Some astrologers identify the God Ganymede with the zodiacal sign of Aquarius, the water-pourer; but his origins, according to classical myth, are said to be mortal, not immortal; being the son of a King of Phrygia, Tros. A mortal so handsome that Zeus chose him to join the Olympians. 
    So the myth goes, Zeus was so charmed by Ganymede's handsome beauty he changed himself into an eagle, swooped down to Ganymede's neighbourhood, swept him up and carried him away to be his favourite cup-bearer. And by way of compensation for the father's loss, Zeus sent Tros some fine horses. 

On a number of occasions team-members have been invited to attend a God or Goddesses' celebrations; though not for long. But long enough to see that no other God or Goddess waits upon them, nor carries their cup. This function is always undertaken by nymphs. Nor can a mortal become a God, however handsome and appealing he might be to one of them. It just does not happen. Moreover each is perfectly capable of changing their appearance, so why would Zeus choose a mortal?

In truth Ganymede is a powerful God in his own right. When he chooses to appear there is an 'open-air' look about him. He is tall with slightly curly brown hair and dark brown eyes. He appears as a male in his mid to late 30s. He wears a robe with wide sleeves and a golden pattern around the edge of neck and sleeves. 

"Although my name is not as well known as the mighty Zeus, Apollo or Diana, I am a powerful and important God. Today is one of my days. Sometimes we have more than one. I celebrate with my friends Pan and Kyron; Demeter and maybe Diana. We sit under a pine tree and celebrate."

Our team-member described the place where Ganymede meant:

'...I saw a small lake surrounded by pine trees. The water was a lovely pale green colour and yet it was clear. The sun sparkled upon the waters and the air was filled with a beautiful smell of sunshine on pine. Ganymede stood beside me, a shadow figure of shimmering blue, nearly seven metres tall.

"My lake. It has been named after me. Mortals do not remember why, yet here once stood a large temple as blue as the sky on a summer's day. It was here I was worshipped and it is here mortals are drawn, thinking they are looking at the beauty of the lake; but I draw them here.
    I Ganymede a great god of Olympia am overjoyed that the world now belongs to us, Gods and Goddesses mighty and great; the hard ones and the gentle ones. It makes no difference. We begin to make our presence felt.
     Many temples now are mine. In one in England six mortals heard me; five of them take me seriously and are studying in their own way about the great Gods and Goddesses. There is a small temple where a priest saw and heard me. He called me God. I explained I am a God but not the one he meant. His is imaginary. I most certainly am not. For two weeks he could not accept this; but yesterday he did. He will tell his congregation about me.

In Australia I have a Catholic priest in total confusion. 
    Somehow he stumbles his way through Mass and family services; yet he always has my image in front of him. He listens to confessions without hearing them and mumbles the penances without thinking. 
    The other side of the world I have a Minister in a non-conformist church going about his services in utter confusion. Those who attend are remarking upon his poor performance. 

I am sad when those that hear reject me and think of me as some evil spirit; but there are others who accept me and go to my temples to worship me. In one such temple in Russia a whole family now accepts me. The parents, grandparents and five children. This of course is rare. 
    One woman sat for twenty minutes hearing my voice instead of the one in the pulpit. She sensed I was in front of her and tried to feel me, yet could not. Always she will hear my voice.
     Before long all mortals will know I exist."  

Festival of Ganymede - September 26th