Apollo

[Bezenwepwy]

So Apollo...

 
Does anybody have any information on a "way-opener" aspect of Apollo, or indeed know if that aspect has a specific name? My research has lead me to an apparent conflating of Wepwawet and Apollo in the Greco-Roman period of Ancient Egypt which I'm keen to explore.

[SkySamuelle]

Does anybody have any information on a "way-opener" aspect of Apollo, or indeed know if that aspect has a specific name? My research has lead me to an apparent conflating of Wepwawet and Apollo in the Greco-Roman period of Ancient Egypt which I'm keen to explore.

 
You can find those articles interesting: http://lykeiaofapollon.wordpress.com/2011/10/20/why-i-have-a-raven-to-represent-apollon-agyieus/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agyieus
http://lykeiaofapollon.wordpress.com/2012/05/05/establishing-apollon-agyieus-in-your-home/
http://youngflemishhellenist.wordpress.com/2012/07/31/household-cult-apollon/#more-973
All I can say is that Apollon Agyieus was the specific epithet describing the god as protector of entrances and roads.

Tough, last article gave a certainly interesting idea... I'll quote it:

Via a friend I also know of an easy and cheap way to honour Apóllōn Apotrópaios, namely with a rock pot altar. To start with, a flowerpot is filled with pebbles and then a big, oblong stone is placed in it. This stone will be the altar around which incense is burned and onto which libations are poured. Interesting the libations are made by dipping the finger in the liquid and then letting the liquid drip off your finger onto the altar stone. The altar stone may also be garlanded with flowers. It seems somewhat similar to the Śiva liṅgaṃ, a kind of altar onto which libations of milk are poured in Hinduism.

[Bezenwepwy]

All I can say is that Apollon Agyieus was the specific epithet describing the god as protector of entrances and roads.

Thank you for the links. Alas, I can't say it rang any bells for me. Being a protector of liminal space is different from being an opener of said space and a triumphant remover of obstacles.

[SkySamuelle]

Thank you for the links. Alas, I can't say it rang any bells for me. Being a protector of liminal space is different from being an opener of said space and a triumphant remover of obstacles.

 
Yes, it's definite difference. Tough I have read about Apollon being associated with twilight and the boundary between life and death as Apollon Horios... I am not too familiar with the liminal aspect right of the god yet, but here's another article, if it's useful:

http://lykeiaofapollon.wordpress.com/2012/02/26/pbp-b-is-for-boundaries-and-birth/

[Nachtigall]

Thank you for the links. Alas, I can't say it rang any bells for me. Being a protector of liminal space is different from being an opener of said space and a triumphant remover of obstacles.

 
There's His role as the one who establishes cities and ruling dynasties (Archegetes and Patroios respectfully) , as well as His aspect as the Purifier, which can be connected to removal of obstacles in a way; in particular, His connection to Noumenia pretty much signifies new beginnings and getting rid of what is not needed anymore. I am not sure if this is what you need though...

[HeartShadow]

Does anybody have any information on a "way-opener" aspect of Apollo, or indeed know if that aspect has a specific name? My research has lead me to an apparent conflating of Wepwawet and Apollo in the Greco-Roman period of Ancient Egypt which I'm keen to explore.

 
I can't answer that on the research level, but I can say that personally I've felt an ... hmm.  overlap?  Sharing?

They're not the same being - usually.  sorta.

bah, words are failing me.  You're not the only one to make that connection.

[Bezenwepwy]

I can't answer that on the research level, but I can say that personally I've felt an ... hmm.  overlap?  Sharing?

 
Oh, I think it is definitely there in some way. (And I'm even saying that as someone who is admittedly on the harder side of polytheism.)  It's also not just because there are historical references which allude to it. Both are very solar and shiny, both represented by a canid, associated with victory, it goes on and on. Although it isn't part of his "sphere of influence" as such, Wepwawet also had his own dedicated teams of musicians and dancers (and his cult center had no shortage of artists), which I find to be an interesting correspondence to some of Apollo's roles. I've certainly found the jackal deity rather inspiring and uplifting, moreso than someone might expect based on the usual descriptions of his function. The few personal accounts I've read by Apollo's devotees have sounded rather... well... familiar! At the same time, I am certain that it is not Apollo that I work with and have such an affinity for. It's an interesting thing to explore.

