Cupid

Culture: Ancient Roman   Domain: Romantic attraction, playful desire

Cupid, son of Venus, parallels Eros in his later, winged-boy-with-arrows form; his own love story with the mortal Psyche, told at length by the Roman writer Apuleius, is one of the fullest and most complete myths of any Roman deity, following her trials to earn a place beside him.

Associations

Romantic and playful attraction, spontaneous desire, trust tested and rewarded.

Ways people honor him (modern)

• Read Apuleius's Cupid and Psyche as a complete myth of trust and growth
• Approach new attraction with openness and a little playfulness
• Keep a small heart or arrow token on the altar
• Reflect on the story's message that love survives, and is strengthened by, real trials

Approach any deity with respect and do your own research. Practices vary widely between traditions, and modern devotional practice often goes beyond what survives in ancient sources.