Fleet-footed Hermes, messenger of the gods,
soft insistent voice of divinity,
always present, always near, always
just out of reach, just out of sight,
god who steps with ease across any line,
any border, balancing on sword’s edge
or fading into the haze, god of the threshold,
guardian of those within, guide of those without;
Hermes, quick one, clever one, sharp-witted prankster,
companion of those who travel many roads,
of those who walk outside the bounds of custom,
of those whose journey takes them through the dark;
bright Hermes, beloved friend of humankind,
warder of the home, watcher over those
who roam, Hermes, kind one, I honor you.
Artemis
Brilliant Artemis, daughter of mighty Zeus
and noble Leto, huntress and markswoman
whose aim never fails, watchful guardian of the young,
guide of maidens as they begin their life’s journey,
honored receiver of the tokens of childhood,
soother of the pains of childbirth, taker as well
of the lives of mothers, always-merciful one.
Artemis, dancer in moonlight, wood-wandering
goddess, companion of the ever-playful nymphs,
joining in their merriment and games, your own skill
and grace the greatest by far. Artemis, wild one,
unlimited by custom or expectation,
shining goddess, your beauty pure and uncontrived
yet all the richer for it, your ferocity
told in tales of justice and vengeance alike,
caretaker of the threshold, the edge between
freedom and obligation, between savagery
and civility, goddess of nature, goddess
of instinct, goddess of passion, I honor you.
Apollo
Apollo, shining son of great Zeus
and blessed Leto, twin to Artemis,
bright-faced god, ever present, ever distant,
we greet you with reverence and awe.
Clear-eyed Apollo, far-seeing one,
sharp-sighted archer, always true of aim,
true of vision, true of perception,
constant guide of poets and musicians,
of those who seek beauty, of its creation,
you grant to us the tools of artistry–
words drawn from the heart, laid with care,
tales told with skill and vigor, prayer and song
to honor the gods, melody and harmony,
all the joy and sorrow of our lives
transformed. Apollo, fire and form
of inspiration, I honor you.
Athena
Athena, noble patroness of great Athens,
mighty daughter of lightning-wielding Zeus alone,
goddess of cities, of civilization,
of all the art and craft that men may devise
to build a hale and happy community;
goddess of clarity, goddess of deep thought,
of reason, of wisdom and of its pursuit,
of choices made with judgment and deliberation;
goddess of intricacies, of clever strategy,
of planning and perspective, of the long view,
of each option measured with skill and precision;
Athena, goddess upon whose understanding
and benevolence we may rely,
I honor you and thank you for your many gifts.
Hades
Hades, great lord of subterranea,
lord of the afterworld, lord of the dead,
dweller in shadows, kind host of those dear ones
who have passed from our lives, those we long for,
those whose love and life we celebrate,
whose loss we feel in our blood, our bones:
mighty Hades, child of the Titans,
brother to Zeus and to Poseidon–
who among you divided all the realms–
husband of shining Persephone,
holder of all wealth beneath the earth,
of precious gems, of gleaming gold and silver,
I honor you, and thank you for your gifts,
your hospitality, your goodness to those
who–once among us–live now with you,
in your splendid halls. All praise to Hades.
Demeter
Demeter, mistress of vegetation,
of the seed resting within the black soil,
of the changing seasons and their pleasures,
of food and flower, field and furrow,
of rich harvests given or withheld,
all at your will, all by your sturdy hand,
I thank you for your many gifts,
for the many years of survival,
of life granted us by your kindness, goddess.
Demeter, loving mother of Persephone,
mother by marriage to stern Hades,
you show us what is most important,
where lies the true substance of our lives.
Necessary goddess, I honor you.
Poseidon
Poseidon, holder of all the seas,
of all the many waters of the world,
I honor you. Lord of the blackest depths,
master of horses, patron of seamen,
we see you in the high-cresting waves,
in foam-dashed shores, in mighty ships made weak
by your hand. Poseidon, ocean god,
ruler of the deep, soul of this sphere,
anchor of mankind in your swirling chaos,
I thank you for your many gifts, both common
and sublime–for the means to commerce
and to play, for the beasts of the sea,
for sweet water to drink, for a way
to the wider world. All praise to the sea-god!
Hera
Glorious Hera, fair one, noble one,
beautiful Hera with eyes as deep and full
as any well, as bright as distant stars,
as clear as the cloudless sky, I praise you.
Peerless Hera, queen of high Olympos,
chosen bride of thundering Zeus, only you
could match his might, his wit, his every step.
Dear Hera, guardian of marriage, of love
between partners, of constancy, of faith
and of faithfulness, your blessings you give
to those who hold together against the world;
who build together a family, a haven,
a life; who grow together into a fond
old age, ever ardent, ever devoted.
Shining Hera, sublime goddess, I honor you.
Zeus
Father Zeus, protector of travellers,
kind-hearted friend of those alone
in new places, of strangers and wanderers;
guardian of the community,
upholder of the kindest customs,
watchful patron of hospitality,
I honor you. Zeus, ever-present witness
of oaths made with good faith or without,
with care or in haste, all are sacred,
all must be fulfilled, all are known to you.
Zeus, wielder of lightning, master of storms,
far-seeing, far-roaming god, I praise you.
Hestia
Hestia, granter of comfort, ease of mind,
warmth and security, of safety within
the solid walls of home, of belonging,
of the balanced center of our being;
Hestia, I thank you for your many gifts.
Open-hearted you are, your strength and aid
given freely to any who may ask,
to any whose need you see, whose spirit
you lift, whose hand you steady. Hestia,
gentle goddess, lover of peace and calm,
of the heart of the home, of the hearth’s
soft fires, worthy of all praise, I honor you.
Underflow 