Progress Report

Hermes is very present and close tonight and the last few days. I am beyond ecstatic. I am eager for the familiar hum of His energy with me. He buzzes around me excitedly sometimes. Mostly though He is just There. With me. Enveloping me. Keeping me safe and reminding me I am Beloved of Gods. His choice of words, not mine.

So much of my time lately has been with Odin. Everything about Him is BIG. ALL CONSUMING. I said wryly to my Mother the other day, that the irony of fleeing Yahweh and winding up in the arms of Odin, it’s not lost on me. I’m not lamenting just adjusting to the current way of things. Hermes has been with me always. Odin almost that long but always standing in the back. Hiding in His cloak. The One Eyed Watcher. It’s more reversed now. Odin is still VERY much here. Yesterday I saw two three legged dogs while leaving my sons school. Never seen them before. Timing is everything.

Big changes are afoot that I can’t actually talk about right now. Partly due to some taboos and partly due to the fact I just can’t explain what is going on. Things are very good in some respects. In a lot of respects. The things that are no longer in balance though are becoming problematic. Odin suffers no fools. Nor does He appreciate my finely tuned art of procrastination. Luckily for me the stars and planets have been doing some epic things so even the Gods have to slow down.

Remember…
Breath
Eat
Sleep
Love
Repeat.

Return of the King

Sometimes I forget what it’s like to touch a God. With working on the Odin Contract the last year I did not spend much time with Hermes. He would flit in and out, as is his way, but he wasn’t as present as he has been over the last few years. I miss that closeness with him. Odin and the group that has come with him, they feel different. Hermes is Hermes. As always. “I am.” he says with that smirk. I thought I needed to write another contract with Odin but I realized as I was writing this that it isn’t necessary. They aren’t going anywhere. They are Family now.

It seems, in light of this, that Hermes is able to come back around more often. It’s nice to just be able to reach out and feel him there. It’s kind of like I’ve been busy with school, living on campus, and now I’ve moved back home. It’s where I want and need to be but there is some teenage-esque awkwardness. Some readjustment to a space and presence I have muscle memory of. Hermes thinks it’s cute.

I am currently recovering from open hernia repair so my non-corporeal friends are just hanging out for now. It’s not the kind of silence that was around me during pregnancy but there is a definite sense of quiet. I’m impatient to dive back into my spiritual life, a lot has been on hold since I’ve been waiting for this surgery. I hope to be making more regular posts as I heal.

@emberwritespoetry on Instagram

The Coming Of The Dark

Made by my dearest friend Jess, over at https://jessicaannebreisnes.wordpress.com/

There are many kinds of darkness.
Some must be respected, avoided, acknowledged. Others are meant to heal us. Help us rest. Hibernate. Grow on the inside.

All seeds start in Darkness. Even ours.
We strive to be the creatures of light while being born of Darkness and Blood. We need not be ashamed of it. It is simply where we came from. Not who we are.

As the skies darken we must let go. Let go of all the things you don’t need anymore. Just like the leafy trees. Let go that which cannot be renewed. Pull your resources inward to survive The Long Dark. The Death of who we were. The germination of who we are. Dreams of who we will be.

It is also a time of Ghosts. Old and new ones. Ghosts you didn’t realize were following you. That you didn’t realize you cared so much about. Some you are desperate to be rid of, others you cling to.

My photo, my art.

This is the time of year I feel most myself. Most in tune with who and what I am. I wonder if Persephone has similar feelings? Does she relish the dark? The return of her Lovers caress? His all encompassing Darkness, and the comfort she finds there?

Hades is not my Lover but my God is similar. He is comfortable in Darkness. Was born into it. Comitted his first Tricks and Crimes in it. He travels through it. Becomes it. Bends it to his will with his masterful hands. I can feel him there the most.

Chthonic Hermes is who comes to me, his touch in the cooling winds, following in the footsteps of Death. The Aftermath of The Wild Hunt. The Wreckage. He walks among it, gathering souls to take Over.

