Translated by Catherine Proppe, February 10, 2017

​85. Ὕπνου, θυμίαμα μετὰ μήκωνος.
To Hypnos, God of Sleep
Divine medium: meta meekonos (opium poppy)
 
Ὕπνε, ἄναξ μακάρων πάντων θνητῶν τ’ ἀνθρώπων
Hypnos, blessed ruler of all mortal humans
 
καὶ πάντων ζώιων, ὁπόσα τρέφει εὐρεῖα χθών·
And all living beings, as many as are fostered on the wide earth,
 
πάντων γὰρ κρατέεις μοῦνος καὶ πᾶσι προσέρχηι
Over all you rule alone and all enter into your
 
σώματα δεσμεύων ἐν ἀχαλκεύτοισι πέδηισι,
Body-binding chains of non-metallic shackles.
 
λυσιμέριμνε, κόπων ἡδεῖαν ἔχων ἀνάπαυσιν
You release worries and fatigue, sweet foundation, giving rise to cessation
 
καὶ πάσης λύπης ἱερὸν παραμύθιον ἔρδων·
Of every pain, providing blessed relief,
 
καὶ θανάτου μελέτην ἐπάγεις ψυχὰς διασώζων·
And to attentive mortals bring the Soul’s preservation,
 
αὐτοκασίγνητος γὰρ ἔφυς Λήθης Θανάτου τε.
Born of the mother who gave birth to Lethe and Thanatos.
 
ἀλλά, μάκαρ, λίτομαί σε κεκραμένον ἡδὺν ἱκάνειν
But, blessed one, with this simple prayer sweetly mixed, come,
 
σώζοντ’ εὐμενέως μύστας θείοισιν ἐπ’ ἔργοις.
Keep us safe from death, kindly power, upon mystai’s sacred works.
 
 
NOTES
 
Hypnos (Ὕπνος) is the immortal God of sleep, which all mortals are subject to, literally “pure (Ὕ) + under-the-same-roof (π) + tipping-point (ν) + ος.”
 
Psyche (Ψυχή) is the immortal Goddess of the soul which enters the body at birth’s first inhale and departs the body when the last breath is exhaled in death.
 
Thanatos (Θάνατος) is the immortal God of death.
 
Lethe (Λήθη) is the river of forgetting in the afterlife. Souls who drink from Lethe are reborn into another mortal life, while those who are initiated and drink from the river of Memory remember their earthly life and go on to the paradise of the Elysian Fields in the afterlife.
 
Night (Νύξ) is the immortal mother of Sleep, Lethe, and Death (Θάνατος).
 
“In works of art Sleep and Death are represented alike as two youths sleeping or holding inverted torches in their hands.” 
-Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, William Smith, Vol. 3, page 863.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Translated by Catherine Proppe, February 9, 2017

68. Ὑγείας, θυμίαμα μάνναν.
To Hygieia, Goddess of Health
Divine medium: manna
 
Ἱμερόεσσ’, ἐρατή, πολυθάλμιε, παμβασίλεια,
Longed for beloved essence, abundantly thriving, all-prevailing Queen,
 
κλῦθι, μάκαιρ’ Ὑγίεια, φερόλβιε, μῆτερ ἁπάντων·
I call blessed Hygieia, bearer of whole life blessings, companion of mothers.
 
ἐκ σέο γὰρ νοῦσοι μὲν ἀποφθινύθουσι βροτοῖσι,
Expel illness’ power to lay waste to humans,
 
πᾶς δὲ δόμος θάλλει πολυγηθὴς εἵνεκα σεῖο,
And let all households thrive with the plenty of Ge’s blessings
 
καὶ τέχναι βρίθουσι· ποθεῖ δέ σε κόσμος, ἄνασσα,
And potent healing arts. All the universe longs for you, Anassa.
 
μοῦνος δὲ στυγέει σ’ Ἀίδης ψυχοφθόρος αἰεί,
You are only despised by Aides’ Psyche-destroyed eternity.
 
