12th
century herbal prayer
Earth,
divine Goddess, Mother Nature who generates all things and brings
forth anew the sun which you have given to the nations; Guardian
of sky and sea and of all gods and powers....through your power
all nature falls silent and then sinks in sleep. And again you
bring back the light and chase away night and yet again you cover
us most securely with your shades. You do contain chaos infinite,
yea and winds and showers and storms; you send them out when you
will and cause the seas to roar; you chase away the sun and rouse
the storm. Again when you will you send forth the joyous day and
give the nourishment of life with your eternal surety; and when
the soul departs to you we return. You are indeed duly called Great
Mother of the Gods; you conquer by your divine name. You are the
source of strength of nations and of gods, without you nothing
can be brought to perfection or be born; you are Great Queen of
the Gods. Goddess! I adore thee as divine; I call upon your name;
be pleased the grant that which I ask of you, so shall I give thanks
to thee, Goddess, with due faith.
Hear, I beseech you, and be favorable to my prayer. Whatsoever herb your
power does produce, give, I pray, with goodwill to all nations to save
them and grant me this my medicine. Come to me with your powers, and
howsoever I may use them, may they have good success to whosoever I may
give them. Whatever you grant, may it prosper. To you all things return.
Those who rightly receive these herbs from me, please make them whole.
Goddess, I beseech you, I pray as a suppliant that by your majesty you
grant this to me. Now I make intercession to you all your powers and
herbs and to your majesty, you whom Earth parent of all has produced
and given as a medicine of health to all nations and has put majesty
upon you, I pray you, the greatest help to the human race. This I pray
and beseech from you, be present here with your virtues, for She who
created you has Herself promised that I may gather you into the goodwill
of him on whom the art of medicine was bestowed, and grant for health's
sake good medicine by grace of your powers. I pray grant me through your
virtues that whatsoever is wrought by me through you may in all it's
powers have good and speedy effect and good success and that I may always
be permitted with the favor of your majesty to gather you into my hands
and to glean your fruits. So shall I give thanks to you in the name of
the majesty which ordained your birth.
(Original
translation from Early English Magic and Medicine, by Dr.
Charles Singer. Proceedings of the British Academy, Vol. IV)
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