Editorial Note: At the Aquarian Tabernacle Church’s recent Spring Mysteries, Willow Brown’s devotional practice stood out for its sincerity and depth. We invited her to share her journey, and in this piece she offers a first-person reflection on Pagan ritual from the perspective of a young practitioner. Below is her bio and account. This reflection describes ritual experiences as understood and expressed within the author’s devotional practice.
Willow Brown is 12 years old and was born and raised in upstate New York. She is currently in 7th grade and actively involved in the arts. Willow plays violin in her school’s orchestra, studies ballet at a local dance studio, and participates in her school’s art club, where she enjoys drawing and painting.
Willow has been a member of Northern Tier Pagans for approximately four years and takes part in sabbats and youth group activities with her Pagan community. About a year and a half ago, Willow developed an interest in Greek mythology and its deities, and more recently has formed a personal connection with Hermes and Aphrodite. The Spring Mysteries Festival has been an amazing culminating experience for her.
— Willow’s Account —
I was excited to be going to the Spring Mysteries Festival, but I was really nervous at the same time. I mean, what if the Gods didn’t like me? What if I wasn’t good enough? I talked to my mom a lot about it in the months before our trip from upstate New York to SeaTac. This was also my first time on a plane.
The thing I wanted to do most was meet Hermes. I feel close to him, like a fun older friend who’s there when I need him. He’s made me feel better when I have been scared, anxious, or sad for the past year. Last Yule, my parents got me a Hermes necklace and a hoodie with Hermes’s winged sandal and name embroidered on it, and I wanted to ask him to bless them for me. When I wear the hoodie, it feels like he’s giving me a hug. I wanted to meet Hermes and give him a real hug back. I recently started to get to know Aphrodite and, although I was nervous about it, I wanted to meet her, too. Honestly, although my mom assured me about them, I was kind of afraid of the other gods.
The two flights across the country weren’t fun, but we finally arrived in SeaTac and then went to the hotel. I was so tired! We got there two days early to check out Seattle, and so we could help set up temples and work registration the first two days. I wanted to do that to serve Hermes.
Hermes didn’t need a lot of help setting up his temple, but Aphrodite needed lots of help. I spent most of my time wrapping flower vines around the frame of her temple. Her vessel, Alisha, was so nice! We became friends as we worked to set up the temple. I also helped unfold and fluff paper flowers for Zeus and Hera, and measure and tape spaces for the vendors. It was a lot of work, but I had a lot of fun.
Working registration was so much fun! I got to say hi to everyone as they came in and gave them their books and name tags. My mom and I got to work with Soleil, Amber, and Vivid. I also got to meet Bella (Belladonna LaVeau, Matriarch of the Aquarian Tabernacle Church), Dusty (Dusty Dionne, Archpriest of the Aquarian Tabernacle Church), and Brenna (Brenna Grace, Dean of Ministry at the Aquarian Tabernacle Church and Spring Mysteries Festival Director). I liked having my own chair at the registration desk, too.
Willow meets the Vessel of Hermes (photo Credit B. Brown)
Finally, the time came for the staff to visit the temples. My mom and I hurried to visit Hermes’s temple first. I was nervous, and when I stood in front of him, I started to cry. I was a bit overwhelmed. I was finally getting to meet him, the god who has been with me for the past year or so. I had a hard time getting the words out, but I thanked him. Mom helped me explain to him what he meant to me. I asked him to bless my necklace of him, and he did. Then I asked him for a hug. He opened his arms out and said of course. He held me while I sobbed. It was so comforting. He took my fear away.
I then went to meet Aphrodite. I wasn’t as nervous to meet her because I had become friends with her vessel, Alisha, earlier that day. She was Alisha, but she wasn’t. Her voice was a bit deeper to start. Alisha is very upbeat and bubbly, but Aphrodite is calmer and more grounded. I think she recognized me, but I’m not sure. I told her how I had started working with her recently and had gotten a pink ring that made me think of her. I asked if she could bless it, which she did, and then put it back on my finger. My mom and I got a picture with her, both of us crying. And I got a hug, too. Aphrodite is pure love; she just radiates love. That’s the only way I can think to describe it.
