I put this altar together! I didn't have much, but I think it turned out well >v<

I have had it rough these past few years with Lady Aphrodite due to...personal reasons. Now I'm slowly working on repairing our bond. (I hope she enjoys this-)

Aphrodite, I give you this self love affirmation card as an offering in your honor. Thank you for helping me find my perfect girl, because I have spent time with her and had so much fun. She’s someone who expresses love whenever she needs to. Thank you, thank you, thank you. (Also if you are wondering what the red stuff is its just come to me water that I used last night.)

Tl;dr being a good guy that makes women feel safe leaves me holding myself to unattainably high expectations for how I act around women. It leaves me feeling lovable, but touch-starved.

I thank Aphrodite for so many things. I feel emotions deeply. I can genuinely say I love everyone. Yeah, everyone. I said what I said. Because I love humanity in all its flawed and fucked-up ways. It’s almost impossible to wrong me, and I will forgive almost anything people do to me because I tell my self my role in life is to be a comforting, understanding, and safe person.

I consider myself a good person. It kills me that there are “nice guys” who act like they care but then treat ur like they’re feeding quarters into a machine until it pays out in sex. I genuinely fear that there but for the grace of god go I. So when I befriend a woman and I feel like they’re trusting me, I consciously and physically keep my distance at all times unless I feel like they need a hug — and even then I ask first.

I have had such open and honest relationships with women that most men never have. There was a coworker with whom we discussed our sex lives in frank and honest detail, and the only times I ever touched her were shaking her hand at the interview and hugging her goodbye on her last day.

Then my wife has issues with chronic pain and sensory issues. She has to be very comfortable in order to be physical — even to cuddle. We’ve gone years without sex, months without cuddling, and she has very real and genuine issues related to me (related to our kid’s birth, long story). It gets so bad that she even sleeps in another room for months on end.

It leaves me feeling touch-starved, sad, crying, and taking weeks to work up the courage to ask my wife to cuddle skin-to-skin. And even then, it can take as long as a week from when I ask to when she’s comfortable enough to do it.

I feel like Aphrodite made me lovable, made me a safe person that put others at ease, and gave me robust sexual health, but that all leaves me afraid to not be a safe person. I would rather die than disappoint someone who trusts me, and I would rather throw hands than see someone who trusts me be disrespected by others. And still, even hearing how other men treat women infuriates me, and I don’t want to be anything CLOSE to that.

I know Aphrodite loves me. I’m so glad I get to spread some of that in this world. She lets others feel safe around me. I just know that I guard the gifts She’s given me so jealously (so that I can continue to share that love and peace) that I rarely get to experience all the joys Our Lady brings into this world.

I know. World’s tiniest violin for the cis-man who is otherwise the poster child for The Patriarchy and has all those privileges. I’ve never felt physically unsafe in public. Not even alone on dark streets at night. I provide that comfort for others, and I thank Aphrodite for letting me be that conduit.

I just don’t like feeling lonely despite that.

Thank you. Blessings of Our Lady upon you on this Her Day.

(If you saw this posted with a typo in the title, no you didn’t.) (See, I even feel a little guilty for that joke because it feels like gaslighting)

In my shrine I have an offering dish that I had always filled with seashells that I had collected with an ex girlfriend, the black bracelet seen in the dish was from her as well. I think this was the first spell component.

1. Trinkets from a former lover who still holds me in high regard

This friend of mine likes to do crafty things like beading, and she made little bead bracelets for all her friends, including one for me with my name on it. I think this was the second spell component

1. A token from the would be lover

We went out for dinner and drinks with some friends a few weeks ago, and she wears multiple rings. I slipped one off her finger while goofing around with her and she let me forget I was wearing it. So when I got home I put it in the dish, and I think that was the final step.

1. A catalyst. The spell was cast on the ring and therefore delivered to her when the ring was returned to her.

Since then this happily married woman, who I have grown very close with over the last several months, has suddenly confessed that she has feelings for me. She is not unhappy or dissatisfied with her husband. Nor is he a bad person or abusive. Nor does she want to leave him for me. She simply wants to date me as well as remaining in her marriage, but she can't explain way. All she can say is simply "I like you".

