How To Dress For The Old Gods

Naruto: Sasuke… my rival..

Shikamaru: Just say you love him

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Ino: I’ve acknowledged Sakura as my rival

Shikamaru: Just say crush

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Gai: Kakashi! My eternal rival!!

Shikamaru: Just say husband

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Madara, resurrected: Hashirama! My long-standing rival.

Shikamaru, from across the battlefield: JUST SAY YOU’RE GAY

Klee, T-posing in the doorway: Good evening, parental figure.

Diluc, not even looking up from his coffee: Good morning, problem child.

Apollo

Greek god of music, art, light, prophecy, oracles, knowledge, science, healing, diseases, plague, poetry, dance, herds and flocks, and archery

Apollo has a complex role as a deity for he is both the healer and the destroyer. He is known to be warm at heart and is fond of delighting others with music, namely by playing a lyre. Apollo is also deeply connected with all forms of art for he is a lover of beauty and emotion, and in fact, he is so deeply connected with the arts that the Muses are his attendees. He is a very ancient god whose origins extend beyond the Greek pantheon, being known as Apol in Egypt where he was moreso a god of war. Apollo was among one of the most feared Greek gods, and was terrifying to even the gods themselves.  

As a healer, Apollo is known to visit humans suffering from plagues and epidemics so he can heal them. Though as destroyer, he is given the name “the god who punishes and destroys (oulios) the wicked and overbearing”. All sudden deaths of men, whether they were regarded as a punishment or a reward, were believed to be the effect of the arrows of Apollo; and with the same arrows, he would send out plagues. In mythology, a story tells that four days after his birth, Apollo went to mount Parnassus, and there killed the dragon Python, who had pursued his mother during her wanderings. The circumstance of Apollo being the destroyer of the wicked was believed by some of the ancients to have given rise to his name Apollo, which they connected with apollumi, “to destroy.“   

In myth, Apollo is a son of Zeus, King of the Gods, and the Titaness Leto. His mother was hounded by Zeus’ wife Hera throughout her pregnancy and thus was forced to wander the world in search of safe refuge. In one legend, his twin-sister Artemis was born one day before Apollo. His mother gave birth to Artemis on the island of Ortygia, then, almost immediately after her birth, Artemis helped her mother to cross the straits over to Delos, where she then delivered Apollo with Artemis’ help.  

Along with Artemis, Apollo was a protector of children (Artemis protecting females and Apollo the males). But paradoxically, they could also be the cause for their deaths through shooting them with their arrows and raining disease upon them. In one mythical story, Artemis with her twin brother, Apollo, put to death the children of Niobe. The reason being that Niobe, a mere mortal, had boasted to Leto, the mother of the divine twins, that she had bore more children than her, which must make her superior to Leto. Apollo being outraged at such an insult on his mother, informed Artemis. The twin gods then hunted Niobe’s children down and shot them with their arrows; Apollo killed the male children and Artemis the girls. 

In my personal experiences with this god, Apollo is an elegant, charming, intelligent, refined, wise, and sophisticated gentleman whose eloquent words reflect his role as a god of the arts. He is deeply compassionate and protective of those he cares for, making his heart golden like the sun itself. Though he does in fact get wrathful towards injustices and is not afraid to seek the destruction of the cruel. Apollo values courage, kindness, generosity, independence, and wisdom. He is incredibly sweet and helpful, giving wonderful advice to those who need it. He is also very calm and patient as well. When people are suffering, his heart goes out for them and he does whatever he can to heal them- both physically and mentally. Apollo also greatly loves to learn and teach, making him an outstanding deity for all sorts of areas of life. Appearance-wise, Apollo appears as a tall and very handsome gentleman with tanned skin, blue eyes, very long golden hair, and gentle facial features.   

| Symbolism of Apollo |

Lyres

Bow and arrows

Laurel wreaths

Hyacinth 

Pythons

Ravens

Dolphins

Swans

Wolves

Bees

The Sun

| Personal Associations |

Harps

Sunflowers

Marigolds

Hawks

Griffins 

| Some of his epithets |

Loimios (The deliverer from plague)

Epikourios (The helper of warriors)

Aphetor (Archer)

