Notes: This ritual was written as an option for a monthly devotional to Artemis.  I noticed that on the ancient Athenian calendar the honored many of the gods monthly, but we do not have a lot of information about the rituals that they used.  I wanted to create something simple and pretty casual for use monthly.  You do not need to do it on a specific day.  Ancient Athenians often worshiped her on the 6th day of the lunar month, but you could also worship her on the 6th day of the modern calendar, a day you arbitrarily pick that you like, or multiple days throughout the month.  Make it your own!

 

This ritual is written for one person (since many of us are solitary practitioners), but should be able to be expanded quite easily to accommodate more if needed.

 

 

 

 

Artemis Monthly Ritual – short version

 

Begin your ritual by cleansing yourself of miasma:  This can best be done by washing and dressing in clean clothing or simply just washing your hands and/or face.  You may do the latter either by using khernips (or blessed water) or perhaps simply an herbal soap that has a scent that puts you in the frame of mind for ritual.  The purpose of this is to help cleanse oneself of miasma before ritual out of respect for the gods.  (More on miasma and ritual preparation can be found here: http://persephones.250free.com/preparation.html)

 

Process toward the altar:  It doesn’t have to be fine, but it’s nice to approach the altar mindfully.  If you do not have an altar, it is nice to set up a temporary altar-style space on a table or bookshelf where you can put either a statuette of the goddess, pictures of her, items that remind you of her, etc.  Think of it as a place dedicated to the goddess for your ritual, sort of like setting up something for a special event.

 

Light the hearth fire:  Once in front of the altar space, light the hearth fire (fireplace, grill, etc.) or a candle representing it. As you light the fire, recite the following excerpt from the Homeric Hymns:

 

Hestia, you who tend the holy house of the lord Apollo, the Far-shooter at goodly Pytho, with soft oil dripping ever from your locks, come now into this house, come, having one mind with Zeus the all-wise -- draw near, and withal bestow grace upon my song.

 

Purification: Next is the ritual purification.  State aloud:

"Hekas, hekas, este bebeloi! Let the profane ones depart!"

(If you are nervous about the Greek words, just saying the English half is fine)

 

At this point, many people scatter barley over the altar to purify it.  If you do not have barley on hand, it is my opinion that you may skip this step.  YMMV.  Some people will also sprinkle khernips on the altar as well.  Again, YMMV.

 

Libation to Hestia: After the purification, prepare what you intend to libate for the ritual.  Things such as wine, water, olive oil, and honey are often used for this, but there are many other options as well.  This is when you would need to have them ready.

 

Note: For the libations themselves, if I am inside I will pour them into a designated bowl on the altar space and pour the offerings outside after a few hours on the altar or just after the ritual.  If I am outside, I pour the libations onto the earth/ground.

 

First, pour a libation of your offering to Hestia while saying:

“For Hestia! Yours is always first and last!”

(It is traditional that the goddess Hestia gets the first and last portion or libation in every ritual.)

 

Libations to Artemis:

 

Recite/read first hymn to Artemis:

 

“Muse, sing of Artemis, sister of the Far-shooter, the virgin who delights in arrows, who was fostered with Apollo.  She waters her horses from Meles deep in reeds, and swiftly drives her all-golden chariot through Smyrna to vine-clad Claros where Apollo, god of the silver bow, sits waiting for the far-shooting goddess who delights in arrows.”

[Excerpt from one of the Homeric Hymn to Artemis:

From: http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/OMACL/Hesiod/hymns.html]

 

[Pour libation to Artemis]

 

Recite/read next hymn:

 

“Hear me, O queen, Zeus’ daughter of many names,

Titanic and Bacchic, reverend, renowned archer,

torch-bearing goddess bringing light to all, Diktynna, helper at childbirth.

You aid women in labor, though you know not what labor is.

O frenzy-loving huntress, you loosen girdles and drive cares away;

swift, arrow-pouring, you love the outdoors and you roam in the night.

Fame-bringing, affable, redeeming, mannish,

Orthia, goddess of swift birth, nurturer of mortal youths.

Immortal and yet of this earth, you slay wild beasts, O blessed one,

and your realm is in the mountain forests. You hunt deer,

O august and might queen of all, fair blossoms, eternal,

sylvan, dog-loving, many-shaped lady of Kydonia.

Come, dear goddess, as savior, accessible to all

the initiates and bring earth’s fair fruits

and lovely Peace and well-tressed Health;

and do banish disease and pain to mountain peaks.”

[From the Orphic Hymn to Artemis (#36)

Translation by A. Athanassakis]

 

[Pour final libation to Artemis]

 

Other offerings/hymns:  At this time, feel free to add any other personal poetry, hymns, songs, etc. that you would like to add.  Make the ritual personal!  I also find that this is a good time to just sit in the presence of Artemis and perhaps even communicate with her (prayers, requests, praises, etc.).

 

Ritual closing: Once all offerings are complete, to end the ritual, a final offering is poured to Hestia and the following words are spoken: 

“As long as hearth fires burn, the blessing of Hestia is upon us.  Praise Hestia, for you always come first and last!”

 

[Pour libation to Hestia]