Daily Devotional: September 3rd

Daily Prayer III

O noble progeny of All-father, Jove, and Being,

Benevolent rulers under his command, foreseeing.

Guide us with justice, in your esteemed reign,

As we follow laws, right and dear, not in vain.

May our obedience align with your noble decree,

Laws divinely crafted for humanity to see.

O gods, illuminate our path with celestial light,

Straighten our minds, fashioned in nature's delight.

Grant us the harmony of well-ordered living,

As we celebrate great Jove, eternally giving.

In reverence, we seek your guiding grace,

O divine offspring, in this mortal space.

Daily Meditation

"All offerings, whether great or small, that are brought to the Gods with piety have equal value.”

—Emperor Julian

Letter to the Cynic Heracleios

The most crucial part of any offering we make to the Gods is the piety and reverence with which we make it. The Gods accept any offering that is given in the spirit of piety, regardless of the size or complexity of the ritual that surrounds it. A simple offering of incense can be more impactful if done in a state of selfless gratitude than an entire festival offered for personal gain and glory.

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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