LESSON 7
INNER PILGRIMAGE
TASK
HERMETIC PRAYER
During the next week, you will read the first book of the Corpus Hermeticum, called Poimandres or Pymander. Read this text once a day, preferably before going to bed. Read it calmly, with attention, but do not be too hard on yourself if you don't understand it all. Each time you read it, new insights into the meanings of the text may come to you. Try to find different translations of the same text and alternate between them each day.
The Pymander contains a prayer said by Hermes. This will be used by you as the standard Hermetic Prayer from now on. Say this prayer after reading the Pymander each day. Copy it into a sheet of paper so you do not have to memorize it from the start. You will know it by heart, eventually.
What follows is the Hermetic Prayer, adapted from the Pymander:
Glory to the Mind,
Glory to the Word,
Glory to the Body.
Holy are you, father-mother of all;
Holy are you, whose counsel is done by your own powers;
Holy are you, who wish to be known and are known by your own;
Holy are you, who by the word have constituted all things that are;
Holy are you, from whom all nature was born as image;
Holy are you, of whom nature has not made a like figure;
Holy are you, who are stronger than every power;
Holy are you, who surpass every excellence;
Holy are you, mightier than praises.
You whom we address in silence, the unspeakable, the unsayable, accept pure speech offerings from a heart and soul that reach up to you.
Grant my request not to fail in the knowledge that befits our essence; give me power; and with this gift I shall enlighten those who are in ignorance, brothers of my race, but your children.
Thus I believe and I bear witness; I advance to life and light. Blessed are you, father-mother. I, who am of your own, wish to join you in the work of sanctification since you have provided me all authority.
Amen.