So my new age roots decided to show themselves yesterday. <smiles> I wanted to set up when the festivals Diasia and Pompaia for Zeus should be. Since I draw a tarot card or two every day in my workings with Zeus, I decided to ask him when I should do those 2 festivals. I figured the first card would be for the month of Diasia, the second card would be for the Pompaia, the 3rd card for the DAY of Diasia, and the 4th card for the day of Pompaia. I figured if I didn’t get numbers that made sense, I’d figure something else out. Well I got January 9th for Diasia and July 3 or 30th for Pompaia. Since the 3rd didn’t make sense to me, I’m going to go with 30th.
I then drew one of Hermes pebbles (Greek Alphabet Oracle) to see if my interpretation was correct and got Mu for “It is necessary to labor but the change will be admirable.” I took this as an affirmative and that setting up a festival schedule that works for me, the seasons as I experience them and works for the Gods will be difficult but a good thing.
So I decided that I’m going to renew the Ktesios jar as part of these 2 festivals. I gave a lot of thought about it and remembered that in my earlier research pansperma or pankarpia is supposed to go in the jar. My last jar (which Sannion put the description of on the NA website) was filled with intent but wouldn’t be something you’d actually served someone. So I set to work on making the pankarpia which will go into the jar along with olive oil and water. The remaining I will share with my friends and family. Below is what I did and the metaphysical meanings to the items used. I hope it tastes good too!
Pankarpia (all fruit)
½ c Wheat, cooked until soft and cooled – prosperity, also a representation for Demeter
¼ c Barley, cooked until soft and cooled – dispels negativity, love, healing, protection
2T apple juice – love, healing, also a representation for Aphrodite
2T honey – sweetness, associated with many different gods, I’m using to represent a sweet relationship with the gods especially Zeus
1T olive oil – peace, healing, protection, potency
½ t cinnamon – spirituality, success, healing, power, protection, love, a representation for Hermes
½ t vanilla – strengthen mental abilities
½ c nuts and seeds
Almond, chopped – wisdom, money, prosperity
Pecan, chopped – money, maintain employment
½ c fruit
Strawberries, bite size pieces – luck, love
Blackberries – protection, healing, money
(optional) Catmint – happiness, luck
In a small, heat safe bowl, mix apple juice, honey, olive oil, cinnamon and vanilla. Heat just until honey dissolves. Cool.
Mix remaining ingredients. Add liquid mixture. Chill, stirring occasionally, 24 hours before eating.
Ktesios Jar
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Comments
Why pick new dates for the festivals when we have at least semi-accurate dates from antiquity? Is it that they didn't match up with your local climate? Do the new dates match up?
Also, why do the contents of the jar need to be edible? Are you following that comment from the list about the modern practice? I'm pretty sure they didn't eat it in antiquity. AFAIK, it is supposed to be an offering, not a shared meal - a symbolic collection of pantry items that will semi-magically ward one's storeroom from problems.
Not that you can't modify the tradition, just wondering as to your reasoning.
As for my environment...well no and yes. I live at 10,200ft. The last snow fall is early June and the first snow fall is mid-September. We had our first frost Tuesday morning. So for commemorating the harvest, 7/30 does make sense. 1/9 for Diasia doesn't except that is when I start needing reminders that spring will come eventually. I was very surprised at how the dates picked were CLOSE to what I was anticipating which was early Feb and late July. Given how many different possible combinations I could have got, I'm surprised that this one actually made sense.
As for the jar, it just seemed more pleasing to be able to represent what I want and have it blend together well enough that one could happily eat it. I know according to an ancient quote (that I can't remember off of the top of my head) the jar contents were supposed to be pansperma/pankarpia, spring water and olive oil.
The Pompaia was sometime during the end of Maimakterion, which is usually around the second or third week of November. I don't think it's really related to the harvest. It may be placed there because the whole month was named after Zeus Maimaktes, and indicates the beginning of the wintry season.
Where exactly are you deriving the harvest/spring associations?
Looks like I'll need to search for it again, but unfortunately, I'm supposed to be packing for our trip. I love to travel but I SO hate to pack. Any way I won't have time to search it out until I get back, I think because of my other ritual obligations and packing.