There are 8 official shrines at Laurelin, and you are welcome to visit any of them as long as you treat them with respect.

 

Four of the Shrines are to Greek gods and goddesses:

-Hermes

-Aphrodite

-Pan

-Nymphs

 

Four shrines are dedicated local features:

-Community (which can also be a Greek shrine for Hertha)

-Water

-Wild Ancestors

-Stone Circle

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Following is information about each shrine and how they are ideally honored.

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GREEK SHRINES

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All of the Greek shrines have a common format for honoring them, asking a boon of them, etc. The format goes:

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1) Say “Khaire (Car-ay) O [their name]. Hail [their name]!”

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2) If you know any of their historical/ literary epithets add a few and tell them why you are calling on them. For example, for Aphrodite you might say “Sea-foam-born Heavenly One, thank you for your presence, wisdom, insight, and assistance in my ritual.”

 

3) Say this:

“Eleibometha (Elay bomb etha) soi (soy). We have poured a libation to you. (Pour them a little wine)

Leipsometha (Layp somm etha) soi (soy). We do pour a libation to you.(Pour them a little more wine)

Leibometha (Lay bomb etha) soi (soy). We will pour a libation to you.(Pour them a little more wine and finish the rest yourself).

Kharin (Car-een) ekhomen (ek-omen) soi (soy). Khaire (Car-ay)! We give you thanks. Hail!”

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Here are some of their areas of influence and epithets:

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Aphrodite

Goddess of Love, Desire, and Beauty but so much more

•Aphrodite Pandemos (“of all the people”) — associated with common or earthly love and civic unity.

•Aphrodite Urania (“heavenly”) — associated with spiritual or celestial love but also for cemeteries and the dead.

•Aphrodite Philommeidēs (“laughter-loving” or “smile-loving”) — from epic poetry, especially Iliad.

•Aphrodite Himera (“desire”) — emphasizing erotic longing. •Aphrodite Peitho (“persuasion”) — connected with seduction and eloquence.

•Aphrodite Euploia (“fair voyage”) — patroness of safe sailing. •Aphrodite Pontia (“of the sea”)

•Aphrodite Anadyomene (“rising from the sea”) — referencing her mythical birth from sea foam.

•Aphrodite Nikephoros (“bringer of victory”)

•Aphrodite Apostrophia (“she who turns away”) — invoked to avert improper desire.

•Aphrodite Genetyllis (“of motherhood” or “birth”)

•Aphrodite Nymphia (“bridal”) — protector of marriage rites. •Aphrodite Epitragia (“upon the goat”) — connected with fertility symbolism.

•Aphrodite Praxis (“of action” or “successful affairs”)

 

Pan

Pastoral God of Shepherds, Music, Passion, Sex, and Panic

•Aigipan (“Goat-Pan” or “Goat-All”) — emphasizing his goat form.

•Nomios (“Of the Pastures” / “Pastoral”) — protector of shepherds and flocks.

•Agreus (“Hunter” / “Of the Wilds”) — connected with wilderness and hunting.

•Lyterios (“Deliverer”) — sometimes linked to protection in wild places.

•Mousikos (“Musical”)

•Choreutes (“Leader of the Dance”)

•Bakcheios (“Bacchic”) — emphasizing ecstatic and Dionysian aspects.

•Karpoforos (“Fruit-Bearer/ fertility”)

•Synoches (“Uniter”) — occasionally linked to erotic union and fertility.

•Deimatites (“Terrifying One”)

•Phoberos (“Fearful / Fear-Inducing”)

•Episkopos (“Watcher” / “Guardian”)

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Hermes

Messenger of the Gods, bringer of luck, trickster, guide of souls, patron of travelers, giver of eloquence

•Psychopompos (“Guide of Souls” to the underworld)

•Diaktoros (“Messenger” or herald of the Gods)

•Endios (“Of the roads”/ protector of travelers)

•Agoraios (“Of the marketplace”)

•Dolios (“The Cunning” or “Trickster”)

•Polytropos (“Of many turns”/ versatile, crafty)

•Chthonios (“Of the underworld”

)•Logios (“Of eloquence” in speech

•Kerdoos (“Of profit” or commerce)•Nomios (Protector of flocks and shepherds)

•Propylaios (“Before the gate”/ guardian of thresholds)

•Araketos (“Benign” or “harmless helper”)

•Oneiropompos (“Sender/ guide of dreams”)

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Nymphs

These are a variety of nature spirits. Some were born this way and others were transformed into nymphs during dealings with Gods. There are many; some with names and some just by class – for example Naiads for freshwater springs, rivers, and lakes. Overall, besides wine, their preferred offerings include songs, poems, and dances. It is said that if you are spontaneously inspired to sing, dance or recite poetry, then you are in the presence of the nymphs. If you know of one specific one you’d like to call upon you may do so, or you can call on them collectively as “Nymphai” (Noom Pie.

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Community Shrine/ Hestia

This shrine is both a local shrine and a Greek shrine. You can certainly treat it as the other Greek shrines invoking Hestia (the H is silent), the Goddess of the Hearth. Or you can simply use it as the “Community” shrine, making a prayer or thought for the well-being of all who gather at Laurelin. Small tokens of major life events are sometimes left here.

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LOCAL SHRINES

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Water Shrine

This shrine collectively honors the several springs, wells and brooks on Laurelin. Offerings are generally fresh clear water that you share with the pool along with your reflections on coolness, calm, and nourishment.

 

Wild Ancestor Shrine

This place is still under development. It is dedicated to the non-human ancestors of all the beings who have occupied this land and the wisdom that can be found when we quiet the thinking mind and rely on our animal instincts and awareness.

 

Stone Circle

This is a ritual area with small stone altars in the (approximate) East, South, West, and North plus a large stone altar covered in moss, and two sentinel stones on each side of the altar. This space is for quiet, solemn ritual involving journeying to the three worlds, and initiation. Offerings of small stones can be left on any of the altars.