January 6, 2015
21. Νεφῶν, θυμίαμα σμύρναν.
To Nephele/Nephon[1]
Divine connection: myrrh
Αέριοι νεφέλαι, καρποτρόφοι, οὐρανόπλαγκτοι,
Aerial clouds fruit nurturing heavenly wanderers
ὁμβροτόκοι, πνοιαῖσιν ἐλαυνόμεναι κατὰ κόσμον,
Rain-birthing, blown around about the cosmos
βρονταῖαι, πυρόεσσαι, ἐρίβρομοι, ὑγροκέλευθοι,
On a thundering fiery roaring watery path
ἀέρος ἐν κόλπωι πάταγον φρικώδη ἔχουσαι,
Air enfolded crashing frisson holders
πνεύμασιν ἀντίσπαστοι ἐπιδρομάδην παταγεῦσαι,
Blowing against paroxysmic free-flowing crashes.
ὑμᾶς νῦν λίτομαι, δροσοείμονες, εὔπνοοι αὔραις,
Hymn, now, entreat dew-clothing kind breaths of air
πέμπειν καρποτρόφους ὄμβρους ἐπὶ μητέρα γαῖαν.
Send fruit-nurturing rain upon Mother Gaia[2].
[1] Nephele are the beautiful, young, immortal Goddesses of the clouds. http://www.theoi.com/Nymphe/Nephelai.html
Interestingly, the word for “snow” is very similar: neipho (νείφω). Both are white, water bearing-entities.
[2] Gaia is the immortal Goddess of generative Earth.