In the beginning, says Hesiod, there was Chaos until Gaea the earth appeared; then Eros God of love; then dark Erebus and the Goddess Night who together brought into the world mix Hemera Goddess of the Day.  

Classical myth says no more about the Goddess Hemera and most since have dismissed her existence as the mere abstract personification of sunrise. However, there is much more to this powerful Goddess.

On first encounter with Hemera there appeared a bright creamy white light and a female appeared aged around 25 or so, with short curly golden hair. She appeared dressed in a pale pink gown and wears her hair piled on top. Her voice is quite deep, a little husky:

"I am the great Goddess Hemera. You honour me by inviting me here. A long long time ago when the Olympian  Gods and Goddesses were honoured and worshipped those who paid homage to me usually stood in the open to do so, but I enjoy having a temple.
    I am a Goddess of great power, yet few mortals know of me but I shall be recognised before too long. Enter my light and see what happens."

The following is the team-member's account:
    '...I felt I was being raised up, levitating and realised I was in a tunnel, more a tube because it was rounded. The light became a kaleidoscope of colour but it became hotter and I wanted to get out so I started to run. I heard a voice say: 'Not so fast!' so I slowed a little but still hurried. Gradually the very hot feeling subsided and it became more temperate. 
    I came out of the tube and as I did so all the colours gradually changed. The greens formed into grass and the leaves of trees; the red brown colours became earth; the grey brown became tree bark and the blue formed sky; the red transformed into poppies and blue into speedwell flowers; the yellow into butterflies and daisy-like plants. I could actually see it forming from the colours. As it unfolded she spoke:

"Your world is in turmoil. That was portrayed by the mixing and flashing of colours. Now you stand in peaceful surroundings. This is how it will become when we all are recognised. No more turmoil. Mortals will experience a happier, healthier planet on which to dwell.
   You have witnessed many horrifying scenes where worshippers of the true faith were slaughtered. Some of the scenes upset you and lingered in your memory. Yet there were many of the ancient Greeks and Romans and elsewhere who listened to the words of those that preached about a saviour who would forgive them their sins. So they turned against the Olympian religion where they knew punishment would be waiting should they sin and turned toward their new saviour. This was their mistake and a mistake for the world."

Even Hemera will subject you to a test and during this particular encounter she concluded with one for the team-member who described it...
   '...I was in the countryside and saw an old woman dragging a sack, she was bent over and clearly having difficulty. She had long grey hair, dirty hands and face and a long dress of faded blue and a tattered shawl over her shoulders, very unkempt and dirty. As I approached she stopped to catch her breath. 

I felt sorry for her and said: 'That bag looks too heavy for you. What have you got in it?'
    She looked up and I noticed her eyes were particularly deep blue. 'Food, fuel and a jewel.'
   'I'll help you,' I said and she passed me the sack. It was heavy but I could manage it, and as I pulled it became lighter and next thing there was a terrific flash of light, the bag vanished and in place of the old woman there was this young Goddess. 'You have passed a small test. You do have compassion. The contents of the sack I give to you as my gifts."

Festival of Hemera: April 27th