The Feast of Plotinus
“Plotinus, it would seem, set the principles of Pythagoras and of Plato in a clearer light than anyone before him.”
-Porphyry
Today is the Feast of Plotinus. We celebrate the life and work of the great mystic. He wrote the Enneads, one of the greatest works in the platonic tradition. Later scholars would call him the father of Neo-platonism, a mystical variation of Platonism. In truth, Plotinus faithfully carried out the inherently mystical work of Platonism while explaining its more mystical aspects better than anyone before him.
His words are as poignant today as they were nearly 2000 years ago, and sadly, too few know of his contribution to philosophy, theology, and our understanding of the Divine. Today, we correct that by giving him our highest honors.
For those inclined, they may read about his life from the mouth of his student Porphyry who wrote, The Life of Plotinus. From that work we will share a few potent stories so we can come to know how Plotinus lived.
“Not a few men and women of position, on the approach of death, had left their boys and girls, with all their property, in his care, feeling that with Plotinus for guardian the children would be in holy hands. His house therefore was filled with lads lasses, amongst them Potamon, in whose education he took such interest as often to hear the boy recite verses of his own composition.
He always found time for those that came to submit returns of the children's property, and he looked closely to the accuracy of the accounts: 'Until the young people take to philosophy,' he used to say, 'their fortunes and revenues must be kept intact for them.' And yet all this labour and thought over the worldly interests of so many people never interrupted, during waking hours, his intention towards the Supreme.
He was gentle, and always at the call of those having the slightest acquaintance with him. After spending twenty-six years in Rome, acting, too, as arbiter in many differences, he had never made an enemy of any citizen.”
In honor of Plotinus we have constructed the following prayer to be used by itself or to honor him in ritual.
“O, Plotinus, seeker of the eternal truths, Guide us through the realms of the Divine As you ascended the steps of wisdom and unity.
In the silence of the ineffable, you found the source, The boundless sea of the Good, the True, the Beautiful, Illuminate our minds, let your wisdom be our light.
With each contemplation, let us rise above the material, Transcending the illusions that bind our souls, May we glimpse the eternal forms, the archetypes of existence.
Grant us the strength to turn inward, to the innermost self, Where the divine spark resides, a reflection of the One, Help us realize our divine nature, as fragments of the cosmic soul.
As you dissolved the barriers between the finite and infinite, May we too break free from the shackles of ignorance, And merge with the divine essence, transcending duality.
Oh, Plotinus, mystic of the Platonic realms, Guide our souls towards the ultimate reality, In the journey of ascent, let us find union with the One.
Fiat”
For more ways to honor Plotinus, see our post on Feast days.
For the peace of the Gods.