Chrusaôr (The god with the golden sword)

Akestôr (Averter of evil)

Hekatos (He who kills many {with plague})

Hekatebolos (He who strikes from afar)

Eleleus (He who utters a war-cry)

Erasmius (The lovely)

Aegletes (The radiant one)

Stratagios (The general)

Nikephoros (Bringer of victory)

Acesius (Healing)

Boedromios (Savior on battlefield) 

| Offerings |

White wine, clear gin, chamomile tea, apples, figs, olives, honey, honeycomb, fancy sweets, pastries, chocolate, river fish (like trout), lamb meat, sunflowers, marigolds, hyacinth, yellow roses, bay leaves, musical instruments, bow & arrows, daggers, cologne, hair pomade, round mirrors, music sheets, hand-made crafts, pottery, chamomile, sunstone, citrine, divination tools, yellow or gold candles, raven feathers, swan feathers, bathing salts, white salt, lamb wool, a bowl for lecanomancy, frankincense, lyres (mini or full-scale), images of his sacred animals, classical music, artwork, poetry, and prose.

Hello Diana! I hope you are well. I was wondering, as someone new to paganism, what would you recommend when just starting to worship the gods?

ALL ABOUT PAGANISM

The Old Gods

Who the Old Gods Are

The Old Gods vs. The New

How to Find Your True God

On Approaching Your True God

The Greco-Roman Gods in Tarot

Worship and Offerings

How to Respectfully Invoke Immortals

How to Speak to the Old Gods

Tips on Keeping an Altar

What You Can Offer the Old Gods

How to Respectfully Dispose of Offerings

Ways to Worship Discreetly

How to Say Goodbye After a Ritual

Faith and Spirituality

How to Meditate Effectively

On Having More Than One Faith

The Jealous Nature of the Old Gods

On the Level of Your Devotion

On the Limits of Myths

How to Become a Witch

Tips on Creating Your Practice

Next Steps

All About Divination

All About Spells

Astrology and Paganism

Signs in the Houses Series: Aries in the Houses

Aries in the 1st House: think about big gestures when this placement is mentioned; all about making themselves stand out and known, super competitive so they’ll probably be into sports or leading a club/group, they have a lot of dark/bold features and they might also like to get face piercings or dye their hair, very dark/bush eyebrows and magnetic/intense eyes, prone to having scars and bruises 

Aries in the 2nd House: super determined; they know what they want and they have no problem going after it, they’re interested in making quick money so they’ll probably play the lottery or gamble often, quick to take risks and starting new projects

Aries in the 3rd House: fast talkers and thinkers, very aggressive when they communicate (loud/deep voice, swearing, etc.), kind of hard to convince them to change their mind, they don’t appreciate liars or slow talkers/workers, they live a fast-pace life, their actions definitely speak louder than their words, good at convincing other people to change their mind

Aries in the 4th House: a lot of conflict between family (specifically their parents), they feel comfortable when they’re around chaos and noise, they need a lot of emotional support from the people around them, feels like their childhood was horrible and their parents didn’t pay attention to them as much as they would have wanted, they have a hard time expressing their emotions and their thoughts in a mature way

Aries in the 5th House: very good at creating new things and expressing their creativity, probably interested in being on a sports team, impulsive/romantic/thoughtful, they get a long with babies/toddlers well, also least likely to want kids, sometimes they get caught up in their own fantasy world where they’re very successful but in reality they have a lot of work to do

Aries in the 6th House: very healthy and in shape, pretty good work ethic and they know how to manage their time wisely, great at leading groups and taking control, they work well with other people and by themselves, they put all of their energy into their work no questions asked, prone to having headaches and zero energy when they’re over worked

Aries in the 7th House: they need to work on letting go of their fears in relationships, they’re very loyal and devoted partners, they want to prove people wrong by trying to get ahead of them in life (competitive), their biggest fear is failure even if they don’t want to admit it, they’re good at adjusting certain parts of their life to accommodate others needs

Aries in the 8th House: they’re cursed with a lot of unfortunate circumstances in their life but their passion and confidence helps them work through it, they’re also good at regaining lost things because of this, some might be interested in occult topics simply because of the adrenalin rush, good at getting out of debt,  they might be prone to tragic accidents

