Cult of Aphrodite: Rites and Festivals of the Golden One

by Laurelei Black

This liturgical compilation is the first of its kind -- offering a wealth of well-researched rituals and religious festivals in honor of a single Hellenic deity. Drawing on resources that span the ancient world, Black and the Cult of Aphrodite Asteria present immediately usable tools for worshiping the Goddess of Love and Beauty.

Genres: Witchcraft, Mythology

138 pages, Paperback

First published March 22, 2010

About the author

Laurelei Black is a hedge-rider, a cunning woman, and a traveler on the crooked path of the Witch. She is also a priestess of love and pleasure, an Ishtar-woman, an Aphrodite-woman. She is a friend to daemons and a mate to the Red God. A bone collector; a temple dancer. Laurelei is the author of 11 books (including Temple of Love and The Witches' Key to the Legion: A Guide to Solomonic Sorcery), a co-Director and frequent presenter at the Babalon Rising Festival, an OTO initiate, and a proud co-proprietress of Asteria Books and Events.

Laurelei began serving Aphrodite in 1999 while she was living in Los Angeles and working with with a Traditional Witchcraft coven. She became a priestess to Aphrodite within that religious tradition when she took her 2nd Degree, in 2002.

In addition to her work as a Priestess of Aphrodite, Laurelei is a Cunning Woman, a Witch of the traditional path. She and her wife, Natalie, founded the American Folkloric Witchcraft tradition, where they explore the convergence of American magic and traditional British craft. Within this realm, Laurelei's keenest interests include necromancy, bone collecting, and potion-making.

Laurelei is the author of four books devoted to Aphrodite's worship, including Cult of Aphrodite, a compilation of well-researched rituals and religious festivals in Her honor; Crown of Violets, a book of devotional poetry; Temple of Love, a historical novel depicting the poetess Sappho as an Aphrodite Priestess; and Aphrodite's Priestess, a resource book for those women who would serve the Goddess of Love.

With Natalie Black, Laurelei has also offered the Witchcraft community Liber Qayin, a channeled gospel; The Witches' Key to the Legion: A Guide to Solomonic Sorcery; and the Asteria Books' Occult & Witchcraft Learning Series (a magickal library).

Laurelei's current projects include continuing in her writing, art, and workshops in service to Aphrodite and Tubelo at festivals and other facilities, and building the Temple of Aphrodite Asteria. She lives in Indiana with her partners, Natalie and Joe Black, her children, and her parents.

Reviews

[CiCi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read, interesting.