Daily Salute to the Sun

A simple personal discipline of remembering the Eternal Sun three times daily. The purpose of this prayer is to develop personal spiritual responsibility and to infuse daily life with a rememberance of the Light.

To be said to the Sun in the Morning:
"Hail to thee, the Eternal Spiritual Sun, whose visible Symbol rises now in the Heavens. Hail unto thee from the Abodes of Morning."

To be said to the mid-day Sun:
"Hail to thee, Eternal Spritual Sun, whose visible Symbol stands at the height of the Heavens. Hail unto thee from the Abodes of Noontime."

To be said to the setting Sun:
"Hail to thee, Eternal Spritual Sun, whose visible Symbol sets now in the Heavens. Hail unto thee from the Abodes of Evening."

(This Daily Salute is a modern adaptation from a Western Magical text)

From Rudyard Kipling's Puck of Pook's Hill.
(In Songs from Books and verse this poem is subtitled 'Hymn of the XXX Legion: Circa A.D. 350'.) In which the spirit of Mithraism can seen. This poem has proven to be a wonderful prayer, as well as a reading for meditation or ritual liturgy.

Mithras, God of the Morning, our trumpets waken the wall!
'Rome is above the Nations, but Thou art over all'
Now as the names are answered, and the guards are marched away,
Mithras, also a solider, give us strenghth for the day!
 

Mithras, God of the Noontide, the heather swims in the heat,
Our helmets scorch our foreheads; our sandals burn our feet,
Now in the ungrit hour; now ere we blink and drowse,
Mithras also a solider, keep us true to our vows!
 

Mithras, God of the Sunset, low on the Western main,
Thou descending immortal, immortal to rise again!
Now when the watch is ended, now when the wine is drawn
Mithras also a solider, keep us pure till the dawn!

Mithras, God of Midnight, here where the great bull dies,
Look on thy children in darkness. Oh take our sacrifice!
Many roads Thou has fashioned: all of them lead to the Light,
Mithras, also a solider, teach us to die aright.

A brief Mithraic prayer/visualization

Take a few moments by yourself. Stand straight (at "attention") with your arms at your sides, and your eyes closed. Let your body posture straighten naturally, and rise to your full height without going too stiff or tightening up so much that you are uncomfortable. Let yourself both relax and focus inward. (With a bit of experience this can be done quickly, so that the meditation may be done anytime at need.)

I. Visualize yourself wearing Roman armor, a Roman helmet, and greaves. Put energy into this image, building a "spiritual armor" to help strengthen your natural energy field. Say to yourself (either out loud or in your mind):

"I wear the Armor of Mithras and the Light. I am shielded from all that is harmful."

Spend a few moments pouring energy into this image, building an aura of power around yourself.

II. Keeping the image of the armor in your mind, now see yourself holding a Roman sword and shield. Feel the weapons in your hands, spiritual tools that you have been empowered to use not only for purposes of your own, but also on behalf of Mithras and the Light. Say to yourself (either out loud or in your mind):

"I wield the weapons of Mithras and the Light. No darkness may stand against against them."

Spend a few moments pouring energy into this image. Feel yourself holding the weapons, and see them as tools of Mind and Spirit which enable you to act positively and decisively.

III. Even as you retain the two previous images, now see yourself standing in a beam of bright light. The light comes down over you like a spotlight, leaving you standing in a pillar of illumination. Feel the light entering your body and spirit, and becoming a Roman battle crown or wreath over your head. Say to yourself (either out loud or in your mind):

"I stand in the Light of Mithras. In the Light I am invincible, for Mithras is my crown."

Hold the three images together for a few moments, so that you can feel the three images surrounding you and filling you with strength and renewed purpose. Gently release the images even as you recognize the energies and the ideas behind them will stay with you, and continue with your day.

(This meditation is a modern work by Marcus Cassius Julianus)

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