Aries in the 9th House: they’re good at setting goals for themselves and finding their own destiny, they don’t appreciate when people try to push their views onto them and they will be very uncomfortable if this happens, they’re good at following their own path and they don’t let other people distract them from their goals, they’re interested in new opportunities and people

Aries in the 10th House: they struggle with being responsible because they don’t always take their time to do things, they want to rush through everything without stopping to see what works best for them, they like to dabble in a variety of careers and hobbies because of how skilled they are, they’re good at using just the right amount of power to control the people around them (in a good way of course)

Aries in the 11th House: good at making friends but they struggle to keep them which makes them upset, they usually jump from friend group to friend group because of how social they are, sometimes they try to take control of the friend groups to “save them” but that doesn’t always work, pretty good at being creative and achieving their goals, when they work harder they have a better chance at being successful

Aries in the 12th House: aries in this house causes someone to lose their energy and passion, they don’t really know who they are which causes them to be lazy because they don’t know what to do in life, they’re prone to a lot of psychological problems and stress (any small inconvenience bothers them because they feel stuck), they’re a lot more insecure and self conscious about their actions and life goals

Dear Diana, everybody's talking about Mars Retrograde like it's the worst thing. But the way you talk about Mars is a good energy. That he gives ambition and courage and all. Any advice for us please? Thank you for your time and generosity.

How to Take Advantage of Mars Retrograde

What is Mars retrograde? Well, Mars is the source of your drive and tenacity — your will to fight and live. And to “retrograde” means to move backwards. So from September 9th to November 13th, mimic Mars’ movement. Do your best to look back, and reclaim any strengths that you have lost along the years.

If Mars is in your First House

Regain your lost ego. Perhaps you considered yourself a genius as a student but now see yourself as an average adult. Remember what made you great back then. Embrace it again.

If Mars is in your Second House

Remember what you used to value but no longer care about. Perhaps you used to be into fashion or makeup. Maybe it is time to start a beauty vlog. You could now gain income from that.

If Mars is in your Third House

The way you used to communicate made people hear you and respect your opinion. Have you given up your truths so as not to offend anyone? Time to find your voice again.

If Mars is in your Fourth House

What did your first real home look like? Try to mimic its design or atmosphere in your current space. It will give you a sense of comfort and belonging that you have not felt in years.

If Mars is in your Fifth House

When you were younger, what were you deeply passionate about? What made you happy? Animé? Art? Music? Whatever it is, if you revisit it, it can give you fulfillment.

If Mars is in your Sixth House

Think back to when you were at your fittest and healthiest. What food did you eat back then? Any exercise routine you practiced? It is time to recommit yourself to it.

If Mars is in your Seventh House

Which of your old friends always made you feel good about yourself? Perhaps it is time to reconnect. If that is not possible, at least surround yourself now with similar people.

If Mars is in your Eighth House

What was it that made you a better person before than you are now? Was it how you treated others? Was it where you lived or how you looked? It is time to transform into that again.

If Mars is in your Ninth House

Your old philosophy in life got you through many challenges. What was it? A quote from your favorite movie? Something you read in a book? It is time to live again by those words.

If Mars is in your Tenth House

You were once certain you had a purpose in this world. A great destiny to fulfill. If you have lost that belief, embody your childhood self and look for it. It is time to find new meaning.

If Mars is in your Eleventh House

Were you friendlier and more outgoing before? While it is great that you have become independent, it is time to belong to a community again. In others, you will find even more strength.

If Mars is in your Twelfth House

What were your earliest dreams as a child? To own a theme park? To become a lawyer? Or an astronaut? Whatever they are, they will lead you to a clue as to what you should be doing now.

