Often the staff and cast of the Spring Mysteries Festival have spoken of the Third Degree Initiations. First Degree is attained your first year, going through the Lesser Mysteries. Second is attained in your second year, when you attend the Greater Mysteries.

The Third Degree Initiation is attained when you join cast and staff. Running this festival is joyous, difficult, and worth it. Nothing worth having is easy to get.

Beginning this year in Spring Mysteries Festival 2019 , we will open up some of the Cast and Staff Traditions to the festival goers. Those previously and currently in the temples of Eleusis have had such beautiful experiences and revelations, and the Eleusinian Priesthood is ecstatic to announce the opening of registration for rituals and opportunities to serve the gods before and after the SMF weekend!

This year you have the option of coming early (on Wednesday) and being dedicated to a Temple as a Devotee of the God of your choice. These are on a first come, first serve basis. Opportunities will disappear from registration as Temples fill up spaces. Guests arriving Thursday will still get to participate in Temple services, but will choose from what is still available.

What will you get to do as a Temple Devotee ? Other than helping to set up the shrine and caring for the needs of the Gods as they incarnate into the physical, you may participate in cleansing rituals and preparing the Vessel. Each God has different needs. You will learn of these needs and have opportunities to assist.

You can also choose to stay Sunday night, help breakdown camp, and participate in the two rituals we hold Sunday afternoon and Evening - Closing of the Telesterion Drum Circle and the Traditional Offering Fire.

Space is limited in Temples, so make sure you register soon to serve the temple of your choice!

Temples and Duties

Athena - Athena's Temple oversees the workshops and special guests. Serving for Athena's temple means helping set up workshops, ensure all workshop presenters have everything they need at the time of their workshop, and ensuring our Special Guests have transport to the event and are taken care of during the entire event as well.

Aphrodite - Aphrodite's shrine is the busiest on site, naturally! Setting up her shrine is a very large task and needs all the help it can garner. You may also be asked to check the shrine for supplies and orderliness throughout the event.

Apollo - Those who serve in Apollo's Temple help with stage management. Changing/preparing scenes and props in Apollo Theater is the major duty, and devotees may be asked to be extras in the production.

Ares - The Temple of Ares oversees the onsite security. Those who volunteer as security, if it is needed, are seen as valued members of Ares' Temple

Artemis - The Temple of Artemis oversees the Children's Shrine and Youth Rite of Passage Ritual. Those assisting with the Temple of Artemis will help plan and execute the YROP Ritual

Demeter - Demeter's Temple is in charge of making sure we have delicious and healthy food filled with love to feed to Her children at Her Holy City

Hades - Those who serve Hades make up the Tech crew. Tech takes care of lights and sound and ritual setup - they move in the darkness of the Underworld unseen, but never unappreciated.

Hekate - Devotees of the Dark Goddess help with the Greater Mysteries - You can only volunteer for this temple once you yourself have attended the Greater Mysteries, as we do not want to break any oaths.

Hephaestus - Devotees of Hephaestus care for the merchants, making sure the Merchant Hall runs well, the merchants have what they need, and that the ATCStore is adequately staffed.

Hera - Hera's Temple oversees the erection of all the shrines. If a God doesn't have help, you may be asked to assist them. Also, you may be asked to assist in wedding and marriage blessing rites if they occur.

Hermes - Those who serve the Temple of Hermes welcome our festival-goers at Registration, helping pilgrims find their way to their bunks, smoothing the transition into Eleusis and assist in making arrival fun and efficient. Chariot drivers are included in the Temple of Hermes, helping the disabled get from place to place during the rites.

Hestia - The Temple of Hestia is focused on hospitality. Making sure guests, especially VIPs, are comfortable and have any special needs met is the primary concern. Hestia's dedicants make sure they get their bedding, driving them from Waterway House to their workshops, and anything else special guests might need.

Pan - Since Pan hosts the best Parties, attendants serving his Temple will be asked to help ensure the Mystai party is fun and is set up, fully stocked with provided supplies, and cleaned up afterwards. He also provides Jacks during the festival (runners, go-fors, tappies).

Persephone - The Temple of Persephone plans and executes the reception at the beginning of Greaters, setting up food, handing it out, and planning/providing entertainment.

Poseidon - The Temple of Poseidon is? for all of you beautiful Sea Priests and Priestesses that assist in Parade to the Sea, both dry and wet!

Zeus - The Temple of Zeus helps deal with Site issues, such as reporting problems with the buildings or grounds that might interfere with pilgrims experience.

Make sure you don't miss out on serving the temple you long to be in!

Register today!