ἀιθαλής, εὐκταιοτάτη, θνητῶν ἀνάπαυμα·
Eternally thrive, triumph well over mortals’ coming repose,
 
σοῦ γὰρ ἄτερ πάντ’ ἐστὶν ἀνωφελῆ ἀνθρώποισιν·
Without your boundless essence humanity cannot profit,
 
οὔτε γὰρ ὀλβοδότης πλοῦτος γλυκερὸς θαλίηισιν,
Without your whole life gifts, only Ploutos’ wealth sweetly flourishes,
 
οὔτε γέρων πολύμοχθος ἄτερ σέο γίγνεται ἀνήρ·
Not with old age’s many hardships, but with undried men in the prime of life.
 
πάντων γὰρ κρατέεις μούνη καὶ πᾶσιν ἀνάσσεις.
Almighty power, sole ruler of all,
 
ἀλλά, θεά, μόλε μυστιπόλοις ἐπιτάρροθος αἰεὶ
Goddess, bestow the mystic rites of preservation eternal,
 
ῥυομένη νούσων χαλεπῶν κακόποτμον ἀνίην.
Ward off grievous illness, unfasten ill-starred fate.
 
 
NOTES
 
Hygieia (Ὑγίεια) is the immortal Goddess of health, the source of the word “hygiene,” literally “pure (Ὑ) + generative (γ) + divine power (ί) + essence-of (ε) + divine-power (ι).”
 
Hygieia and her father, Asklepios (Ἀσκληπιός), God of medicine, are depicted in art accompanied by a serpent. Serpents are ambassadors of Earthly deities, thus representing both life-giving and death-receiving aspects. Ancient Greek legends tell of herbal medicines presented to healers by serpents, such as the famous story of Polyidus (Πολύϊδος) restoring life to Glaucus (Γλαύκος) when a serpent presented a miraculous herb.
 
Basileia means Queen, the “basis” of rule. Anassa means Goddess, Queen.
 
Ge is the immortal Goddess of generative earth.
 
Aides is also known as “Hades,” the immortal God of the afterlife. Plouto is another name for the immortal God of the afterlife. Plouto’s realm expands when deaths increase.
 
Psyche is the immortal Goddess of the mortal soul, literally "incorporeal (ψ) + pure (υ) + foundation (χ)."
 
Undried: The two words “ἄτερ σέο” without the space become “ἄτερσέο,” that is, “undried.” The idea is that without Hygieia, Plouto receives the deceased in the prime of life.

Translated by Catherine Proppe, February 7, 2017​

​72. Τύχης, θυμίαμα λίβανον.
To Tyche, Goddess of Fortune
Divine medium: libanon (frankincense)
 
Δεῦρο, Τύχη· καλέω σ’, ἀγαθὴν κράντειραν, ἐπ’ εὐχαῖς,
Come, come to this place, Tyche, I call, good fortune’s ruler, I pray,
 
μειλιχίαν, ἐνοδῖτιν, ἐπ’ εὐόλβοις κτεάτεσσιν,
Sweetly pave the way for prosperous wealth,
 
Ἄρτεμιν ἡγεμόνην, μεγαλώνυμον, Εὐβουλῆος
Artemisian’ leader, majestically-named Good Counselor,
 
αἵματος ἐκγεγαῶσαν, ἀπρόσμαχον εὖχος ἔχουσαν,
Let this blood offering give birth to irresistible prayers that take hold.
 
τυμβιδίαν, πολύπλαγκτον, ἀοίδιμον ἀνθρώποισιν.
From the funeral wide-ranging songs of humanity,
 
ἐν σοὶ γὰρ βίοτος θνητῶν παμποίκιλός ἐστιν·
Let thou bring forth life, mortality’s all-variable essence.
 
οἷς μὲν γὰρ τεύχεις κτεάνων πλῆθος πολύολβον,
Indeed, build prosperity in abundance, and plentiful wealth,
 
οἷς δὲ κακὴν πενίην θυμῶι χόλον ὁρμαίνουσα.
And not hateful poverty, passionate wrath, or circuitous worry.
 
