laria_a

Tonight, I've been home alone for the first time in, well, months. As soon as I realised this--this morning--I began excitedly preparing for a (small/minor) ritual* to perform tonight, in honour of Aphrodite; who I'm beginning to suspect has more than just a passing interest in me, for whatever reason. As soon as everyone had left, the strange idea popped into my head to perform the ritual for both Aphrodite and Persephone. (Despite the fact that the last attempt at a ritual for Persephone failed on an epic scale, and was the last time I tried a ritual, too.)

At my shrine, I lit a candle and invoked Aphrodite and Persephone, the goddesses of the human body in life and death. I carried the candle through to the bathroom, and bathed by the candlelight. Afterwards, I used the candle's flame to light a stick of Frankincense (though, thinking back, rose incense would have worked just as well), said a prayer that the incense smoke should please them, and then extinguished the candle. Without dressing, I carried the incense downstairs to the living room, which was lit only by the fire and incense tip. I offered sweets and chocolate to Peitho and Hekate (and Hermes), and then poured apple juice, then pomegranate & blackcurrant juice, and then both together, into a bowl. I murmured aloud my hopes that they found the juice pleasing, and then, following a sudden thought, I drank three-quarters of the bowl, asking that I be used as their vessel for the purpose of tasting the juice. After that, I settled onto the floor until the incense was half burned out, then I offered devotion to them--to create at least one thing each day for a month--and then I dipped the burning end into the remaining juice to extinguish the incense, thanked them for their time, and left respectfully to dress.

Of course, I've realised now that my devotions will end at the end of December - and at the end of a decade. Considering I'm planning to look deeply at my spiritual practices in the New Year and think exactly what/where I want/need to go and do next... If I believed in coincedences, I'd say it was that; but I don't. ;)

* - Why, no, I don't think my ritual is based on ancient practices. But if they found it displeasing, they didn't say--and I'm left now with a warm, fuzzy-creative glow, so I think it went well.