Aphrodite, glory of Olympos,
golden one, incomparable goddess,
born of seafoam, borne on the ocean’s waves
until you found fair Cyprus’ sandy shore–
your beauty by god or mortal unseen,
your power over heart and mind unknown,
your touch unfelt, your voice unheard. All things,
all life, all men and women incomplete
without your presence. Aphrodite,
who sees the truth within us, who gifts us
with what we need; beloved Aphrodite,
dear one, blessed one, who holds us close,
whose gentle persuasions overcome
our doubts and fears, whose hand in the world
we see in one another, we praise you,
we honor you, we delight in your gifts.
Tag Archive | prayers
Zeus
Mighty Zeus, Father Zeus, friend of the traveler,
friend of the stranger, friend of the householder.
Wielder of lightning, driver of storms, master
of the hard-flung rains that bring life to the earth.
Of brothers three the youngest, your father’s might
you overthrew with cunning wit, his throne you took,
his world you made your own. Kindly Zeus, watchful Zeus,
your wrath falls on the oathbreaker, the wrongdoer,
the one without honor who preys on his fellows;
likewise, your blessings are on the one who does right,
whose word is good, whose hand is open, whose welcome
is warm, whose integrity is a certainty.
Great Zeus, father of gods, lord of fair Olympos,
wise one, contriving one, maintainer of order,
from the deep earth you rose, in the bright sky you reign.
Zeus of many names, friend of the Fates, I praise you!
Hekate
Hekate, deathless one, granter of comfort
and of might, enigmatic goddess,
friend of women, of those in direst need
of your protection, kind one, strong one,
holder of the home against all evil.
Hekate, ancient one, daughter of Titans,
cousin and ally of thundering Zeus,
esteemed by him above all others,
holder alone of shares in all the worlds,
receiver of crossroad offerings,
deep one, subtle one, night-wandering goddess,
guide of those whose journey takes them through dark
and hidden places, who follow paths unmarked,
unknown. Hekate, defender of those
whose suffering is greatest, companion
of those who travel through the blackest depths,
bright-haired Hekate, I honor you.
Dionysos
All praise to Dionysos, caster of shadows,
so bright you sear the eyes of men, god of all things
that touch our souls, we seek you at the edges
of our lives, in all that we hide from ourselves,
stepping past the threshold, past safety, past the known.
Dionysos, beacon of faith and desire,
you transcend the limits of culture, of nature;
you grant us euphoria, escape, self-knowledge;
you hold us, you transform us, you call us to you
and we follow. In you we find solace, O god,
in you we find inspiration. In you we find
freedom within our grasp at last, dare we take it.
Dionysos, kind one, seductive one, we know you
in the body’s pleasures, the mind’s furthest flights,
the rhythms theat shake us, that open our hearts,
the soul-deep rages that pass like summer storms,
the moments of passion, held still in space.
Dionysos, nearest of gods, I thank you
for flashes of truth, for visions of self,
for that measureless piece of life between two breaths.
Dionysos, granter of ecstasy, granter
of growth, granter of perception, I honor you.
Hephaistos
Skillful Hephaistos, master of smith-craft,
son of majestic Hera, Olympos’ queen,
builder of clever machinery,
devices that please the eye and ease the body,
maker of exquisite ornaments,
designed of precious jewels and metals,
each treasure lovelier than the last.
Hephaistos, shaper of the ideal,
peerless inventor, flawless engineer,
exacting devisor of all works of skill,
with an artist’s eye and an artisan’s hand
you craft and create, forge and form.
Hephaistos, patron of those who seek
to follow your lead, joining beauty
with precision, form with perfect function,
god of those who refashion the world,
Hephaistos, brilliant one, I praise you.
Ares
Ares, warrior, soul of survival,
quick-thinking, quick-striking son of great Zeus,
your sword ever sharp, your shield ever ready,
your keen eyes ever wary, ever watchful,
ever vigilant, ever guarding
against any enemy, any danger.
Ares, efficient one, practical one,
a club or a stiletto at need;
the deft strategic mind is yours, war-god,
as much as the unthinking rage of battle,
the brutality, the sweat and the mud,
the pure drive to defend home and family.
Ares, lover of fair Aphrodite,
master of life-sustaining passions,
Ares, mighty one, I praise and honor you.
Aphrodite
Golden Aphrodite, fairest of goddesses,
ideal of grace and beauty, dearest friend of lovers,
inevitable one, irresistible one,
ever-present, overwhelming force of life.
Aphrodite, incomparable goddess,
in all love’s intricacies we see your hand:
in words of devotion, heavy with sentiment;
in the tentative touch of new lovers;
in shallow breaths, in eyes clouded by desire,
in tangled limbs, unknowing and uncaring
of any reality beyond two bodies;
in the comfort and passion of love long known;
in each creeping, fearful warning of love’s loss.
Beloved Aphrodite, heart of my faith,
anchor of my certainty, I praise and honor you.
Hermes
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.
Underflow 