Greek Gods 101: Asklepios

༺ 𝐼 𝓀𝓃𝑜𝓌 𝓎𝑜𝓊, 𝐼 𝓌𝒶𝓁𝓀𝑒𝒹 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝑜𝓃𝒸𝑒 𝓊𝓅𝑜𝓃 𝒶 𝒹𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓂 ༻

"[Prayer of an insomniac to Somnus the god of Sleep :]

O youthful Somnus (Sleep) [Hypnos], gentlest of the gods, by what crime or error of mine have I deserved that I alone should lack thy bounty? Silent are all the cattle, and the wild beasts and the birds, and the curved mountain summits have the semblance of weary slumber, nor do the raging torrents roar as they were wont; the ruffled waves have sunk to rest, and the sea leans against earth's bosom and is still. Seven times now hath the returning moon beheld my fixed and ailing eyes; so often have the lights of Oeta and Paphos [i.e. the morning & evening star] revisited me, so oft hath Tithonia [Aurora-Eos, the Dawn] passed by my groans, and pitying sprinkled me with her cool whip [the whip with which she chases away the stars]. Ah! how may I endure? Not if I had the thousand eyes of sacred Argus, which he kept but in alternate watchfulness, nor even waked in all his frame at once. But now--ah, me!--if some lover through the long hours of night is clasping a girl's entwining arms, and of his own will drives thee from him, come thence, O Somnus! Nor do I bid thee shower all the influence of thy wings upon my eyes--that be the prayer of happier folk!--touch me but with thy wand's extremest tip--'tis enough--or pass over me with lightly hovering step."

Statius, Silvae 5. 4. 1 (trans. Mozley)

🪶 . . . sorceress, & minor goddess of magic.

Circe (or Kirke) is a goddess of magic and a skilled sorceress who is mentioned in Homer's Odyssey. daughter of Helios and Perseis, a sea nymph, she resides on the island of Aeaea where she encounters Odysseus.

Circe meets Odysseus when his travelling companions enter her palace after reaching Aeaea. however, before joining them, Odysseus meets Hermes, who instructs him to take a magic herb before he speaks with Circe, who will attempt to enchant him too.

having resisted her enchantment, Circe becomes enamoured with Odysseus, and swears and oath to do no more mischief to him and his men in exchange for him laying with her. she turns his travelling companions from swine back into men, and they bring their ship ashore and spend a year and a day feasting with Circe and the nymphs of her palace and living in comfort.

following this, though, Odysseus is reminded by his men they should go on - and so, instructing him in the art of necromancy, or what must be done to reach the underworld, Circe tells him he must travel to the realm of Hades to meet the prophet Tiresias. she sets his men off when the wind is favourable, with instructions of how to safely pass the island of the Sirens.

🪶 . . . powerful enchantress.

Circe is often described as a fearsome goddess, and her island is said to be inhabited by lions and wolves who were once men. being a daughter of Helios, she is beautiful and radiant, with particularly lovely hair, but is said to be a very powerful sorceress. in the Odyssey, Homer gives her the epithet Polypharmakos (or knowing many drugs or charms), because of her detailed knowledge of herbs and enchantments. in addition to her potions and tinctures, Circe also wielded a magic wand with which she could enchant or transform.

🪶 . . . worship & modern times.

Circe was the subject of some cult worship (or hero-worship) in ancient Greece, but similar to some other mythological figures has been reimagined in modern times in a more positive light to how she was understood in wider society due to a view of her as a powerful, free woman. in her role as a goddess of magic, she may also be embedded in some people's practice of witchcraft in the modern era.

I don't personally work with Circe, though! she is a goddess I am very interested in, but I have never interacted with her myself, so if any of you have experiences communicating with or working with her I'd love to hear about them!

Travel Altars: Hypnos

A guide to travel altars for Hypnos. Please tell me if you want a certain deity covered!

In this guide, I’m assuming you’ve added a tea-light or LED candle. It isn’t necessary, but it’s not going to be included in any of these guides. I’m also going to be assuming you’ve added a photo of the deity and prayers. These guides will not include those, either.

Lavender

Amethyst

Dollhouse Beds or Pillows

Star Related Things

Moon Related Things

Quilt Fabric

Rosemary

Chamomile

Poppy Petals/Seeds/Leaves/Etc.

Dream Catchers

See more deities here.

Greek Gods 101: Morpheus

Morpheus is a Daimon of dreams. Excluding the universal offerings, some common offerings include:

Lavender

Poppies (Or Seeds, Bread, Etc.)

Sleep-Inducing Teas and Herbs

Dream-Inducing Teas and Herbs

Depictions of Butterflies

Blankets

Pillows

Feathers

Amethyst

Mugwort

Valerian

For devotional acts, some activities that can be done for him include:

Lucid Dreaming

Keeping a Dream Journal

Make (and Keep) a Nighttime Routine

Learn Lucid Dreaming Techniques

Drinking/Otherwise Using Dream-Inducing Teas/Herbs/Oils/Etc.

Make Dream Pillows (Pillows Stuffed with Herbs/Crystals/Etc.)

Do Dream Reflections

Learn How to Read Dreams

He is not celebrated in any Athenian holidays.

© Nona Limmen {Instagram / Bluesky}

Cicely Mary Baker - Flower Fairies of Winter