Blessings Friday: Aphrodite Ritual

Each year, my close friends and I perform our annual Aphrodite Ritual to remind us to love and accept ourselves as we are. I'm not sure when we first started, but it was many years ago.

Source: Section of "The Birth of Venus" by Sandro Botticelli: University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

We constantly say awful things about ourselves: I’m so fat…ugly…useless…old…clumsy…and so on. So we created the Aphrodite Ritual to affirm we are perfect just as we are when we get together each year near some body of water (to echo Aphrodite’s mythological birth).

This year my friends are cruising with us, so we’re doing our ritual Sunday night as we sail out of San Juan—also full moon night. We’ll do this privately on one of our balconies.

© Dub Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

I made Aphrodite costumes (Butterick 4572) for Donna and me in 2008 as we were the only ones who could make the mountain lake gathering in N.C.

© Dub Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

I’ve been busy over the last month making additional costumes as participation this year has grown.

© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

Crafting and sewing are my offerings; each person contributes according to their abilities/interests.

© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

Over the years we’ve fine-tuned our plans. This year I’ve put everything into a book for each of us as we tend to forget. We always erupt into giggles during the ritual which is good, too. Laughter is important. I won’t share the exact ritual as it’s private to us; however, think of the Ya-Yas and you’ll get a good idea of our activities.

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My Cricut machine was used to cut layered sand-dollars for the covers. A sand-dollar template made on Microsoft Word worked for adding the text which we all agreed needs to be in a large font. I punched holes, used metal rings for binding, and added two charms for each book.

© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

I’m also taking dark chocolate-raspberry bars wrapped with paper on which I printed a picture of Aphrodite.

© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

My husband has gifts for us, too—beautiful sterling silver and shell necklaces.

© June Scroggin, All Rights Reserved

One last thing before I leave for the airport. Cruise Critic members made signs for their cabin doors; I’m using one made for a previous cruise.

See you Oct. 14!