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TIMING:

12th Hecatombaion, twelve days after the new moon after the summer solstice.

THEME:

freedom

HISTORY / LORE:

To honor Kronos, father of Zeus, all slaves were freed for this one day and no business was transacted. For the holiday feast, the masters would dine with the slaves.

DECORATING IDEAS:

ropes, chains, anything representing slavery (including all that bondage equipment in your closet collecting dust)

GARMENTS:

Traditionally, a white linen robe and an amulet made from a pigs shoulder bone with an image of Zeus holding a scythe. Modern alternatives could be white cotton clothes and the amulet could be made of cedar wood (referred to as Kronos' Blood). If your not a great artist, the images on the amulet could be stylized to lightening bolts and a scythe.

RITUAL CUP:

Honeyed drink such as mead.

RITUAL FOODS:

Pork roast tied with twine (cutting the twine represents setting yourself free), grain dishes as Kronos is a grain god.

INCENSE:

cedar (Kronos' Blood)

ACTIVITIES:

This is a good time to start work on setting yourself free of an addiction, an oppressive relationship, binding financial situations, etc. Starting at sundown of the night before, begin thinking about how your going to set yourself free and what your life will be like when you are free. During the all night vigil (or early in the morning) take a long, quite, nature walk contemplating setting yourself free and what Kronos can do to help. Look for signs from crows (Kronos' bird).

FEAST / INVOCATIONS:

During the feast, serve two extra portions, one for Kronos for his help and one for the thing your trying to free yourself from (your master so-to-speak).

"I am calling for Kronos,
Son of Uranos and Ge,
Father of thunder and lightning,
Founder of the inhabited world,
Treated so unjustly by your son,
Bound by Helios in steel fetters.
Show the way to financial freedom.
Help me out of monetary adversity.
I shall make an alter in your honor
and drink libations for a year."

When you rewrite the above invocation for your own use (as you should), keep in mind the structure of a Hellenic prayer: First, state as many of the names of the deity as you can find. Second, state many of the deeds involving the deity (especially those that helped you in the past). Next say what you want the deity to do for you and, finally, say what you will do in return.

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