ἀλλά, θεά, λίτομαί σε μολεῖν βίωι εὐμενέουσαν,
Yea, Goddess, I pray your arrival in this life brings steadfast
 
ὄλβοισι πλήθουσαν ἐπ’ εὐόλβοις κτεάτεσσιν.
Blessings, plentiful wellness: bestow upon us prosperous wealth.
 
 
NOTES
 
Tyche (Τύχη) is the Goddess of fortune and misfortune, good and bad luck. Interestingly, Tyche is the Pythagorean name for the number 7, a lucky number in Western culture.
 
Tyche (Τύχη) and the Charites (Χάριτες) bestow blessings.
 
Pindar in Olympian Ode 12. 1 ff (trans. Conway) invokes Tyche’s benevolence:

“Fortune [Tyche] our saviour [G]oddess,
I pray your guardian care for Himera,
And prosper her city's strength. For your hand steers
The ships of ocean on their flying course,
And rules on land the march of savage wars,
And the assemblies of wise counsellors."

Artemis is the immortal Goddess of independence. She is invoked during parturition.

​2.  Προθυραίας, θυμίαμα στύρακα.
To Prothyraia, Goddess of Parturition, “Approaching the Doorway”
Divine medium: storax/styrax
 
Κλῦθί μοι, ὦ πολύσεμνε θεά, πολυώνυμε δαῖμον,
I call, O much-revered Goddess, many-named deity,
 
ὠδίνων ἐπαρωγέ, λεχῶν ἡδεῖα πρόσοψι,
In travail of childbirth, with your aid, women give birth sweetly, before long.
 
θηλειῶν σώτειρα μόνη, φιλόπαις, ἀγανόφρον,
Women’s sole savior, lover of children, gentle counselor,
 
ὠκυλόχεια, παροῦσα νέαις θνητῶν, Προθυραία,
Bring swift childbirth for new mortals approaching the doorway,
 
κλειδοῦχ', εὐάντητε, φιλοτρόφε, πᾶσι προσηνής,
Key holder, welcoming host, loving nurturer, guide of all,
 
ἣ κατέχεις οἴκους πάντων θαλίαις τε γέγηθας,
Charged with populating joyfully, with Ge rejoicing,
 
λυσίζων', ἀφανής, ἔργοισι δὲ φαίνῃ ἅπασι,
Loosen the zone, invisibly work to bring all to light,
 
συμπάσχεις ὠδῖσι καὶ εὐτοκίηισι γέγηθας,
In sympathy with throes of parturition, ease childbirth, with Ge rejoicing,
 
Εἰλείθυια, λύουσα πόνους δειναῖς ἐν ἀνάγκαις·
Eileithyia, unbind the toil and terrible dangers of Ananke,
 
μούνην γὰρ σὲ καλοῦσι λεχοὶ ψυχῆς ἀνάπαυμα·
You alone come to women in labor and give respite to their Soul.
 
ἐν γὰρ σοὶ τοκετῶν λυσιπήμονές εἰσιν ἀνῖαι,
Come to childbirth, release suffering and painful distress,
 
Ἄρτεμις Εἰλείθυια, καὶ ἡ σεμνή, Προθυραία.
Artemis Eileithyia and revered Prothyraia,
 
κλῦθι, μάκαιρα, δίδου δὲ γονὰς ἐπαρωγὸς ἐοῦσα
Come, give blessings of offspring, aide their coming to be,
 
καὶ σῴζ', ὥσπερ ἔφυς αἰεὶ σώτειρα προπάντων.
And save from death, as Nature’s eternal savior for all.
 
NOTES
 
Eileithyia (Εἰλείθυια) is the immortal Goddess of childbirth and parturition, equated here with Prothyraia. Prothyraia (Προθυραία) means “approaching the doorway” and refers to the mortal soul which approaches coming into mortal being through the process of parturition.
 
