Category: Columbine
A Desperate Plea…
Extended Treasury Hiatus
Hello, everyone. Columbine here. I’m gonna be real with you: things are not well with me and my family. You don’t need to know everything, just that I can’t have a divided focus anymore. So, consequently, this whole project is being shelved for the foreseeable future. Things have been really bad for a long time, and there is no relief coming. Probably not ever. The only thing I’m asking for is your understanding. This was a heartwrenching decision, but one I can no longer avoid, or push forward to a later time.
If possible, I will post the calendars for the remainder of the year, along with the Oracular forecasts for the coming months, but that is all.
Take care of yourselves.
PS: Apollon is aware of this, and all the reasons. There is no breakdown in my relationship with my God, or with my Treasury Sisters. The Treasury still exists, but the website will not be maintained, for now.
— Columbine
Just a Heads Up…
For anyone who might have been waiting to order a copy of my recently published book, Umbral Incandescence: Revelations of Apollon, I will soon neccesarily be raising its paperback price, to reflect the rise in the cost of Amazon’s KDP manufacturing.
These changes were announced by Amazon this past March, I believe, and they heavily affect my book’s paperback release (ebook prices will remain unchanged), so I’m afraid the price increase can not be avoided. But now is a great time to order at it’s current price, before the increase goes into effect on June 20, 2023.
Please know that I do not do this lightly, and that if there were any way to avoid this price increase, I would do so.
Thank you so much to all those who have already ordered my book. I truly hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed publishing it for you. And thank you, also, to anyone who may be moved to order their copy sooner, rather than later.
Take care of yourselves, Dear Readers!
— Columbine
Underwhelming Introductions?
Have you previously introduced yourself to Apollon, made offerings and bared your all to Him? Have you done these things and recieved little or no discernable response in return? If you have, and this has left you confused, or wondering what went wrong, read on for a little insight on what may be happening.
Like all the Theoi, Apollon appreciates when seekers make the first moves in regard to forming relationships. While it is possible that He could notice you based solely on your quiet admiration of Him, He is more likely to respond to a welcoming overture, or an invitation into your space, especially when coupled with gifts, and praise. But, busy as He is with the duties of maintaining a functioning Universe, these tried and true methods may only bring you so far into His periphery.
So, what then, when what you’re seeking is the potential formation of a close bond, but all you’re getting on His end is a brief check-in, or a simple acknowledgment, or even the answering of your prayers, but without a continued presence in your life?
Hearing, and often answering, prayers is a duty among the Gods, but They are not obligated to attach Themselves to worshippers in any permanent way. This is one reason why not everyone will experience a Divine Patronage– not everyone needs or wants a Patron Diety, and not every God wants to develop these kinds of relationships with everyone and anyone who asks.
Usually, the reciprocal nature of offering and favor will suffice. But what of us who do desire to forge close and lasting bonds with Deities; in this case, with Apollon? Are we doomed never to know the kinship and companionship that develops in such a relationship? Is there no way to express our interest that will be recieved as more than merely a quid pro quo– a gift, for a favor in return?
Yes, or course there is, and the first step in that direction is answering honestly whether you had considered making yourself known to Anyone other than Apollon. The Theoi don’t exist in a vacuum, and neither do Their interests in mortals.
To make an example that many readers will understand, think of your social media. When you get a new follow request from someone unknown to you, do you just approve said request without investigation, or do you first look to see who in your list of current acquaintances is already connected to the unknown request maker? Using Twitter to further illustrate this: how many of your mutuals are now following the request maker? The Gods like to know when we’ve built a rapport with another Deity. It helps Them to discern our intentions, and the seriousness of our requests to know Them.
Apollon, in particular, greatly appreciates when seekers pay honor to those Deities in His close company: Artemis, Leto, Zeus, Dionysos, Hermes, and Hestia to name a few. Polytheism requires that we acknowledge the interconnectedness of the Theoi, and that we play to the bonds that already exist between Them. When we do this, we may become more interesting to the Gods whose attention we seek.
So, the next time you sit in reverence to Apollon, set aside some time to properly honor Him, by honoring His Mother and Sister; His Father and Brothers; or the respected Keeper of His Hearth. The tightest bonds are formed as links in a chain. If you would enter Apollon’s sphere, you do so amid the links of His Divine Family, and so many Others.
— Columbine, 03/24/2023
Umbral Incandescence, in Australia
I’ve noticed a few looks at my Apollon devotional from readers in Australia recently. I do remember when I first published it someone saying the link always tells people in Australia that the book is sold out. It’s print on demand, so it should never be sold out.
Then it occured to me that Australian readers would probably fare better by visiting the Amazon site for that country, so here is the link: Umbral Incandescence: Revelations of Apollon, at Amazon.com.au
And if you live outside of the U.S and would like me to provide a link to the devotional at your country’s Amazon site, let me know in the comments of this post. I’ll do my best to accommodate those who may be having trouble with the U.S. site, if I’m able.
Thank you so much for looking! I appreciate your curiosity!
— Columbine
A Devotional
Today, February 16, 2023, I accomplished a goal that I have had since I was a preteen. Thanks to the love of Apollon, the support of my family, and the insistence of my friends and Treasury Sisters, I’ve become a published author.
This work is done in dedication to Apollon, and celebrates Him in all those ways that make me the person I am today. I am supremely humbled by the affection shown to me, and by the beauty that I have witnessed as a part of His retinue. This is a great and wondrous milestone in my life, and I am so happy to share it here with you, dear readers.
Thank you all for being a part if this, because truly, I wouldn’t have done this without you. This devotional is the culmination of a decade of writings done to honor, and educate about Apollon, much of which would not have been manifest without the curiosity, and interest shown to me over these years, by you, my dearest readers.
