Hermanubis Liturgy

Liturgy to Hermanubis

Stand before your shrine. Purify yourself with the water, and chew some natron. Then say: 

Let the earth be still, let the air be still, let the sea be still, let the winds also be still and do not be a hindrance to this sacred rite! No sound, no loud cry, no disturbance of any kind. For I am a priest\priestess, and I am about to call the great God Hermanoubis, fair son of Osiris, guide of the dead, messenger of the Underworld, foremost of His cavern, lofty upon His mountain, who holdeth the keys to Hades. Awaken O Hermanoubis, Hermês-Anoubis, chief of the West, mighty pharaoh of those in Amenti, who guidest the souls of men and women from their earthly life and presidest over their judgment, come to this sacred rite that I perform in Thine honour. I invoke Thee Lord, come from wherever Thou mayest be, whether in the halls of Amenti, or among the immortal Gods, hear my voice and come!

Sprinkle the statue with the water, and say:

I approach Thee O good oxherd, bearing the ambrosial water of immortality, the mighty flood waters, the fountain of life flowing from the two caverns, wherewith I cleanse Thy temple and Thine image from all impurity.

Light the candle\lamp, and say:

Arise O guide of souls, weigher of the heart, be this light the symbol of Thine ineffable presence. Open up Hades, open up Abyss! Come Hermanoubis, come to this sacred rite.

Prostrate yourself on the ground before the altar, and say:

I have prostrated myself on the ground in awe of Thee. Hail unto Thee, Thou radiant beacon, noble helper of those who die untimely deaths. Hail, Thou whose countenance is mighty among the holy ones, regent of Amenti, watcher over souls, who bearest the palm branch of eternal life. Hail Hermanubis, most revered one.

Place an appropriate incense on the charcoal (ideally storax and myrrh), and recite this invocation:

Hail Hermês-Anoubis, Hermanoubis, ANAPA, PHRIX IX ANAXIBROX, AMBROX, EBORXON, NBROKHRIA. Come to me, O lotus-flower that camest forth from the bud of Pnastor, and illuminatest the whole earth; hail Hermanoubis, come lofty, mighty one, Chief over the mysteries of those in the Underworld, Thou who dwellest in the compelling road of no return at the entrance of Amenti, leading the souls of mortals to the nether gloom. Thou, who camest from the heart of the great Agathodaimon; come to me holy one, for I am NASTHÔM, NASDJOT, NAS-HÔTB, BORILAMMAI, MASTSINX. Come Lord, Thou chief physician, blessed guide of ill-fated souls whom Thou leadest to their haven when their time hath come, bringing them to eternal life. Thee did Osiris appoint throughout the land of the dead to lead the way for our eternal souls. Appear O Lord, open Hades, come to the earth! SRITSI SRITSI ABRITSI is Thy true name whereby I invoke Thee; accept this offering, this sweet incense. Its incorruptible essence is for Thee, it filleth Thy shrine bringing life, sanctifying it with Thy spirit.

Pour a libation of wine into an offering dish, and say:

I offer unto Thee this pure wine, the sweat of Phrê. O great God, dog-headed knower of the mysteries of the Underworld, who repairest the bodies of the dead that they may be worthy of life, mayest Thou find favour therein. Let Thy mouth be opened thereby, drink and be fortified.

Present a food offering, placing it in another offering dish raising and lowering it 4 times while saying:

I offer unto Thee this (name of food), O sceptred one, Guardian of the scales, who judgest earthly deeds aright. May it find favour with Thee.

Place your hands over the offerings, saying:

Let offerings flow forth in abundance, as the blessings that issue from the mouth of Hermanoubis, the guide of the dead, Lord of burial, beloved son of Osiris and Nephthys.

Burn incense again, this time reciting an improvised prayer to the God asking for any blessings you desire, and then commune with Him. When done, recite this thanksgiving prayer:

I thank Thee O Lord for Thy presence, for I have been conjoined to Thy holy form. I have been fortified by Thy name. I have acquired Thy perpetual blessing. O faithful psychopomp, splendid guardian and embalmer of Thy father, blessed Hermanoubis, be with me always. And let the Lord of All, everliving, immortal Aion who appeared with the universe according to His eternal essence, shine His imperishable light upon Thee.

Let the candle burn out. Then return the offerings, withdrawing them from the shrine while saying:

These Thine offerings revert to Thy servant for life, stability, health, joy. Let the Lord of All, everliving, immortal Aion who appeared with the universe according to His eternal essence, shine His imperishable light upon Thee.

Consume part of the offerings in silence. For the remainder, dispose of them in a natural place, like the woods or a river.

By J. P. F. Originally published in the Hermetic Tablet, winter 2015