Skirophorion updates, and happy new year!

Blessed new Hellenic year, everyone! We have now officially entered the third year of the 698th Olympiad. Because I wanted to share with you a little Noumenia festivity, I delayed this post a day, as usually I post a monthly update about things that happened on the blog on the day of the Hene kai Nea.

Changes to the blog:

• Last  month, I added the Constellation Series to the list of completed series. I'm still a little sad to see it go. 

Statistics:

• A little over 373.000 views right now
• 15.000 of those hits happened in the last month
• The top five most popular posts were: On the practice of veiling (188), Khernips without burning anything? (113), PBP: Symbols of Hellenismos (113), Exposition: 'Born In Stone' by Algis Kemezys (88), and The Beginner's guide to Hellenismos: Introduction (78)

PAT rituals for Hekatombaion:

• Aphrodisia (20 July)
• Kronia (28 July)
• Sacrifice to Kourotrophos (6 August)
• Panathanaia (8 August and 15 August)

Anything else?
Remember that big announcement I have been holding in front of you like a dangling carrot? With Robert's permission, I will make that announcement tomorrow! And I can't tell you how excited I am about it!
 

Are you looking for an online shop to buy incenses and other Hellenistic basics from? Try The Hellenic Handmaid on Etsy.

Two years ago, I decided to record my new year Noumenia ritual. Seeing as I had the material, I figured I would share it with you again as inspiration for your own rites today. My apologies for the sound issues--especially during the sacrifice to Artemis--it was supposed to be sixteen degrees Celsius and suddenly, my camera was out in 26 degree weather, full in the sun. Apparently, it will turn you into a smurf on speed when it overheats.

I had four cameras set up, but ended up using only three as one of the cameras overheated almost instantly. It was the first one I put up, so it had been sitting out in the sun for a while. I managed to cover the angles with the other cameras, though. The quality was decent enough, so I edited a few parts together, taking out a lot of the ritual, but trying to keep a sort of red thread going. I stumbled a few times and because I had to do it in English, I had to read off of the paper (something I never do when practicing alone, because I have the often-used hymns and prayers memorized in Dutch), but it didn’t hamper the experience in any way.

[see description on YouTube for text]

I hope you all have a wonderful turn of the year and of the Olympiad. I'm really looking forward to another year of learning, sharing, and meeting wonderful people. May the Theoi watch over you and your oikos kindly in the coming year, and may They never forsake you. Gods bless!