Oracular Forecast – Telchinion through Daphneion 2023/2024

White swan on water during daytime, by Sascha Bosshard.

Telchinion through Daphneion 2023/2024

Telchinion (XII) – Oct. 15 – Nov. 13, 2023

(M) Mu, (Z) Zeta, (E) Eta

In Telchinion, if you thought the way was easy, or that it was a time to wind down, thinking that the trials were behind you, now you must rethink that assessment. There is much work to be done, some of it tedious, but all of it necessary. This is the work that shapes you, as in individual, and helps to pave the way for the future of many, not only those in your direct care. Take your role seriously, and the seriousness of your actions will reveal what is known to the Gods. In doing this work, be not distracted by what is loud or combative. It is best to keep distance between yourself and a raging storm. Doing otherwise risks you being pulled into traumas that are not your own to process. Do what you know is correct, and the course before you shall remain clear. That which seeks only to destroy what it has not itself built, will be done in by the very forces it seeks to wield, in bad faith. Walk forward, and look only ahead toward the clearing that Helios’ rays have opened for you.

Hyperboraios (XIII) – Nov. 14 – Dec. 12, 2023

(O) Omicron, (M) Mu, (Γ) Gamma

In Hyperboraios, remember that what you put forth is what will return. All that you do and work toward, whether it be for a greater good, or for an aim bordering upon transgression, is known among the Immortal Gods, and They will arrive to set the balance. Let this be a warning against the chattering of idleness, and against more sinister ills. You are better to set your thoughts and actions toward neutrality, or nobility. Be the person that resides within– just and of good character. Be true to your inward desires, and let not the base judgments of intrusive onlookers dictate your actions, or reactions. This too, is necessary work. So long as you remain on the path that is true to your heart and soul, there are no obstacles that can deter you. And for your steadfast awareness, Gaea shall bestow a bountiful harvest.

Perihelios (I) Dec. 13 – Jan. 11, 2023/2024

(Ω) Omega, (Φ) Phi, (T) Tau

Be aware that during Perihelios, as the New Year begins, there will come several unsavory pathways, branching onto dividing lines of succession. None of these will be ideal, and there is no option to abstain. Sometimes life is not fair, and making the best of bad situations means accepting the concequences of our actions. There will be setbacks, drawbacks, and grasping too early the ends once hoped for. They will not be as imagined, yet they must be taken as they are. It will be all too easy to attempt assigning blame to luck, or to chance, but the truth is, that no matter the hand chance deals, all the decisions from that point on, are your own. Do not blame others for what can readily be explained by your choices, even if uninformed– especially if uninformed. Accept reality, and move forward with care. The aftermath of this trial may be even more difficult to cope with, as you will likely find yourself at a crossroads. Will you cleave to inclusion that no longer supports you, leaving yourself open to being culled from a group of no longer like-mind? Or will you sever ties yourself, that have outgrown their usefulness to all parties, thus taking control of your fate, and opening the eyes of others involved? In either scenario, there will be an ending of association.

Prostaterias (II) Jan. 12 – Feb. 9, 2024

(Δ) Delta (Η) Eta, (Φ) Phi

For Prostaterias, the reminder is that power corrupts. Those in positions of power should take heed in this month. Do not aim your sword at the weak, or marginalized. Do not lord over your constituents haughtily. Do not take or co-opt of the labors of others, and do not needlessly bellow your supposed superiority. All these are paths to ruin, and the fall from so far a height is bound to be cataclysmic. Those who disdain this warning from the Deathless Gods shall not achieve the aims they so recklessly pursue. There will be no quarter given when the balance comes due. You are seen. Your actions, and indeed your deepest heart-truths, are recorded. Helios will strip away the outer beauty– the facade– and the underlying rot will be revealed. And after this is done, in the contemptuous tirade of one relieved of their power by the Light of Truth, the one so relieved, will curse the uncurseable, thus sealing themselves within a cycle of hubris– for they will refuse to see how they brought this end upon themselves. Be not like them, but like unto the Gods, and seek Truth, even when it reveals you disfavorably, and when it discomforts your curated image.

Daphneion (III) Feb. 10 – Mar. 10, 2024

(T) Tau, (H) Eta, (Π) Pi

Daphneion declares that you have outgrown a comfortable and familiar space. Whether this space exists within you, or without, is yours to discover. It is now time to act, and to move in ways that will promote the growth of your ideals or worldview. Stagnancy is anathema to what Apollon represents. We who are beloved of Him, must at all times challenge our notions of comfort, and be ready to pull away from long-loved conveniences if they no longer serve our higher purpose; or to embrace new and difficult pursuits if those are what are needed in the present time. You must bathe within the Light, and let it wash away the shadows of past desires. You must be seen. When all this is accomplished, you will begin to understand what gears needed turning to lead you in the current direction. And this direction is where you need to be, in order to claim the prize of an opened and enlightened mind, upon a journey of self-discovery. You have left your previous self behind, and have come to know yourself, presently. Be present.

