Shamash was the Sun God of ancient Babylon. The prayer that follows is one of the longest and most beautiful of the hymns that have come down to us in cuneiform. I think this would make an awesome invocation, prayer, or meditation to greet the Sun as morning dawns after the longest night of the year (The Winter Solstice) You climb to the mountains surveying the earth, " suspend from the heavens the circle of the lands. " care for all the peoples of the lands, " everything that Ea, king of the counsellors, had created is entrusted to you. " has breath you shepherd without exception, " are their keeper in upper and lower regions. " and without cease you traverse the heavens, " day you pass over the broad earth.... " of that beneath, keeper of that above, ", Shamash, direct, you are the light of everything. " never fail to cross the wide expanse of sea, " depth of which the Igigi know not. ", your glare reaches down to the abyss " that monsters of the deep behold your light.... " all the Igigi there is none who toils but you, " who is supreme like you in the whole pantheon of gods. " your rising the gods of the land assemble, " fierce glare covers the land. " all the lands of varied speech, " know their plans, you scan their way. " whole of mankind bows to you, ", the universe longs for your light.... " single person is entrusted to your hands; " manage their omens; that which is perplexing you make plain. " observe, Shamash, prayer, supplication, and benediction, ", kneeling, ritual murmurs, and prostration. " feeble man calls you from the hollow of his mouth, " humble, the weak, the afflicted, the poor, " whose son is captive constantly and unceasingly confronts you. " whose family is remote, whose city is distant, " shepherd [amid) the terror of the steppe confronts you, " herdsman in warfare, the keeper of sheep among enemies. ", there confronts you the caravan, those journeying in fear, " travelling merchant, the agent who is carrying capital. ", there confronts you the fisherman with his net, " hunter, the bowman who drives the game, " his bird net the fowler confronts You. " prowling thief, the enemy of Shamash, " marauder along the tracks of the steppe confronts you. " roving dead, the vagrant soul, " confront you, Shamash, and you hear all. " do not obstruct those that confront you.... " my sake, Shamash, do not curse them! " grant revelations, Shamash, to the families of men, " harsh face and fierce light you give to them.... " heavens are not enough as the vessel into which you gaze, " sum of the lands is inadequate as a seer's bowl....... " deliver people surrounded by mighty waves, " return you receive their pure, clear libations.... " in their reverence laud the mention of you, " worship your majesty for ever.... " are the mountains not clothed with your beams? " are the regions not warmed by the brightness of your light? " of gloom, illuminator of darkness, " of darkness, illuminator of the broad earth.
Also try this free pdf e-books:
Bernard King - Meanings Of The Runes
Aleister Crowley - Hymn To Pan
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