Agathos Daimon: How to Make Offerings To Your Household Spirit
Tales of mischievous protective spirits haunting the hearth and home are found across multiple ancient cultures. In ancient Greece the household god was known as the Agathos Daimon.
What is An Agathos Daimon?
The Agathos Daimon was considered an Eudaimon or ‘good spirit’ as opposed to the Kakodaimon or ‘evil spirit’. The ancient Greeks believed in different classes of spirit beings; the daimons acted as intermediaries between the gods and mortals. They could also be seen as representations of abstract concepts.
Have no fear these spirits are helpful. Even if they can’t do your washing for you.
How Did the Ancient Greeks Worship Agathos Daimon?
Each household had their own Agathos Daimon and the spirit received libations of unmixed wine after meals. The Agathos daimon could bring good luck and protection. It’s a good idea to make an offering to your household spirit when someone in the household is wishing for something particular. The household spirit may or not help you in this endeavour!
We know from a surviving Athenian calendar that the Agathos Daimon was worshipped on the second day of each new lunar month (the day after Noumenia). The Agathos Daimon is often depicted as a snake. Interestingly, Agathos Daimon became known as the companion to the goddess of good fortune Tykhe.
The Roman Lares
In ancient Rome, families would set up a home altar called a lararium dedicated to the household spirits known as Lares. Lares were thought to be the protective spirits of dead ancestors who watched over the household and granted blessings.
Why Connect With Agathos Daimon?
As Pagans we form symbiotic relationships with our environment and that includes the home. Even if your home is just your slightly grotty flatshare or your childhood bedroom in your parents’ house.
Worship of lofty remote beings like gods and goddesses is all well and good but it’s also beneficial to have some more ‘down to earth’ connections within the spirit realm. Forging a relationship with your household spirit can ensure both your home and your prosperity is protected.
AGATHOS DAIMON SUMMARY
Festival: The 2nd day of each new lunar month
Wife: Tykhe
Symbols: Snake, cornucopia
Offerings: Fruits, grains, honey, frankincense incense, olive oil, water, wine
How to Create An Altar to Agathos Daimon
Lararium Pompeii
These spirits don’t really need their own separate altar unless you really want to create one. I tend to see my entire house as an altar to Hestia and the Agathos Daimon.
If this is the case for you as well, keep your home clean, keep it tidy, declutter if you have too much stuff and open the windows daily for some fresh air.
No one likes a stuffy house.
A representation of your household spirit can easily be included on your household altar alongside the Ouranic gods. But if you wish to create a small space dedicated to just your household spirit here are some altar ideas.
Agathos Daimon Altar Ideas
image of a snake
offering bowl
incense burner
Beeswax candle
Frankincense resin or stick incense
How To Make An Offering To Agathos Daimon
It’s good practice to make an offering to the Agathos Daimon on its sacred day after the Noumenia, but feel free to make an offering when someone in the household is wishing for something in particular.
Unmixed wine is an attested offering to household spirits in ancient Greece. I don’t like the taste of alcohol so I don’t buy wine, but a suitable replacement would be water, grains, olive oil, frankincense incense or oat milk.
Tools
An offering bowl, wine, water or oat milk.
Method
Clean, declutter and tidy your house (or bedroom if that’s your only space). Keeping your space clean and tidy is an ongoing act of respect for the spirit of the house. In fact, you can dedicate any cleaning as an offering to Hestia and the Agathos Daimon.
Wash your hands and light a candle; say a prayer to Hestia if you wish. Pour the libation to the Agathos Daimon into the offering bowl and say a prayer or the following words:
‘Agathos Daimon hear me. Daimon of the home and hearth, you who watches over the inhabitants of this household. Bless us with protection and prosperity. In offering I give you this oat milk, may it please you.’
Leave the offering in place for a few hours, then dispose of it down the sink or in the garden.