Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE BOOK OF MYSTERIES: RITES FOR THE SUN, by ANONYMOUS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE BOOK OF MYSTERIES: RITES FOR THE SUN, by                    
First Line: Fourth heaven heaven of the angels of the sun lies stretched out
Last Line: Amen selah
Subject(s): Jews;mysticism - Judaism;sun; Judaism


FOURTH HEAVEN heaven of the angels of the sun lies stretched out in a storm wind
stands on fire pillars wearing crowns of flame is filled with storage chambers
of the powers treasuries of dew & angels in the corners lightly gallop gallop &
in it there are seven rivers fire water & beside them angels standing on both
sides are numberless

from this side fire angels burning flames & on the other water angels frozen
into hail they do not put each other out do not ignite each other but these dip
in the fire rivers those dip in the water rivers calling making songs
& praises to the one who lives forever made them to express his strength

& this heaven houses the sun's canopy is full of light & fires come together
fire angels ringed with power who surround him drive him through the day & water
angels bodies like the sea their voice is like the voice of water fierce with
beauty drive him through the night

. . . . . . . .

if you long to see the sun by day easy in his chariot & rising watch & guard
yourself & purify yourself for 7 days avoid all victuals & all drink &
everything unclean

& on the 7th day stand before him in the hour that he rises make a smoke before
him an incense of spices 3 shekels in weight & call on the names of angels 7
times who drive him through the day & if these don't answer 7 times go back &
call them backwards 7 times & say

I CALL ON YOU ANGELS WHO DRIVE THE SUN YOUR ENERGY YOUR POWERS DRIVING THE SKY
ROAD THAT ILLUMINATES THE WORLD BY HIM WHOSE VOICE SHAKES THE EARTH WHO SHIFTS
MOUNTAINS IN HIS ANGER HAS STRENGTH TO CALM THE SEA HIS GLANCE WOBBLES THE
PILLARS OF THE WORLD WHO CARRIES UNIVERSES ON HIS ARM INVISIBLE TO EYE OR ANY
LIVING THING WHO SITS UPON THE THRONE OF GREATNESS OF THE KINGDOM OF THE KABOD
OF HIS HOLY HOLY ROAMING OF THE WHOLE WORLD BY HIS NAME O GREAT O TERRIBLE O
BRAVE O HUGE O FIERCE O POWERFUL O HOLY O STRONG O WONDERFUL O HIDDEN O RAISED
UP O LUMINOUS I CALL YOU BACK & CALL ON YOU TO DO MY WILL MY LONGING AT THIS
TIME & SEASON TO REMOVE THE CENTER OF THE SUN ITS CORE THAT I MAY SEE HIM FACE
TO FACE THE WAY HE IS BENEATH HIS CANOPY & LET ME NOT CATCH FIRE FROM YOUR FIRE
BUT GIVE HIM LEAVE TO DO MY WILL

& when you finish calling you will see the sun under the canop will ask if
life or death will follow or if good or evil when you seek to send the sun back
then remember your first oath & say

I CALL ON YOU RETURN THE SUN'S CORE TO ITS PLACE THE WAY IT WAS & MAY THE SUN GO
ON ITS WAY

. . . . . . .

if you long to see the sun at night & going on a northern path purify yourself 3
weeks of 7 days avoid all victuals & all drink & everything unclean stand at the
night watch the third hour & wrapped in white cloth speak the sun's name & the
names of angels 21 times those who drive him through the night & say

I CALL ON YOU ANGELS FLYING IN THE AIR ALONG THE FIRMAMENT BY HIM WHO SEES
UNSEEN HIMSELF THE KING REVEALING EVERYTHING UNSEEN WHO SEES ALL HIDDEN THINGS
THE CHIEF WHO KNOWS THE SECRETS OF THE DARKNESSES WHO TURNS DEEP DARKNESS INTO
MORNING MAKES NIGHT AS LIGHT AS DAY ALL HIDDEN THINGS MADE KNOWN BEFORE HIM LIKE
THE SUN & NOTHING IS TOO WONDERFUL FOR HIM & BY HIS NAME THE HOLY KING WHO
GLIDES ON WINGS OF WIND & BY THE LETTERS OF HIS SECRET NAME REVEALED TO ADAM IN
THE GARDEN RULES CONSTELLATIONS & THE SUN & MOON BOW DOWN LIKE SERVANTS TO THEIR
MASTER BY THE NAME OF HIM THE GOD OF WONDERS NOW I CALL ON YOU TO MAKE KNOWN
THIS GREATER MIRACLE & LET ME SEE THE SUN IN POWER IN THE COMPLEX WORKINGS OF
HIS WHEELS NO PORTION OF THESE UNSEEN THINGS TOO WONDROUS FOR MY EYES A WHOLE
DAY LET ME SEE IT ASK HIM WHAT I LONG FOR LET HIM SPEAK WITH ME THE WAY A MAN
SPEAKS WITH HIS FRIEND TO TELL ME SECRETS OF THE DEPTHS MAKE KNOWN THE HIDDEN
THINGS TO ME BUT NOTHING BAD TO HAPPEN NOTHING BAD

& as you finish speaking you will hear a voice the thunder from the north &
something will appear like lightning worlds will shine before you you will see
it & bow down & falling earthwards on your face will pray this prayer

(a Greek hymn for Helios the sun god)

I ADORE YOU HELIOS CLIMBING THE EAST
GOOD SAILOR
KEEPING THE FAITH
HIGH DRIVER
LONG AGES YOU PRIMED YOUR GREAT GLOBE
O HOLY ASSEMBLER
YOU GOVERN THE MESSENGERS
LORD
SHINING DRIVER
KING WHO SETS OUT THE STARS

& I PLONY BEN PLONY HURL MY PLEAS AT YOU MAY YOU BE SEEN BY ME REVEALED TO ME
UNFRIGHTENED NOTHING EVER BE CONCEALED FROM ME BUT EVERYTHING I ASK YOU SPEAK

then stand on your feet you will see him up north moving east & turning your
hands back behind you & bending your head will ask him everything then raise you
eyes up to the sky & say

URPALI'EL I CALL ON YOU BY HIM WHO MADE YOU FOR HIS GLORY & HIS MAJESTY MADE YOU
TO LIGHT HIS WORLD TO RULE HIS WORLD THAT YOU NOT DAMAGE ME NOT FRIGHTEN ME THAT
I NOT BE AFRAID OR TREMBLE & YOU TURN BACK ALONG YOUR ROAD IN PEACE REVOLVING
THAT YOU NOT BE KEPT FROM MOTION NOW & FOR ALL TIME AMEN SELAH


Used with the permission of Copper Canyon Press, P.O. Box 271, Port Townsend, WA
98368-0271, www.cc.press.org




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