Ways of Worship: Nyx

Nyx is the Goddess of darkness, destruction, creation, hellhounds and the personification of the night. Her dominion is over rest, revealing the truth, prophecy, and Oracles. She is classically used in workings with divination, prophetic dreaming, dream manipulation, astral projection, deep meditation, self discover, astrology, and shadow work. She is a primordial Goddess, meaning she was created near the beginning of time and older than Zeus and his siblings. She is commonly referred to as the only God/Goddess that Zeus feared, although the same has been said about Hecate as well. Nyx is traditionally depicted to be a very beautiful young woman and was was either winged, charioteer, or crowned with an aureole of dark mists. Her Roman name is Nox.

Her father is Chaos (Khaos) also known as the origin of everything and different myths say that her mother is Gaia or she was created "in Gaia" instead of on Earth as the other Gods where. She also has a retinue (a group of advisors or assistants) that includes Hypnus (Aka Hypnos) her son, the Oneiroi her children, the Astra five Gods of wandering stars, and Hesperus the evening star.

Nyx married Erebus the God of darkness and her brother. Together they had Hemera the goddess of light and Aether the goddess of day. Nyx is said to also have birthed Hypnos the personification of sleep and dreams, Thanatos the personification of death, Geras the god of aging, Eris goddess of strife and discord, Moros the good of impending doom, Nemesis the goddess of revenge, the Keres spirits/demons/goddesses of violent death, and the Oneiroi demons of personified dreams. Nyx also created her own dark spirits including Fates, Sleep, Death, Strife, and Pain.

Other children she was rumored to have where Philotes the goddess of friendship, Momus the god of mockery, Oizys the goddess of misery and depression, and Apate the goddess of deceit.

Nyx resides in the deepest, darkest part of the Underworld in Tartarus and is given a rather bad rap, despite the fact she's not depicted as evil or does anything in myths that's worse than the other Gods. She impacts mankind in good and bad ways with the abilities to bring either sleep or death.

Despite being such a powerful Goddess she wasn't well worshipped and tended to be on the fringes of myths. Her and her daughter Hemera are said to control the cycle of the day. Nyx brings night and Hemera chases it away each morning. In the myth of Hera's plot to overthrow Zeus, Hypnos failed to be strong enough to keep Zeus asleep for long. When Zeus found what he had done Zeus chased Hypnos all over Olympus. Hypnos fled to his mother, Nyx, who allowed him shelter in her cave and Zeus gave up his revenge in fear of angering Nyx. She appears in fragments of many other myths and if often reffered to as the "first of all creation". According to the ancient Greek mythos before there was anything there was darkness or night and that is where Nyx came from. She was also referred to in a few of Homers poems.

Altar, Offerings, and Symbols

General Symbols: The moon, stars, chariots, morning dew, black wings or feathers, darkness, dark coloured crowns, mist, all things shadowy or unformed.

Gems/Crystals: Moonstone, black stones such as onyx.

Animals: Black horses, and hellhounds.

Plants: Any night blooming plants such as Moonflower, Queen of the Night, Ref Flare Water Lily, Dragon Fruit Cactus, Evening Primrose, and Nicotiana, poppies, roses, violets, and bleeding hearts.

Scents: Pine, sage, Earthy scents, night florals, summer nights, evening rain.

Colours: Black, purple, dark blue, and silver.

Food: Molasses, eggs, dark chocolate, Dragon Fruit, black teas, coffee, red wine, dark berries such as blueberries or elderberries.

Prayers and Invocations

Prayer to Nyx

Beautiful, black-eyed Nyx, cloaked in darkness, older than old, daughter of misty Chaos, mother of great and mighty spirits, I call to you. Ever-present one, you live in the shadows; we know you in the dusk, in the comfort of the night. Broad-winged Nyx, you clasp the hand of bright Hemera each eve and morn, you greet her with love and sorrow for only in those moments may you embrace your child.

Goddess, awesome one, in your realm are we all unblemished, in your realm do lovers’ promises ring true, in your realm are all things possible, if only until daybreak. Nyx, I honor you.

Invocation of Nyx

Nyx, great Goddess of the Night, lover of Erebus, mother of Moros, Thanatos, Hypnos, Charon, Nemesis, and the Fates, I ask you to accept my loyalty and my love as your follower and servant. I ask for your protection and guidance, bringer of the night, I ask for your wisdom and blessings.