A Meeting with the Vessel of Aphrodite (photo Credit B. Brown)
At this point, I wasn’t quite as nervous to meet the other deities. I asked many of them for hugs, and they were all happy to give me one. Some, like Hades and Persephone, were surprised, but happy I asked. They said that not too many people ask them for hugs. My mom and I cried a lot, but they were happy tears. When you visit a deity, it’s like you can feel their love for you. It’s hard to explain, but it’s amazing.
Some of the deities were really intense. Hekate’s eyes were like black holes staring into your soul. She held my hands and spoke to me as she searched my eyes. She spoke in a loving manner, motherly in a way. She called me her child and was the only deity that said, “I love you.” Her hug was very comforting, like I couldn’t get enough. I could feel her love for me as she held me, which made me cry.
Willow meets the Vessel of Hecate (photo Credit B. Brown)
Demeter was also intense, but in a nurturing way. She held my face and looked into my eyes. She called me her child. Demeter hugs you and adores you. Her love was intense, like a mom’s would be. Hestia was not intense but was also motherly. She saw that I was crying as I walked to her temple and came right up to me to ask if I was OK. Her facial expression was one of genuine concern. She was soft spoken and asked if I needed to sit in her temple. I asked for a hug, which she quickly gave me. Both Demeter and Hestia were warm, loving, and caring.
The Opening Ceremony was awesome! We made a huge circle, and the Circle was cast. I got to see Tiare Valouria and her troupe dance. Wow, it was hypnotizing. And at the end, we did a Spiral Dance. It was so much fun.
Then it was time for everyone to visit temples. This time I brought my art portfolio and sketchbook with me. I’ve been working on portraits of the deities for over a year now. I asked each of them to autograph their portraits for me. I was surprised at how much they liked them. Athena even asked her devotee to get a picture of it for her vessel. She said that it “was perfection.” Demeter nearly cried and called everyone nearby to come see. I felt loved and important.
I stopped by to see Pan and was really surprised. I felt called out, but in a good way, when Pan held my hands and told me about what had been bothering me. He told me that he was always with me, and in fact, that he was claiming me as his own. He was kind and caring. His voice was gentle, but his gaze was sharp. I did not expect such a deep and meaningful visit with this partying god. He was also happy to sign my picture of him and hug me.
Towards the end of temple visits, I saw Charon near Hades’s temple. He was kind of scary looking, his eyes like holes. My mom said I should ask for a picture with him, as we did for the other gods. So we walked up to him and asked. He seemed really surprised and wasn’t sure if he could. He said he’d ask the directors and come back. I was excited as we waited for him to come back. I got a picture with him and decided he wasn’t so scary after all. I asked him for a hug, too. He was surprised, but said yes and gave me a hug. His hug was sturdy and warm, like a bear hug but not as intense. Later that day, Charon’s vessel, Kestrel, came up to us and told us that he had made Charon’s day — his millennium. He said that asking for and giving a hug had “turned him into a puddle.” He told us that no one has ever asked for a picture with Charon, let alone a hug. Kestrel said that Charon was telling him to tell everyone about it, that he got a hug.
I took two workshops on the Greek moon goddesses with Selena Fox and a sacred dance workshop with Tiare Valouria. Selena Fox’s classes were great. I liked our discussion about the goddesses and the chanting and singing. My mom said Selena is a big deal in the Pagan world, and I can see why. The dance class was fun and challenging. It was great getting to dance together with the other people. I also took a Greek Costuming class with Kara and now have a lot of ideas for making my own clothes for rituals.
The Vessel of Aphrodite, Willow, and Brandy Brown (Willow’s Mom) [Courtesy
The Lesser Mysteries will remain a mystery until you visit yourself. I am oath-sworn to keep them a secret, but I will say that they were amazing to take part in and will change your perspective. I can’t wait to go again and be initiated into the Greater Mysteries.
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