To worship Eros, or any pagan deity in a modern context can seem difficult. Since ancient temples and traditional rituals might not be accessible or practical, you can adapt and create your own ways of honoring Eros.

However, these should align with his symbols and attributes so that you are properly addressing this deity, and not another. You can draw inspiration from the ancients for this, and that’s what this article is for. Here are some ideas that you can include in your practice:

1. Create a Personal Altar or Shrine: Dedicate a small space in your home to Eros. This could include statues or images of Eros, candles, and offerings that you feel are appropriate, such as flowers (like roses), incense, or items that symbolize love and desire.
2. Meditation and Prayer: Spend time in quiet reflection or meditation focusing on the qualities of Eros, such as love, passion, and desire. You can also compose and recite prayers or poems dedicated to Eros.
3. Artistic Expression: Given that Eros is associated with the deep and often creative feelings of love, expressing your devotion through art can be a powerful tool. This could include writing poetry, painting, or creating music inspired by themes of love and passion.
4. Study Mythology and Literature: Educate yourself about Eros. Understanding the historical and cultural context of Eros can deepen your connection to this deity. Here are my five favorite books to learn about Eros.
5. Celebrate Love in Your Life: One of the most direct ways to honor Eros is by celebrating and nurturing love in your own life. This can be romantic love, but also love for friends, family, and yourself. Acts of kindness, appreciation, and fostering connections with others can be seen as offerings to Eros.
6. Rituals and Symbolic Acts: Incorporate symbols associated with Eros, such as roses or heart motifs, into your daily life or special rituals. You might also consider rituals that involve writing down your desires or wishes related to love and burning them as offerings. I’ve also shared a proper invocation down below.

Remember, the key to modern worship is personalization and sincerity. It’s less about strict adherence to ancient practices and more about finding meaningful ways to connect with the essence of what Eros represents in your own life.

Eros Symbols

Eros is often represented by several symbols which are emblematic of his influence and attributes. Here are some of the key symbols associated with Eros:

1. Bow and Arrows: Perhaps the most famous symbol of Eros is his bow and arrows. Mythology states that those struck by Eros’s arrows would be filled with uncontrollable desire. Eros had two types of arrows – one golden, which caused instant love, and the other leaden, which caused indifference.
2. Wings: Eros is frequently depicted with wings, symbolizing the fleeting and changing nature of love and desire, as well as the ability to move swiftly, impacting people’s emotions unexpectedly.
3. Torch: Sometimes, Eros is shown carrying a torch, which is a symbol of the burning passion and desire that he could ignite in people’s hearts.
4. Lyre: Although less common, the lyre can be associated with Eros as a symbol of the art of love, representing the harmony and beauty often associated with romance and affection.
5. Dolphins, Roses, and Sparrows: In various artistic representations, Eros is often accompanied by dolphins, roses, or sparrows, each symbolizing different aspects of love and desire. Dolphins are symbolic of affection and playful love, roses of beauty and desire, and sparrows, due to their early mating habits, symbolize erotic love.

These symbols have been used in art and literature throughout the centuries to represent the various aspects of love and desire that Eros embodies.

Crystals Associated With Eros

Crystals, with their varied properties and meanings in the realms of spirituality and metaphysics, can be associated with deities like Eros, the Greek god of love and desire, based on their perceived energies and symbolism.

While there’s no historical record of specific crystals being traditionally linked to Eros in ancient Greek practices, certain stones are commonly associated with love and passion, which align with Eros’ domain. These can be used in your personal practice for connecting with Eros:

1. Rose Quartz: Often considered the stone of universal love, rose quartz is believed to promote love, self-love, friendship, deep inner healing, and feelings of peace. It’s widely used to attract and enhance love in all forms.
2. Rhodonite: This stone is thought to promote emotional healing, bring balance, and nurture love. It’s often used to heal emotional wounds and bring about forgiveness and reconciliation.
3. Ruby: Known for its deep red color, ruby is traditionally a symbol of passion and vitality. It’s believed to bring and intensify romantic love.
4. Emerald: Associated with the heart chakra, emerald is believed to bring harmony to relationships, enhance unconditional love, and promote friendship.
5. Garnet: Garnet is often associated with strong feelings, including passion, desire, and love. It’s believed to enhance sexuality and romantic love.
6. Moonstone: Known as a stone of new beginnings and as a symbol of inner growth and strength, moonstone is believed to enhance intuition and promote success and good fortune in love.
7. Pink Tourmaline: This crystal is believed to attract love and promote compassion, emotional healing, and self-love.

Using these crystals in your personal worship or meditation practices could be seen as a way to connect with the energy of Eros, especially focusing on their qualities that resonate with love, passion, and emotional healing.

