My Kyklos Ritual (by Samantha Frye)   The kylos ritual begins as I beging the music CD I compiled, light the flame to hestia and scatter barley on the shrine. There I make prayers and first offerings to her of incense. From her light I spark the flame on the shrine to Hekate and Artemis. To Hekate I pray to her as a goddess who sees all pathways and roads, and stands upon all roads. Those between men and other men, and between men and gods with her access to all worlds. And too as a goddess who illuminates and has the power too to conceal. Then prayers to Artemis come directly after those to Hekate. I honor her as sister of Apollon, great huntress, and goddess of wandering light, even as the river flows on Delphi bringing life and its vapors brought to the oracle, Artemis influences the flux of water. Under her power it can flow or cease. Far darting goddess who loves the mountains, woods and streams. To them I offer incense and clear refreshing water. The light of Hestia is then brought to the shrine of Aphrodite, who brings love among gods and men, the peace-reigning goddess. She rules the heart that is swayed in men and gods not only by her power but by the music of Apollon. Heavenly Aphrodite too recieves incense and a libation of watered wine. And then light of Hestia concludes its path at Apollons shrine, where prayers are addressed to the god at Delphi sunrise. Typically in the kyklos ritual I am usually honoring first Intonsus, the unshorn god at the beginning of my prayers to him, quickly followed by Phoebus and then (in no particular order) by Apollon as Pythos/Pythian (and therefore the slayer of destructive forces/ills/etc) in conjunction with Acestor (purifier). And too I have done the kyklos ritual for him honoring him as Musagetes, Lyceius (and I have tattooed wolf pawprint in honor of this name of the god). Frequently in my prayers I invite Paean the healer when there is someone that I care for who is ill at the time, or even more so in prayers the good health shall continue for my family and loved ones and that evil be averted. Not to mention that other frequent title that are mentioned in prayer are Proupsius the far-seeing, and Hekatos, shooter from afar. And while there are other names of Apollon that I speak of in prayer, they are usually not in the kyklos ritual but rather spoken upon occassion of necessity. After these initial prayers I take time to read a hymn for the god, sometimes Greek sometimes Roman, the selection depends on which one I feel is the best at the time. I am terrible at recital so I keep the page bookmarked in a book nearby within easy reach. I then present offerings to Apollon of watered-wine, honey, incense, and if I have it: fruits and meats. I will follow the offering food with an offering of anything that I have particularly made for the occassion (such as the plate I carved a relief of the god on as a gift during Thargelia). It is at this time that if I feel that I should dance or play music for the god I will, also if I composed another hymn to the god I will present it at this time as well. The ritual concludes as I offer final prayers to the god, asking him to continue to bestow his blessings, and state whatever needs are in my life currently if there are any pressing matters. Then final prayers to Hestia before extinguishing the flames. Though sometimes after the final prayer to Hestia I will let the flame on the shrine burn for an hour longer. The offerings, and the scattered barley are then taken outside for the animals. Birds love my house since it tends to be a never ending resource of barley and bread crumbs.