' offering and the name of the festival, however, lend weight to the Apollonian interpretation. Some Hellenists choose to honor both twins to cover all the possibilities.

In so far as the return of Apollon to Delphi, there is no clear date for this, but HTAZP chooses this festival to commemorate that event as well. As is often the case, when there is little "hard evidence" to work with, sometimes it becomes necessary to make a logical or intuitive leap to settle on a practice or the timing of an observance.

Coming Events

There is a naming approaching (quickly!), and the next festivals will be the Thargelia on May 5 and the Bouphonia on May 26th. Looking further ahead, June 9th will be the Panaphobeia or Feast of Fear and June 23 the Philokhoria. Then the year will turn and we'll have our annual Anadikia/Athenian New Year Retreat on the weekend of July 6-7.

That's it for now. As always, if you have thoughts or comments you'd like to share, you are invited to do so!

Peace,
Diane

Diasia and Eiarinia 2013

Xairete,

As always, there is lots going on!

Recent Rituals

I missed this year's Diasia, but the altar to Zeus Melikhios is still up. Between one thing and another, we didn't manage to pull together a teddy bear/stuffed animal drive for the festival as has been our tradition, but it's something we hope to return to next year.

Today, we had the Eiarinia/Spring Festival, in which we honor all the Gods and Goddesses who have festivals in the Spring, such as Apollon, Artemis, Demeter, Gaia, Persephone/Kore, Dionysos,  Pan, and Zeus. As you can see, we included a hyacinth plant to honor Apollon's love for Hyakinthos, something we tend to include in whichever Spring festival falls when hyacinths are accessible.

I can't seem to quite make that go in a straight line, but that is, essentially, the left-to-right of the main altar space, which was placed for the first time in the hearth outdoors. It was a bit chilly to stay outdoors for the feasting, but it was a great experience being able to hold ritual outside.

We also had a new area set up to honor Hades and Persephone, which is where Persephone started out before bringing Her to Her mother in the main space. This is the opposite of what we had done at the Fall Festival, when She left Demeter to join Hades.

Basic Ritual Structure 

We had a guest today, from the Druidic tradition, which was an excellent reminder of how different our rituals are from those of other Pagan groups, as she observed with some amusement that this was the first time she'd ever thrown barley at Deity statues. With that in mind, I'm including some reference info for those who may be wondering what to expect when attending a Hellenic ritual.

Our temple rituals have evolved over the years while keeping some core Hellenic traditions: Procession, purification, thusia, and theoxenia.

• First, we gather outside the ritual space and process in with someone bearing a basket that holds the ritual tools and some of the offerings, someone bearing a torch to light the way, someone bearing incense, and everyone else bearing various offerings of food, drink, etc.  
• We process around the working altar (unlike in some traditions, direction does not matter other than how the space best seems to work). 
• We purify ourselves, each person pouring khernips over the hands of the next.
• We light Hestia's hearth, which (and this is very much an HTAZP-specific approach) is done in two rounds. First we each light a candle representing bringing our fires from our home hearths to the temple hearth. Next, we light candles for those who would wish to be present but cannot, ending with the hieros (priest) lighting a candle for any others in the Hellenic community and the larger Pagan community who might wish to be included but have not been named.
• The hieros invokes the Deities of the festival, and we offer Them barley which is thrown or strewn on the altar before Them.
• Any food, libations, and other offerings are presented.
• Then we feast in the Gods' presence, maybe play games or watch a movie, as feasting, games, and drama were part of many festivals.
• When it comes time to disperse, we close with a final libation to Hestia and the Agathos Daimon.

Not all Hellenics do things quite the same way, so here are some other sites to check out if you are interested. 

Sponde

ECauldron's Greek Reconstructionism

Hellenion

Do you have any thoughts or ritual ideas you'd like to share? Please do so in the comments!

Coming Events

Our schedule has been shifted around a bit due to circumstances in various people's lives, and so the next festival, Delphinia, is likely to be towards the end of April. Our first group of students in training for priesthood continue with their work, and there is another naming coming up soon as well. Also, it's early, but people are already making plans for this year's Rhode Island Pagan Pride.

That's it for now.

Peace,
Diane

Aprhodisia 2013

Khairete!

So, our schedule was slightly rearranged by local weather, and the Aphrodisia, which we generally celebrate close to Valentine's Day (since our society or polis is celebrating love, it only makes sense to celebrate Aphrodite), ended up postponed until today.

As you can see, there were several offerings of roses, and Her statue is adorned with floral ribbons.  A pink peep sits at Her feet masquerading as a turtle-dove.

In honor of the myth of Her birth, seafood was a theme among many food offerings, such as stuffed clams and cocktail shrimp.

Other food offerings were stuffed shells, grapes and strawberries, and a fruit pizza.

Prayers to Aphrodite in Her various forms were offered, though the focus was primarily on Her aspects of love and beauty.

Our next festival, then, will be the Diasia on March 17/5 Eiarinion, followed by the Eiarinia on March 31/19 Eiarinion. Until then, be safe and well!

Peace,
Diane

Gamelia 2013

Xairete!

Today we celebrated the Gamelia, also known as the Theogamia, the wedding of Zeus and Hera.

The new space made it possible to do a more elaborate setup of the processional area with a receiving line of sorts.

As is often done in modern weddings, there was a Bride's side, featuring (left to right) Demeter, Persephone, Athena, Artemis, Gaia, Hekate, Aphrodite, Ariadne, Eileithyia, and Hygeia,

and a Groom's side, featuring (left to right) Asklepios, Herakles, Hermes, Dionysos, Apollon, Pan, Hephaistos, Ares, Poseidon, and Haides.

The Groom awaited in the entryway,

and the Bride made Her entrance.

Ritual was then held in the main space.  A sample ritual written by Timotheos can be found here.

In this instance, we also libated all the Goddesses and Gods in attendance and then symbolically lit the Newlyweds' new hearth.  Feasting included rotisserie chicken, spaghetti, lavender mead, and the wedding cake shown above as well as a chocolate truffle cake and pecan twirls.

Next up will be the Aphrodisia on 6 Diasion/17 February.  Anthesteria is observed on 11-13 Diasion/21-24 February, and tends to be a more private festival.  Then on 20 Diasion/3 March will be Asklepia, similar to the Therapeia but being observed at this time in light of research indicating this would have been the time of year Asklepios was honored in ancient times.

Until next time.

Peace,

Diane

Diogennia 2013

Xairete!

Today, we celebrated Diogennia at HTAZP.

As you can see, we've made a shift in how we set up our festival altar so that the feasting is done at the altar with the God(s) of the festival, rather than removing to a separate area to feast.

In the center of the altar, then, is still Hestia's hearth, composed of candles representing each of us present as well as those who could not be present and would wish to be.  The representation of the relevant God(s), in this case Zeus, is on a pedestal adjacent to the table, a seat somewhat above ours, essentially.  If you look closely, you can see that we offered some of the crowns from last year's celebration on that pedestal.

Offerings included Bull's Blood wine, chicken a la king, Greek honey cake, and strawberry creams.  The bull, of course, is sacred to Zeus, and honey is a theme for this holiday, related to the tale of the cave where Zeus was born being filled with a warm glow.

The next big festivals scheduled are the Theogamia/Gamelia on 22 Gamelion/February 3 and the Festival of Aphrodite on 6 Diasion/February 17.

Until next month!

Peace,
Diane