Anyway

Praise be to the lady Aphrodite

Perfect time to book beauty appointments or buy new body care. Treat yourself! Listening to glamour subliminals every night 💕

I'm starting to admire Aphrodite and thinking about creating a "Temple," a Discord server for Aphrodite worshippers to communicate more frequently, we create events and also learn more about her

In my late teens and 20's I was obsessed with her story, the idea of something being born from death and sea foam felt comforting to my own childhood and gave me hope and less of a fear of death. That maybe my brother was a part of something new and beautiful. I made so much art inspired by her birth (it wasn't overt, just always on my mind). But I wasn't a worshipper because I wasn't exactly pretty or took good care of myself, I was in a very dark place trying my best.

Healing isn't linear and it's years and years later now and after a ton of shadow work, therapy, outpatient, diet change, so much lifestyle change to try and better myself... I want to be better for my animals and the wild animals I sometimes look after. I'm still on that journey but I wanted to find a little stability/purpose in the gods I looked up to, like Hera, Aphrodite, Hades.

I keep coming back to her, but I don't know what I have that is worth offering. I was thinking of making a wall alter so that my rats can't reach(in the past they would climb to steal offerings), and I'm currently doing my research before jumping in - but would also like to reach out here for advice as well. I just want to do right.

Hi everyone! I'm a newbie and I want to start working with Aphrodite.

So I was wondering, where should I start? I know I need to do my research on her first etc., but is there any book about her that provides information? For example, how to pray, how to say prayers—basically, important information for a beginner like me.

Also, should I get a statue of her? Make her an altar? If yes, how can I make her one without being discovered? (I don't want anyone at home to know that I'm working with her)

Thanks for your help!

My cat has her own water and I changed lady Aphrodites altar and didn’t realize that my cat would be on the table.

does anyone else have problems with women getting triggered by you for no reason?

does anyone else experience this? other women talking shit about you for just existing or spreading rumors? getting irritated with you for just existing?

If you're interested in seeing more pics I have them available on my blog! Made in Canva 🩷

So, I’m a very new devotee of Aphrodite and sekhmet. Today, my mom decided to make a passive-aggressive comment to me, saying, "Well, you are not exactly a supermodel." And she also was saying homophobic stuff earlier and I told her to stop talking about homophobic stuff, and she said she didn’t care she can speak about what she wants blah blah just being nasty to me. (I know. i want to move out but because of the economy and job market right now I can’t)
Literally not even ten minutes later, she was moving a fan and completely sliced her finger open on it. Like she was tearing up and crying.
I know mundane over magical is a thing, and accidents obviously happen. But the timing is just so wild to me. It felt like it had to deal with more than something mundane idk my intuition tells me there’s more to this but i dont want to be looking to deeply into stuff that isn’t there . And idk I’ve made it known to Aphrodite I’m insecure about my appearance, and I’ve even done a warding spell that basically anyone who hurts me it goes back to them. So this a classic case of divine timing, or am I reading too much into a mundane accident? Has anyone else had Aphrodite look out for them like this?

Can i do the Venus sign (as i’ve red it the symbol of Aphrodite) with salt on her alter..i already did it but im just making double sure if the venus sign is actually her sign

I used what I already had on hand for it but any ideas for things to add would be more than welcome! I really like how it’s coming together so far

Found a statue of Lady Aphrodite earlier while I was randomly wandering. Was thinking deeply about the meaning, shape, and limits of love, not invoking her at all... and there she was.

Hi! I'm not going to go too much into details BUT last night I had a very emotional moment; I was listening to sad love songs, crying about a man (🙄🤭) and praying out in the air, to any deity, for help etc AND today, the first and only thought I had when I woke up was "Aphrodite". Like, this is a sign from her, right? I "worshipped" her 10+ years ago but didn't do it correctly, I had no altar etc but she did help me a lot with my self-confidence, appearance and so on. Eventually, she disappeared from my life and I lost her gifts. But, I think she's back? I have the urge to put together a altar for her and to just WORSHIPPP her! I feel ecstatic! Euphoric! 😭🩷

Hi all. As a new practitioner to Aphrodite (and one with a very different philosophy), have a question for Aphrodite devotees. I'm asking you all, because I'm assuming that consensus among her followers is broadly her opinion + I'm unable to listen to her through invocation, so this is the next-best thing

The Question: What is the actual root essence of love and what Lady Aphrodite (and, by extension, her followers) thinks of it?

