He Comes, Bearing the Fruit of Conquest

Today is Theoxenia on the Treasury’s calendar.  Theoxenia is the day when Apollon returns to us from His abode in Hyperborea, where His focus was no longer upon the everyday needs of mankind, but instead set upon the many, many deeply primal aspects of creation, over which He governs.  It is widely accepted that during this time, Apollon is absent from our world, yet, as many devotee’s of the god will know, He often is most keenly present in our lives during His Hyperborean stay.

This might be due to the nature of the connection that intimate devotees share with Him.  Not only are we in constant contact with Him, what we experience of Him during the Hyperborean season especially, is well below the surface of what He shows to many others.  He is Lykeios and Telkinios, the wolf and the wind, ripping and cutting away the weak, in nature.  He is the blizzard that whites out all before you, leaving you stranded yet totally enveloped by Him.  He is also the spark that dwells in your heart and never fades, its light always there to show the way through the darkness.  And in this darkness, in this reality of the Hyperborean season, we walk a path that He has laid out– a path that leads to Him.

So, as He does each year at the height of the winter darkness, Apollon seizes the hearts of many new devotees.  These will be led through the wilderness of the Hyperborean season, and out through the gates of coming spring.  And then they will know Him in His completeness, as the light grows with the passage of time.

When He arrives at the doors of the House of Apollo, made up of the households and individuals dedicated to Him, He carries the enthusiastic and unfiltered love and adoration of those whose hearts He won in winter, who will be added to the glorious collection of souls that greet Him on Theoxenia.  For, as befits a conqueror, Apollon comes bearing the fruit of His conquest.

May we all celebrate the inclusion of our new fellows among the blessed of Apollon.  May we welcome them openly, and share what we have to share without hesitancy.  And, may we love them under the light of Apollon, as the members of His family that we all are.  For some, walking an Apollonian path may be difficult, and they may desire varying amounts of guidance.  May we be gentle in our interactions with them, remembering always, that once, many of us were conquests, too.

Hail Apollon!  Blessed Theoxenia!

— Columbine

Happy Noumenia, and Blessed Theoxenia!

Noumenia of Treasury Month Theoxenion (IV): Theoxenia – (3/18/2018)

Blessed Theoxenia, everyone! May Apollon’s return bring with Him the warmth and radiance of the coming spring! If the flowers have not already begun to bloom, they soon will, and so too will our hearts, full with His affection and grace.

This day marks a turning point in the year, wherein the wild, whirling twilight of Apollon’s primal nature is subdued by His more civilized and anthropomorphic qualities.

These attributes once awakened the oracular powers of the Pythia in Delphi, gave strength and cunning to men during the war campaign season, led farmers to sow, tend, and reap their crops, as well as to raise livestock for food and sacrifice, and much more. Our Lord Apollon is the very soul of civilization.

And so, in honor of our Prince, we welcome Him back into the world which He shall again permeate fully, by welcoming Him back into our homes, for we all are the house of Apollo.

The Lord returns again to the house of Apollo. May the house of Apollo open its doors.

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Theoxenia Ritual Outline, by Sunweaver

[ALL]
Hestia, who tends the holy house of the Lord Apollo, the far-shooter of Pytho, welcome to this house. May you, and may Zeus, the all-wise, draw near and bestow your blessings on this place and on all who enter in peace and goodwill.

[Leader]
The Temple at Delphi faced West, welcoming the coming night, the darkness of mystery and the freedom of letting go. That was the house of Dionysus then and this is the house of Dionysus now. We welcome him with an offering of wine.

[All]
Dionysos Lyaeus, hear our prayers,
Blessed is the son of Zeus and Semele
Who frees us from care, we offer this to you,
May we be blessed with your favor.

[libation]

[First]
These past few months, we have celebrated the blessings of Dionysos, feasted and reveled in freedom and good company. We lit candles in the moonless nights of the darkest month, reflecting our own divine light and in hope for peace and freedom for all people.

[Leader]
The Temple at Delphi also faced East, welcoming the light of the rising sun, the light of insight and order, the light of reason that makes civilization possible. That was the house of Apollo then and this is the house of Apollo now. We welcome him by lighting a candle in the East.

[Second]
In those days, the Pythia made and broke nations and kings with her words. She was blessed by Apollo, inspired through the pneuma that rose up from the Earth. The Temple is now broken and the pneuma no longer rises into her holy sanctuary, the adyton, but we offer this incense in thanks for that which Apollo will illuminate for us and in remembrance of the Oracle.

