6/22/09

Goddess of the Week: Philophrosyne

The Twelve Olympians by Monsiau (late 18th cen...Image via Wikipedia

How's your social life? Things going well for you? Are your friends supportive and lively? No? Are they difficult and pedantic? Do they complain? Do they borrow your money? Your clothes? Your car? Oh, no. That doesn't sound good at all. Or perhaps your situation is changing. Perhaps you are moving on in your life, changing locales, jobs, schools, prisons. Whether you need to jettison old friends because they are dragging you down or find new ones because your life is changing, the goddess for you is Philophrosyne.

Philophrosyne is the Greek goddess of friendliness, kindness and welcome. She is one of the Sraces, a group of goddess sisters who went around ancient Greece encouraging hospitality. For her part, Philophrosyne basically invented those tea sandwiches that everyone likes and that are always an appropriate addition to any potluck or party. She also invented hostess gifts, friendship bracelets and pinkie promises.

Philophrosyne reminds us that while we cannot always choose the people who surround us, we can choose how we act among them. By bringing friendliness, kindness and welcome to any social situation we can, hopefully, encourage such qualities in others. Alas, it is true that sometimes our good social graces are met with rudeness, stupidity, pig-headedness, general uncouthness, and even boorish arrogance and bad taste, in which case forbearance, tolerance, and good humor will perhaps prove even more worthwhile than friendliness, kindness and welcome. But still, in the immortal words of Frank Burns "It's nice to be nice to the nice."

Philophrosyne also reminds us that we have the right to expect friendliness, kindness and welcome from our friends. If the people we choose to spend our time with do not possess such qualities, perhaps they are not very good friends, and perhaps it is time to seek new ones.

Channel this goddess: when interacting with the world at large. Everyone deserves to see the best side of you, including the very rude woman who looks like she's been sucking lemons at your dentist's office. Also channel this goddess when hosting a lovely picnic in the hills, when meeting friends for cocktails, and when learning to co-exist with a new roommate or difficult neighbor. (You can also invite Philophrosyne to brush a little friendly powder on the less-pleasant people you know.)

Kate: This one is for you.
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17 comments:

Vanda said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Vanda said...

Did I hear cocktails?

Jean Spitzer said...

What's her nickname? I think I may have need of her services soon, and I'm having trouble saying Philophrosyne. (maybe, "fro", as in, "yo, fro"?

Vanda said...

Just don't call her Philo, she hates that.

Desiree said...

By Hera, that's a mouthful!
I help Phiphi out by dropping my difficult and pedantic friends. Isn't that what husbands are for?
(Sorry, husbands out there, that was a cheap shot)

Susan C said...

I think Philophrosyne must be from Southern Greece.

Cafe Pasadena said...

Your Goddesses are growing on me, MF

What week will you have the Goddess of the Blogs - Bloggess?

Margaret said...

Vanda: Even if you don't hear cocktails, you should find a way to hear cocktails. Perhaps we should organize...

Jean: Vanda's right about Philo. It makes her feel like a piece of baklava. Call her a cab if you want, just don't call her Philo.

Dez: Aren't you always the helper. Phophi is in your debt.

Susan: More explanation please.

Pup: Glad you like the goddesses. I think I did a goddess of blogging. Egyptian, as I recall.

Susan C said...

Southern Greece as in Southern hospitality. (Uh oh, my little jokes are bombing alrady. This does not bode well for tomorrow night at The Ice House.)

Shell Sherree said...

Oh, I like this Goddess, even if she sounds like something to be taken for muscle aches or tinnitus. Perhaps no accident, as a nice cup of tea and a cucumber sandwich would be very soothing in such circumstances.

Petrea Burchard said...

I am currently channeling this goddess. When you realize a person doesn't have your best interests at heart it's best to move on, even if that person has been your friend for years. No hard feelings of course!

Lynne said...

This will be the perfect goddess for Kate to channel while Scripps chooses her room mate(s)! You're the best!

pasadenapio said...

I definitely need to channel her! I'm so crazed with work these days that I have no social life. Help me, mighty Philophrosyne!

Bec said...

Great one for this season of entertaining in the heat . . . I'll remember her.

Anonymous said...
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K. said...

Oh, I just LOVE your GOW posts!!! Very cool idea...

Anonymous said...

Is she married to someone?