Nyx

Culture: Ancient Greek   Domain: Night, primordial darkness

Nyx is one of the primordial deities, born directly from Chaos at the very beginning of things, and mother to a host of powerful abstractions including Sleep (Hypnos), Death (Thanatos), and Strife (Eris). Even Zeus is said to have shown her deference, making her one of the oldest and most respected of Greek cosmic powers, despite having few myths of her own.

Associations

Night, primordial darkness, mystery, the space before creation, rest.

Ways people honor her (modern)

• Practice night-time reflection or journaling before sleep
• Sit with unanswered questions rather than forcing resolution
• Keep a dark, undecorated space on the altar as a nod to her mystery
• Read Hesiod's Theogony for the earliest genealogy that includes her

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.