Psyche is the immortal Goddess of the soul.
 
In Orphic and Stoic doctrine, the soul does not enter the body until the first breath is inhaled, it resides in the body as long as respiration occurs, and departs the body when the final breath is exhaled in death.
 
Accordiing to Aristotle, the soul resides in the body because of the breath:
 
“…the soul comes in from the universe when breathing takes place, borne in upon the winds…”[1]
 
“Respiration marks the limit of life.”[2]
 
Vettius Valens echoes Aristotle:
 
“When we draw in the air, we harvest the divine soul.”[3]
 
The Stoics’ belief that the fetus has no soul is stated plainly by Carlos Megino in Tracing Orpheus:
 
“Indeed, for the Stoics the soul is, as we have said, pneuma. However, that pneuma is not soul while the foetus is inside the mother’s womb.”[4]
 
The Stoic Cleanthes (Κλέανθης) (c.300 BCE) says that the soul is animated by partaking of the cosmic soul:
 
“…the soul diffuses throughout the cosmos, and we are animate beings for having a part of it.”[5]
 
“Cleanthes taught that all souls are immortal, but that the intensity of existence after death would vary according to the strength or weakness of the particular soul.[6]”
 
Diogenes Laertius (Διογένης ὁ Λαέρτιος) explains that the Stoics believe there is one universal soul from which other souls are born:
 
“They (sc. the Stoics) declare that there is one soul in the universe—which they called ‘ether’ and ‘air’…The other souls are born from it…”[7]
 
William Smith speaks to the importance of Diogenes Laertius’ work in the study of Greek philosophy:
 
“Considering the loss of all the numerous and comprehensive works of the ancients, in which the history of philosophers and of philosophy was treated…the compilation of Diogenes is of incalculable value to us as a source of information concerning the history of Greek philosophy… His work has for a long time been the foundation of most modern histories of ancient philosophy[8].”
 
Ge is the immortal Goddess of generative earth.
 
Ananke is the immortal Goddess of what is necessary, in this case, the travail of parturition.
 
Artemis is the immortal Goddess of independence.
 
Phusis is the immortal Goddess of nature, of Physics.



[1] Artistotle de An. 410b 27-11a 2), Tracing Orpheus p. 139.
 

[2] Aristotle de An. 404a 10, Tracing Orpheus p. 140 footnote #5.
 

[3] Vettius Valens in Tracing Orpheus: Studies of Orphic Fragments in Honour of Alberto Bernabe  p. 142.

[4] Carlos Megino, Tracing Orpheus p.144.

[5] Cleanthes, Tracing Orpheus p. 143.
 

[6] Cotton, G. E. L. (1870). CLEANTHES (Κλέανθης). In W. Smith (Ed.), Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology (Vol. 1, p. 779). Boston: Little, Brown, and Company.

[7] Diogenes Laertius, Tracing Orpheus p. 143.

[8] Stahr, A. (1870). DIO′GENES LAE′RTIUS (Διογένης ὁ Λαέρτιος or Λαερτιεύς, Λαέρτιος Διογένης. In W. Smith (Ed.), Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology (Vol. 1, p. 1022). Boston: Little, Brown, and Company.

Candlemas, February 2
 
According to Pope Innocent XII:
“Why do we in this feast carry candles?

Because the Gentiles dedicated the month of February to the infernal gods, and as at the beginning of it Pluto stole Proserpine, and her mother Ceres sought her in the night with lighted candles, so they, at the beginning of the month, walked about the city with lighted candles.

Because the holy fathers could not extirpate the custom, they ordained that Christians should carry about candles in honor of the Blessed Virgin; and thus what was done before in the honor of Ceres is now done in honor of the Blessed Virgin.”
 
https://books.google.com/books?id=VKwYAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA168&lpg=PA168&dq=Candlemas+Pope+Innocent+XII#v=onepage&q=Candlemas%20Pope%20Innocent%20XII&f=false