Beautiful Aphrodite, please give me your guidance and blessing tomorrow and let happen whatever it needs to happen

adri-le-chat:

honestly even if you are a “stereotypical” worshipper of a god, you’re still doing great. You’re a Dionysian that likes to get drunk? Good, just be safe! You’re a chaotic bisexual Apollonian? That’s okay! You’re an Ace or lesbian Artemisian who wants to chill in the woods? That’s okay! You’re doing great! You’re an Aphrodite worshipper who’s really into pink, self love, and sea aesthetics? You’re doing lovely!

Your worship isn’t lesser even if it’s what people expect. Your relationship can still be deep and interpersonal. You’re doing amazing — don’t doubt yourself.

Aphrodite

Olympian goddess of all forms of love, sex, beauty, desire, passion, pleasure, procreation, fertility, war

Invocation:

O Sweet lady of Sea Foam,

Radiant Beauty,Queen of all who love,

Grant unto me your confidence,

Your capacity to love others wholeheartedly

and without hesitation;

Grant unto me your inner sight

So that i may see all beautiful things within myself and within others.

Transform me, I pray,

and transform our hearts,

O bright lady of seafoam!

About Aphrodite:

• Symbols:Conch shell, rose,
• Sacred Animals: Dove, Swan, Sparrow, Dolphin, & Clams
• Sacred Plants: Myrtle & Rose
• Retinue:The Kharities, The Horai, The Erotes, Eros, & Peitho
• Other Names: Cypris & Cytherea
• Cult terms: terms related to her religious praxis

Aphrodision: Temple of Aphrodite

Aphrodisia: Festival of Aphrodite

Adônia: Festival of Adonis

Hystêria: Festival of the Swine

Anagôgia: Festival of Embarkation

Titles & Epithets:

• Ourania(Urania): Heavenly, Divine(love)
• Pandêmos(Pandemos): Common to all people (love)
• Makhanitis(Machanitis):Deviser, Contriver
• Epistrophia: She who turns to (love)
• Apostrophia: Averter of (Unlawful desires)
• Kataskopia(Catascopia): Spying, Peeping
• Psithyristês(Psithyristes):Whispering
• Praxis:Action
• Melainis(Melaenis):Black(of night)
• Symmakhia(Symmachia):Ally(in love)
• Apatouros(Apaturus):Deceptive one
• Nymphia:Bridal
• Migôntis(Migontis):Union(Marital)
• Dôritis(Doritis):Bountiful
• Hêrê(Hera):Of Hera(marriage)
• Morphô(Morpho): Of Shapely Form
• Ambologêra(Ambologera): Postponer of old age
• Nikêphoros(Nicephorus): Bringer of Victory
• Areia:Of Ares, Warlike
• Hôpismenê(Hoplismena):Armed
• Euploia(Euploea):Fair Voyage
• Pontia:Of the Sea
• Limenia:Of the Harbour
• Xenia:Of the foreigner
• Kypria(Cypria): Of Cyprus
• Paphia: Of Paphos(Cyprus)
• Syria:Of Syria, Syrian
• Eyrkinê(Eycina): Of Eryx(Sicily)
• Kythereia(Cytherea):Of Cytherea(Laconia)
• Amyklaios(Amyclaeus):Of Amyclae(Laconia)
• Kôlias(Colias): Of Colias(Attica)
• Kastiniê(Castinia): Of Mt. Castium (Pamphylia)
• Knidia(Cnidia): Of Cnidus(Caria)
• Pyrênaia(Pyrenaea):Of Pyrenees Mts(Gaul)
• Akraia(Acraea): Of the heights
• Kêpois(Cepoïs): Of the gardens
• Anadyomenê(Anadyomene): Risen from the Sea

Offerings:

• Incense/candles/Perfume:rose & ocean scents, myrrh, frankincense, apple, myrtle, strawberry or any other scents that remind you of her, I personally have a pink 7 day candle & frankincense incense for her
• Chocolate(especially dark): Dark chocolate is an Aphrodisiac & chocolate in general is heavily associated with love
• Roses: Roses are sacred to Aphrodite, you can give a whole rose, petals, or even rose water
• Jewelry: offer her jewelry & if you wear it as a devotional act just keep it on her shrine/altar when ur not using it, I have a rose gold & rose quartz necklace i wear fir her
• Art: Another votive offering that can double as devotional act if you make it yourself, anything you make in her honor shell love, i write poetry for her, my girlfriend on the other hand is more artistically talented & paints portraits of deities to use as votive, you can also write songs, hymns, take pictures of anything that reminds you of her, or anything you’re most comfortable with, Art can also be bought for a votive i got an Aphrodite print for her bc I can’t paint if my life depended on it
• Seashells: Scallop & Abalone especially, you can even use a scallop shell as an offering bowl!
• Olive oil: olive trees & oils were very religiously significant in ancient Greece
• Honey: Bees are associated with Aphrodite so honey is a great offering
• Stones: Pearls, Rose Quartz, & Aquamarine are all associated with Aphrodite
• Mirrors
• Makeup: similar to jewelry you can keep make up products on her sacred space & devote your makeup routine to her
• Statues or other items related to her sacred animals: Doves, Swans, Sparrows, shellfish, hares, bees, & dolphins
• Libations: pomegranate juice, aromantic rose tea, strawberry lemonade, water, rose water

