![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/societyforritualarts.com\/coreopsis\/spring-2023-issue\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/aphrodite.jpg?resize=194%2C300&ssl=1\")
Moon Books: Winchester, U.K., 2020<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px|||” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]I was drawn to Aphrodite: Encountering the Goddess of Love & Beauty & Initiation<\/i> because the name Aphrodite invokes beautiful associations \u2013 the human form, love, Grecian art, classical literature, history, and mythology \u2013 and I am a person who is ever in pursuit of the Beautiful. Reading the first page of this book, I discovered that Irisanya Moon also understands that beauty is that part of life which makes it worth living, which lifts the mind above the commonplace issues of survival, suffuses being with joy, and evokes the greater-than-self.<\/p>\n
In her book, Moon chronicles her relationship with Aphrodite, chiefly the processes by which she has allowed the qualities of the goddess \u2013 softness, self-love, determination \u2013 to blossom in her own life, potentials which the author had hitherto not sufficiently nurtured. Moon describes how, at various Pagan workshops, she and Aphrodite became acquainted and were drawn to each other; subsequently, through \u201caspecting,\u201d a process of inviting the divine into one\u2019s self, Moon incorporated the goddess into her being.<\/p>\n
She examines several origin stories of Aphrodite \u2013 three narratives which are at odds with one another \u2013 encouraging her reader to consider the motives of the various patriarchal authors, when attempting to make sense of these disparities; she follows this discussion with meditations and exercises for a practical application of these tales to the reader\u2019s own domestic experiences. And, probing various episodes in which Aphrodite meddles in other people\u2019s business and love affairs, Moon gleans wisdom that empowers herself, opening her mind to a greater understanding of human will and motivation, and our need to be loved.<\/p>\n
After describing a number of ancient and modern rites for venerating Aphrodite, Moon tells her reader that her own practice is \u201cpersonal,\u201d conducted through an intimate, meditative relationship with the goddess; and, yet, she states that she has also participated in public rituals, such as Beltane, organized by various groups (called \u201cTemples\u201d and \u201cChurches\u201d), which involve offerings and blessings.<\/p>\n
Moon continues with a survey of Aphrodite\u2019s characteristics, preferences, and historical feast days (predominantly occurring in the spring and summer, the months of fertility) — as well as both historical and modern interpretations of the rituals and the traits ascribed to the Goddess of Love. After that, Moon reviews a catalogue of epithets commonly assigned to Aphrodite, explaining that certain of the titles among the very long list of appellations will resonate with different devotees; for, the goddess is a complex being, as is each of us, and some of her characteristics may call to one person, while others may speak to someone else. Moon recommends taking a look at the historical contexts of these epithets — as well as the current context of one\u2019s own life — when integrating Aphrodite\u2019s titles into one\u2019s own spells, altars, and prayers; and she discusses appropriate ways to erect altars to Aphrodite, utilizing the goddess\u2019s favorite things, and also how to dedicate and bless her altar.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The last part of the book provides examples of rituals whereby a person may attain beauty and self-love, through interactions with Aphrodite; these include meditations and purposeful bathing. For enhancing fertility\/creativity (in all the permutations of these words), she suggests the nurturing of a plant. For increasing the beauty in one\u2019s life, she proposes increasing one\u2019s awareness of the beauty which surrounds us. And for learning assertiveness, or for learning to tame that quality when overabundant, she offers several remedies.<\/p>\n
Thus, dedicating oneself to Aphrodite is creating a partnership, a love affair, a commitment \u2013 for a limited time or a lifetime. Moon\u2019s account concludes with a depiction of her own personal devotional practices.<\/p>\n
Aphrodite: Encountering the Goddess of Love & Beauty & Initiation <\/i>is a loving, sensual, beautiful reading experience, and Moon\u2019s inviting style woos the reader into a joyful place, a world of love and loveliness accessible to each of us: \u201cFor what is the world without love? How can we live without love?\u201d Through Aphrodite, one can allow love to infuse oneself and one\u2019s world, perhaps even to banish the dark in which we have been imprisoned.<\/p>\n
As a person who possesses no personal spiritual beliefs of her own, I find myself drawn to Wicca, to the independent journeyings of souls in search of truth and divinity in life. I stand outside a window, marveling at these mystical experiences, returning, time after time, to look through the glass and learn more. I find Moon\u2019s explorations of a life lived with Aphrodite a compelling vision \u2013 a soft, beautiful, joyful compelling experience.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Review of Aphrodite: Encountering the Goddess of Love & Beauty & Initiation by Irisanya Moon Katherine Krestman, M.A., Authoress and Cosmic ExplorerMoon Books: Winchester, U.K., 2020I was drawn to Aphrodite: Encountering the Goddess of Love & Beauty & Initiation because the name Aphrodite invokes beautiful associations \u2013 the human form, love, Grecian art, classical literature, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1450","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n