Tarots with playing cards♦♣♠♥

In my native country we use French cards almost every day, so I obviously grew up attached to my playing deck and never felt the urge to buy proper tarots - even my current Major Arcana deck is homemade - but don’t get me wrong, I l♥ve tarots - especially those like Shadowscapes, Rider, Art Nouveau and Luminous Spirit! Readings with playing cards are a bit informal, yet accurate and difficoult to interpret because of upright and reversed cards looking the same. It’s like a complex version of the Minor Arcana. Hope you like this post:)) 

Number correspondences, good & bad: 1 (Ace, A) – beginnings, opportunity; missed chances, bad timing 2 – cooperation; disharmony 3 – connection, sharing; loss 4 – stability; instability 5 – activity; disturbance 6 – pattern, communication; ignorance 7 – mystery, change; stagnation 8 – movement, harmony, time; imbalance 9 – growth, wishes; disappointment 10 – completion

J, Q & K refer to people and their behavioral attributes. Jacks represent children and young people under 35. Queens represent women, feminine things. Kings represent grown men. The JOLLY always means big potential (good), or big risk and foolishness.

SUITS

HEARTS ♥ [ CUPS > Water > Emotions, feelings, relationships > Emotional, creative, romantic, compassionate, moody. ]

K - good advice from a fair-haired kind man Q - good advice from a fair-haired kind woman  J - a young admirer, a good friend 10 - good, success 9 - wish, desires 8 - good, surprise 7 - bad, fakeness 6 - good, luck 5 - bad, jealousy  4 - travel, change 3 - good, love 2 - good, support 1 - good, happiness

CLUBS ♣ [ WANDS > Fire > Creativity, action > Practical, friendly, reliable, trustworthy, stubborn. ]

K - action from a dark-haired, confident man Q - good advice from a dark-haired, confident woman J - a dark-haired young admirer or friend  10 - good, quick money 9 - achievement 8 -bad, work issues 7 - good, unexpected 6 - good, success 5 - new friends 4 - bad, deceit 3 - good, love 2 - bad, gossip 1 - good, wealth

SPADES ♠ [ SWORDS > Air > Thoughts, communication > Powerful, controlling, secretive, charming, detached. ]

K - a dark-haired selfish man Q - a widow or divorced woman J - a younger person, hostile and jealous 10 - bad, news 9 - bad, illness 8 - bad, temptation 7 - bad, deceit 6 - good, changes 5 - bad, opposition 4 - bad, worries 3 - bad, breaks 2 - bad, breaks 1 - bad endings, death

DIAMONDS ♦ [ PENTACLES > Earth > Practicalities, work, money > Extravagant, impulsive, intelligent, optimistic, dynamic. ]

K - a fair-haired or graying man of authority and status Q - a fair-haired gossipy woman  J - a young person who’s unreliable or bringing negative news  10 - good change, finances 9 - good, change 8 - new job 7 - good, arguments 6 - bad, arguments 5 - new beginnings 4 - good, advice 3 - bad, legal 2 - new partnerships, gossip 1 - change, message

Hello Diana! If your family allows it, could you teach us how you draw and store power from natural forces like storms, earthquakes and the like? Thank you very much

I’m afraid it would be irresponsible for me to do so.

The first of many rituals involves burning your dominant hand to prove your faith that it will be restored come the next storm.

As you can see, the payment is not as simple as offerings and promises.

But here are other slightly dangerous rituals that I feel comfortable sharing. I hope you find them useful. Try your best to be careful.

Spell to Summon Your Fated Half

Payback Spell

How to Control Another Soul

Traditional Unbinding Spell

Spell to Make Someone Forget You

WHAT’S YOUR PERSONALITY?

I am SUN, and MOON is what makes me feel emotionally happy, but I express myself in MERCURY way. When it comes to love, I will be VENUS, but when I get angry, I become MARS. Though people see me as RISING. 

Life systematically challenges me to SATURN. My sense of humour is JUPITER. I’m URANUS when it comes to changes and I have the imagination of NEPTUNE. My secret energy and individual powers are aimed at PLUTO. 

Oh, and not to forget, I’ll be absolutely successful as MIDHEAVEN.

My deepest inner self can be compared to DOMINANT PLANET/DOMINANT SIGN.