Hail Hermes, my Beloved. Welcome Home.

Orphic Hymn 57 to Chthonian Hermes :
“To Hermes Khthonios (Chthonian, of the Underworld), Fumigation from Storax. Hermes, I call, whom fate decrees to dwell near to Kokytos, the famed stream of Haides, and in necessity’s (Ananke’s) dread path, whose bourn to none that reach it ever permits return. O Bakkheios (Bacchian) Hermes, progeny divine of Dionysos, parent of the vine, and of celestial Aphrodite, Paphian queen, dark-eyelashed Goddess, of a lovely mien: who constant wanderest through the sacred seats where Haides’ dread empress, Persephone, retreats; to wretched souls the leader of the way, when fate decrees, to regions void of day. Thine is the wand which causes sleep to fly, or lulls to slumberous rest the weary eye; for Persephone, through Tartaros dark and wide, gave thee for ever flowing souls to guide. Come, blessed power, the sacrifice attend, and grant thy mystics’ works a happy end.”

http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Hermes.html

My photo and art.

Signs

Sometimes you don’t really understand the signs, until they hit you in the face. Or the ground liquefies between your feet.

Again.

And you can’t believe you’ve been so blind.

Again.

All will be well.

Eventually.

I’ve learnt to swim.

Warmth

“I’m scared,” I whisper to Him in the Storm. We are surrounded by Darkness. I cannot see Him yet. I feel Him though, His warm embrace from behind. The reassurance of His size, the weight of Him. He has black wings. The Man in Black. He presses His lips to my ear, “I am with you always, I never really leave you. We are bound together, you and I, always. Follow me into the Dark. I will show you the way. Trust in me and I will see you through.”

The Words of Hermes – 12/30/2017

Reach out into the Darkness, I will meet you there.

–Hermes

Vigil – 12/19/2017

I didn’t actually look at the time when I grasped frantically for the candles. With shaking hands I cleared away the remnants of the last tealight, lighting the new one as I whisper His name.

Hear me, Hermes! Hear me, my Beloved. Hear my prayer and be with me.

The prayer itself is wordless. It’s really an outpouring of emotion into the void, so to speak. I need Him to feel what I am feeling. I need to feel Him in return. As I sat, chatting with a beloved friend, I would look at the candle from time to time. It helped reduce the panic. Life is heavy right now. The lows are payment for the highs. Or at least the balance to the highs.

I had not intended to keep a candle burning all day but when I discovered the first had burnt out I felt compelled to light another. And so I have all day. Lighting another as soon as one goes out. I always figured I didn’t have time for proper vigils but this impromtu one has proven otherwise. Vigils work perfectly well if you aren’t there every second.

Hail to Hermes. My Beloved God. May He always be remembered. May He always have a spark burning.

Hermes Shrine Box

I promised Hermes a permanent shrine once we moved. That was in May. I’ve been thinking about it a lot but was, admittedly, procrastinating.

An opportunity to provide a ritual service for Him on behalf of another presented itself. Through that service I aquired this beautiful wooden shrine box in gratitude. I am overwhelmed by this gift.

I finally felt that it was time to light it up. It was a very rough day on every possible level. My Beloved Psychopomp was very close to me today. I felt His warm hands upon my heart.

I sing the praises of my Beloved Hermes. May His name forever be spoken. May His grace touch us all.

Notes from Himself – November 13th, 2017

Remember your place, and all will be well.

– Hermes

Never Let Me Down Again

“Never Let Me Down Again”

I’m taking a ride
With my best friend
I hope he never lets me down again
He knows where he’s taking me
Taking me where I want to be
I’m taking a ride
With my best friend

We’re flying high
We’re watching the world pass us by
Never want to come down
Never want to put my feet back down
On the ground

I’m taking a ride
With my best friend
I hope he never lets me down again
Promises me I’m safe as houses
As long as I remember who’s wearing the trousers
I hope he never lets me down again

Never let me down

See the stars, they’re shining bright
Everything’s alright tonight