Daily Devotional: September 13th

Hymn for the Ides

Jove, sovereign of the vast celestial dome,

On Ides' threshold, thy presence does loom.

In the mid-month's embrace, with thunderous might,

Thy benevolence and justice take flight.

On the Ides, when the moon is bright,

Jove, we honor, in the soft moonlight.

With each lunar phase, thy influence clear,

Guiding the months, with celestial cheer.

In the midst of calendars, thy mark profound,

Ides' moments with thy grace are crowned.

Jove, the keeper of cosmic order and sway,

In the month's heart, thy blessings convey.

On this Ides, as time's river flows,

Jove, in gratitude, our reverence shows.

In celestial dance, where planets align,

Thy majesty, eternal and divine.

Daily Meditation

"Love is the cause of the return of all things toward divine beauty”

— Proclus

Commentary on Alcibiades, 325.10

Love is the power that unifies and brings together all things. Devotion toward the Gods must be based in love and gratitude in order for it to effect communion in our souls. Every offering, every prayer and every meditation is an effort to induce our loving devotion.

Monthly Ascesis

Developing a practice of watchfulness is a powerful and effective way to create stillness in our souls, allowing us to behold God's presence in our lives.

This month, add this meditation practice to your morning prayers. This is particularly effective following a chanting session.

“The most basic and fundamental meditation practice is watchfulness or Nepsis in Greek. Watchfulness is the act of observing the mind while not chasing any thoughts or emotions that arise. You only need to sit down, close your eyes, and relax to do this practice. Then, watch your thoughts as they arise and fall away. Thoughts will continue to pop into your mind, and that’s ok. The key is not to follow them. For example, if your mind starts thinking about a project at work, don’t follow that idea and start working on the project in your mind. Just acknowledge that thought and watch it. Don’t feed that idea with more ideas; just leave it alone. Eventually, it will pass by, or a new thought will take its place. If that happens, just watch that thought without following it or allowing it to disturb you.”

-Excerpt from our new book, Ascesis: the Handbook of Platonic Practice

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