Eros’ Favorite Offerings

These offerings are favorites of god Eros, whether in a ritual invocation or as regular offerings on an altar dedicated to him:

1. Flowers: Roses, in particular, are often associated with love and could be an ideal offering. Other flowers that symbolize love and beauty might also be suitable.
2. Incense and Oils: Fragrances such as rose, jasmine, or any sweet and sensual scents that evoke feelings of love and desire can be used as offerings.
3. Candles: Lighting candles, especially in colors associated with love like pink or red, can be a way to honor Eros. The act of lighting a candle can symbolize igniting the flame of love and passion.
4. Poetry and Art: Since Eros is a deity of love, writing love poems or creating art dedicated to the theme of love can be a meaningful offering.
5. Crystals and Gemstones: Stones like rose quartz, rhodonite, or emeralds, which are associated with love and the heart, can be used as offerings.
6. Food and Drink: Sweet foods, chocolates, or honey, which are traditionally associated with love and desire, can be offered. Some also choose to offer wine, as it is a drink often associated with romantic settings.
7. Personal Tokens: Any item that holds personal significance to you and represents love, affection, or romance can be a thoughtful offering.
8. Acts of Love: Performing acts of kindness and love, not just towards romantic partners but also towards friends, family, and even strangers, can be seen as offerings to a deity of love.

Prayer to Eros

There is no specific, widely-recognized ancient prayer to Eros that has been preserved through history. Ancient Greek religious practices often involved hymns and prayers, but many of these have been lost over time, or their specific dedications are not clearly identified.

However, the ancient Greeks did have a rich tradition of poetic and literary works dedicated to their gods, including Eros. One example is the “Homeric Hymns,” a collection of poems from around the 7th to 4th centuries BCE, though there isn’t a specific hymn dedicated solely to Eros in this collection.

In the absence of a specific ancient prayer, you can create your own prayer or invocation to Eros, drawing inspiration from the known attributes and myths surrounding him. For example, acknowledging Eros as the god of love and desire, asking for his blessings in matters of the heart, or expressing gratitude for the love in your life could be components of such a prayer.

I’ve shared some of my own, poetic prayers to Eros and you are free to use them.

How to Invoke Eros

To invoke the essence of Eros you can create a ritual that embodies the symbols and offerings associated with him. Begin by finding a quiet, comfortable space where you won’t be disturbed. This space will serve as your sacred area for the ritual.

Start by setting up an altar. Place a representation of Eros at the center, which could be a statue, a picture, or any symbol you feel drawn to that represents Eros for you. Surround this representation with offerings: place fresh roses or other flowers symbolizing love around it, lay out crystals like rose quartz or garnet to amplify the energy of love, and set up candles, preferably in shades of red or pink, to create a warm, inviting ambiance.

Once your altar is prepared, cleanse the space to create a pure environment. You can do this by burning sage or palo santo, or by using a bell or singing bowl. As you cleanse, focus on your intention to invite the essence of Eros into your space.

Now, light the candles and incense. The act of lighting each candle can be a moment of focus and intention, meditating on the qualities of Eros – love, passion, and desire. Choose a sweet and sensual scent for your incense, something that evokes the feelings of romance and affection.

Sit or stand comfortably in front of your altar and take a few deep breaths to center yourself. When you feel ready, begin your invocation. You might say something like:

“Great Eros, god of deep and burning desire, I call upon you. Bring your flames of passion and love into my heart. Guide me in my pursuit of love, help me to open my heart to deep affection, and bless me with the courage to embrace love in all its forms. I honor you with these offerings and welcome your presence in my life.”

Feel free to speak from your heart, adding personal desires or intentions related to love and relationships. The key is to be sincere and open.

After your invocation, spend some time in meditation, visualizing the energy of Eros surrounding and filling you. Imagine love and desire manifesting in your life, in whichever form you seek.

To close the ritual, express gratitude to Eros for his presence and assistance. You can say the following:

“Thank you, Eros, for your guidance and light. May your essence infuse my life with love and passion. I honor and thank you.”

Blow out the candles to signify the end of the ritual. It’s important to let the incense burn out naturally. Leave the offerings on the altar for a while as a sign of respect and gratitude, and when you feel it’s appropriate, you can return the flowers to nature and cleanse your crystals for future use.

Final Thoughts

Eros is a very interesting deity because he operates through the most intense desire that exists in us all – for love and carnal passion. Worshipping or invoking him through prayers, offerings and rituals can help you excel in this area of your life.

You can definitely implement the information and advice I’ve laid out in this guide even if you’re suffering through modern limitations like so many pagan practitioners today.