One of those days, people... one of those days... I'm going to have to leave you with a bit of ancient text, and I want to broaden the horizon a little today by giving you one of the spells/prayers from the Papyri Graecae Magicae, also known as the 'Greek Magical Papyri'. They are a body of papyri from Graeco-Roman Egypt, which each contain a number of magical spells, formulae, hymns and rituals. The materials in the papyri date from the 2nd century BC to the 5th century AD. The manuscripts came to light through the antiquities trade, from the 18th century onwards. As part of the papyri, spells for a variety of things were recorded. Two include prayers to Helios. I'd like to share those today.


Prayer to Helios: A charm to restrain anger and for victory and for securing favor
Instructions: Say to the Sun (Helios) seven times, and anoint your hand with oil and wipe it on your Head and Face.

"Rejoice with me, You who are set over the East Wind and the World, for whom all the Gods serve as Body-Guards at Your Good Hour and on Your Good Day, You who are the Good Daimon (God) of the World, the Crown of the Inhabited World, You who arise from the Abyss, You who Each Day rise a Young Man and set an Old Man. I beg You, Lord, do not allow me to be Over-Thrown, to be Plotted Against, to receive Dangerous Drugs, to go into Exile, to fall upon Hard Times. Rather, I ask to obtain and receive from You Life, Health, Reputation, Wealth, Influence, Strength, Success, Charm, Favor with all Men and all Women, Victory over all Men and all Women. Yes, Lord, accomplish this Matter which I want, by means of Your Power.”
[PGM XXXVI.211-30]

Spell to Helios: Consecration for All Purposes
“I invoke You, the Greatest God, Eternal Lord, World Ruler, who are over the World and under the World, Mighty Ruler of the Sea, rising at Dawn, shining from the East for the Whole World, setting in the West. Come to me, Thou who risest from the Four Winds, benevolent and lucky Agathos Daimon, for whom Heaven has become the Processional Way. I call upon Your Holy and Great and Hidden Names which You rejoice to hear. The Earth flourished when You shone forth, and the Plants became fruitful when you laughed; the Animals begat their Young when You permitted. Give Glory and Honor and Favor and Fortune and Power to this, NN, Stone which I consecrate today (or to the Phylactery [charm] being consecrated) for [or in relation to] NN. I invoke You, the greatest in Heaven, the Shining Helios, giving Light throughout the Whole World. You are the Great Serpent, Leader of all the Gods, who control the Beginning of Egypt and the End of the Whole Inhabited World, who mate in the Ocean. You are He who becomes Visible each Day and Sets in the Northwest of Heaven, and Rises in the Southeast.

In the 1st Hour You have the Form of a Cat.
Give Glory and Favor to this Phylactery.
In the 2nd Hour You have the Form of a Dog.
Give Strength and Honor to this Phylactery, or to this Stone, and to [name].
In the 3rd Hour You have the Form of a Serpent.
Give Honor to the God [name].
In the 4th Hour You have the Form of a Scarab.
Mightily strengthen this Phylactery in this Night, for the Work for which it is consecrated.
In the 5th Hour You have the Form of a Donkey.
Give Strength and Courage and Power to the God, [name].
In the 6th Hour You have the Form of a Lion, the Ruler of Time.
Give Success to this Phylactery and Glorious Victory.
In the 7th Hour You have the Form of a Goat.
Give Sexual Charm to this Ring (or to this Phylactery, or to this Engraving).
In the 8th Hour You have the Form of a Bull, who becomes visible everywhere.
Let all Things done by the use of this Stone be accomplished.
In the 9th Hour You have the Form of a Falcon, the Lotus Emerged From the Abyss.
Give Success and Good Luck to this Phylactery.
In the 10th Hour You have the Form of a Baboon.
[Prayer for gift omitted?]
In the 11th Hour You have the Form of an Ibis.
Protect this great Phylactery for Lucky Use by [name], from this Present Day for All Time.
In the 12th Hour You have the Form of a Crocodile.
[Prayer for gift omitted?]

You who have set at Evening as an Old Man, who are over the World and under the World, Mighty Ruler of the Sea, hear my Voice in this Present Day, in this Night, in these Holy Hours, and let all done by this Stone, or for this Phylactery, be brought to fulfillment, and especially NN matter for which I consecrate It. Please, Lord! I conjure Earth and Heaven and Light and Darkness and the Great God who created All, SAROUSIN, You, Agathon Daimon the Helper, to accomplish for me everything done by the Use of this Ring or Stone!”

When you complete the Consecration, say, “The one Zeus is Serapis!”
[PGM IV.1596-1715]