21+ Offerings:

• Alcohol: sweet red wine, pink champagne, Rosé wine, Cherry Liquor, Rose Liquor, Pomegranate Liquor

Devotional Acts:

• Practice self care & self love
• Make up routine
• Wearing jewelry in her honor
• Research:

two great books I suggest are“Venus & Aphrodite: a biography of desire by” Bettany Hughesand“Pagan Portals: Aphrodite” by Irisanya Moon

• Research her history, her origins in the Near east as a love & war goddess, known as Astarte to the Phoenicians, Ishtar to the Babylonians, and Inanna to the Sumerarians 
• Read her myths, hymns, & poems
• Shadow work
• Make a Devotional Journal
• Make a playlist for her
• Make art
• Write poems, hymns, prayers, letters
• Devote a garden to her (pollinator friendly is great unless ur allergic to bees)
• Enjoy the beauty of the world
• Do something extra for yourself: eat some sweets, take a spa day, take a bath
• Bake something in her honor
• If you’re trans you can dedicate your gender affirmations and hrt routine to her, bc gender euphoria is part of self love for us & if you have dysphoria treating it is 100% self care
• Visit the ocean (only if possible/affordable!)
• HonorZeus,her adopted father
• HonorAres,her beloved,& theirchildren:Eros,Phobos,Deimos,Harmonia
• HonorHermaphroditos,Her intersex child with Hermes
• HonorPoseidon, both are significant sea deities & Olympians & at one time lovers, Aphrodite was grateful for Poseidon supporting her relationship with Ares & they had two daughters— Rhodos&Herophilos, honor them as well
• Honor her Retinue-minor goddesses that she surrounds herself with

The Horai — hours — her attendants, they clothed her & brought her to Olympus after her birth in the sea

The Kharities — charities — very commonly seen attending her. They’re good things, all good feelings. They are made up by Algaia(beauty),Euphrosyne(merriment),Thalia(good cheer), Paida(play),Eudaimona(happiness),Pandaisia(banquets),Pannyakhis(night parties & revels), Antheia(floral decorations), Harmonia(harmony) & numerous others

The Erotes — personifications of love, beauty, & desire & her closest & most common attendants. Eros(love),Himeros(desire),Pothos(lust), & sometimes Peitho(persuasion); Peitho is Aphrodite’s messenger

• Donate to organizations that help survivors of sexual assault & domestic violence
• Donate to organizations that advocate for the oceans
• Donate to lgbt activism organizations, help spread awareness on trans, non binary, & intersex issues, & also be an ally to those on the hypersexual, asexual, & Aromantic spectrums & polyamorous folk
• support sex workers (NOT to porn companies that exploit them, onlyfans is best),
• NSFW devotional acts: masturbate or partake in sexual acts in her honor(only if you wish to or are comfortable doing so ofc), if you are a sexworker you can also devote your work to her!

Digital devotions: these are perfect for people who can’t have a physical altar/shrine for whatever reason

• Make an E-Shrine to her
• Make a mood board for her
• If you like video games you can sometimes do digital devotional acts, for Aphrodite I visit her sanctuary & her temple in AC Odyssey, theres no offering feature like in Valhalla but I like to light the pyres & pray to her, i also love doing any missions revolving helping lovers for her, ive also heard of people making temples and offerings in minecraft

Cute Altar/Shrine ideas:

A sacred space to Aphrodite should be as beautiful as you can make it, decorate it with ocean motifs(as she was born from the sea) , rose quartz, pearls, seashells, real or fake roses, garlands, flowers, mirrors, depictions of her sacred animals(doves, swans, sparrows, dolphins, bees, hares), art of her(whether bought or made), erotica

Great places to have her sacred space are next to a window, a windowsill, a vanity stand, or somewhere with a mirror

If you need it to be secret & wish to keep a travel altar, if possible keep it in a pretty box with floral or sea decorations, or a makeup pouch

An outdoor garden is great too! Make it pollinator friendly (unless ur allergic), use organic products (if affordable) on it, have bird feeders, and a safe area to have a candle or incense & an offering bowl, & a place to sit & enjoy her warm presence & beauty

And most important of all:

Love ya damn self

satsuti:

Ever since we stopped burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have had nothing and have been perishing by sword and famine. 

Jeremiah 44:18

lightningboltkisses:

come seewhat flower you are bc while the world is dark u deserve to be told u are bright and beautiful 

The closest thing I could get to depicting Aphrodite. Not 100% accurate. Maybe 97%.

