On Friday, I encountered a BBC program of data sonification feature from Slow Radio, "A Sonic Journey Across the Universe." It got me thinking about the ways that I reach for astronomical concept-symbols when I write hymns and how celestial concepts fit into the ways I engage with the Gods at my shrine and in … Continue reading A Contemplation of Celestial Data
A Retro on the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse
Reflections on the total solar eclipse, visiting family, and growing up pagan.
Reconnecting with old prayer habits
Today, for the first time in a long while, I knelt at my shrine and felt around for the faux velvet bag that keeps the prayer beads I purchased for Hermes five and a half years ago. They are made of bright metal and white-gray spiderweb jasper, and I bought them on Etsy a bit … Continue reading Reconnecting with old prayer habits
A Measure of Beauty from Proclus’ Euclid commentary
There is left only the conclusion that soul draws her concepts both from herself and from Nous, that she is herself the company of the forms, which receive their constitution from the intelligible patterns but enter spontaneously upon the stage of being. The soul therefore was never a writing-tablet bare of inscriptions; she is a … Continue reading A Measure of Beauty from Proclus’ Euclid commentary
Two Interesting Books and a Few Other Things
I have been fairly quiet lately, and there are several reasons for that. First, the more I reflect on Proclus' passages about using one's voice to speak hymns and on speech/disclosure, the more I am conscious of needing to spend the time and energy that I have on what is worthwhile. I'm finding myself reluctant … Continue reading Two Interesting Books and a Few Other Things
In Which I Make Anatomical Votive Offerings
In antiquity, anatomical votive offerings were given to the Gods, typically to Asklepios and other deities whose cultus was interwoven with healthcare before the temples were destroyed. When I was diagnosed with something that needed to be surgically removed, though, due to the long tradition of her association with gynecological matters, I decided that I … Continue reading In Which I Make Anatomical Votive Offerings
For Polymnia
Polymnia, you are everywhere, veiled beauty,and when you sing, you sing the truth:that every action is an intricate hymn,from the hum of particles dancing as atomsto the choreography of the body's cellsand the lightning-quick fire within us.May we hear your words' droning hum within,coax them from our contemplations,mute the noise of desolation and desertion —silence … Continue reading For Polymnia
KALLISTI’s Year-End Recap
At the close of the calendar year, I would like to pause and link you to eight posts that I would like to highlight from this year. (Did these really all come out in 2023? It's been a long year ...) After the list, I have a few other end-of-year things to add. Scaffolding Platonic … Continue reading KALLISTI’s Year-End Recap
Happy Solstice!
Today, I made lussekatter (recipe at the end of the post) in preparation for solstice offerings, and I have a bit more prep to do before the evening, including laundry from travel. I also found some coconut saffron ice cream. I'm not sure how to offer that to the Gods because it will melt too … Continue reading Happy Solstice!
KALLISTI 