To Memory
One thing that so many magickal practitioners forget when working with deity is that the source texts are a veritable treasure trove of information. Now this isn’t to say that deities are static creatures far from it, they have most certainly grown and developed, but the source texts do give the practitioner a bloody good place to start; just remember though that exclusive and slavish devotion to using the source texts leads to Dogma, which is the failing of every religious practise.
That not with standing, I have need to work with a particular Deity, I need to ask for thier help, I have only had contact with this Deity once, and that was in a group ritual, that I didn’t do the research or the actual evokation for. Under normal circumstances I wouldn’t go un-prepared anywhere near a Deity that I didn’t have some form of established pre-existing relationship with or hadn’t researched extensively. But needs much when the devil drives, so there I was frantically scrabbling for info, when I came across this beauty.
Orphic Hymn 77 to Mnemosyne (trans. Taylor) (Greek hymns C3rd B.C. to 2nd A.D.)
“To Mnemosyne (Memory), Fumigation from Frankincense. The consort I invoke of Zeus divine; source of the holy, sweetly speaking Mousai nine; free from the oblivion of the fallen mind, by whom the soul with intellect is joined. Reason’s increase and thought to thee belong, all-powerful, pleasant, vigilant, and strong. ‘Tis thine to waken from lethargic rest all thoughts deposited within the breast; and nought neglecting, vigorous to excite the mental eye from dark oblivion’s night. Come, blessed power, thy mystics’ memory wake to holy rites, and Lethe’s (Forgetfulness) fetters break.”