SUN:

Aries: A REBEL Taurus: A GUARDIAN Gemini: A MASTERMIND Cancer: A ROMANTIC Leo: A RINGLEADER Virgo: A HEALER Libra: AN ARTIST Scorpio: AN ENIGMA Sagittarius: A WANDERER Capricorn: AN OWNER Aquarius: AN INNOVATOR Pisces: A DREAMER

MOON:

Aries: CHALLENGES Taurus: STABILITY Gemini: COMMUNICATION Cancer: CARE Leo: PRAISES Virgo: SECURITY Libra: INDIVIDUALITY Scorpio: POWER Sagittarius: EXPERIENCES Capricorn: AUTHENTICITY Aquarius: FRIENDSHIP Pisces: ART

MERCURY:

Aries: A DIRECT Taurus: A PRACTICAL Gemini: A LIGHTHEARTED Cancer: A SENTIMENTAL Leo: A DRAMATIC Virgo: AN IMPATIENT Libra: A TACTFUL Scorpio: A PIERCING Sagittarius: A PLAYFUL Capricorn: A CONCISE Aquarius: A LOGICAL Pisces: A VAGUE

VENUS:

Aries: PASSIONATE Taurus: RELIABLE Gemini: REASONABLE Cancer: NURTURING Leo: GENEROUS Virgo: HELPFUL Libra: THOUGHTFUL Scorpio: INTENSE Sagittarius: FLIRTATIOUS Capricorn: PROTECTIVE Aquarius: INTRIGUING Pisces: COMPASSIONATE

MARS:

Aries: AGGRESSIVE Taurus: STUBBORN Gemini: DESTRUCTIVE Cancer: NASTY Leo: LOUD Virgo: DISTANT Libra: CRITICAL Scorpio: VENGEFUL Sagittarius: INDIFFERENT Capricorn: VIOLENT Aquarius: SARCASTIC Pisces: SELFISH

RISING:

Aries: THE FIGHTER Taurus: THE MASTER Gemini: THE CHARMER Cancer: THE HELPER Leo: THE INDIVIDUALIST Virgo: THE PEDANT Libra: THE AESTHETE Scorpio: THE SCEPTIC Sagittarius: THE COMEDIAN Capricorn: THE VINTAGE SOUL Aquarius: THE ADVISER Pisces: THE ANGEL

SATURN:

Aries: BE TOLERANT Taurus: LOSE WHAT I LOVE MOST Gemini: MAKE QUICK DECISIONS Cancer: FACE LONELINESS Leo: SACRIFICE MY DIGNITY Virgo: DEAL WITH DISASTERS Libra: FIGHT Scorpio: CONTROL MY INSTINCTS Sagittarius: BE STUCK IN A RUT Capricorn: FACE FAILURE Aquarius: BLEND IN Pisces: FACE OVERWHELMING STRESS

JUPITER:

Aries: TEASING Taurus: GROSS Gemini: BONDING-IN-THE-MOMENT Cancer: PARODIC Leo: HYPERBOLIC Virgo: DARK Libra: IRONIC Scorpio: DRY Sagittarius: ANECDOTAL Capricorn: SELF-DEPRECATING Aquarius: WITTY Pisces: QUIRKY CULTURAL

URANUS:

Aries: ENTHUSIASTIC Taurus: CAUTIOUS Gemini: FLEXIBLE Cancer: IMPATIENT Leo: PUSHY Virgo: PASSIVE Libra: CURIOUS Scorpio: DISTRUSTING Sagittarius: ECCENTRIC Capricorn: ANXIOUS Aquarius: IMPASSIONED Pisces: UNPREDICTABLE

NEPTUNE:

Aries: A MADCAP Taurus: A STRATEGIST Gemini: A SCHIZOPHRENE Cancer: A CHILD Leo: A POET Virgo: A SHAMAN Libra: A DAYDREAMER Scorpio: A MANIAC Sagittarius: AN IDEALIST Capricorn: AN OCCULTIST Aquarius: A VISIONARY Pisces: A PROPHET

PLUTO:

Aries: SEXUALITY Taurus: IMPROVEMENTS Gemini: INTELLECTUALITY Cancer: EMOTIONAL INTENSITY Leo: DOMINATION Virgo: OBSESSIONS Libra: RELIGION Scorpio: BLACK MAGIC Sagittarius: EXPLORATIONS Capricorn: AMBITIONS Aquarius: MANIPULATION Pisces: INTUITION

MIDHEAVEN:

