Day One
December/17/2006 06:00 AM
On this day, I arise before sunrise. I bathe, and pray Apollo and Zeus cleanse me of all that is unclean in spirit and body. I approach the Altar of the Virgins and light the holy flame in Hestia's honor. I burn incense and using prayer beads, I invoke the Gods of my personal pantheon one by one, offering them my thanks. Once this is done, I take a soapstone upright incense burner and place within it three incense sticks (Nag Champa are my favorites) and light each one from the sacred flame.
Once it is lit and covered, I walk through my home and, room by room, I invoke the Gods above, the great Olympians and Heavenly Gods, and ask their blessing on my home. When done, I place the still smoking burner in an east facing window, toward the soon rising sun, and invoke a welcoming prayer to Helios, lord of the sun and the namesake of this festival.
Prayer to the Virgins:
Blessed Lady of the Hearth, keeper of the sacred flames of Olympus.
Enter this home, you are welcome here.
Bring with you your protection, your courage, your purity.
Grant that I may be worthy this day.
Blessed Lady of Wisdom, protector of cities..
Enter this home, you are welcome here.
Bring with you wisdom, courage, and strength.
Grant that I may be worthy this day.
Blessed Lady of the Wilds, protector of the innocent and young.
Enter this home, you are welcome here.
Bring with you certainty, patience, and your divine guidance.
Grant that I may be worthy this day.
Blessed Virgins of Olympus.
Grant this day be fruitful, not wasted.
Grant this day be joyous, not sad.
Grant this day be full of friendship and love, not hatred.
Blessed may you be, O Divine Ladies, and in your presence, so may we all.
_____
I have several altars in my home, to the Virgins, to Hera and Gaea, to Ares Hermes and Apollo, and to Aphrodite. I also have several statuettes that I use for cultic practice, and at all of these I will mke offerings this day.
_____
To Helios, the watchful.
Rise, O Lord, and watch as we rise.
The world is yours to observe.
Rise O Lord, and bless us with light.
That we may see more clearly.
Rise O Lord, and see us adore you.
The flowers of the field enriched by you.
Rise O Lord, and hear my prayer.
Bless me on this day with your guidance.
Rise O Lord, and be my companion.
Walk with me and mine in the light of day.
_____
Each of my altars will receive offerings today, however, because I do live in an apartment and it is a bit chilly to open all the windows in December, I will not do them all at once. This does offer me the chance to make the offerings an all day event, however, for any time I leave my home today, I will light incense at their altars, and on my return will do the same.
Once it is lit and covered, I walk through my home and, room by room, I invoke the Gods above, the great Olympians and Heavenly Gods, and ask their blessing on my home. When done, I place the still smoking burner in an east facing window, toward the soon rising sun, and invoke a welcoming prayer to Helios, lord of the sun and the namesake of this festival.
Prayer to the Virgins:
Blessed Lady of the Hearth, keeper of the sacred flames of Olympus.
Enter this home, you are welcome here.
Bring with you your protection, your courage, your purity.
Grant that I may be worthy this day.
Blessed Lady of Wisdom, protector of cities..
Enter this home, you are welcome here.
Bring with you wisdom, courage, and strength.
Grant that I may be worthy this day.
Blessed Lady of the Wilds, protector of the innocent and young.
Enter this home, you are welcome here.
Bring with you certainty, patience, and your divine guidance.
Grant that I may be worthy this day.
Blessed Virgins of Olympus.
Grant this day be fruitful, not wasted.
Grant this day be joyous, not sad.
Grant this day be full of friendship and love, not hatred.
Blessed may you be, O Divine Ladies, and in your presence, so may we all.
_____
I have several altars in my home, to the Virgins, to Hera and Gaea, to Ares Hermes and Apollo, and to Aphrodite. I also have several statuettes that I use for cultic practice, and at all of these I will mke offerings this day.
_____
To Helios, the watchful.
Rise, O Lord, and watch as we rise.
The world is yours to observe.
Rise O Lord, and bless us with light.
That we may see more clearly.
Rise O Lord, and see us adore you.
The flowers of the field enriched by you.
Rise O Lord, and hear my prayer.
Bless me on this day with your guidance.
Rise O Lord, and be my companion.
Walk with me and mine in the light of day.
_____
Each of my altars will receive offerings today, however, because I do live in an apartment and it is a bit chilly to open all the windows in December, I will not do them all at once. This does offer me the chance to make the offerings an all day event, however, for any time I leave my home today, I will light incense at their altars, and on my return will do the same.