Daily Devotional: November 27th
Daily Prayer V
Blessed are those who shun the allure of speakers' vain,
With independent thought, virtue's path they gain.
Straight intelligence guides their discerning mind,
In pursuit of ordained virtue, wisdom they find.
They eschew the folly of endless possessions' chase,
Defining limits by the body's rightful space.
Measured pursuit aligns with well-determined needs,
Guardians of balance, their action succeeds.
Blessed are they who maintain a godly bound,
In pleasures that don't in virtue confound.
No invitation to harm, for soul or body,
Harmonious pleasure, in accord with virtue's decree.
Daily Meditation
"He is happy who is as like as possible to God, perfect, simple, pure, and transcendent over human life.”
—Iamblichus
Epistle 16 On Virtue
We hear again and again one refrain from the sages. The goal of our life is to become like God. Through this assimilation we find simplicity, beauty, happiness and bliss.
Monthly Ascesis: Simple Rituals
“There is a simple formula to follow to begin making offerings to the gods. Since there are many gods, I recommend beginners direct all prayers to Mercury, who is the messenger of the gods. With this simple prayer, you can begin making offerings to all of divinity and know Mercury will deliver your prayers to the proper place.
Begin with this invocation:
Lord Mercury, messenger of heaven, swift-footed guide of mortals, hear my prayer and deliver it to the proper divinity:
[speak your prayer]
After your prayer, present your offering of food or incense and say:
Lord Mercury, be honored by this offering of [incense, food]
When you are finished, end with
Lord Mercury, be blessed. Fiat.
Fiat is pronounced Fee-aht and means 'Let it be done' in Latin.
If you are unable to make a material offering, that is okay. It is a gesture of honor and respect to the gods but is not necessary. Merely offering your thoughts and prayers is enough. The gods do not need our offerings to hear prayers. We offer these things out of gratitude and respect for them, not as a bribe or exchange of goods between us and the gods.”
-Excerpts from, Ascesis: the Handbook of Platonic Practice
Making simple offerings like this regularly sets our minds on the divine and places us in a giving posture toward the gods. The purpose of our rituals is not to ask for material goods but to give thanks to the gods and allow gratitude to fill our hearts. If we ask for anything from them in our prayers, we should ask for things that are like them such as virtues.
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