8 Prayers Inspired by the Corpus Hermeticum

The Hermetic tradition, steeped in esoteric wisdom and ancient philosophy, has long captivated seekers with its mystical teachings. Yet, despite the profound influence of Hermeticism, those who delve into its practices encounter a notable scarcity of one key element: prayers.

The Corpus Hermeticum and the Asclepius together contain only two prayers and two hymns, leaving hermetic practitioners with limited resources to connect spiritually with the divine in a practical way.

This article seeks to address that shortage by introducing 8 new hermetic prayers, crafted to resonate with the profound teachings Hermes shares in Corpus Hermeticum Book 5 and to help modern hermetic practitioners in their spiritual journey.

Book 5 of the Corpus Hermeticum

Book 5 of the Corpus Hermeticum (CH V) is a brief yet profoundly impactful text within the Hermetic tradition. CH V is particularly suited for those beginning their journey on the Way of Hermes.

The Corpus Hermeticum is a collection of writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, a legendary Hellenistic figure who is a syncretic combination of the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth. These texts form the cornerstone of Hermetic philosophy, exploring themes of divine wisdom, spiritual knowledge, and the nature of the cosmos.

CH V features a discourse from Hermes to his disciple Tat, characterized not by a question-and-answer format but by an impassioned monologue. Hermes is not merely delivering a lecture; he is fervently sharing a vision of the divine, attempting to convey the glory of God through the limitations of human language.

In Book V Hermes presents himself as a mystic preacher, fully immersed in the splendor of God. His words are a passionate invocation, a testament to the divine reality that can be perceived through nous. The text is a theology of God as the invisible true reality that can be perceived through nous, offering a theoretical basis for the practice of salvational gnosis.

In essence, CH V is an exuberant proclamation of the myriad ways in which God, though inherently invisible, manifests in the world. This text is permeated with praise, resembling a prayer rather than mere discourse. Hermes instructs Tat not only in the act of prayer but in the content of prayer, blending rhetorical questions about creation with personal expressions of divine worship.

CH V emphasizes that God is both immanent and transcendent, the creator of all that exists, and yet, not brought into being. This distinction between “being” and “becoming” is central: God perpetually exists and causes all else to come into being.

Every Hermetic text offers lessons to be integrated into our spiritual lives. Beyond providing new contemplative insights, Book V offers specific guidance on prayer. Hermes advises Tat to pray to the Lord, the Father, asking for the grace to comprehend the divine, to receive even a single ray of divine illumination.

The instruction by Hermes to Tat highlights a rare instance in the Hermetic texts where we are told what to pray for, namely the ability to perceive the invisible through (our) nous.

8 Hermetic Prayers Inspired by CH V

Here are 8 new prayers that draw upon the teachings of Book 5. These prayers are crafted to echo the fervor, reverence, and profound insights of Hermes, inviting us to deepen our connection with the divine through gnosis and our nous.

Reflect on the following questions as you experiment with the prayers below:

• How do you perceive the divine presence in your daily life?
• In what ways can you cultivate a deeper understanding of the divine through your nous?
• How can the themes of being and becoming inform your spiritual practice?
• In the 8 new prayers below what resonates with you and what not?

Prayer 1

O ineffable Creator, vast and unmanifest, yet most manifest,
You who conceive and create all things,
Receive these pure offerings of speech from my nous and heart.
You who are beyond all names, yet contain all within Yourself,
Grant me the grace to remain steadfast in gnosis
That leads to our true essence.
Enlighten me with vitality, that I may illuminate my brothers and sisters,
Those who are in ignorance, your children.
With faith, I bear witness to Your boundless light and life.
Blessed are You, O Father, for You have bestowed upon us Your holiness,
And granted us the authority to partake in Your divine nature.

Prayer 2

We give thanks to You, O eternal Creator,
Our soul and heart reaches up to You,
Unseen, yet seen by nous,
Honored as “God,” praised as “Father.”
In all things and in all places, Your presence is felt,
In heaven, in the air, in the earth, in the sea, and in all the universe.
You are the source of all that is and all that is not,
For what is, You have made manifest,
And what is not, You hold within Yourself.
We rejoice, for Your nous illuminates us,
We rejoice, for through Your logos, You reveal Yourself to us,
We rejoice, for Your gnosis makes us divine.
We praise You, for You are in our nature, in our actions, in our words.
You are all, and there is nothing else.

