"To Hypnos (Sleep), Fumigation From Poppies.

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.

A collection of Black Books of Hours

Black Hours, ca. 1475 (Morgan Library, New York)

Horae beatae marie secundum usum curie romane, ca. 1458 (Hispanic Society of America)

Black Hours of Galeazzo Maria Sforza, ca. 1466-1476 (Austrian National Library)

"[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)

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽🌑☾₊‧⁺˖⋆

potions vs charged waters

updated version

i most often see the word “potion” used as a blanket term for any liquid mixture that you enchant with magic, but it's a tiny bit deeper than that.

potions

a potion is broadly defined as a mixture of liquids with magical, healing, or poisonous properties [source] and is meant to be ingested - essentially, a potion is a liquid spell you're supposed to drink in order to feel the effects of said spell. in fact, the word "potion" is derived from the middle english pocioun, from anglo-french poisun, pocioun (drink, potion,) from Latin potion-, potio, from potare (to drink) [source].

you can essentially enchant any beverage to be a potion, and create your own potions using edible ingredients. wanna make a strawberry banana smoothie with the intent of having a super good day? bam, potion.

but, please keep in mind that even if something is edible, that doesn't mean it's safe. do your research and don't ingest harmful substances!

charged water

charged waters are infused with the energy of an external source - the moon, your favorite herbs and crystals, and elemental energy, for example. charged waters can be edible (potions) or inedible, which entirely depends on your intent. no really, i mean it. if you want to use this water strictly for spellwork, anointing items, adding to spell jars, etc., then you can add whatever the heck you want to it - crystals, oils, herbs, you name it.

but if you want to drink it or turn it into a potion of some sort, please for the love of the cosmos do NOT add a bunch of oils and trinkets and accessories to your DRINKING water.

essential oils are not for human consumption!!! and - you shouldn't be drinking something you just put a bunch of rocks in!!!!

tips

regardless of what you plan to do with your magically enchanted water, leaving it out at room temperature is a potential breeding ground for bacteria so plan to refrigerate it or store it in a cool, dark place and dispose of it within a couple of weeks.

final notes

anything you plan on drinking: use edible ingredients only, and store accordingly. do not add random nonsense to water you plan on drinking.

as always, do your own research and use your best judgement to discern what is safe and what is not.

© 2025 ad-caelestia

Greek Gods 101: Hypnus

Hypnus is a god or daimon of sleep. Excluding the universal offerings, some common offerings include:

Blankets

Pillows

Lavender

Poppy Seeds

Poppies

Chamomile or Other Sleep-Inducing Drinks

Poppy Bread

Any Sleep Medications You May Take

Amethyst

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

Sleeping

Dreaming

Keeping a Dream Journal

Tracking Your Sleep

Making Your Bed

Developing a Nightly Routine

Getting/Wearing Pajamas

Drinking Sleep-Inducing Drinks

He is not celebrated in any Athenian holidays.

Dido of Carthage

For Lord Hypnos

I sing now of gentle sleep brother of the merciless He who is kind to mortals He who is the gentlest of gods I come to you as a humble worshipper Head bowed, and words whispered Hear me, O Son of immortal Nyx Come to me under the covers of Nyx, Let your wings lull me into rest In your wake, bring the flowers of sleep Let the waters of Lethe wash away the suffering of today O gentle god, He who wanders the Earth at night Begotten to Nyx, He who dwells in the darkness of the Underworld Khaire blessed sleep, may we rest with ease under your gentle care

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