[SkySamuelle]

Oh, I think it is definitely there in some way. (And I'm even saying that as someone who is admittedly on the harder side of polytheism.)  It's also not just because there are historical references which allude to it. Both are very solar and shiny, both represented by a canid, associated with victory, it goes on and on. Although it isn't part of his "sphere of influence" as such, Wepwawet also had his own dedicated teams of musicians and dancers (and his cult center had no shortage of artists), which I find to be an interesting correspondence to some of Apollo's roles. I've certainly found the jackal deity rather inspiring and uplifting, moreso than someone might expect based on the usual descriptions of his function. The few personal accounts I've read by Apollo's devotees have sounded rather... well... familiar! At the same time, I am certain that it is not Apollo that I work with and have such an affinity for. It's an interesting thing to explore.

 
Any opinions or UPG on Hyperborean Apollon and generally the seasonal changes Apollon's presence can be perceived?

I noticed a definite shift in His energies since Autumn Equinox, I tried to describe it here: http://seastruckbythecrossroads.wordpress.com/2012/11/04/apollon-in-hyperborea/ ‎

I started feeling a couple of days after the Equinox, and at first it was an occasional change, that came more and more frequent until it replaced completely the usual warm/burning feel of His energies.

[Nachtigall]

Any opinions or UPG on Hyperborean Apollon and generally the seasonal changes Apollon's presence can be perceived?

I noticed a definite shift in His energies since Autumn Equinox, I tried to describe it here: http://seastruckbythecrossroads.wordpress.com/2012/11/04/apollon-in-hyperborea/ ‎

I started feeling a couple of days after the Equinox, and at first it was an occasional change, that came more and more frequent until it replaced completely the usual warm/burning feel of His energies.

There's a very distinct difference between "lighter" and "darker" time of the year, when it comes to Apollon. I wrote my perception of it in my private blog just yesterday (talk about synchronities)... let me see, if I can put some of it into English
 
Very cold. Like that chill wind that pierces through you, no matter how much you try make yourself warm and/or comfortable. Being comfortable or cozy, in general, is not an option.
Also, the light aspect. There's this noticeable difference, between the life-giving light of Sun in summer, and the light of distant stars, that may actually be dead since billions of years.
His wolf aspect also becomes much more prominent (I believe I've touched on this contrast of His, between a civilized, sophisticated artist/scientist and a wild predator in this very thread... so, there's that).

Regarding the changes in my practice... I do much less formal rituals, that used to be done daily during summer. There's mostly just silent contemplation, me, sitting in the darkness with prayer beads in my hands. Very quite and more... withdrawn. Also, strangely enough, there's writing - I don't consider myself an artist, I am much more used to think in numbers and computer code. But there's this strange urge in winter - that has started to manifest only since I dedicated myself to Apollon - that makes me actually spend my days writing, poems or prose, religious or not.

Does any of it make sense?

[SkySamuelle]

There's a very distinct difference between "lighter" and "darker" time of the year, when it comes to Apollon. I wrote my perception of it in my private blog just yesterday (talk about synchronities)... let me see, if I can put some of it into English
 
Very cold. Like that chill wind that pierces through you, no matter how much you try make yourself warm and/or comfortable. Being comfortable or cozy, in general, is not an option.
Also, the light aspect. There's this noticeable difference, between the life-giving light of Sun in summer, and the light of distant stars, that may actually be dead since billions of years.

This describes it wonderfully, I think   He is all chill and winter storms and icy wind - it doesn't necessarily make me uncorfortable but there's a sort of penetrating coldness about it that makes the contrast with that other part of the year very noticeable, almost startling.

His wolf aspect also becomes much more prominent (I believe I've touched on this contrast of His, between a civilized, sophisticated artist/scientist and a wild predator in this very thread... so, there's that).

Yes, I remember you talking about it. I felt Him more wolf-like (or animal-like, in general) in the summer... maybe because I sensed Him as a more aggressive/proactive presence.

Regarding the changes in my practice... I do much less formal rituals, that used to be done daily during summer. There's mostly just silent contemplation, me, sitting in the darkness with prayer beads in my hands. Very quite and more... withdrawn. Also, strangely enough, there's writing - I don't consider myself an artist, I am much more used to think in numbers and computer code. But there's this strange urge in winter - that has started to manifest only since I dedicated myself to Apollon - that makes me actually spend my days writing, poems or prose, religious or not.

Does any of it make sense?

 
Yes, very much!:) I was just noticing that I feel a need to change the type of offerings I left on His shrine in the morning. Before it was food or wine along with the incense, now I offer water and flowers - I never did water libations before, but now it feels right, like I need suiting this new mood that is almost ... ascetic, contemplative.

