Chthonia; an annual ritual of Demeter in Hermione

"The goddess herself is called Chthonia, and Chthonia is the name of the festival they hold in the summer every year... They conduct the festival like this.

The procession is headed by the priests of the gods and by all those who hold the annual magistracies; both men and women follow after them. It is now a custom that some who are still children should honor the goddess in the procession as well. These wear white clothing and wreaths upon their heads. Their wreaths are woven from a flower that they call ksomosandalon, which seems to be a hyacinth, judging from its size and color; the same letters of mourning are even upon it. Men lead from the herd a heifer - fastened with bonds, and still unruly due to her wildness - following those who form the procession. Having driven the heifer to the temple, some loose her from the ropes so that she may rush into the sanctuary; others, who up until then have been holding the doors open, when they see the heifer within the temple, close the doors.

Four old women, left behind inside, make an end of the heifer.

Whoever gets the chance slices the throat of the cow with a sickle. Afterwards, the doors are opened, and those who are appointed drive up a second heifer, and a third after that, and yet a fourth. The old women make an end of them all in the same way, and there is yet another wonder in this sacrifice. On whichever of her sides the first heifer falls, all the others must fall on the same.

The sacrifice is performed by the Hermionians in the manner described. Before the temple stand a few statues of the women who have served Demeter as her priestess, and on passing inside, you see seats on which the old women wait for each of the heifers to be driven in, and images, of no great age, of Athena and Demeter.

But the thing itself that they revere more than all else, I never saw, not yet has any other man, whether strange or Hermionian. Only the old women know what it is."

Pausanias, (2.35.5-8), trans. W.H.S. Jones, modified by Sarah Iles Johnston, excerpt taken from "Demeter in Hermione: Sacrifice and Ritual Polyvalence," source.

Goddess of the harvest

An emissary of Demeter reminds us that even when we cannot be together with our loved ones in person, we will see them again someday, one way or another. And in the meantime, their memories keeps us warm.

—

Demeter (associated with Ceres in Roman polytheism) is a Greek goddess of agriculture, the harvest, the earth, and the cycle of life and death. She is often depicted with poppies or bundles of grain, and snakes are one of Her sacred animals. Her daughter is Persephone (Proserpina), Who descends every winter to the Underworld. Demeter awaits Her return, year after year.

You won’t see most of this planet.

Under each rock.

Beneath the water.

Secrets of air and soil.

Can you feel the joy behind this limitation?

That there is always a new thing to discover,

a new way to grow,

is one of the sweetest parts of living,

and it’s free and inexhaustible.

Jungsun Jung: Garden Nasturtium quilt

@hrusewif

The art of pie

Charcuterie boards — breakfast-in-bed elevated, a beautiful picnic setup, or endless party appetizers, depending on how you do it. Regardless, done well, they have you feeling like you're lounging in a chaise being fanned in your toga. Most importantly, they get you to eating an abundance of fresh and nourishing foods.

(a guide to charcuterie board making on Patreon)

Adeia: Modern Festival to Demeter

The gods I am propitiating for my Adeia are Demeter Soteira (saviour), Herakles Alexikakos (averter of evil), Zeus Hyetios (moist/fertilising rain), Hermes Nomios (protector of pastures and shepherds), Olea (nymph of my garden), and Djarlgarra (local river god).

My menu includes:

We call upon you in our time of need Benevolent gods, givers of good.

Crises threaten world-over and hardships befall many, and now again we raise our voices in plea.

If these smoky offerings please you, and these sweet drinks warm you, look well upon us. Kindly gods, bless our coffers and larders again, and see abundance flow to our house. And should strife visit our doors, grant us the fortitude to endure.

May Zeus meter his life-giving rains, so dry or soggy fields remain moist year-through

May Hermes keep a watchful eye on the flocks and farm-hands, that flystrike and heatstroke never hinder them

With outstretched arms I sing praises to you, bold Djarlgarra, he who holds moisture for our sun-stricken land

And to sweet Olea I gift equally sweet fruits, that you may keep my rain barrels at bursting and my garden fertile

Adeia Day 2

A little more subdued today both because in Australia it is Father’s Day and because today involves a little more hands-on work on my garden.

Including installing a bird bath for my beloved dove family, but also for the pollinators and insects that visit. It is both access to water and a home for little bugs to live around.

The Adeia is concerned with large-scale issues around our world, but also the more immediate concerns of personal welfare and food resources. My garden is one resource for me and investing in its health is an investment in my family.

The Adeia - a modern festival to Demeter

Historically, it’s often during times of hardships and crisis that new cults would be established and religious innovations would appear. This one is no different. It’s through discussion with @iliosflower that the idea of creating a new festival, one that would more accurately respond to modern problematics, came to fruition. This is what we’d like to explain in this post and hope that the idea finds an echo, and hopefully, validation from the wider community.

Why? What is it supposed to do?

On a global scale, we’re dealing with a climate crisis that is putting food sources at risk. On a more local level, conflicts and abnormal weather are creating risks of bad harvests, resources shortages and/or inflations.

We are aware that not everyone is impacted directly by the current ongoing issues, but we hope that this festival (or at least the idea) can be useful beyond these and be seen through a wider scope of praying for food security at large. 

We named the festival Adeia, from the ancient Greek ἄδεια, which conveniently can signify both “abundance”/”plenty” and “freedom from fear”/”security”. All things the festival aims for.

How? What would the festival entail?

Feedback, discussion & questions welcome.

To quote another farming post that crossed my dash earlier today – “It’s almost like nature knows what it’s doing.”

@iliosflower @thegrapeandthefig