badstar

Hymn # 7 To Asteria as Delos:

Sing, clear-voiced Muses of shining Asteria, daughter of bright Phoibe who fell from the sky and dwelled beneath the sea until far-wandering Leto came to give birth. Then, blessed star-goddess, you rose from the deep to become Delos, obscure wave-tossed island, that your sister may have respite from her forced wanderings. She swore by the Styx that did you welcome her son’s birth on your soil, you would enjoy great renown. There, many goddesses gathered while Iris the storm-footed fetched Eilythia and Hera’s rage was calmed by Zeus. Then, with a great cry, golden Apollo was born and a temple was built. Four pillars rose up from the sea-floor to hold you fast, no longer to be tossed about by the waves and men brought great sacrifices to your shores. Greatest of the Cyclades, a boat does not pass in your sight without stopping to offer homage at your temple!

To you, Asteria, hail! I will remember you and another song also.


Hymn # 10: To Hermes the Clever One:

Of fleet-footed Hermes I begin my song, clever one born of Maia who devised many genius inventions. Swiftly, your winged sandals bear you between the realms of Zeus and Hades and mortal man, carrying messages, thieving cattle and guiding souls on their final journey. Sweetly sings the lyre as the player’s fingers caress and dance over its strings and the melodious tune wafts from the shepherd’s pipe, drifting softly over hill and pasture while the fire stick brings warmth and light.

To you, Hermes, quick-thinking inventor, hail! I will remember you and another song also.

Hymn #11: to Leto, Artemis and Apollo

Fair-voiced Muses, sing of modest Leto and her divine children. Of she who is most gentle of all Olympians, loved by Zeus, dark-robed mother who traveled far, veiled one who goes unseen. Daughter of shining Phoibe, you, twin-bearing goddess are revered among motals!

And of Artemis, huntress of the forest, clad in saffron tunic, you whom no man may possess. Attended by nymphs, you roam free, unhindered by domestic bonds, protecting your wild lands and dancing with the Muses on Olympus.

and of Apollo of the lyre and silver bow, oracle-giving lord of Delphi, most beautiful of the gods, your gifts are many. You grant true visions and lead the muses in heavenly song as you pluck clear notes from your lyre.

To you, Leto, Artemis and Apollo, gentle mother and archer twins, hail! I seek your blessings and honor to my song.

So, the solstice ritual that I mentioned yesterday...this is the post that I made elsewhere about it:


On my way to work this morning, I had an idea for a solstice ritual (two actually, to be performed sort of in tandem), and then it occurred to me that the reverse would make for an excellent winter solstice.

On the summer solstice, a ritual to Hyperion at sunrise, with Eos as the gatekeeper to celebrate the dawning of the longest day, and a ritual to Nyx at sunset, Asteria as the gatekeeper in honor of the coming darkness.

On the winter solstice at sunset, a ritual to Nyx again, to celebrate the falling of the longest night, and the next morning at dawn, a ritual to Hyperion to celebrate the returning light.

I've always felt much more in tune with the changing of the sun than with the changing of the earth. The Solstices and Equinoxes have had much more impact on me than the cross-quarter days (and the fact that I am not of Celtic leaning, coupled with the fact that I believe that festivals such as Beltane or Lughnassagh should be celebrated in honor of the gods for which they are named, otherwise a different name should be devised definitely makes for some extra distance between me and those particular festivals.)

I think that I will try to write up these rituals and perform them for myself this year and see how they go, and if it works well, possibly attempting to adapt for a group next year and see if anyone else wants to join me.