And it is getting more prominent, as we get deeper in the cold season.

Did you notice about when it starts shifting toward the other side of the spectrum?

I am curious to see whether the change is nuanced according the progressing of seasons or whether it is a contrast limited to thehyperborean/not-hyperborean part of the year (I do understand He 'returns' in late February?).

[Lynx]

Firstly - wow you were certainly not mincing words when you said He is overwhelmingly intense. After working with Him for a little, I can say I never quite felt anything like His intensity. His presence alone has such a purity of being, for good and bad, it's really hard to describe in words, maybe even to believe until you don't experience it first hand.


Secondly, Columbine just opened a group blog as a counterpart for her facebook group in His honor. This discussion ended up directly quoted via a comment I did during one of the discussion I partecipated:
http://treasuryofapollon.wordpress.com/

The group accepts submissions from His devotees, if you are interested.

 
I wasn't sure which post to quote here, but this seemed like a good one. I just wanted to express a general "THANK YOU" to everyone who has contributed to this thread. I have recently been "called upon" by Apollon to become his devotee, and I have been intensely curious about other pagans' experiences with him ever since.

I haven't worked with Him for long at ALL--I was very slow on the uptake until the signs became so ridiculously obvious I couldn't ignore it. To be fair, this was probably because, despite having been Wiccan for about 12 years, I have always been a solitary practitioner, isolated from both others and the pagan internet community. I had never HEARD of the term 'patron god' until I actually found myself saying to a friend happily, "Apollo is my patron god!"

....two weeks later I googled this and found it was a real thing.

Hence my story of how I came to be here, and once again thank you for the wonderful resources that have been posted in his thread! I can definitely agree with the other posters who say that He is very intense. Boy, is he ever!

[Nachtigall]

Did you notice about when it starts shifting toward the other side of the spectrum?

I am curious to see whether the change is nuanced according the progressing of seasons or whether it is a contrast limited to thehyperborean/not-hyperborean part of the year (I do understand He 'returns' in late February?).

 
It was February/March for me last year, I think. And there was a sense of some energy changes around Solstice as well (hard to describe in words - more a sense of "the tiny spark of light in the deepest darkness"). I was celebrating seasonal holidays before, in times of being an Eclectic pagan, but as an Apollon devotee these seasonal changes are somehow felt more strongly, starting at an emotional level.

We'll see how it goes this year...

[Lynx]

Any opinions or UPG on Hyperborean Apollon and generally the seasonal changes Apollon's presence can be perceived?

I noticed a definite shift in His energies since Autumn Equinox, I tried to describe it here: http://seastruckbythecrossroads.wordpress.com/2012/11/04/apollon-in-hyperborea/ ‎

I started feeling a couple of days after the Equinox, and at first it was an occasional change, that came more and more frequent until it replaced completely the usual warm/burning feel of His energies.

 
I don't have a lot of UPG experience with Apollon, as He has only recently started communicating with me (well, I guess He has been more than just really recently, but I've only recently realized it -__-), but one of the first experiences I had was with Him in His wolf form, and that was this year about a month after the Autumn Equinox. At the time I had no knowledge of the Hyperborean myths.

[DashesAgainst]

warm/burning feel of His energies.

Whoa, I didn't see this before.  I experience his presence in a similar manner, although more warm, sometimes burning, but also a stomach flipping sensation, like when you're on a roller coaster going down hill and you're momentarily weightless.  

I haven't really noticed any differences between seasons, but the intensity of his presence can change a lot for me between devotions.  But I can usually tell he's present, whether it be up close, or from a distance.  

The other god I connect to - Poseidon - his presence can be very intense and burning, almost to the point of being uncomfortable.  I guess the best description would be a burning pressure.... sort of a "fullness."  

It's always interesting (and reassuring) to read about others having similar experiences.  It really reduces the fear that this may all be "in my head."

[SkySamuelle]

It was February/March for me last year, I think. And there was a sense of some energy changes around Solstice as well (hard to describe in words - more a sense of "the tiny spark of light in the deepest darkness"). I was celebrating seasonal holidays before, in times of being an Eclectic pagan, but as an Apollon devotee these seasonal changes are somehow felt more strongly, starting at an emotional level.

We'll see how it goes this year...

 
I think I am getting a feel of the Solstice shift already. He is still *mostly* that icy draft of winter wind, but I am getting moments where He also feels like a 'glow', like the subtle warmth that emanates from a candle flame and expands in a dark room.