Day Four
December/20/2006 06:00 AM
Day Four is the first day of Night, and as such it marks a change in my commemorations.
I change the tone to a darker one, one which reminds us of the things that fade away, of the chill of winter, of the need to be ready when the world is against you. It is the time when you look inward and remember those who passed and how they changed us. The first day of Night is celebrated in honor of the Heroes and the Protogonoi, the First Gods.
_____
Nyx, goddess of the night, receives honors and her domain is remembered on this, the first day of night.
In darkness did you come into this world of chaos.
In darkness did you spread your wings.
In darkness did you bring forth death.
In darkness did you move.
In darkness did you bring us hope.
In darkness did you give us dream.
_____
Eros, the first God, who brings things together and loosens the legs.
Eros the bright and beautiful.
Eternal is your reign.
From the smallest of bits to the largest of forms, they all owe their being to you.
Eros the lonely.
Eternal is your power.
From the greatest beast in the sea to the lowliest of men, all are subject to your whim.
Eros the catalyst.
Eternal is your fame.
From the wildest of passions to the tenderest of embraces, all are grateful for your strength.
_____
Gaea, the ever living foundation of all that lives.
Blessed is the earth, yet I miss to notice it every day.
Blessed is the tree, yet I miss to take pleasure in it.
Blessed is the stream, yet I fail to drink from its waters.
Blessed is the Lady who made it all possible.
Blessed is the air, yet I fail to appreciate it.
Blessed are the frogs, yet I often miss their song.
Blessed are the birds, yet their flight often eludes me.
Blessed is the Lady who caused it all to be.
Blessed is the horse, whose wild ride I've never felt.
Blessed is the woman, unappreciated today.
Blessed is the man, who's affections I never notice.
Blessed is the Lady the first of all to be.
_____
Heroes are, of course, a very personal matter. My mother. That teacher who taught me the difference between a star and a quasar. That police man who helped me in my distress. That fire man who died in the falling towers. These are all the types of heroes we all have. Each of us affected differently by different people who we look up to and who have made of our lives something better.
But there is another kind of hero, heroes of the faith, saints if you will. The mighty Achilles, the lost Odysseus, the brave Ajax, and the sorrowful Helen. The great philosophers and poets of our tradition. Plato, Homer, Aristotle, Empedocles, Parmenides, Aeschylos, Hesiod, and so many others who have made of our tradition a living thing full of thoughtful exposition and mythic adventure. To them we give thanks today, so long ago dead.
I change the tone to a darker one, one which reminds us of the things that fade away, of the chill of winter, of the need to be ready when the world is against you. It is the time when you look inward and remember those who passed and how they changed us. The first day of Night is celebrated in honor of the Heroes and the Protogonoi, the First Gods.
_____
Nyx, goddess of the night, receives honors and her domain is remembered on this, the first day of night.
In darkness did you come into this world of chaos.
In darkness did you spread your wings.
In darkness did you bring forth death.
In darkness did you move.
In darkness did you bring us hope.
In darkness did you give us dream.
_____
Eros, the first God, who brings things together and loosens the legs.
Eros the bright and beautiful.
Eternal is your reign.
From the smallest of bits to the largest of forms, they all owe their being to you.
Eros the lonely.
Eternal is your power.
From the greatest beast in the sea to the lowliest of men, all are subject to your whim.
Eros the catalyst.
Eternal is your fame.
From the wildest of passions to the tenderest of embraces, all are grateful for your strength.
_____
Gaea, the ever living foundation of all that lives.
Blessed is the earth, yet I miss to notice it every day.
Blessed is the tree, yet I miss to take pleasure in it.
Blessed is the stream, yet I fail to drink from its waters.
Blessed is the Lady who made it all possible.
Blessed is the air, yet I fail to appreciate it.
Blessed are the frogs, yet I often miss their song.
Blessed are the birds, yet their flight often eludes me.
Blessed is the Lady who caused it all to be.
Blessed is the horse, whose wild ride I've never felt.
Blessed is the woman, unappreciated today.
Blessed is the man, who's affections I never notice.
Blessed is the Lady the first of all to be.
_____
Heroes are, of course, a very personal matter. My mother. That teacher who taught me the difference between a star and a quasar. That police man who helped me in my distress. That fire man who died in the falling towers. These are all the types of heroes we all have. Each of us affected differently by different people who we look up to and who have made of our lives something better.
But there is another kind of hero, heroes of the faith, saints if you will. The mighty Achilles, the lost Odysseus, the brave Ajax, and the sorrowful Helen. The great philosophers and poets of our tradition. Plato, Homer, Aristotle, Empedocles, Parmenides, Aeschylos, Hesiod, and so many others who have made of our tradition a living thing full of thoughtful exposition and mythic adventure. To them we give thanks today, so long ago dead.