Announcements and Other Things

Hey Facebook people, remember how I said Aspis of Ares was going to hit Facebook eventually? Well it has! You can like Aspis of Ares to keep up to date on the latest news here, discuss your favorite posts, send suggestions for content or improvement, and contribute to collaborative projects.

Speaking of collaborative projects, Aspis of Ares is teaming up with Metal and Iron to write a devotional to Ares. While Wednesday and I have thought of doing one each separately, we figured working together would benefit you, the readers and fans, more. We’ve code-named the project Operation Oxys, coming from Ares’ epithet “sharp or piercing”, because we plan on introducing a little metal back into Hellenic Polytheism. However, please keep in mind this is not an anthology; we figured too many authors spoils the pot, and we both have a very specific vision for what we want to do. This means no, we will not be calling for submissions. However, once the book is published, there may be a supplemental anthology for poetry, ritual, and the like, so do keep your eyes open.

Hail Ares!

Lethargy and Other Stuff

Ugh. I love springtime and I hate it. On one hand, I’m a lot more active in spring than in any other season; already, I’ve helped resurface a deck, started the dogs walking on leashes (not an easy task, actually), and started an (albeit shaky) exercise regimen. On the other, that applies to more outside things, like going to the park, shooting, etc. Certainly not writing, or even reading. It’s been a struggle to even participate in writing or reading for class. That may sound normal, but it isn’t for me. An unfortunate byproduct of this creative left-brain lethargy is a lack of motivation and inspiration to write blog posts.

I can’t say the community has been very inspiring either. I’m also trying to stay out of commenting on politics, despite some conflicts picking up steam due to the changing weather and traditional urge to fight things beginning in spring. I’ve even become a little ornery as warmer temps are warming my blood. I’ve already begun a mantra for the season, much to the amusement (and chagrin, I’m sure) of my friends: “Throw ‘em in a ditch and kill ‘em all!” It doesn’t really matter who “‘em” is, because it shifts depending on what’s on tv or in the newspaper. This has me wanting to do a post on blood lust, but I figured I’d let the mood from the recent Afghan massacre die down a bit before going on with that.

I just thought I’d let you all know I was still alive and not off invading foreign countries (my girlfriend won’t let me…). I do have an announcement to make, but you’ll just have to wait for that one while some details get knocked out first. I hope you all are having a fun and active spring, and that you can get out and start some campaigns of your own. Hail Ares!

 

Updates and Musing

Well, I’m sorry I don’t have much more for you  today other than promises of better articles to come. I noticed I got a lot of traffic for the post on Hekate and Ares, so you can expect more like those; I’ve already begun drawing up notes for comparisons with Apollon and Dionysos. Folks seemed to like the Vet profiles, but so far I’ve only gotten two. I may have had more, but it seems my Aspis of Ares email is buggy, because I haven’t seen anything come across it yet.

A bit of big news, however, is that I’m almost done reconstructing an ancient festival for Ares based on the binding rituals that took place in several cities across Greece thousands of years ago. Unfortunately, the records I have don’t offer a name for the festival or it’s place on the calendar. I’d like to note that my copy of Matthew Gonzales’ dissertation about the cults of Ares and Enyalios (the most extensive survey of data to date on the subject) is my saving grace here, and even contains the inscription recorded from an oracle directing the establishment of the festival. If anyone wants to help out naming the ritual (I was thinking something like Binding Festival in ancient Hellenic) or placing it on the calendar, please leave a comment with suggestions.

Because this will be my first written ritual, I will be asking a friend to take a look at it to verify its structure and to consider whether it may be a good add to the various fora out there on the interwebs. Needless to say, this won’t be the last ritual/festival I plan on writing. The miasma ritual is still in the works, as well as plans for dedicating weapons (for soldiers, police, and even hunters), victory thanksgivings, and perhaps even stand-up and stand-down rituals for those entering/leaving military service.  I will need some female collaboration at some point, because I wish to include at least one single-sex ritual for each sex as an echo of historic rituals; I’m thinking along the lines of brotherhood/sisterhood things, nothing fancy and certainly nothing meant to put either sex or any gender down. If I’m ever to write a book, it’s important to me to provide a diverse range of ritual material, not just poetry.

That’s all I have for right now. It’s been a stressful week and I’m looking forward to wrapping things up and doing show-and-tell before relaxing for the weekend. Hope everyone enjoys their own! Hail Ares.