HYGEIA
Ὑγιεία
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| Lady of Cleansing - Detail of my Hygeia altar |
Offerings of love to Thee, Hygeia.
I hold a small bowl of water up in offering, and pray:
Dearest Goddess Hygeia
Mother of all,
Bless this water as if all waters upon the earth
that we all may be cleansed on every level of our being
with your blessing of true health and wellness.
Ἐλθέ! Κλῦθί μευ εὐχομένου!
Ælthǽ! Klýthi (KLEE-thee) mef efkhomǽnou!
Come! Hear my prayer!
Ancient Orphic hymn to Hygieia
Queen of all, charming and lovely blooming,
Blessed Hygieia, mother of all, bringer of prosperity, hear me.
Through you vanish the diseases that afflict men,
And through you every house blossoms to fullness of joy,
And the arts thrive; the world desires you, O queen,
And only soul-destroying Hades ever loathes you.
Ever youthful, ever beloved, you are a heaven for mortals.
Apart from you all is without avail for men:
Wealth, sweet to those feast, and giver of abundance, fails,
And man never reaches the many pains of old age,
For you are sole mistress and queen of all.
But, goddess, come, ever helpful to the initiates,
And keep away the accursed distress of harsh disease.
To the Goddess of Health. Orphic Hymn to Hygeia.
