What happens at Hyperborean Demos' meetings?

Hyperborean Demos meets on the second and fourth Friday of each month. The first meeting of the month is from 7:00 to 9:00; the second is from 7:00 to 8:00. Theoretically, these meetings center around book discussion (past books have included Walter Burkert's "Greek Religion" and H. Jeremiah Lewis' "A Temple of Words"; our current book is Karl Kerenyi's "The Gods of the Greeks"), but in truth conversation tends to diverge to all manner of topics related to Hellenic polytheism, and no familiarity with whatever book we're reading is necessary. Our conversations are casual and often lively.

During the first meeting of the month, we perform a devotional libation to one of the Olympians, generally from 8:00 to 9:00. First we spend a bit of time talking about the divinity we are honoring. This is followed by ritually washing our hands in khernips (spring water and sea salt). We gather around an altar with a libation bowl or cup in the center. Each of us in turn first offers a toast to the Hearth Goddess Hestia, then to the Olympian we are specifically honoring that evening, and then again to Hestia. These toasts may be interspersed with readings of appropriate Homeric and/or Orphic Hymns and thanks to individual deities for past favors and requests for future blessings. We share our drink with the divinities by pouring the liquid into the libation bowl or cup, and then taking a drink ourselves. It is hoped that, through this ritual, the many aspects of each of the Olympians may be better understood. It is a simple, elegant ritual that can be deeply spiritually moving. Participants generally bring their own cups and drink (though water is available onsite). Drinks used for the libation include juice, milk, pop, or water. Please do not bring alcoholic beverages.

The yearly libation schedule is:

January: Hera
February: Aphrodite
March: Hephaistos
April: Artemis
May: Apollon
June: Zeus
July: Athena
August: Hermes
September: Demeter and Persephone
October: Poseidon
November: Ares
December: Dionysus

The second meeting of the month is devoted simply to book discussion and conversation; there is no libation to an Olympian. Occasionally, we may do a libation to a hero or heroine. Past libations of this sort have been dedicated to Alexander the Great, to heroines, and to the NASA astronauts.

There's no charge for coming to these meetings, but donations to cover the room cost are cheerfully accepted :) Hope to see you there!

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