Tonight, on Thanksgiving night, I am grateful to father Zeus for his many abundant blessings. 

Today I have been contemplating how Thanksgiving ALWAYS takes place during the season of Zeus/Jupiter (Sagittarius) and on his day (Thursday).  How have I not consciously noticed and acknowledged this before?  Perhaps it is because I have been devoted to my various ancient Greek studies and devotional planetary practices this year.  THIS is the year that I am fully dialed in. 

I did a little research today, to see if there were any ways in which Zeus was traditionally honored at this time of year, in ancient Greece.  And I discovered, yes!  According to their luni-solar calendar, we would currently be at the end of Maimakterion, which was a lunar month dedicated to Zeus.**  (The name Maimakterion was derived from an epithet of Zeus, meaning blustering.) 

Apparently, during the last third of Maimakterion, there would be a sacred procession called the Pompaia.  It was a rite of purification undertaken by the priestly officials.  According to Tony Mierzwicki, author of “Hellenismos: Practicing Greek Polytheism Today”:

“The Pompaia (procession) occurred during the last third of the month dedicated to Zeus Meilichios, kindly or open to propitiation. A sheep was sacrificed to Zeus and its fleece, the Sheepskin of Zeus [Dion Koidion] was used in magickal purificatory rites throughout Attic. Those seeking purification would stand on it with their left foot, and impurities would be absorbed. It is possible that those seeking purification prior to admission into the Mysteries of Eleusis went through a similar process. Also used in the procession was the caduceus of Hermes, which had the function of a magick wand, banishing evil.”

Note: I find it interesting that you would stand on the left foot during the purification rite, or the non-dominant foot that is often considered to be more energetically receptive. 

While I was spending time with family today (and don’t have a sheepskin currently on hand), I am thankful to Zeus and have recited his Orphic hymn throughout the day, whenever I had the opportunity, as well as doing a brief meditative attunement.  I feel his goodness and warmth surrounding my heart, and I am grateful.  (Man, do I sound my ascendant ruler is Jupiter in Leo, or what?  But it’s true.)

I plan to do an additional simple meditation + purification rite during these last few days of this balsamic moon, while still in the lunar month of Maimakterion.  (Note: The new lunar month doesn’t traditionally begin until the waxing crescent moon appears.)  I wrote this simple prayer of offering, which I will also offer to you, as my parting words.

Father Zeus, thank you for your many abundant blessings.  Oh Divine Creator, you hold the whole world in your palm, and you envision the many possibilities of the world to come.  Purify my mind and heart.  Wash me clean and allow me to begin again.  I approach you, gracious one, with a pure heart, and I ask you for the blessings of good health, good fortune and peace of mind.  In turn, I offer you my mind, my heart and my hands.  May my life be an offering of good will, and may I be of service to all of your kind hearted children.

** I verified that we would be in the end of the Maimakterion season by consulting the 2024 Hellenion calendar, which you can find online for free (and even add to your Google calendar!).