2. The War Council. And the Litae that follow reckless action. (All images by the talented Thalia Took. I have mixed up their names to fit my goddesses, see bottom for the correct names of Thalia's art.)
The Bridge is the way to cross the chasm between me and other people, especially after something causes a rupture in the relationship.
The War Council takes place inside the Hall of Harmonia, in the heavens. Inside the Hall of Harmonia, I have 4 goddesses sitting around the table, using their talents to plan how to reconnect after something happens to rupture a relationship. This is the 'Athena' archetype of the 7 Goddesses of Every Woman - the part that strategizes, that tries to move forward, that works from a place of logic rather than emotion.
The 4 goddesses are:
Enyo, the goddess of war, half-sister of Persephone
She is the strategizer, the logic, and the leader of the war council. She helps plan which skills to use, keeps the map in front of me, and problem-solves as needed.
Eris, meaning strife. She is the companion of Enyo, the opposite of Harmonia, a half-sister of Persephone, the mother of Lethe and Aite (two goddesses in the Blue Zones)
Homer, Iliad 4. 441 ff (trans. Lattimore) (Greek epic C8th B.C.) :
"and Eris whose wrath is relentless, she who is only a little thing at the first, but thereafter grows until she strides on the earth with her head striking heaven."
Homer, Iliad 11. 3 ff :
"There the goddess took her place, and cried out a great cry, terrible and loud, and put strength in all the Akhaians hearts, to go on tirelessly with their fighting of battles."
This reminds me of my second daughter, it describes her to a tee. Eris will be the one who pushes me to keep trying, to make the first step, to not retreat. I will channel my daughter's strength.
Harmonia, goddess of harmony, half-sister of Persephone, opposite of Eris (strife) - she soothes strife and discord, and lives in the Hall of Harmonia in the heavens.
She is the one who tempers war and strife, who helps everyone work together for the greater good, who reminds us that the goal is connection and love, not revenge.
Aite, goddess of mischief and reckless decisions, half-sister of Persephone, daughter of Eris (strife).
She leads both men and gods to rash action and reckless impulse, and to suffering. She once tricked her father, and as punishment, an enraged Zeus seized Aite by her bright-tressed head and banished her from Olympus. Her ruin was countered by the Litae (Prayers) who followed in her wake as healers.
She is the wild little sister, always trying to provoke the others. She is the one the others must be on guard against - they must keep her in check. She does not need to be feared, instead, she needs to be acknowledged and channeled into positive action.
The Litae - prayers, elderly half-sisters of Persephone
"Zeus sent to earth the Litai (“Prayers”), his old and crippled daughters, who followed Ate and repaired the harm done by her. "For there are also the Litae, (Prayers), the daughters of great Zeus, and they are lame of their feet, and wrinkled, and cast their eyes sidelong, who toil on their way left far behind by the spirit of Ruin (Aite): but she, Aite (Ruin), is strong and sound on her feet, and therefore far outruns all Litae (Prayers), and wins into every country to force men astray; and the Litae (Prayers) follow as healers after her. If a man venerates these daughters of Zeus as they draw near, such a man they bring great advantage, and hear his entreaty; but if a man shall deny them, and stubbornly with a harsh word refuse, then Aite (Ruin) may overtake this man, that he be hurt, and punished."
The Litae have no names in the Ancient Greek stories, so I am using the Greek words for prayer to name the 4 Litae below. The prayers I have paired with each Litae may change over time, but I'm putting them in there for now. They are Orthodox Christian prayers of repentance for mistakes made and of asking for guidance during this time of reconnection.
Deomai - meaning 'plea'
The Lord's Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, unto ages of ages, Amen.
Aiteo - meaning 'supplicant, plea'
Excerpts from the Small Paraklesis
To the Theotokos, let us run now most fervently, As sinners and lowly ones, Let us fall down in repentance, Crying from the depths of our soul: Lady, come and help us, Have compassion upon us;
Hasten now for we are lost In the host of our errors; Do not turn your servants away, For you alone are a hope to us.
Assaults of the passions have shaken me, My soul to its limits Has been filled with much despair; Bring peace, O Maiden, in the calmness, Of your own Son and your God, all-blameless One. (from Ode 1) Truly you are worthy to be blessed, Mother of our God, the Theotokos, You the ever blessed one, and all blameless one, And the Mother of our God.From the great multitude of my sins, Ill am I in body, Ill am I also in my soul; I am fleeing to you, The one who is all-blessed, The hope of all the hopeless, Please come bring help to me. (from Ode 9).
The doors of caring do now open unto us, O most blessed Theotokos, So that hoping in you we shall not fail; Through you we may be delivered from adversities, For you are the salvation of the Christian faith. For those In great sorrow you are joy, And for the oppressed, a protection; And for the hungry, their food, Comfort unto those estranged; You are a staff to the blind, Visitation of all those sick, And to those held by pain Shelter and a comforting, And to the orphaned, an aid; Mother, of our God in the highest, You who are the Spotless One, hasten, Save your servants from their sin, we ask of you. (troparias).
Nesteia - meaning 'prayer and fasting', here the fasting will refer to fighting the temptation of dissociation, rather than food.
O Master, Lord my God, in Whose hands is my destiny: Help me according to Thy mercy, and forgive me for my transgressions. I am Thy creation; the work of Thy hands. Turn not away; be compassionate, O Lord, as I am weak. I have fled unto Thee as my Protector and God. Heal my soul, for I am lost. Guide me for Thy mercy's sake; let me who seeks Thee be comforted by Thee. Guide me through the fear that stops me. O Lord, many times have I promised to repent, to reconnect, and have not fulfilled my promise. Thou hast picked me up many times already, but every time I fall again. How many times hast Thou enlightened my darkened mind; yet every time I return again to old habits! Be my protector and my helper, strong in battle, O Lord, for I am under siege and subject to attacks. Protect me with Your Holy hand, as I strive to not fall victim to temptations. O Most Holy Father, create in me a dwelling place for Your word and grant me the companionship of Your Holy Spirit. Guide me along the path so that I may not turn aside and become lost. Take not Your presence from me, O Lord, and with the Light of Your Countenance guide me! You are the path of my life, O Christ, and Your Countenance is the light of my eyes! For Thou alone art holy, alone mighty, and alone immortal, in all things having unexcelled might, which, through Thee, is given to all that strive against temptation and fear. For unto Thee is due all glory, honor and worship: To the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen
Hina, - so that it might be fulfilled, a prayer for guidance.
Excerpts of a prayer by Saint Sophrony of Essex:
Eternal King without beginning, You who are before all worlds, my Maker, Who have summoned all things from non-being into this life: bless this day that You, in Your inscrutable goodness, give to me. By the power of Your blessing enable me at all times in this coming day to speak and act for You, to Your glory, in Your fear, according to Your will, with a pure spirit, with humility, patience, love, gentleness, peace, courage, wisdom and prayer, aware everywhere of Your presence. Yes, Lord, in Your immense mercy, lead me by Your Holy Spirit into every good work and word, and grant me to walk in Your sight without stumbling. Grant me to love You as You have commanded, with all my heart, and with all my soul, and with all my mind, and with all my strength: with my whole being. To You I ascribe glory and offer my prayer in name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Images: 1. Thalia Took's 'Eris. 2. Thalia's ''Libertas'. 3. Thalia's 'Bride'. 4. Thalia's 'Athena'. 5. Thalia's 'Grandmother Spider'. 6. Thalia's 'Momoy'. 7. Thalia's 'Gaeyang'. 8. Thalia's 'Chalchiuhtlicue'.
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