I call to Poseidon, great god of the seas,
fond husband of ocean-dwelling Amphitrite,
son of ancient Kronos and wild-hearted Rhea,
father of noble kings and mighty heroes.
In distant days were you well known; in Crete your name
was carved in clay; in Corinth were you honored well,
and in all the provinces. Dark-haired Poseidon,
you hold in your hands the waters of the world,
those briny depths that brought us all into life;
that carried mankind to many lands, to gather
wealth and wisdom; that nourished our furthest forebears
and formed the patterns of our lives. Poseidon,
maker and master of horses, trident-bearer,
earth-shaker, lord of the beasts of the deep,
lord of the thrashing waves, sea-god, I call to you.
Tag Archive | prayers
To Hera
I call to Hera, queen of lofty Olympos,
dark-eyed goddess, beloved of thundering Zeus,
radiant daughter of Kronos and blessed Rhea.
In times of old were you well loved, in Argos
and in Samos. Many are the tales told of you;
many are your temples, many are your honors,
many are the blessings granted by your goodness.
Wise one, insightful one, you discern and devise
the way most fitting to achieve your ends. Hera,
in a clear blue sky we recognize your favor,
and in a warm spring rain; in a joyous wedding feast,
a constant love, and a harmonious home we know you.
Stately and beautiful goddess, friend of women,
friend of marriage, protector of home and family,
most lovely and exalted goddess, I call to you.
To Hestia
I call to Hestia, gentle one, heart of the home,
honored daughter of mighty Kronos and fair Rhea;
as first and last born of those ancient Titans
you take of all first and final offerings.
Peace-loving goddess, tender of Olympos’ flame,
in tranquil pursuits you take pleasure. Hestia,
in the arts of the home we find you, in a warm fire
and a full larder, in a generous spirit
and a soft voice. Goddess, in every house
you hold safe the most profound of intimacies,
the substance of family, the essence of society.
Each home a safe haven, each hearthside your temple,
each flame, each meal, each child tucked into bed
a prayer of gratitude to you, dear goddess.
Hestia, firm-willed one, kind-hearted one, I call to you.
To Hermes
I call to Hermes, son of thundering Zeus
and gracious Maia, fair of face and kind of heart;
father of Tyche, granter of serendipity.
In rugged Arcadia, land of your birth,
were you well known and praised by one and all; in all
the ancient world did you receive honors. Throughout
the land stood herms and mounded stones, at crossroads
and at boundaries, in all the far-flung provinces,
marking the path and holding your gift of fortune,
Far-journeying Hermes, guide of the traveler,
fleet-footed god of merchants, god of gamblers and thieves
and all who live by wit and wile and clever words,
master of discretion and finesse. Hermes,
protector of the home, provider of .feast and frolic,
courier of dreams, kind Hermes, I call to you.
To Zeus
I call to great Zeus, father of the deathless gods,
ruler of bright Olympos, master of storms,
child of mighty Kronos and deep-hearted Rhea,
consort of blessed Hera of the splendid eyes.
Ancient Zeus, honored in Crete so long ago
and well known in high-reaching Arcadia,
all-knowing Zeus of Dodona and Didyma
whose wisdom was granted to seekers of old,
Zeus of the broad sky, Zeus of the marketplace,
Zeus of the householder, Zeus of the city.
Protector of the just, avenger of the wronged,
friend of the stranger and of the traveler,
friend of the guest and the generous host.
Zeus whose eye is ever on the world, whose hand
is ever in our lives, great Zeus, I call to you.
To Hekate
I call to Hekate, who stands at the crossroad,
who stands at the city gate, who stands before
each family’s home, to watch and to ward off evil.
Bearer of torches, leader of hounds, holder of keys,
daughter of the deep earth and the starry sky,
you tread upon the path less traveled; you walk,
with certainty and without fear, in the dark night,
in the wilderness, along roads most treacherous,
among those who skirt the edges of order.
Hekate, friend of women, protector of children,
you know the perils of all the worlds, goddess,
as each world is your realm to wander. Thus do you
hold safe the home, thus do you bar the door from all ill,
thus do you drive away the baneful and the false.
Hekate, compassionate goddess, I call to you.
To Aphrodite
I call to Aphrodite, goddess without peer,
daughter of the deep sea, daughter of the broad sky,
foam-borne goddess, golden goddess, holder of hearts,
inspiration of desire both carnal and refined.
Mender of torn bonds, renewer of old loves,
your promise a flame we cannot help but touch,
your power a torrent we cannot withstand,
your will a need we cannot resist. Goddess,
with sorrow and with fury, with patience
and with compassion, with pain and with delight,
we follow you, for in your realm the risk is great,
and on your path the stones do shift, and in your bower
the thorns draw blood, but in your hands we know of love,
and ah, the blessings you bestow exceed the agonies
by far. Aphrodite, dearest goddess, I call to you.
To Selene
I call to Selene, mistress of the silver moon,
sister of the sun, daughter of the elder gods,
sky-riding goddess, your white hands firm upon the reins,
guiding your pale chariot across the night sky,
your eyes like stars, your silken hair as black as night,
a shining crescent at your brow. Kind-hearted goddess,
beloved of beautiful Endymion,
your light falls ever on lovers’ silent trysts,
on kisses sweetly captured, on longed-for embraces.
As well you keep company with mothers in their
midnight walks, bringing your comfort to crying babe
and weary woman alike. Ever-changing one,
as you wax and wane do farmers plant their fields,
do women count their months, do witches work their spells.
Fair Selene, beacon in the great dark, I call to you.
To Helios
I call to bright-haired Helios, son of Titans,
brother of the shining moon, driver of horses
swift and bold, flame-maned steeds of such might and spirit,
only the hand of a god can hold them to their course.
On far-flung Rhodes your image stood, wondrous tall,
gazing over the sea, a construct of devotion;
in Corinth too were you well known, honored by all
in the heart of that great and worthy city.
Helios, golden one, bringer of precious daylight,
you gladden the hearts of mortal men and women,
your presence marks each day that passes us by,
your travels mark the seasons of our earthly lives.
The spark of life resides in you, the fire and soul
that drive us forth, we draw from you, great Helios.
Helios, all-seeing lord of the bright sky, I call to you.
Hekate
Dark-eyed Hekate, daughter of Asteria,
deep-hearted goddess, walker of many roads.
In the dark, in the night, you bring comfort
to those who suffer, to those who despair,
to those who are powerless, hopeless, defenseless.
At the threshold you stand, immovable,
barring all evil, safeguarding the home.
At the crossroad you stand, in that in-between
where nothing is certain and nothing is safe.
Along the edges of propriety
you go, with steady step and ready wit,
to guide and sustain those who do what they must.
In all the worlds you hold a share, on earth
and sea and sky, you move with ease among them.
Bearing torches, you light our way at night,
you lead us through shadows, you nourish our souls.
Guide of the lost, friend of the friendless,
comforter of the bereft, protector
of the stranger, the outcast, the forlorn.
warder of the door and all within,
Hekate, I thank you for needful gifts.
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