[Aegletia, Day 7, 2023]

Aegletia Is Upcoming

This is only a brief reminder that if anyone has an interest in celebrating the Treasury of Apollon’s modern Apollonian festival of the Aegletia, which begins October 1st, and ends in the late evening of October 9th, the best way to prepare is to follow the links in this post, and to plan your celebrations accordingly. Please, have a happy festival, and take care, Dear Readers.

— Columbine

All In One Aegletia Guide

Festival of Nine Days

Invocations & Evocations

Noumenia of Aegletion, 2023

**Oracular Forecast – Eleventh Year of the Treasury – Aegletion (XI),

Aegletion (XI) – Sep. 16 – Oct. 14, 2023

(Γ) Gamma, (A) Alpha, (Δ) Delta

In Aegletion, you will know the glory of success. There will be no obstacle that may stand before you in challenge. All of your work, and careful attention, shall be made evident in the acknowledgment of your endeavors, firstly, by the Gods; and then by those for whom you have worked so tirelessly. And through your diligence, will the staid traditions of the oppressor, be broken, and laid to waste within the remnants of their own needless, and gratuitous institutions. Your actions shall be precise in their application, and devastating to the ones who wished to devastate your world.

**All Oracular Forecasts are divined twice a year, on Aegletia 7, and Ktistêsia.

Noumenia of Hyperboraios, 2022

**Oracular Forecast – Tenth Year of the Treasury – Hyperboraios (XIII), 2022

Hyperboraios (XIII) – Nov. 24 – Dec. 23, 2022

(Λ) Lambda, (Β) Beta, (Δ) Delta

Sometimes, the blessings that are needed come not in the form we would want or expect, but instead are brought about by the abrupt, and the initially unwelcome. This is a sign to watch for the blight which holds within the promise of new life. You could choose to avoid it, but in doing so you risk its true intent being passed on to another, when its possibilities could have strengthened your bonds, or fertilized your lands. Whichever choice you make, know that the outcome in entirely yours to own. This chance was already given by the Gods, and it is yours to cultivate or discard. Along with this opportunity, one should also consider the old way versus the new: will adhering to the norms that have afforded peace and stability in times less drastic than these truly be as helpful as you could expect in the old world; or are the new ways the necessities that are needed now? Consider and reflect.

Noumenia of Telchinion, 2022

**Oracular Forecast – Tenth Year of the Treasury – Telchinion (XII), 2022

Telchinion (XII) – Oct. 26 – Nov. 23, 2022

(Σ) Sigma, (Ψ) Psi, (Ξ) Xi

For those who have wandered, look no more toward the distant lands; your place is here, among the others awaiting the bright awakening. To be among truly like minds is a blessing seldom bestowed twice in a single lifetime. You all were brought here for this moment; to be of help and support to one another during the trials to come. It is rare for humans to thrive in solitude, and rarer still for them not to long for the touch of a hand, or the caress of another’s breath in companionship or debate. Know that a shared life will not always be easy; it will challenge as well as inspire– but the easy life seldom affords the potential to grow and nurture that life together, with one’s chosen family. And remember, you will only receive the care and understanding that you are willing to invest. Make your relationships a priority, and wealth of many kinds will be your reward.

In Winter, Does the Prince Who Possesses My Heart Ever Long To Be Near It?

“Apollo Charming the Swans”, by Wilhelm List.

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

Woman leaning on gray rock. Free stock photo.

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.

Like Unto the Sun

solar-system

Hail to Apollon, who is like unto the sun; bright and intense with warmth; the Lord who reveals Yourself within the space of our shadows, to show that You know– and love– us all!

There are no faults You do not witness, no details too shocking or shameful to accept, in our imperfect completion!

Yes, like unto the sun, You are; commanding our orbit, enticing and empowering; catalyzing and alchemizing; all-knowing, all-seeing– the Prince who defends the right of all beings to determine their fate, and who preforms the Will of Great Zeus!

Nothing is forbidden, all is permitted, in the expression of our adoration for You!

Hail to Apollon, who, like unto the sun, rises and sets upon the earth; You of the waning twilight, who passes forth into realms unknowable, and whom we endeavor to delight in this time of bittersweet farewells– the King of Hyperborea, who challenges us to face the world as Yours, even while distant as the summer rains!

You will refrain from no lesson, with the power and intent to demonstrate what strength we have gained!

To prepare for Your absence, we compose our praises, and regale You of our tenderness; in reciprocity we give in kind what has been given, and Your ethos we absorb into our very pores– for You are like unto the sun; and we, Your satellites, are bound in the wake of Your Love!

— Columbine, Aegletia, Day 7, 2022

Day 7

*Celebration of the Fellowship of the Treasury of Apollon as extensions of our Prince’s mortal family, as well as a safe community for His brides and devotees.

