Myth and Rituals

"They say that terror without reason is the work of Pan."

                                                                   pp.162 Calasso

Myth and Ritual – "In traditional societies, myth and ritual are two central components of religious practice. Although myth and ritual are commonly united as parts of religion, the exact relationship between them has been a matter of controversy among scholars. One of the approaches to this problem is "the myth and ritual, or myth-ritualist, theory," held notably by the so-called Cambridge Ritualists, which holds that "myth does not stand by itself but is tied to ritual."This theory has never been demonstrated; many scholars now believe that myth and ritual share common paradigms, but not that one developed from the other."

Carpe Diem (Seize the Day, putting as little trust as possible into the future.)

"Solstice (from the Latin sol' sun') celebrations honor the sun. At the summer solstice in late June, there is no dearth of sun, so celebrants just enjoy the extra hours of daylight, but by the winter solstice in late December, the sun is getting weaker and weaker every day. Although it doesn't take long to realize the sun will return to its former glory all on its own, so there's really no need to worry, it takes the edge off the cold and dark to help the sun along with a bit of sympathetic magic and a few rituals."

Dark side of mythology – Rituals, Shirley Jackson (The Lottery)

Summer Solstice

“The Goddess gives birth to the Dark Twin and so becomes the Mother Goddess. In turn the God is now the God King and they enter into a formal sacred marriage in which he promises to lay down his life for the Goddess, the land and her people. The God reaches his height of power and God and Goddess are equal at their coronation.

But by the end of the day the God knows that henceforward he will grow weaker.”

"Ritual activity:

This works as well whether you are celebrating the festival alone or with others and is based on an old Scandinavian folk custom.

• At dawn set a basket of seven different species of flowers or seven different colours where they will catch the first light of the Summer Solstice.
•  At noon each person should weave the seven kinds of flowers on to a small circle of wire, using threads in red, yellow, green and blue to attach them
• As you/they weave silently name for each flower over and over again in your mind or a whisper your/ their dearest secret wish for fulfilment in the next twelve months whether for lasting love, a child, the success of a creative venture, happiness, travel, success , health or spiritual wisdom.
• When finished the circlet/s should be hung on a shady tree and you/the group should circle the tree nine times deosil or sun wise, nine times in the opposite direction and then nine times deosil, clapping rhythm till the world spins, chanting’ Come to me as I dance the Midsummer Tree, come to me in my sleep, come to me in my waking, that when I next dance the Midsummer tree, I shall know the joy of the seven flowers sweet.’
• If you are working alone you can adapt the chant to fit your desire, for example if for lasting love, ‘that when next I dance the Midsummer tree, it shall be my wedding day.’
• At sundown take your wreath from the tree and hang it over your bed. Go straight to bed when it is dark/ Picture yourself walking as you drift into sleep  along a pathway of flowers into mist that slowly clears to reveal how and when you will attain your desire. This may continue in your dreams
• Leave the wreath on the wall of your bedroom till it fades and then release the petals to the wind or use the flowers in incense."

Winter Solstice

"In Greek mythology, the sea god Poseidon is one of the most lascivious of the gods, producing more offspring than other noteworthily randy gods. Greek calendars varied from polis to polis, but in some Greek calendars, a month around the time of the winter solstice is name.

In Athens and other parts of ancient Greece, there is a month that corresponds to roughly December/January that is named Poseidon for the sea-god Poseidon. At Athens there was a festival named Posidea after the god. Since Poseidon is a sea god it is curious that his festival would be held during the time the Greeks were least likely to set sail."

"Haloea

At Eleusis there was a festival called Haloea on the 26th of the month Poseidon. The Haloea, a festival for Demeter and Dionysus, included a procession for Poseidon. The Haloea is thought to have been a time for merriment. There is mention of a woman’s rite in connection with this holiday: Women are provided with wine and food, including cakes in the shapes of sexual organs. They withdraw to themselves and "exchange scurrilous banter, and are teased with suggestions of promiscuity whispered in their ears by 'the priestesses'." The women are thought to have stayed secluded throughout the night and then to have joined the men the next day. While the women were off eating, drinking, and sounding much like the women of Lysistrata, the men are thought to have created a big pyre or a bunch of little bonfires."

Deus Ex Machina --

"Deus ex Machina (god from the machine) is a term describing the sudden appearance of an unexpected way out of a difficult situation. Sophocles, in Philoctetes, and especially Euripides used the divine intervention technique of deus ex machina in their tragedies. In Greek drama, a god would appear on the stage from a mechane to resolve the plot."

Ritual – "A ritual is a set of actions, performed mainly for their symbolic value. It may be prescribed by a religion or by the traditions of a community. The term usually excludes actions which are arbitrarily chosen by the performers."

Ceremony - "A ceremony is an event of ritual significance, performed on a special occasion. The word may be of Etruscan origin." 

- Acts of precision and repetition.

This is the ruins of Delphi. ---->