Oh and

…. Her. Aidoneus’ Bride. Scary lady. Minus the white stuff on the veil.

perfumedcupid:

Daughter of seafoam green and white

Now a golden goddess, shine so bright

Bless me once again with your presence

Your laugh, your poise, your face of heavens

yourlocalaphrodisian:

Aphrodite is the unrestrained. There is not a single god or mortal she has not shaken the will of. Even Athena, who bares her Aegis and lifts her spear to battle, crumbled in despair for her love for Pallas, the daughter of Triton. Even Artemis, who shunned the realm of men and civilization and walked hand in hand with the wilderness, was overcome by rage for the death of someone she loved,Hippolytus. Hestia too, who holds a dear love for humanity. It is foolish to think Aphrodite has not moved them, for all gods love, and all mortals love. We remove Aphrodite’s supreme power and influence by assuming she only reigns over the love shared between lover and lover and not those of parent and child, sibling and sibling, friend and friend and god and devotee. For far too long has Aphrodite been reduced to Paris, boxes of chocolates, Valentine’s Day, the colour pink and sex. She is far more than that. Much more than that.

(Re)coining Teirsian and Iphisian

So, to be clear, I am these terms’ original coiners. But, for reasons elaborated in my last post, I am removing them from the website where they were originally coined. Additionally, I no longer define them the same as I used to. As such, I am redefining them today. The original definitions will be at the bottom of each for clarity.

Both are gender identities exclusively for non-cisgender Hellenic Polytheists. Period. I expect non-polytheists and cisgender folks to refrain from coining imagery or labels for these identities (and yes, I do need to make that disclaimer, unfortunately.)

With that out of the way, let’s crack in:

Iphisian

[ID in alt text]

Iphisian is a gender for Hellenic Polytheists who are AFAB (or natally female) and transgender, CAFAB intersex, transmasculine, transgender lesbians, and especially transmasculine lesbians. The gender is also oriented towards, but not exclusive to, worship of Aphrodite, Hera, and/or Isis (Kemetic). It is named after the figure in Greek Mythology, Iphis, who was a ‘woman’ raised as, and later turned into, a man. It is strongly associated with the theoi and the divinity of the transgender experience.

While being transmasculine or a lesbian are not a requirement to be Iphisian, being a transgender or intersex Hellenic Polytheist is, and the term refers mainly to transmasculine and transneutral Hellenists.

Original/outdated definition: Iphisian is a gender for Hellenic Polytheists who are AFAB and transgender. The gender is also oriented towards, but not exclusive to, worship of Aphrodite, Hera, and Isis (Egyptian). It is named after the figure in Greek Mythology, Iphis, who was a 'woman’ raised as, and later turned into, a man.

Teirsian

[ID in alt text]

Teirsian is a gender for Hellenic Polytheists who are multigender, CAMAB intersex, AMAB and transgender, and/or genderfluid. The gender is also oriented towards, but not exclusive to, worship of Apollon, Hermes, and/or Hera. It is named after the figure in Greek Mythology, Teirsias, who was transformed into a woman for seven years.

While being transfeminine or AMAB isn’t a requirement for being Teirsian, being a non-cisgender or intersex Hellenic Polytheist is, and the term refers mainly to multigender and genderfluid Hellenists.

Original/outdated definition: Teirsian is a gender for Hellenic Polytheists who are bigender, AMAB transgender, and/or genderfluid. The gender is also oriented towards, but not exclusive to, worship of Apollon, Hermes, or Hera. It is named after the figure in Greek Mythology, Teirsias, who was transformed into a woman for seven years.

Note: natal sex and AGAB are both listed because they are not the same thing. Natal sex is birth sex (male/female/intersex). AGAB is what the doctor said when you were born. Natal sex and AGAB are not requirements for either terms, but who the term is oriented for due to the contents of the myth.

Finally, I’d like to reiterate I’m not a MOGAI blog and I don’t plan to coin again soon (except to post my divine trans symbols, I suppose). I just wanted these terms off a Wiki that permitted disrespect of my religion, and to do that I needed to recoin them.

If you have questions, message me or reply. Khaire!

Edit: *honks clown nose* I forgot to include the flag meanings

Iphisian:
Blue-violet: Aphrodite, sapphic love, gentle masculinity
Blue: Hera, masculinity, grief and recovery
Light gold: The ouranic divine, Aphrodite/Hera’s gift to Iphis
Thin pink stripe: The love and resilience at the center of the myth, and the love and beauty of trans people
Gold: The touch of the divine, concrete divine influence

Teirsian:
Lavender: Gender nonconformity, fluidity, blurring of lines
Muted magenta: Love, femininity, beauty, divine gifts
Light gold: The ouranic divine, Zeus and Hera, Apollon
Thin fuschia stripe: Erotic love, the divine marriage of Zeus and Hera, the wounding of Tiresias
Gold: The gift of Apollon, the touch of the divine

Edit 2: Natal sex is used in Iphisian because Iphis himself was not AFAB, but an AMAB natal female who became biologically male through the aid of the theoi. Natal sex is used to mean sex at time of birth, and is a commonly used alternative to AGAB by many interesex and transsex individuals.