The prayers on this page are a resource for zodiac sign-based rituals or the addition of zodiac signs to a planetary ritual. They are especially useful when the sun or other planets ingress into a new sign. The prayers have a structure of describing what the zoidion are and their functions. Each astrological sign prayer starts with some attributes of the sign, a few requests, significations, and more attributes and requests. As such, it is like both a hymn and a prayer, a similarity to the Orphic hymns, which also have requests. We can look to ancient Greek religion for our definitions of prayers and hymns. Hymns are “a devotional tribute or offering to the divine in a lyrical form(a poem set to music.”1 Prayers have a combination of three elements, either an invocation, a reminder of previous offerings, and a request.2 For clarity, each of the twelve pieces will be called a hymn henceforth. Some of the lines in each piece follow a hexameter structure. In this series, since each piece is principally for the Sun as it transits the signs of the zodiac, the first hymn is for the sign Leo. Leo is a fixed sign and included with it will be the two other multiplicities, mutable and cardinal, for the signs Virgo and Libra. Further posts will fit this structure, so there will be posts for the triads of Scorpio, Sagittarius, and Capricorn; Aquarius, Pisces, and Aries; and Taurus, Gemini, and Cancer. The bottom of the article includes some jpeg files for each of the hymns. The timing that is used for performing a ritual for the twelve zodiac signs can follow planetary ingresses. The most common planetary ingress is that of the Sun. But other planetary ingresses can be used too. There are other ways to apply a zodiac sign hymn into a ritual. A planetary ritual for a planet could also include the signs the planet rules or with which it has exaltation. Or it could be used with the Moon’s transits through the signs, alongside the decans as the sun transits through them, together with the elements, or together with a deity, to cite just a few possibilities. Finally, a zodiac sign is also called an astrological sign or zoidion. The ancient Greek word zoidion meant living image. The word zoidion is used in the prayers. It is my wish that each of these hymns will be useful in rituals.
Hymn for Leo
Oh mighty star constellation, far off, aloft,
Fabled member of the 12 zodiacal signs, tropical
Oh zoidion, I ask to connect with you
To share cosmic friendship and union
Help help to know and understand you
Domicile of the Sun, of all signs in the zodiac
You are most aligned with the sun’s nature
Oh image of the lion, you are brave and strong
You are bright, positive, successful, and honorable
Strong-minded one, guide me in your spirit
Oh zoidion, help me connect to your energies
At once a living being, a force, and a symbol
Help me to see you clearly, mighty zoidion
Give me your blessings and help me to be harmonious
With you as the Sun enters your sign in the tropical zodiac
The ritual has ended, you are free from it now
Go, go to your far off abode and remain affable
Hymn for Virgo
Oh mighty star constellation, far off, aloft
Fabled member of the 12 zodiacal signs, tropical
Oh zoidion, I ask to connect with you
To share cosmic friendship and union
Help, help to know and understand you
Domicile of Mercury, of all signs in the zodiac
You are the feminine, earthy, and analytical
Oh image of the virgin, you are logical and observant
You are precise, talkative, practical, and helpful
Intelligent one, guide me in your spirit
Oh zoidion, help me connect to your energies
At once a living being, a force, and a symbol
Help me to see you clearly, mighty zoidion
Give me your blessings and help me to be harmonious
with you as the Sun enters your sign in the tropical zodiac
The ritual has ended, you are free from it now
Go, go to your far off abode and remain affable
Hymn for Libra
Oh mighty star constellation, far off, aloft
Fabled member of the 12 zodiacal signs, tropical
Oh zoidion, I ask to connect with you
To share cosmic friendship and union
Help help to know and understand you
Domicile of Venus, of all signs in the zodiac
You are harmonious, charming, and stylish
Oh image of the scales, you are attractive and artistic
You are moderating, tactful, popular, and fair
Sociable one, guide me in your spirit
Oh zoidion, help me connect to your energies
At once a living being, a force, and a symbol
Help me to see you clearly, mighty zoidion
Give me your blessings and help me to be harmonious
With you as the Sun enters your sign in the tropical zodiac
The ritual has ended, you are free from it now
Go, go to your far off abode and remain affable
Click here for a set of infographics of this hymn for personal use.
Notes
- Panopoulos Christos Pandion, Panagiotis Panagiotropoulos, Erymanthos Armyros, and Lesley Madytinou. Hellenic Polytheism: Household Worship, Trans. Rathamnathys Madytinos, (Athens: Labrys, 2014) 68.
- Pulleyn, Simon, Prayer in Greek Religion, (Clarendon: Oxford, 1997)132.
Bibliography
- Panopoulos Christos Pandion, Panagiotis Panagiotropoulos, Erymanthos Armyros, and Lesley Madytinou. Hellenic Polytheism: Household Worship. Trans. Rathamnathys Madytinos. Athens: Labrys. 2014.
- Pulleyn, Simon. Prayer in Greek Religion. Clarendon: Oxford, 1997.
Photo Credits
- An African lion in nature. Photo by Mathias Appel.
- A drawing of the zodiac dating from the 16th century. The drawing was donated to the Met by Harry G. Friedman in 1953. Public Domain.
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David has studied traditional astrology since 2014. The Bay Area native completed Chris Brennan’s Introduction to Hellenistic Astrology course, and attended courses taught by Austin Coppock, Nina Gryphon, and Ryhan Butler. He is interested in exploring the less well known aspects of astrology, divination, and spirituality.