MEDITATION

Think about which God or Gods you most feel a connection to, and why. Do you find yourself drawn to one God more than others? Take some time to learn about the myths and worship of that God and incorporate what you learn into your daily practice. As you learn more about the deity, you will find that your prayers and rituals will become deeper and more meaningful.

AN HISTORICAL NOTE ON PAGAN PRAYER

The God or Gods should be invoked by name, and their functions and qualities should be described and praised. Following this is a statement of your (or the group’s) worthiness to receive the help or blessing of the God, whether that be due to your devotion, achievements in the God’s honor, or the God’s own desire to bestow blessings. Finally, your request to the God should be stated.

“Zeus, thou first of all,
That lead’st the way for all,
O Zeus, I send to thee
This first fruit of my songs.”

- Attributed to Terpander

AGAINST PERFECTIONISM

In your practice as in your life, seek continuously to learn and progress -
but do not be overburdened by a need for perfection. This will only slow you down.
Seek to ground your beliefs and practice in tradition;
but as you practice and devote yourself to the path of our Gods,
you will find that you will always learn something new.
In fact, your quest for knowledge should be an aspect of your practice:
ask the Gods for guidance.
Start with what you have, and you will be aided along the way by the Gods and the pagan community.

How each man weaves
his web will bring him to glory or to grief.
King Jupiter is the king to all alike.
The Fates will find the way.

Virgil, The Aeneid, Book 10

Emperor Julian (Flavius Claudius Julianus Augustus), often known as the last Pagan Emperor of Rome, reinstated Roman Polytheism as the state religion and advocated the Cult of Apollo, Graeco-Roman Solar God.

Christian detractors called him Julian the Apostate, but philosopher Savitri Devi refers, more aptly, to Julian the Sun Worshipper.

"It is impossible to receive from divinity any gift greater than virtue."

The Pythagoric Sentences of Demophilus

A selection of Delphic Maxims.

The Delphic Maxims, which were inscribed on the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, are timeless proverbs we can use for inspiration daily!

“...The things that come into [the universe] from god are good, whereas evils come from ‘the archaic nature’, meaning the material substrate before it has been ordered by some god.” Plotinus, Enneads: 1.8.7

Orphic Hymn to Ares

Indestructible, doughty, mighty, valiant divinity, Delighting in arms, indestructible, man-killing, stormer of cities: Lord Áris, rattling in armor, always defiled with the slaughter of war, Rejoicing in man-slaying blood and raising the clamor of combat, horrifying one, You who lust for the obscene carnage of swords and spears: Halt the raging strife! Cease the travail grieving our hearts! Rather, yield to the peaceful yearnings of Aphrodíti and the revels of Diónysos.  Exchange your fury and weapons for the gentle works of Dimítir. Conceive a desire for peacefulness which will cultivate the young and grant them blessedness.

The most important thing is not life, but the good life.

Plato, Crito 48b

Delphic Maxims 1 - 3

Ἕπου θεῷ Follow God

Νόμῳ πείθου Obey the law

Θεοὺς σέβου Respect the Gods

Delphic Maxims 4 - 6

Γονεῖς αἰδοῦ Respect your parents

Ἡττῶ ὑπὸ δικαίου Be ruled by justice

Γνῶθι μαθών Know by learning

Delphic Maxims 7 - 9

Ἀκούσας νόει Listen and understand

Σαυτὸν ἴσθι Know yourself

Γαμεῖν μέλλε Set out to be married

“To honour the gods, to do no evil, and to practise bravery.”

A saying attributed to the Druids and the Hindus by Diogenes Laertius.