Pentamegistus

An aretalogy is a first-person litany by a God or Goddess, enumerating their deeds and attributes. Aretalogies were common in late antiquity, and the best known are those of Isis. The most famous and influential Isis aretalogy was found in  Kyme , but others have survived as well. The present one was engraved on a marble slab on the Greek island of Andros, and dates to the first century BC. As far as I know, this was not yet translated into English. It is regrettably fragmentary in a few sections, but otherwise fairly complete. My translation was made from Laurent Bricault's French edition, in  Recueil Des Inscriptions Concernant Les Cultes Isiaques (Ricis): Vol. 1 (Peeters, 2005), 365-368.  The original Greek text is hexametrical. I tried to render the French as closely as possible, but was compelled to take liberties at times with some expressions and go by instinct. My knowledge of Greek is extremely poor, so unfortunately I couldn't rely on the original for more...

Newcomers to the PGM invariably wonder what practices they should first take up. The methodology here is based on my initial approach around 2011-2012, and I can attest to its transformative effects when done regularly & diligently. Essential, first-stage, regular practices: - The adoration to the sun God Phrê for success (PDM XIV, 475-480)     - The adoration to the Lord of the Universe (Corpus Hermeticum I) - The Recitation of the Heptagram (alignment with the 7 vowels, PGM XIII, 824-835) - The Hidden Stele (PGM IV 1115) - The Secret Hymn / Hymn of   Rebirth (Corpus Hermeticum XIII) - The prayer of Thanksgiving (The Perfect Discourse) At the end of this post, I included my versions of these. You can incorporate all the above into a daily regime as follows. Recite the adoration to Phrê eastward seven times right after waking up; perform the Heptagram while showering (even if you're in a confined space, simply pivot on your axis); toward midday recit...

Originally published in the Journal of the Western Mystery Tradition . Materials needed : Statue of deity, 2 offering dishes (for libation and food), censer, candle or lamp (not red), wine or milk for libations, water with natron in it for purification, altar or shrine, white robe. Standing before the 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, and I am about to call the great Goddess Isis, the Queen of the Gods, whom Agathodaimon permitted to rule the whole world. Awaken O Usat, lady Isis, Goddess of many names, awaken in peace comely one, awaken renowned queen of the Gods, divine mother of Horus, refulgent diadem of life, awaken in peace, to this rite which I perform in Thine honour. Hear me, whether Thou hast journeyed around to th...