Barefoot you amble through wilds Well-crowned with mists of the evergreen. Flowers raise their petals in joy as you pass. Beasts bow their heads in humility. “Our Lady has come!” Announce the birds chirping proudly. “She’s come!” Accompany the whispers of the treetops And the rustle of the woods chants your holy name.
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.
Olympian Goddess of wild animal’s, the hunt, the moon, vegetation, chastity(applying to both lesbians & aro/aces bc of the ancient greek beliefs on chastity), and childbirth
Invocation:
I praise bright Artemis, fair as the budding branch, fair as the spotted fawn, brave as the young bear.
From Crafty Hephaestus you took the artful bow, the sharp barbed shafts;From father Zeus you claimed your calling.
Far shooting Artemis, through the thick of the darkened wood you make your way, trailing boar and hare, swiftly and silently, your aim never flawless, ever kind.
Artemis, light bringer, mountain-dweller, graceful one who runs through thorn and thistle with never a scratch, a goddess unparalleled, friend of mothers in their travail, friend of maidens, friend of the pretty nymphs, in old Arcadia you roamed the wildernes, in Tauris you took the blood of men, in Ephesus you wore the mural crown.
The fire of youth is in you, goddess, the bold and valiant spirit that marks a child as yours.
Free hearted Artemis, worthy daughter of Leto, I honor you always
Offerings:
Moon shaped food
Animal shaped food
Honey
Round honey cakes
Fruits
Nuts: almond, walnut
Herbs: mugwort, wormwood, tarragon
Leaves & bark: oak ,cedar, fir, and/or willow
Stones: amethyst, moonstone, quartz, pearls
Silver
Wildflowers
Amaranth
Cooked meat/fish
Incense: Jasmine or lemon
Animal bones*
Animal hides*
Deer antlers*
Tusks*
Owl or quail feathers*
Animal claws, nails, teeth*
Moon shaped objects
Moon water
Pictures, art or figurines of wild animals
Pictures, art, or statues of Artemis
Art or figurines of bows & arrows
Bow
Arrows
Arrowheads
Art, poems, hymns, letters
21+ offerings:
Wine
Devotional acts:
Practice archery
Practice knife throwing
compete in archery and/or knife throwing competitions
Make arrows
Learn self defense
Go barefoot
Having a feast in her name
Learn herbalism
Dance
Go on hikes & enjoy nature
Go stargazing
Learn about feminism
Offer at midnight
HonorApollo
HonorLeto
HonorZeus
If you hunt, invoke her at the beginning of your hunt, & give thanks to her at the end of the hunt, offer her something from anything you kill, do not take it for granted, use as much as you can and donate what you dont use
Cook over a campfire or wood burning stove
Take a moment while drinking morning coffee, tea, etc & enjoy the fresh air
Be kind to kids, inspire them to follow their passions
Clean up trails and parks
Practice self love
Always help animals in need
Carry menstrual products in case someone needs one
Give money to homeless people you pass
Plant native plants near your home
Learn about the geography of the moon
Support lesbians & other sapphic individuals
Support aro/ace individuals
Support local sapphic & aro/ace owned business
Donate to wildlife programs in her name
Donate to womens shelters in her name
Donate girls and women’s clothing
Digital Devotions:
Make an eshrine
Make a mood board
Write a blog about wildlife conservation & ethical hunting
Write about archery
Watch wildlife/nature documentaries
Altar/shrine ideas:
A sacred space to Artemis should incorporate her two biggest associations, the moon & wildlife, lunar imagery, bows and arrows or just depictions of them, are all great. You should also have a candle or more for her, a Statue or picture of her, imagery or statues of deer and other animals, you can use an animal pelt for the shrine cloth, antlers are also great to set on her space, as well as silver and white candles, and amaranth flowers, my personal shrine to her I have a rabbit pelt for the shrine cloth, i then have a stone slab I found with two tealight candles, & rocks my girlfriend got me for last valentines day, I have an offering bowl made of a horn next to that & a small deer antler i found resting in the back & i hung a deer necklace on the antler, & then I have a white 7 day candle for her & her statue is set in the center, with a stone arrowhead my parents gifted to me & a small piece of a tree my aunt in Washington state had mailed to me w a letter
a companion set for this piece, as i finish my art history degree here are my favorite pieces honoring Artemis.
Disclaimer: Most artists throughout the neoclassical period (in particular, but not limited to) used Artemis/Diana interchangeably for a myriad of cultural and religious reasons which I can explore in another post. I do understand that Artemis and Diana are syncretized deities with very different aspects in Greek and Roman society respectively. Additionally, many of these works have been purchased by private collectors and are only visible due to their entry into the public domain.
In order: 1) Diana the Huntress by Arturo Michelena, 1896, Residencia Presidencial La Casona, Caracas. 2) Diana the Huntress by Guillaume Seignac, portrait 1 of 2, time specific unknown, c. possibly 1890, unknown private collection. 3) Portrait of Diana the Huntress by Guillaume Seignac, portrait 2 of 2, time specific unknown, c. possibly 1890, unknown private collection. 4) Artemis and Orion from the Emilian School, c. 1625-1650, Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest. 5) Diana and Callisto by Francois Lemoyne, 1723, Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). 6) Diana and Callisto by Titian, 1556-59, National Gallery London. 7) Artemis, unknown, Roman copy of a 4th century BCE statue from Mytilene, Lesbos, on display in the Istanbul Archaeology Museum. 8) Artemis, unknown, c. 2nd century AD, on display in the New Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen.
