Praise to the Gods: Selections from “The Hymns of Orpheus,” Part 1 of 2

Orpheus was an ancient spiritual Master, born in Thrace, a region of Northern Greece, and is believed to have been the son of the Thracian king, Oeagrus. His spiritual teachings focus on the belief that human souls are Divine and immortal, and once these Divine souls come down to Earth, they become trapped in the cycle of successive rebirths. Therefore, utmost importance is placed on our actions on Earth. In addition to being a spiritual Master, Orpheus was also a legendary musician and poet. One of his most famous works is The Hymns of Orpheus,” where spiritual teachings are set in poetic form.

TO THE MOON “Queen of the stars, all hail! Decked with a graceful robe and shining veil; Come, blessed Goddess, prudent, starry, bright, Come moony-lamp with chaste and splendid light, Shine on these sacred rites with prosperous rays, And please accept thy suppliant’s mystic praise.”

TO THE MOTHER OF THE GODS “Mother of Gods, great nurse of all, draw near, Divinely honored, and regard my prayer: Thou sway the sceptre of the pole Divine, And the world’s middle seat, much-famed, is thine. Hence Earth is thine, and needy mortals share Their constant food, from thy protecting care: From thee at first both Gods and men arose; From thee, the sea and every river flows.”

TO PROSERPINE (GODDESS OF SPRING) “Daughter of Jove, almighty and Divine, Come, blessed queen, and to these rites incline: Only-begotten, Pluto’s honored wife, O venerable Goddess, source of life: The dancing Hours attend thee, essence bright, All-ruling, bearing Heavenly Light: Illustrious, horned, of a bounteous mind, Alone desired by those of mortal kind.”

TO CERES (GODDESS OF AGRICULTURE) “O Universal mother, Ceres famed August, the source of wealth, and various named: Great nurse, all-bounteous, blessed and Divine, Who joyous in peace, to nourish corn is thine: Goddess of seed, of fruits abundant, fair, Harvest and threshing, are thy constant care; Who dwellst in Eleusina’s seats retired, Lovely, delightful queen, by all desired.”