'...Monday nights and Friday nights. These are the times we set aside to honour Selene, Goddess of the Moon and on Vendredi - Venus' day - Aphrodite. 
    Friday night. A night when this most magnificently beautiful, kind and gentle Goddess comes to our temple. Our temple! We could hardly believe our luck with all of this. What had started out as speculative had now become serious exploration. With each new encounter with the deities we learned more about them, but also more about ourselves too. The tests were often tough but by accomplishing them we found confidence and strength, and my abilities increased exponentially. It felt absolutely amazing.
    Especially on Friday nights.
    The temple glows with a pink and golden light as she appears.
    Radiant and glorious in all her beauty. 

Our first encounter with Aphrodite, the temple filled with a brilliant sparkling pink light and the most beautiful being I have ever seen appeared: auburn red hair worn in a long ringlet over one shoulder; glistening with red and gold glints and beautiful green eyes. She wore a pale blue gown, off one shoulder, and around her waist I could see a golden girdle with tassels. She looks so much like the painting by Botticelli, he must have seen her himself.
     "This makes me very happy. It is a long time since a mortal has spoken to me so well. I bring my presence into this temple and surround you with love."
    I thought I was in heaven.
    She came very close to us, inside the circle, barely missing our feet and she moved around us. "If you continue on the path you have chosen you will find your lives become easier. I bestow blessings and a kiss on you both."
    And she did.
    We were literally in heaven in the temple.

*

That second week the temple glowed with a pink and golden light and she appeared, radiant and glorious.

Aphrodite is without doubt the quintessential beautiful being. 
    She has a flawless complexion, large blue green eyes, long dark lashes, a perfect nose and cupid's bow lips. Her hands and feet too are perfectly shaped. And although she is breathtakingly beautiful, there is such strength about her, Aphrodite's presence is commanding in a beautiful way.
    She is not just a pretty face - beautiful - she is awesome too:
    "Thank you for honouring me again. It is a delight to come into this temple and see you both. The feeling of love is overwhelming. Not even in the old days did I experience this. 
     It generates great power and you are surrounded by it.

It is so pleasant to be here. You have suffered fear, come with me and feel my soothing influence."
    She led me quite a long way, though I do not know where. But it was an underground chamber.
    "Do not be frightened, nothing will harm you."
    I felt at peace. It was quite dark in the chamber and then I saw an opening which led to a natural pool in the rocks. She gestured for me to step into it and it was icy cold, so much so I jumped.
    "Stay. You will get used to the cold."
    Eventually I did.
    "This is a very special place, the pool of tranquillity." Then she sat on a nearby rock. "You seem very happy with me and yet with some of the Gods you are scared. Why?"
    I tried to answer her but I couldn't. No words seemed to come. Then I saw standing near her were Cronos and Hades and the most frightening being I ever have seen, with scales and tusks, as terrifying as Hades and I started to shake. They were talking but I could not hear what they said. They looked up and saw me and turned away.
    "I wanted you to see them together. That they are not always as ferocious as they seem. They do care for you both."

Then she returned me to the temple.
    "Until next week I leave you. I give you both the gifts of great stamina and serenity. I now place my arms around you both and kiss you as I give you my loving blessings."
    And Aphrodite was gone.