Friday 16 November 2012

Pre-Noumênia Planning

This is what should happen today through tomorrow morning (again, as we begin our "days" at sundown):
  • Me, sleeping at this very instant
  • Waking at around 4 or 5 this afternoon to clean the Household Shrine and other 'vital' parts of the house my mother forgot to clean (she usually just cleans the floors downstairs)
  • Mother should be buying grapes or other fruits in season
  • Taking out the old offerings to be burnt before sundown
  • Bathing in absolute silence, no words to be uttered until the first prayer is recited
  • Lightning the shrine flame for the first time in the new month with prayers to Hestia at around 7 in the evening - the flame has to be fed with butter or oil
  • Carefully performing the initial rites to open the new month, prayers to Hestia, Apollôn Noumenios, and the Moon (second part to follow at first light)
  • Doing whatever, eating a full meal, having fun with family, getting some sleep
  • Waking up at around 5 in the morning to prepare the first offerings for the new month
  • Cleaning the hearth-stove and kitchen (very, very important) - this is where we prepare and cook our food
  • Cleaning the threshold and the doorstep (also very important) - this is where we pass through and where gods enter to bless us
  • Again, bathing in absolute silence, no words to be uttered until the first prayer is recited
  • Lighting the hearth-stove with the shrine flame (linking the two fires, making them one) at around 7 in the morning
  • Carefully performing the second part of the rites to open the new month, prayers to the Earth-mother, Janurmes (that's Hermês + Janus LOLOL), Dawn, and the Household Gods (Zeus, Hêra, and the Agathodaimôn on top)
  • First offerings ("first fruits") set at the House Shrine to "feed" the new month
  • All is set, enjoy the rest of the month

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