[light incense]

[All]
Phoebos Apollo, hear our prayers:
Blessed son of Leto, god of Prophets who sees afar
May I go forth this day with my eyes open,
To see each moment as it truly is
May all beings be well,
and may Apollo bring them to His light
And may we be blessed by all the Gods of Olympos

[Leader]
We have now come to the blessing of First Breakfast:

We give thanks to you, immortal Gods, for the bounty before us

[Next]
To Hestia for blessing the hearth

[Next]
To Zeus, who brings the rain

[Next]
To Apollo, the ripener

[Next]
To Demeter, for the fruits of the Earth

[Next]
And her priest, Triptolemos, who taught us to farm

[Next]
And to Dionysos, for the gift of grapes

[All]
May all the Gods and good spirits bless this meal and all who have gathered here!

So Say We All!

Bi-Yearly Oracular Forecast

Theoxenion through Aegletion, 2018

 

Theoxenion (IV) – Mar. 18-Apr. 16, 2018

(Ρ) Rho, (Σ) Sigma, (Λ) Lambda

During the month of Theoxenion, we are warned not to take any drastic action, or make any abrupt or life-altering decisions, at this time.  Though we may be eager to make changes, and those changes may even be correct in the long run, we are cautioned to wait, to stop, to hold still until the eminent event passes.  In it’s wake, opportunities will be uncovered that we may well make use of to further our own goals.

Pytheion (V) – Apr. 17-May 15, 2018

(Β) Beta, (Ω) Omega, (Χ) Khi

For the month of Pytheion, the main theme of the oracle is hope and diligence.  It begins by telling us that we are not alone in our lives and endeavors, that indeed our Lord Apollon is present and affecting circumstances in our lives.  But of course, we know that He will help so far as we commit to helping ourselves, therefor we must remain diligent in our endeavors.  As the oracle reveals times of trouble are on the way, guided by diligence and aided by hope, we can thrive in the hard times to come.  And when these hard times pass, we will meet the just rewards for our labor.

 

Batrachion (VI) – May 16-Jun. 13, 2018

(Λ) Lambda, (O) Omicron, (Z) Zeta

In the month of Batrachion, we are warned of repercussions of our previous actions arriving, at last.  This is as it should be.  We must accept our past in order to cultivate a productive present, as well as a better future.  Once freed from the debt incurred by our pasts, we may find unique opportunities are ahead.

 

Pyrophorion (VII) – Jun. 14-Jul. 13, 2018

(M) Mu, (Ψ) Psi, (Δ) Delta

For the month of Pyrophorion, we are reminded of the merits of hard work.  What we do in furtherance of our goals must be infused with our deepest, most profound enthusiasm, and so, we must also manifest this enthusiasm by way of the effort we put into our projects.  But to balance our hard work, we must also be cunning, knowing when to apply the most pressure, in order to coax forth the desired outcome.  The oracle also tells us that there is no getting out of the work, no matter which of the Theoi we might ask.

 

Karneion (VIII) – Jul. 14-Aug. 11, 2018

(Y) Upsilon, (E) Epsilon, (K) Kappa

The month of Karneion will bring with it the potential to enter into new and fruitful partnerships.  Those whom we connect with on a spiritual, emotional, or physical level during this time, are likely to help feed and nurture our authentic selves, and the work which we are set to accomplish.  That which these new partnerships produce will be well formed, indeed.  The rightness of this oracle may prove to deter us from its completion, though we should know that attempts to avoid what is set in motion may result in unfavorable experiences.

Agetoreios (IX) – Aug. 12-Sep. 9, 2018

(Δ) Delta, (Z) Zeta, (T) Tau

During the month of Agetoreios we are told to be mindful of our timing.  If we wish to alter our course, breaking away from long established traditions, customs, or friendships, it is suggested that we very carefully plan to avoid conflict.  Bitterness and resentment between former associates only poisons the air between them.  So, go with grace, but know that this parting is in many ways, unavoidable.

 

Lykeion (X) – Sep. 10-Oct. 9, 2018

(B) Beta, (H) Eta, (Ξ) Xi

For the intercalary month of Lykeion, we are reminded that when the time comes to move on, we should do just that.  Apollon will assist us in letting go of what we once expected, while the truth in our hearts is overseen by the Gods.  We must be honest with ourselves, as well as the Gods.  Situations that do not work are not worth our time, and trying too hard to salvage them will only harm us in the long run.

 

Aegletion (XI) – Oct. 10-Nov. 7, 2018

(Ξ) Xi, (Y) Upsilon, (Δ) Delta

In the month of Aegletion, we are reminded that low quality material is not likely to produce high quality results.  If it isn’t working, try something new.  That which we choose to turn toward is more likely to lead us to the ends we seek.  We need to recognize when it is best to exercise our will, choosing better for ourselves, and those we love.

[Ktistêsia, 2018]