Pan of the mountain peaks, Pan of the wilderness,
Pan who plays upon the pipes so sweetly, who dances
with the merry-hearted nymphs. Goat-footed god,
companion of the satyrs who take such joy in wine
and earthly pleasures, father of the wise Silenus
who took such care of deep-hearted Dionysos,
son of clever Hermes who took such pride in you,
his laughing, joyful child. In all the far-flung lands
there is none such as you, O Pan; stalker of beasts,
watcher of flocks, friend of the shepherd, friend
of the hunter, friend of those who find insight
and meaning in field and wood, who find beauty
and comfort in the rustic and the wild. Pan,
granter of instinct, I praise and honor you.
Tag Archive | prayers
Hestia
Well-honored Hestia, queen of the hearthfire,
first among the deathless ones, first are the offerings
you receive, first are the blessings you provide.
Hestia, holder of the household, upholder
of community, tender of the flame in every
home, every city, every place where we gather
together to live our lives. First you are in tales
long told, eldest and youngest child of old Cronos
and clever Rhea; first you are in holy rites,
first you are in family custom, first to take
from simple meal or lavish feast. Where bread is broken,
where welcome is warm, we know your might. O goddess.
Hermes
Keen-minded Hermes, light-fingered one, light-footed one,
quick and cunning, bright and merry, ever watchful,
ever agile, ever sharp of wit. The wings
at your feet carry you to any landing-place,
in any realm; wearing the cap of Aidoneus,
you tarry, unseen by mortal men. Wielder
of the golden sword, player on the shepherd’s pipe,
god of herdsmen, god of thieves, god of cities
and of pastures, rustic and urbane, you walk
the line between contradictions. Hermes
of the borderland, Hermes of the threshold,
god of the uncertain, consistent and contrary,
you stand in the doorway, you stand at the edge;
the knife-sharp boundary between two worlds is yours.
Hermes, child of rich-tressed Maia and thundering Zeus,
I thank you for your many gifts, I praise your might.
Hera
Hera of the deep heart, beautiful goddess
whose true radiance would blind mortal eyes,
whose steps fall softly in the golden halls
of storied Olympos. In silks your fair form
is draped, O Hera, heavy with jewels is your crown,
the sweetest of perfumes surround you; in ancient
times you received the highest honors, the finest
of offerings were ever yours, your shining temples
stood across the land. Hera, defender of cities,
protector of marriage, champion of the love
that upholds a family, that cherishes a child,
you are the friend of those who hold the household dear.
Queen of the heavens, holder of the lotus staff,
the poppy and the pomegranate have you
in hand. Hera, supreme in dignity and grace,
unsurpassed in goodness and kindness, I praise you.
Hephaistos
Strong-armed Hephaistos, maker of miracles,
creator of the inconceivable, deviser
of clever machines, from your skillful hands
come intricacies undreamt of, gold and jewels
to please a goddess. Artisans and blacksmiths,
craftsmen and wrights of every trade, all look to you
for insight and revelation, all feel your hand
upon their own when in need of inspiration.
Hephaistos, visionary, you see beyond
what is practical, beyond what is beautiful.
In your hands molten metal flows like water,
takes its form like clay, swift and precise, each work
becoming more than what it is, each piece instilled
with the spark of the divine. Deep-hearted god,
Hephaistos, I praise you for the gifts you grant us,
I praise you for the ideal of artistry.
Hekate
World-wandering Hekate, night-loving goddess,
dweller in darkness, bearer of torches, between
the realms you pass with ease, made welcome in each,
made mighty in each. Whenever we move from one
place, one time, one state of being to another,
you are there to comfort us. Whenever we enter
or leave this life, you are there to carry us.
Whenever we are in fear or in need, goddess,
you are there to sustain us. Thrice-blessed Hekate,
friend of frail and fragile mortals, I honor you.
Hebe
Hebe, fair-haired daughter of Zeus and great Hera,
bright-winged goddess, granter of the bloom of youth,
the vital spark, the love of life that drives a soul
to hold tight to the world. Hebe, cupbearer,
your glory it is to carry sweet nectar
and ambrosia to the deathless gods. Hebe,
companion of laughter-loving Aphrodite,
well-garlanded goddess, grace and beauty
are within you. Hebe of the fair ankles,
ever revered among gods and mortals both,
bride of great Heracles whose labors twelve are told
wherever legends flow. Friend of the Graces,
friend of dear Harmony, friend of the blushing bride
on her wedding day, friend of the supplicant
seeking pardon. Hebe, lovely one, goddess
of many blessings, I praise and honor you.
Hades
Great Hades, master of the darkened deep,
master of the realm beneath our feet who hears
the echoes of our steps, who takes the echoes
of our lives. Hades, you know the need for an end
to life, you know the worth of a well-deserved rest,
you know the thanks of men and women weary
from long lives of worry and toil, you know the joy
of sweet reunion as friends long parted join
together once again within your storied land.
The dim and misty underworld is yours, O Hades;
yours are the Fields of Asphodel, yours the endless
pits of Tartarus in which are cast the wicked
and the vile. Yours too are the Fortunate Isles,
the land of fair Elysium where dwell the righteous
and the good. Hades, receiver of burnt offerings,
receiver of the blood of beasts, well-honored god:
in the end, all come to you. Hades, I praise you.
Gaia
Beautiful Gaia, mother of might, mother
of all things, mother of gods and giants,
mother of creation and of destruction.
From formless Chaos you arose, deep-hearted one;
in the time before time you took your ease, O Gaia.
You brought forth the shining sky to be your love,
to father your wondrous children. Gaia, mother
of Titans, mother of those called monster, all are yours,
all are loved, all are precious to you. I praise you,
goddess, for all you are, for all you have given,
for the love you bear for all who call you mother.
Eros
Eros, ancient one, youthful one, holder of souls,
opener of hearts, you give and take with the same
spirit, the same fury, the same deft hand. Eros,
child of passion, driving force of the universe,
yours is the face of desire, yours the strength of love,
in you we see the world as once it was, in you
we hear the voice of lovers joined as one. Eros,
child of chaos, brother of sweet harmony,
yours is the cord that binds our lives together,
yours the scourge that drives us where our bodies lead,
in you we find purpose, in you we seek solace.
Eros, in my blood and my tears I know you,
in my pulse I feel your might, your call to life
above all. I thank you for your many blessings.
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