Aries: AN ATHLETE Taurus: AN ARCHITECT Gemini: A TEACHER/PROFESSOR Cancer: A WRITER/POET Leo: AN ACTOR/A FILM DIRECTOR Virgo: A DOCTOR Libra: A DISIGNER Scorpio: A PSYCHOLOGIST Sagittarius: A POLITICIAN Capricorn: A LAWYER/JUDGE Aquarius: A SCIENTIST Pisces: A MUSICIAN

DOMINANT PLANET:

Sun (Solarian): A MAJESTIC Moon (Lunarian): A TENDER Mercury (Mercurian): A FATAL Venus (Venusian): A FASCINATING Mars (Martian): A POWERFUL Jupiterian (Jupiter): A CHAOTIC Saturn (Saturnian): AN ANCIENT Uranus (Uranian): AN IRREPRESSIBLE Neptune (Neptunian): A WAVERING Pluto (Plutonian): A MYSTICAL

DOMINANT SIGN:

Aries: LIGHTNING Taurus: FOREST Gemini: NORTHERN LIGHT Cancer: SEA Leo: HEAT Virgo: FOG Libra: RAINBOW Scorpio: TSUNAMI Sagittarius: WILDFIRE Capricorn: VOLCANO Aquarius: STORM Pisces: MARSH

Hey Diana, you often talk about strong placements of pluto, i'm curious about what does that mean on others planets

What It Means to be Plutonian, Venusian, Jupiterian…

Having your Sun and your Ascendant in Scorpio is not always enough for you to be considered Plutonian. And even if you have determined that Venus attended your birth, that may not be sufficient for you to be called Venusian.

What is required is a solid placement, which is achieved when on the day of your birth, a god was in his domains or in other places he enjoys, while forming conjunctions, sextiles or trines to energies that are compatible with him, as well as oppositions and squares to those that are not.

If you are Apollonian

Victory comes easily to you. Not only do you have the drive to achieve, you find yourself winning even in times when you did not work for it. Extended periods of gloomy weather have a negative effect on your mental strength and emotional stability.

If you are Dianic

Male or female, you possess masculine strength, even if outwardly you look obviously feminine. Your intuition is both a blessing and a curse to you. On one hand, it helps you navigate life. On the other, it tells you when your wishes will never come true.

If you are Mercurian

You have a way with words. Whether through speaking or writing, you can enchant people to trust your intentions. You straddle between introversion and extroversion. When with others, you crave being alone. When with yourself, you are thirsty for companions.

If you are Venusian

Even if you do not fit your society’s definition of beautiful, you are attractive anyway. Something about you is alluring to other people either way. But you will always yearn for more beauty, resulting in a hot and cold relationship with your self-esteem.

If you are Martian

You never back down in the face of opposition. You fight battles you do not even believe in just to spite your opponent. You will eternally struggle between choosing the path that serves yourself and others alike, and picking the one that puts you above them all.

If you are Jupiterian

Material abundance comes easily to you. Even when you think you are having a bout of lack, upon comparing your situation with that of your peers, you will still find yourself on top. Any display of selfishness from you is always punished harshly.

If you are Saturnian

You love structure, because it is how you climb the ladder of life. You despise people who cheat and take shortcuts. Your envy and jealousy make you suffer a crisis of faith occasionally. But you still stick to the rules and pursue a straight path at the end of the day.

If you are Uranian

There are days when you deem yourself a visionary, and days when you are sure you are a fool. Your occult powers make you think you are better than everybody, and yet you struggle with self-worth. Your friends are both your disease and your cure.

If you are Neptunian

You are not sure if your visions are real or simply manifestations of your rich imagination. Having faith in them will liberate you from your fears and insecurities. You are by default emotionally weak. It is a life-long mission for you to remedy this.

If you are Plutonian

You have a strong sense of justice that others do not understand. What to you is fairness they see as vengeance. What to you is self-love they dub as cruelty. Your darkness can be sensed by some animals. They will react to it with fear or aggression.

If you think none of this applies to you, it may be because you do not belong to any of these categories. Some natal charts are lukewarm, or in a more positive light, balanced: no particular god or goddess is clearly the reigning deity. This also happens when the god or goddess who attended your birth, is, upon closer look, being undermined by a rival lord.