Calendar of the Moon
12 Duir/Skirophorion
Skirophoria
Colors: Grey and brown
Element: Earth
Altar: Divide the altar in half, with one grey cloth and one brown cloth. On the grey side place a
ship and a fish for Poseidon, and for Athena a stack of books selected for their wisdom, the
figure of a small city, and a glass cup of wine. On the brown side lay a sickle, a hoe, a basket full
of poppies, many small bowls of grain, a cup of ale, and the figure of a small peasant's hut. On
the line between them, place the figure of a golden sun. Before it should be a bowl containing
Pentaploa, a mixture of wine, honey, cheese, grains, and olive oil.
Offerings: If you are rural, visit the city. If you are urban or suburban, visit a farm. Do so in the
spirit of discovery and appreciation. Also, the day's exercise at Gymnastika should be running a
race, and the runners should carry grapevines in their arms, in honor of the boughs brought to the
temple of Athena by ancient runners. Deposit the grapevines before Athena's shrine.
Daily Meal: Eat food on your trip, wherever you go.
Skirophoria Invocation
(To be given by five people, one each representing Athena, Poseidon, Demeter, Persephone, and
Helios. They should wear white, blue, green, red, and gold respectively. They should come
together under a white canopy.)
Athena: On this day, long ago, so tradition says, the first harvest was cut of the first grain that
mankind ever sowed. Ever since then, the people have been fed from the land. Those of us whose
hearts are in the city do come before you today to honor the givers of our nourishment.
Poseidon: From the metropolises of the coasts to the great gathering places of plateau and
mountain we come on this day. For we could not live without you to support us. We feed from
you, and give you little in return, save trinkets and trouble.
Demeter: We thank you for your honor, and we promise in turn that our abundance shall never
cease, so long as you continue your respect. Our lands must remain clean and unfettered by
disease and pollution. So long as you grant us that, and safety, and fair commerce, there will
always be an equal exchange.
Persephone: We thank you for your honor, but you are wrong in that you give us nothing. You
are the keepers of thought and culture. When darkness rushes across the land, as it sometimes
must, it is in your domain that such things are kept. You are the memory of our people, as we in
our eternal round of seasons cannot always be.
Helios: I have come before you to hear your oaths. Will you serve and protect each other?
All: We shall be as two hands on one body.
Helios: So it is witnessed by the overarching Sun. So shall it be written, so shall it be done.
All Present: So it is witnessed by the overarching Sun. So shall it be written, so shall it be done.
(The Pentaploa is passed and shared, and the ale and wine are poured as a libation.)
[Pagan Book of Hours]