The devotional, titled Umbral Incandescence: Revelations of Apollon, is published through Amazon, and is available for purchase today.
— Columbine
Prayer of Renewed Vigilance Against Plague
Lord whose knowledge of the body’s vagaries are intimate, and whose skill in averting illness and mortality is a grand treasure, for which we supplicate ourselves in worship and reverence, hear us again this day!
Upon You, O Paian, we rely! Upon Your immense knowledge have we built a vast network of aid, working tirelessly toward the prevention and curing of countless plagues, which threaten our mortal lives!
In this work, we have bowed in reverence to Asklepios and Hygieia– have prayed to the All-Curing Panakeia– and our prayers were answered in the form of inspiration, which taught us the many works of cleanliness and right-medicine!
And yet, in these times of far-reaching ambition, and medical knowledge that has surpassed much of what was known by many of our ancestors, we now find ourselves at the mercy of greed that outstrips all reason, and are held hostage to the works of evil men and women, whose care is not for our survival, but for the depth of their purses!
To these whose schemes threaten the health and order of the world, we ask that You, O Despota, open them to the consideration of others, that they be made to see within– the humanity of their fellows– and that we may all, one day soon, understand the price we pay for failure to heed Your basic tenets– [Maxim #30: Exercise nobility of character; Maxim #136: Gratify without harming]— for we are all one body in the hand of Fate, and the Gods!
We beseech You, Katharsios! Be merciful toward them who have dealt harm, and let them not feel the sting of loss that haunts so many, due to carelessness and selfish pride!
We beseech You, Apotropaios! Allow us to correct the course we have been steered upon, and to answer for the complacency of our brethren with newfound vigor, and the willingness to value the lives of all humankind!
Apollon Phosophoros, we beseech You to light our way, and set us all toward right-action, that we might quell the viruses running rampant within our communities, and across the world!
If ever our Love has been known to You, Khrysáoros, who wields the Sword of Righteousness, accept our prayers, and these libations [Pour Libations], that they might refresh You during this time of accountability and renewed purpose!
All hail Apollon, our Lord, Prince, and King!
— Columbine, 12/22/2022
In Winter, Does the Prince Who Possesses My Heart Ever Long To Be Near It?
Do You, my Love, know what anguish Your departure causes? I know that You must do what must be done; that You must cross that threshold, and slip into realities of which I may not partake, and yet my desire does not cease: I want no more or less than Your beautiful focus; Your unerring eyes upon me.
Tis selfish, this desire; I know this well. But to experience You, and then to be deprived of Your glorious intensity, can feel as cruel a reality as any. But You will do Your duty, and I will do mine; to see You off, and to bear Your torch until the warmth of spring again flows through the land.
And while You are away, I will console myself with the Lessons You have taught, and with the strength and endurance I have built– for I have endured this pain before; this desire for You– and each year at this time, I have overcome and channeled this longing toward motivation needed to greet You lovingly when You return.
Free of anguish, free of uncertainty– but never free of desire— I will await You once again, so welcome me as I will welcome You; reveal Your desire for me, as I have desired You, and our reciprocal love shall enfold u/Us within the invariable currents of co-creation, and mutual abundance.
— Columbine, Aegletia, Day 9, 2022
Day 9
*The Procession, and Farewell to the King; festival participants should express their goodbyes to Apollon, as He continues on toward Hyperborea.
Aegletia, Day 8: A Day of Calm and Quietude; A Day of Rest and of Reflection
In the spirit of the Eighth Illumination, I have spent most of my day today just sitting with the inevitable culmination of the Aegletia. That is, when my Beloved Apollon makes His grand exit tomorrow, after all the insights (and questions) He’s left me with this year.
This year’s festival has been a particularly difficult one, in that a lot of old and half-forgotten emotions were dredged up from the dark and neglected recesses of my memory. Things I was so sure I’d already processed, when in fact, I’d only decided they weren’t worth my time or attention, and shoved them down into the crevasse where I’d hoped never to witness them again. But we as Apollonians know that sort of reaction/rejection doesn’t well sit with our Lord for long. Eventually, these hard truths and difficult questions must be answered, through open acceptance, and even conflict within the mind and body. But I am always grateful for this process. It always pushes me further than I’d choose to go on my own.
If left to my own devices, I’d likely not bother revealing myself so intimately through prose or verse over the Nine Illuminations. I’d probably simply observe quietly and refrain from being His example during the festival. It would certainly be easier than allowing His spirit to overtake me for nine consecutive days so that I might produce works of written art that I’d had no previous inkling of, until the very moments I begin to release them upon a page.
To be a vessel for Apollon is so very taxing, but not so much draining; it’s more of a spiritual overexertion than anything else– like being cradled within the heart of a nova– and I find it increasingly prescient that He insisted we make space for rest and rumination during this time with Him.
So, if you haven’t already, I encourage all who are participating in the Nine Illuminations to take this day as the gift that it is; rest in quietude and contemplation. Be still within the safety of Apollon’s affections, and know that as He has opened you to unhealed wounds, unprocessed grief, raw unfiltered emotion, or any other thing you’d perhaps rather not deal with, you are not alone in this. Apollon remains with you, and shall remain, if in a way more distant, after the Aegletia ends.
— Columbine, Aegletia, Day 8, 2022
Day 8
*Calm and Quietude.
**Resting with the knowledge and insights gained from the previous days.
***Meditation upon the connections established between the Treasury of Apollon, our Sisterhood, and/or any other type of familial unit in participation with the festival; including connections made by and with our Lord, that we have established with all things seeking, and in reverence of His light and magnitude.
Treasury of Apollon 