Ancient pagan prayers were an essential aspect of many pagan religions. These prayers were often an invocation or praise to the gods or spirits that were worshipped. They served as a way to communicate with the divine and ask for blessings, guidance, or protection. In ancient pagan cultures, prayers were often performed during religious rituals, ceremonies, or personal devotions. These prayers were seen as a means to establish a connection with the deities and seek their favor. They were believed to have the power to influence the gods and spirits to grant the requests or intentions of the person praying.
Dear Lord,
Give me a few friends
who will love me for what I am,
and keep ever burning
before my vagrant steps
the kindly light of hope.
And though I come not within sight
of the castle of my dreams,
teach me to be thankful for life,
and for time's olden memories
that are good and sweet.
And may the evening's twilight
find me gentle still.
May the good earth be soft under you when you rest upon it, and may it rest easy over you when, at the last, you lay out under it, And may it rest so lightly over you that your soul may be out from under it quickly, and up, and off, And be on its way to God. She is the one who is Lady of all, and she is the one of whom I would speak, the one who gives birth and the one who brings death, beginning and end of the course of our lives.
They were believed to have the power to influence the gods and spirits to grant the requests or intentions of the person praying. Ancient pagan prayers were typically spoken or chanted aloud, and sometimes accompanied by gestures, offerings, or sacrifices. They were often recited in a specific format or structure, which varied depending on the specific religious tradition.
Ancoent pagan prayers
Many religions have long and storied literary traditions, but for both quantity and quality, it would be hard to beat the Pagan traditions of Europe and the Middle East (which overlapped in antiquity, and continue to do so today). This may seem counterintuitive, since Pagans, famously not adherents of any given religious book, have always laid more emphasis on personal interactions with the Divine than prescribed religious texts. But it's probably this rather freewheeling aspect that has given Pagan literature its extraordinary richness and variety; while Pagans' free speech has not always been absolute (think Socrates), there's never been any Pagan equivalent of theIndex Liborum Prohibatorum (the Roman Catholic list of books banned for heresy). Then, too, Pagans have been at this writing business longer than anybody else: early Pagan texts (such as, say, the priestess Enheduanna's hymns to the goddess Inanna) pre-date the texts of any other religious faith. Finally, it has to do with the fact that, for the past two thousand years, the writing of prayers to Pagan deities isn't an activity that's been confined to just practicing Pagans. In fact, a very large body of poems and other literary works written in honor of Pagan deities started to be produced in Europe shortly after the West officially converted to Christianity, and continued (eventually spreading to the Americas and Oceania) through the twentieth century. A few of these authors were obviously Pagans—eighteenth-century Englishman Thomas Taylor is one example—but many of the authors of these works were practicing Christians or Jews or Deists. They may have seen themselves as simply continuing a literary tradition begun by Homer, or they may have been interested in exploring their own cultural pasts, but their writings are often bona fide expressions of praise or supplication to Pagan gods, quite as reverent and joyful as the works of practicing Pagan. Consider American poet e e cummings' prayer to Aphrodite, "O thou to whom belong/the hearts of lovers!—I beseech thee bless/thy suppliant singer and his wandering word," or Renaissance playwright John Fletcher hymn to Pan, "He is great, and he is just/He is ever good, and must/Thus be honoured.
Nor should practicing Pagans feel that they need to avoid the literary outputs of non-Pagans—after all, the whole point of Paganism is that we don't have to get hung up on things like dogma and purity of belief. If a Christian is suddenly moved to write a hymn to Aphrodite or Dionysus, well, the gods can speak to and through them as well as anyone else, can't they? Plus, this extraordinary literary continuity (which has no counterpart in other parts of the world that were converted by the "bookish" faiths) means that, as Paganism begins to re-emerge as a practicing religion, it's in a remarkably strong position for a faith that was officially banned some 1,700 years ago. Modern Pagans don't have to make stuff up as we go along (although we can if we want to!). We have four thousand years of literature at our backs, some of it written by the greatest writers of their times: Sappho, Catullus, Socrates, William Shakespeare, Mary Shelley, Arthur Rimbaud, Victor Hugo, Ivan Turgenev (as well as modern Pagan writers like Annie Finch and Gwydion Pendderewen, also featured in my book, A Year of Pagan Prayer). It's time we claimed what is ours: a long and enduring written tradition, out of which grew all the modern literatures of the Western world.