**Proclamations of love; poetry, ecstatic ritual and prayer, and oracular trance are all encouraged on this day.

***Child-friendly, and family oriented celebrations are also advised for those to whom it applies.

Oracular Forecast – Telchinion through Daphneion 2022/2023

Telchinion through Daphneion 2022/2023

Telchinion (XII) – Oct. 26 – Nov. 23, 2022

(Σ) Sigma, (Ψ) Psi, (Ξ) Xi

Hyperboraios (XIII) – Nov. 24 – Dec. 23, 2022

(Λ) Lambda, (Β) Beta, (Δ) Delta

Perihelios (I) Dec. 24 – Jan. 21, 2022/2023

(Ο) Omicron, (Ι) Iota, (Ζ) Zeta

Remember that the effects of your actions will never be limited only to those whom you wished to effect; you are not immune to you own machinations. All that is done has an outcome that can not always be foreseen by mortal eyes. Neither is it the responsibility of the Gods to warn us of all the dangers we might set lose upon ourselves and others. The other side to this knowledge, is that through carefully attending to the motions we place, we might be able to nurture a positive outcome– but only if we remain diligent. This means we must continually monitor our designs, so they are in accord with what is necessary, not only what is desired. And there are times when the necessary includes retreat, for we can not be expected to foresee or affect only positive outcomes; or to wage wars beyond our capabilities in the aftermath.

Prostaterias (II) Jan. 22 – Feb. 20, 2023

(Θ) Theta, (Η) Eta, (Υ) Upsilon

For those with misgivings regarding the path you have chosen to walk, know that the Gods see and acknowledge you. Your struggle has not gone unnoticed, nor will it be ignored. Continue as you have, so long as you respect the sovereignty of those who walk in tandem with you; all spirits and like-minded humans who share your vision, and work to make it true and accessible to all. If at any point it becomes difficult to keep one’s own ego or desires in check, be not afraid to come to the Gods with these revelations. It is when we seek to keep hidden the desires of our hearts that we become most vulnerable to them. But even if you would choose this hidden pathway, know that the Gods see all within you, and have made ready a plan to set you upon a more equal path. It is perhaps best that you seek Their counsel before They seek to remind you of the truth. If you keep to the right, and do not allow yourself to stray upon the path of pure ego, it is possible to create, or be the catalyst to the creation of, something truly beautiful, in all the Divine sense of the word; but one must resist becoming one’s own obstacle in this endeavor.

Daphneion (III) Feb. 21 – Mar. 21, 2023

(Σ) Sigma, (Κ) Kappa, (Ε) Epsilon

You may be tempted to make brash actions, or quick decisions in a matter of high importance at this time, but be warned– acting without taking the correct considerations may lead not to the conclusion that you would prefer, but instead to one that is entirely out of your hands. Sometimes we find ourselves pushed in ways and directions that are anathema to our own ways of doing things. Sometimes we are backed into corners purposefully, and with malicious intent. That is why we must always try to be aware of all that hinges upon our decisions. We will never be the only ones affected, so it is imperative that we decide, always in good faith, and with respect to the responsibilities of our positions. And there will be times when there is little we can do but endure; to save the most of what we’ve worked to achieve, sometimes it is better to let the poison run its course. It will be exposed before the end, and we will be made stronger in its wake. Afterward, all that should be done is to remain as we have always been, and to watch as the perpetrator of harm is relinquished of authority, and made low in the eyes of those they sought to manipulate.

[Aegletia, Day 7, 2022]

The Ancient Myth

Beauty is defined by the one who sees and measures it; the one for whom the experience imprints upon the visceral. It is at once the thing which propels and repulses, for there is beauty in even the grossest processes.

Beauty lies within all natural acts, for the harmony of the Universe depends on these to function: predation and decay, and the ripening of life; all of these are beauty’s tangible examples.

Yet we seek out the aesthetic over the repulsive, mistaking physical form for beauty’s true manifestation. In this we often miss the most profound and formative aspects of our relationship to the heart of all creation.

What we run from defines us in ways most often overlooked: for what are we willing to suffer; what are we willing to witness; and yes, what are we willing to sacrifice to remain speared upon our aesthetic hook?

Ugliness lives within the heart of all human beings; that is what sets us apart. Not the temples, or adornments, or the finest textiles, or speech, or mathematics, or any other masterfully crafted art.

We are no more beautiful than a hunk of dead rotting meat; and no less than a murder of crows. What we imagine comes into creation, and what we fear impacts the whole of the world.

We mayn’t outrun our nature, therefore we should embrace it, because to see, know and acknowledge a thing, allows us the power to deconstruct it; to truly reveal what within it stems from our own making.

So, let us, instead of fleeing our consequences– indeed, those of eons of life lived in a myriad of forms– take a step toward beauty within the macabre and the displeasing, and there find the wherewithal to endure the coming storm.

For it is indeed coming, and though we may not like it, what remains of the world we once knew will only splinter further– down the lines drawn by ugliness and aesthetics; those things that we must murder within ourselves if we’re to topple beauty’s ancient myth.

— Columbine, Aegletia, Day 6, 2022

Day 6

*Exploration of the Beauty of the Illuminated World.

**Ritual, art, and celebrations with dance and music, as well as competitive games and sacred theater.

***Telling of myths and revealed stories, especially to and among children, where applicable.