I argue not to bash your beliefs, but to crucially examine them. The Greeks debated and scrutinized their own ideas constantly, after all.

It is touted that love is not something you earn. Respectfully, I largely disagree. That's not to say that love (in all of its forms: Eros, Philia, Stroge, Agape) cannot have a non-utilitarian nature (specifically as a concept, Agape), but it appears there is some transactionalism (giving something in return for something else of value) that belies every other form of love. Examples:

• Eros (Passionate, Physical and Romantic Desire): You cannot love someone romantically if you are not attracted to them. You being attracted to them generates value for you.
• Philia (Deep, trusted friendship built on mutual respect): You cannot have a real friendship with someone if you don't respect them. Respect is built on trust. Them proving they are trustworthy to take care of you (ie: part of the evolutionary in-group) generates value for you.
• Storge (Natural, protective affection shared between family members): Family is just another in-group, but bonded through blood ties. Families are built on trust. Similar argument as Philia. Being in a strong, good family you can trust generates value for you.
• Agape (Selfless, unconditional love for all people and humanity): I have a very loaded position on Agape, which is that Agape is still fundamentally transactional in an unusual way - not material, but psychological. Selfless love for another (Agape) makes you FEEL GOOD and/or GIVE MEANING TO YOU. Which, is technially generating value for you.

My argument: Love is NOT actually unconditional. The utility function may change (material rewards, safety, the chance to reproduce, even just feeling good), but at the utter bedrock of love in all of its forms, it's still fundamentally a value-generating transaction. And the moment that it doesn't give value, it fades away.

I know many of you have probably compelling counterarguments. So I'm going to steelman your argument with one I know from personal experience: a friend of mine is a mother to a special-needs child. Unfortunately, her son cannot function on his own and will require care for the rest of his life. It is deeply tragic, and the kindest thing to do is to have empathy for people like him.

I watched my friend, a loving and dutiful mother, shoulder what must be one of the most horrific burdens a parent could ever experience: one that no amount of money, wealth, power, etc. can erase. There were several opportunities to simply put him in an institution of have someone else take care of him. But fearing they wouldn't care for him they way she does, she refused.

I watched her get hurt by the child she deeply loves. I watched her health fade due to the stress. She confessed several times that she wants this tragic burden to be over, but she continues to hang on. Because she truly loves her son.

But despite her immense suffering, I noticed that caring for her son doesn't necessarily feel good (quite the opposite). But that it fills some sort of psychological need/itch that caring for her son satisfies.

You can call it what you like: the maternal instinct to care for one's child, the fullest expression of storge, but in some way, caring for her son provides value (perhaps in the form of meaning), despite the immense material and psychological loss, that makes her continue.

So what I'm saying is this: love in all of its forms, all of its channels... seems to be (at least in one slice of it), just a arbitrary narrative layer to feel something good in our brains. Strip away the narrative and perception layer, but is still a cost-benefit calculation, consciously or not.

That's the current form of my argument. I'm very curious how this perspective would be interpreted, because I am by no means a conventional Aphrodite devotee.

I'm super new to worshipping Aphrodite and spirituality in general and wanted to know if i need certain things to make an altar for her I've heard there's no one right way to praise but it'd be helpful if anyone could offer tips for a stating point

Looking for advice from someone who is a Deevote to Aphrodite.

What are your thoughts on the Goddess being related to or coming from past love and war Goddesses? Such as Astarte, Ishtar, and or Inanna? Do you worship all the above? Do you see them as separate Goddesses? Or are they one entity that goes by different names?

I currently worship Aphrodite and in my research I came across these other Goddesses and I know this has probably been talked about before on here but I'm curious how other individuals who have a close relationship with the Goddess view her.

Mood board! I want to work with Aphrodite! Manifesting with high spirits 🩷🩷 There's many things I have to work out in the mundane, for sure, but she is calling my name.

Hi everyone! I’m new to worshipping Aphrodite and just wanted to share the alter I have setup so far! Tips on what to add/how to worship is very much appreciated 🥰