Blessed Harmonia, child of lovely Aphrodite
and strong-hearted Ares, white-armed goddess whose gift
it is to soothe the soul, whose work it is to ease
the conflicts of men and women, I pray to you.
Fair-tressed bride of Cadmus who knows the worth
of a happy home, Harmonia, I call to you.
Grant to me your favor, O peace-loving goddess;
make my home a haven of tranquility
for all who dwell within. Keep from my door
all who would wish us ill and all who would bring
to us discord and strife. Bless us with friendship
and understanding, and the will to hold together.
Archives
Aphrodite
Golden Aphrodite, fair and fearsome goddess,
mighty one whose will it is that the heart leads us
where the mind knows not to go; Aphrodite,
whose hand it is that guides us to the cliff’s edge,
whose voice it that dares us to jump into the dark,
whose gift it is that love’s reward is worth any risk.
Blessed Aphrodite, many have sought to turn
from you, but fire is fire, and feeling is feeling,
and neither can be contained by will alone.
Goddess, I thank you for moments free of reason,
I thank you for the dominion of desire.
Aphrodite, yours is the force of life, yours
the call of instinct; goddess whose power it is
that leads us to joy or desperation, I praise you
for your many gifts, I ask your blessing.
Prayer to Dionysos for Discovery
Dionysos, god who sees to the center
of being, god who stands on the edges,
whose arrival is sudden and swift, I call to you.
Dionysos, granter of revelations,
granter of pleasure and delight, the transport
of the spirit is yours to give. You know the way
to the soul, you hold the key to understanding.
Dionysos, guide me through uncertainty,
show me the comfort of the dark, of the night.
I pray to you, show me how to seek my nature,
open my heart to meaning, lead me to truth.
Prayer to Ares for Courage
Ares, fierce-hearted son of Zeus and noble Hera,
full-famed you are as god of war. To you do soldiers
pray when battle is most heated, when mettle
is most needed. To you as well do we turn
in desperate times, to you do we call for strength,
for the spirit to endure. You understand the terror
of struggle and strife, you confront it in every way.
Ares, your courage is unquestioned, your might
and your prowess unequaled. Ares, friend to those
in direst need, I pray to you, grant me the nerve
to face what must be faced, grant me the will to do
what must be done, grant me the heart to forge ahead.
Prayer to Athena for Wisdom
Clear-eyed Athena, unrivaled in wisdom,
daughter of Zeus and Metis whose craft and wit
excelled among the mighty Titans: Athena,
I pray to you. Wise in all things you are, goddess;
your cunning and guile are well known. In time of war
you have no equal in tactics or in strategy;
many armies have you guided to victory.
In time of peace your blessings fall on those whose work
is of the mind–friend of the philosopher,
the scientist, the student. Advisor of kings,
patron of clever heroes and bold-hearted
adventurers, defender of the thinker,
mistress of reason and understanding, goddess
to whom a strong arm and a sharp sword are nothing
without the sense to wield them well and the insight
to know when words are worth more than weapons.
Athena, grant me a sound mind and steady temper,
bless me with good judgment, show me the long view.
Prayer to Hermes for a Honeyed Tongue
Wise and cunning Hermes, son of lightning-wielding
Zeus and Maia of the coal-black eyes. clever one
who knew from birth the power of a well-wrought word,
I pray to you. Hermes, friend of those who live
by the work of their wits, sweeten my words
that those who hear them find them agreeable,
sharpen my speech, grant to me skill in all the tricks
of discourse and the subtle arts of rhetoric,
teach to me the craft of persuasion, quicken
my mind, show me how best to parry the advances
of those who oppose me, show me how best to gain
the good will of those whose support I seek. Hermes,
grant that I use your gifts with care and wisdom,
grant that charm merely polish the truth of my words.
Prayer to Apollo for Inspiration
I call to you, bright Apollo, son of Zeus
and gentle-natured Leto, god whose many gifts
have enriched our lives, skillful maker of music,
crafter of words whose poetic might brings wonder
to the world of men. Shining Apollo, master
of the Muses, inspiration in art and song
is yours to give. I pray to you, O Phoebus,
touch my soul with beauty, touch my heart with light,
grant me the vision to transcend the self,
grant me the spirit to share what I see.
Prayer to Athena and Hephaistos for Skillful Hands
To grey-eyed Athena and strong-armed Hephaistos
I pray! Gods of skill, gods of craft, great friends you are
to artisans, to those who work with mind and hand,
to those who with the artist’s eye create things
of use as well as beauty. In times of old
were you well honored for your gifts to mankind:
Athena the Worker, Hephaistos the Resourceful,
named so by men grateful for your many blessings.
I pray to you, great goddess and god: grant to me
the vision to create, grant me the ability
to bring those visions into being. Athena,
Hephaistos, grant to me the joy of the work.
Prayer to Selene to Greet the Moon
Selene, white-armed mistress of the shining moon,
the silver crescent crowns your ebon hair; cloaked
in darkness you cross the cold night sky, O goddess.
To you, O Selene, I offer my greeting,
my praise, and my thanks for your many gifts.
Prayer to Helios to Greet the Sun
Helios, bright-crowned son of Hyperion,
granter of vision, guardian of oaths, you traverse
the broad sky in your radiant chariot.
To you, O Helios, I offer my greeting,
my praise, and my thanks for your many gifts.
Underflow 