temporaryreality

That I read an article and didn't get certain literary references, that I don't know how to assess others' logic in an argument, that I'm always reminded of the many classics I haven't read and the somewhat chaotic "lump" of history that surfaces in my mind when I wish to understand developments, causes, and correlates for things happening today certainly got me thinking of (my) education...

As did the approaching birthday (they're just not producing time like they used to!)...

And too, there was my decision to taper down the amount of time I spend online, whether on my phone or my computer, the ever-growing list of books that I could conceivably read, and even a quiet desire to learn to hand sew (a skill reminiscent of another neglected aspect of education) that culminated in a purchase of linen and the starting of a basic tank top.

But I think what kickstarted this was my having taken the first direct* step toward invoking Gods into my daily Sphere of Protection. For east and the element Air, I chose Athena.

I pored over her epithets, chose two that resonated with the direction and its correspondences, noted with interest Athena Ergane - her aspect as patroness of handicrafts and the connection with the making of clothing,** and Polyvoulous - indicating her wise counsel, and I decided on the wording I'd use. After the first or second day, I was out in the garden, looking at the flowers, and thinking about offerings. I thought, "Hmm, what would be a good offering for Athena?" There was a pause and then the image of a book flashed into my mind: small, blank pages, bound in brown leather.

"She'd like me to make a book," I thought. "Ok, I can do that."

So I did. I've made books before, though never one this small. I didn't have the brown leather I saw in the image, but I found something very nice. It took a few days to make and the day I finished it I cut a small branch from one of my olive trees, and in the mail there was a little promotional calendar with an appropriate image.

All three went on a shelf that's going to be a "revolving" altar (for whichever deity I feel moved to honor), and when I finish the tank top, it'll go there too.

At this point it became apparent that it was time to take a look at The Well-Trained Mind, which had been awaiting its opportunity for about two years.

So here we are.

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*The very first step was indirect in that it entailed simply a naming of two Gods and two Goddesses for the Elemental Cross. I'd been doing that for several months.

**From Wikipedia: Athena Ergane was the goddess of spinning and weaving, and so every year at the Chalkeia, on the day of the festival, the priestesses of Athena Polias and the young arrephoroi would ritualistically set up a loom to make a sacred peplos to be offered to the goddess.On this loom, the enormous peplos was woven by women volunteers, the Ergastinai (meaning “female weavers”), who were either virgin girls of marriageable age or older matrons. Every year the peplos was woven by the Ergastinai under the supervision of a priestess of the Athena's cult. When the work at the loom began, the arrephoroi wore white robes, and were present to offer their perceived sacredness.