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Invocation

Demeter (corn-mother or earth-mother) and Kore (corn-maiden) are usually invoked as "to theo" (The Two Goddesses) and, in pre-Hellenic times, they were different aspects of the same goddess. Demeter is also invoked with the names Demeter Erinys, Goddess with the great loaves, Demeter Chloe, Great Mother, Demeter Malophoros, Demeter Kidaria, The Chthonia (the earth), Demeter Anesidora and Demeter Kabeirion.

Influence

Demeter is the goddess of all aspects of agriculture, from the fertility of the fields to the death necessary to harvest grain and fertilize the next crop. She is sometimes associated with the god of wealth (Plouton), an obscene sexual deity (Iacchus) and the goddesses of the seasons (Horae). The dead are sometimes referred to as Demeter's people as they are buried in the ground. She is considered the goddess of the peasants and her sanctuary is frequently outside of town on a nearby hill.

Priesthood

The priesthood of Demeter are preferably blonde (the color of ripened corn). They usually wear purple robes and a pectoral with symbols of plenty. The priestesses are unmarried (probably so as not to interfere with the fertility rituals). The priests usually wore masks to represent various gods. Modern priesthood must be able to grow food crops.

Offerings

Most of the agricultural festivals honored Demeter and were attended by all of the peasant farmers (with the exception of the women only festivals). At the time of plowing, sowing and harvesting of the crops, sexual rituals are performed to "magically" fertilize the crops. (Hesiod recommended sowing, plowing and reaping while naked.) Death rituals are performed while sacrificing pigs (to make fertilizer) and after the harvest while storing grain in the ground. The minimum for a modern ritual to Demeter should include bread shaped like phallus and women's pudenda, terra-cotta pigs studded with grain and abusive obscene joking (to make Demeter smile). At the very least, we should make offerings of part of our food at harvest, grocery shopping or meals to thank her for what she has given us.

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