Continuing the discussion from 
Weekly Witchy CHALLENGE - Greek & Roman Traditions and Magick:
For this challenge, I chose the beautiful Nyx (Νύξ, or her Roman equivalent, Nox), the Goddess of Night. Her name itself means “night” and she rules over nighttime, darkness, chaos, creation, destruction, divination, love, motherhood and mysteries. Nyx is one of the protogenoi that appeared at the dawn of creation, having emerged from Chaos.
In a sense, her partner is Erebus, the personification of the darkness, and with him, she has two children, Aether and Hemera. Her other offspring, produced on her own, are many and are often considered to represent “negative” forces. However, this is not entirely true, for these children are Moros (Doom, Destiny), Ker (Destruction, Death), Thanatos (Death), Hypnos (Sleep), the Oneiroi (Dreams), Momus (Blame), Oizys (Pain, Distress), the Hesperides, the Moirai (Fates), the Keres, Nemesis (Indignation, Retribution), Apate (Deceit), Philotes (Love), Geras (Old Age), and Eris (Strife).
Sources claim that Nyx lives with Erebus in Tartarus and she is said to be so powerful that even Zeus fears her.
Nyx, in her physical form, is a striking sight to behold. She is often depicted as a large, black bird, or a woman with black bird wings, a woman wearing a black veil studded with stars. She has long, black hair and grey eyes, while she adorns herself in all black, with silver accessories that mirror the colour of the stars and moon.
The Spells8 website has a lot more information on her here: Nyx: Goddess Symbols and Worship of the Goddess of Night – Spells8
And her relation to Hemera was recently explored by the wonderful @Artemisia over here: https://forum.spells8.com/t/challenge-entry-greek-roman-traditions-and-magick/51415/18?u=starborn
Anyway, we’re here because it’s weekly challenge time and I’ve done a dedication ritual to her. So, let’s start with some music. Here’s something a bit more powerful:
And here’s something a bit more melancholic, I’m working on this playlist as a darker accompaniment to my Lunar Magick playlist:
As for what I used in this dedication ritual, see below. If you’d like to do something similar, feel free to change them to suit whatever your deity and purpose may be. There’s nothing rigid about this process.
Materials
- Incense.
- Salt.
- A black candle. || I used three
- A mirror. || I used an obsidian mirror
- A piece of obsidian. || I used a palm stone
- A silver chalice filled with water.
- A vial of lavender, rosemary, or mugwort oil. || I used both lavender and rosemary.
- A feather from a raven or a black feather.
- A (silver) pendant on a chain.
- A strand of hair.
I drew a circle of salt and placed my primary materials in the centre. Then, instead of one black candle, I chose to light three. I put the first one behind Nyx, the second to my left, and the third to my right.
I lit the incense using the first candle and allowed the smoke to purify the space I would use for this ritual.
Instead of a “proper” mirror, I used an obsidian one. I sat holding the obsidian palm stone I’d chosen in my left hand and the silver chalice in my right.
As I gazed into the obsidian mirror, I said:
Nyx, mother of the night, mother of sleep, mother of death:
Might your darkness embrace me
Might your energy caress me
Might you be mine and Might I be yours
Blessed be.
Then, I placed the obsidian palm stone at the base of the left candle.
I dipped the black feather into the oil and anointed the silver pendant. I then placed the pendant in the chalice of water.
(Here’s a slightly better closeup of the pendant. The stone reflects a few different colours. I’ll get a clearer photo when I’m not working purely by yellow candlelight.)
I offered a strand of my hair by placing it into the flame of the first black candle, allowing it to burn.
Then, I took the silver pendant from the chalice and placed it around my neck. While holding the chalice with my right hand and having my left hand on the pendant against my chest, I said a more person chant.
For a while after that, I sat quietly and meditated, visualising with Nyx, my soul intertwining with the eternal night. Spending this time with such a powerful yet caring goddess was a blessing. Her unbelievable strength and her dedicated nature bring a wonderful sense of calm and safety to a space.
I thanked Nyx for her presence and assistance and extinguished the black candles.
I will store the obsidian palm stone in a special place, symbolising the grounding of my spell, and keep the silver pendant around as a reminder of my bond with Nyx. I will use the pendant to reflect on my gifts and the responsibilities that come with them.
I have also gotten my pencil and paper out and will be drawing this beautiful goddess. I just need some more time to do so, as I’m quite enjoying this mixed medium format I’ve been trying out recently.
if I wasn’t at work I’d write a lil more
So very beautiful and perfect colors!
Thank you.