Prayer 3

O Boundless One, whose essence encompasses all that is and all that is not,
You who are both seen and unseen, manifest and unmanifest,
Accept the offerings of my heart and nous.
In Your eternal act of creation, You bring forth all from nothingness,
In heaven, in earth, in sea, and in every corner of the universe.
Illuminate my nous with Your divine light,
That I may walk the path of wisdom and share Your truth with others.
Grant me the strength to remain in the gnosis of our unity,
For You are the source of all, the Father of all names, beyond all names.
Blessed are You, O Creator, for You give life and take nothing,
For You have all and there is nothing You lack.

Prayer 4

We give thanks to You, O Supreme Good,
Your presence fills all things, seen and unseen,
In every atom of existence, Your essence is felt.
You, who have no name yet bear all names,
Bestow upon us
Nous to perceive You,
Logos to call upon You,
Gnosis to understand Your infinite nature.
We rejoice in Your boundless creativity,
For You are the source of all that is manifest and hidden.
May Your eternal light guide us,
Preserve us in Your truth,
And protect us from ignorance.
In every breath, every thought, every action, we acknowledge You,
For You are the Father, the Creator, the All.

Prayer 5

O Eternal Source, You who are beyond all comprehension,
In whom all things exist, both visible and invisible,
Receive these humble words from my innermost being.
In Your divine nature, You conceive and create continuously,
Filling the cosmos with Your presence, from the highest heavens to the depths of the sea.
Grant me the grace to remain steadfast in gnosis,
To be a beacon of Your truth in a world veiled in ignorance.
Illuminate my path with Your divine wisdom,
For You are the light and life that sustains all.
Blessed are You, O Infinite One, for You give without taking,
And all that exists is but a reflection of Your eternal glory.
We honor You, for You are the essence of all that we are and all that we strive to be.

Prayer 6

O ineffable One, whose essence transcends all understanding,
You who conceive and create all things,
Receive the offerings of my heart and nous.
You are beyond all names, yet encompass all within Yourself.
Grant me the wisdom to perceive Your presence
in all that is and all that is not,
And to remain in the gnosis that leads to our true essence.
Illuminate my path with Your divine light,
That I may guide others who are lost in ignorance.
Blessed are You, O Creator, for in You all things find their source and purpose.
May Your boundless grace sustain us, as we strive to embody Your holiness.

Prayer 7

We give thanks to You, O eternal and boundless Creator,
Every soul and heart reaches up to You,
Unseen, yet visible through nous,
Honored as “God,” praised as “Father.”
Your presence fills all things, in heaven, earth, sea, and air,
Manifesting all that is and holding within Yourself all that is not.
You are the source of nous, logos, and gnosis,
That we may know, call upon, and understand You.
We rejoice in Your revelation, for through You we are made divine.
Our thanksgiving is that we may know You and be preserved in Your truth.
O Light of Mind, O Life of Life, we know You.
In You is all, and from You all comes forth.
We praise You, for You are the essence of all existence, beyond name and form.

Prayer 8

O Supreme and Infinite One, whose nature encompasses all creation,
Seen and unseen, manifest and hidden,
Receive these words from my innermost being, offered in reverence.
You are the source of all that exists and all that does not,
Creating continuously in every realm, every place, every moment.
Grant me the grace to remain in the gnosis of Your eternal truth,
That I may be a vessel of Your wisdom and light.
Illuminate my spirit, that I may guide others towards Your divine essence.
Blessed are You, O Father, for You are the origin and sustainer of all,
Giving life and requiring nothing in return.
In every thought, word, and deed, may we honor Your boundless goodness,
For You are the foundation of all that we are and all that we seek to become.

These prayers are designed to reflect the passionate and profound teachings of CH V, emphasizing the unity and omnipresence of the divine, the pursuit of gnosis, and the aspiration to embody divine qualities in our lives.

May these prayers guide and inspire you on your Hermetic journey.

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