So, Paganism has got the literary goods. But what to do with all this fabulous verbiage? Well, in A Year of Pagan Prayer, I tried to gather some of the best pieces into a format that could guide any Pagan through an entire year, with as many Greek, Roman, Celtic, Norse, and Egyptian holidays as I could find material for. However, this is only meant as a suggestion; while many modern Pagans are quite eclectic, not everyone wants to do every holiday. The real point of the book is to organize the material so that it's relatively easy for the modern Pagan to find whatever they're looking for. Need to pass an exam? Check out the section on the Mercuralia or the Panathenaia—a prayer to Mercury, Thoth, or Athena should have you covered. Looking for love? The Aphrodisia, the July festival in honor of Aphrodite, has plenty to honor the goddess of romance, while the two Faunalia festivals have a plethora of hymns in honor of Pan and his Roman counterpart, Faunus. Need to invoke Brigit, the great pan-Celtic goddess, or Lugh of the Long Arm? Head on over to the Imbolc and Lughnasa sections. Isis, Thor, Artemis, Persephone, Mithras—they've all got celebrations and prayers.
Here are some tips to help you make the most of Pagan literature:
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Don't be afraid to adapt the pieces to suit your circumstances. Some of the language may be outdated—no great surprise, considering the vast span of history covered in the book—or just not quite applicable to a given situation. "Mankind" might need to become “human.” A love-prayer might require a change of genders. A prayer for protection might need amending to take into account peculiarly modern dangers. It's all good—after all, these aren't the words of the gods to humans, they're words of humans offered up to the gods. They were written with reverence and love, but they're still the products of humans, and therefore imperfect. Do what you need to do to make them work for you!
And, above all, enjoy the power and beauty of millenia of Pagan thought, the words of hundreds of women and men, known and unknown, who have been joined together through the aeons and across continents by a common love for our first gods.
These prayers were often passed down orally from generation to generation and held great significance within the community. The themes and content of ancient pagan prayers varied widely depending on the specific deity or spirit being invoked. Some prayers were focused on expressing gratitude and thanksgiving for blessings received, while others were supplications asking for help or intervention in times of need. Many ancient pagan prayers also contained elements of praise, acknowledging the power and greatness of the gods being addressed. Examples of ancient pagan prayers can be found in various historical texts and inscriptions. They provide insights into the beliefs, values, and practices of ancient pagan cultures. These prayers shed light on the relationship between humans and the divine and offer glimpses into the spiritual lives of our ancestors. Today, the practice of ancient pagan prayers continues to be observed by individuals and groups who follow modern pagan or polytheistic religions. These prayers serve as a means of connecting with the divine and fostering a deeper spiritual connection. They are seen as a way to honor and communicate with the gods and spirits in a manner that is meaningful and relevant to the practitioner. In conclusion, ancient pagan prayers played a significant role in the religious and spiritual practices of many ancient cultures. They were a means of communication with the gods and spirits, seeking their blessings or intervention. These prayers reflect the beliefs and values of the society and continue to be practiced in modern pagan religions..
Reviews for "Ancient Pagan Prayers in Literature and Art: Celebrating Creativity"
1. John - 2/5
I found "Ancient Pagan Prayers" to be quite disappointing. The book promised to provide insight into ancient pagan rituals and prayers, but it fell short in many ways. The content seems rushed and lacks depth, leaving me feeling unsatisfied. Additionally, the author's writing style is dry and lacks the passion that one would expect when exploring such a fascinating topic. Overall, I would not recommend this book to those looking for a comprehensive understanding of ancient pagan prayers.
2. Sarah - 3/5
While I appreciate the effort put into creating "Ancient Pagan Prayers", I found it to be a bit confusing and fragmented. The book jumps between different pagan traditions without providing sufficient context or explanation. As someone with a basic understanding of paganism, I was hoping for a more organized and cohesive exploration of ancient prayers. The lack of clear structure made it difficult for me to fully engage with the content. I believe this book would benefit from more thorough editing and a clearer focus on the intended audience.
3. Emma - 2/5
As someone with a deep interest in ancient pagan history, I was excited to dive into "Ancient Pagan Prayers". However, I was left disappointed and underwhelmed by the book. The prayers included were too brief and lacked the spiritual depth that one would expect. Additionally, the author seemed more focused on their personal interpretations rather than providing factual information. Overall, I found "Ancient Pagan Prayers" to be a missed opportunity to truly delve into the beauty and significance of ancient pagan rituals and prayers.