1. The Hymn of Rebirth
From the *Poimandres* in the *Corpus Hermeticum*, this prayer expresses joy in spiritual awakening and union with the Divine.
“Holy is God, the Father of all things. Holy is God, whose will is performed and accomplished by his own powers.
Holy is God, who wills to be known and is known by his own people. Holy art Thou, who by Thy Word hast established all things.
Holy art Thou, of whom all nature is the image. Holy art Thou, whom nature hath not formed. Holy art Thou, who art stronger than all power. Holy art Thou, who art greater than all eminence.
Holy art Thou, who art better than all praise.
Accept pure offerings of speech from a soul and heart that reach out to Thee, O Thou Unspeakable, Unutterable, whom only silence can express!
I beseech Thee so to look on me that I may not stray from the knowledge that befits our essence. Grant me power, so that I may lead my race unto our food. Fill me with everything, for I will sing to Thee a hymn of praise.
I will praise the Light and the Life of humankind: Blessed art Thou, O Father, Thy human is Thine own creature. Thy human would be Thy son.
Accept pure offerings of speech from a soul and heart that reach out to Thee, O Thou Unspeakable, Unutterable, whom only silence can express! I beseech Thee so to look on me that I may not stray from the knowledge that befits our essence.
Grant me power, so that I may lead my race unto our food. Fill me with everything, for I will sing to Thee a hymn of praise.
I will praise the Light and the Life of humankind: Blessed art Thou, O Father, Thy human is Thine own creature. Thy human would be Thy son.…”
2. The Hymn to the Divine Mind
Found in *Corpus Hermeticum* Book 3, it praises the creative Nous, celebrating the wisdom and order behind all existence.
“I praise Thee, Father, True Mind, Word of the Father, by whom all things were made, Mind of mind, and who, by means of mind, Didst take unto Thee the care of all that Thou hast made.
All things, O Father, Thou hast made in wisdom. And wisdom is Thy mind, O Thou great God, In whom there is no blindness, no darkness, nor error.
Thou art the Knowledge of all things, and Mind, Knowledge within Knowledge, who revealest all things.
Thee we praise who are the true, eternal God, the Good, The Great, the Creator, who alone dost give the fullness of life, Who dost give all that is good to all, And dost the work of the Father, being alone His own Mind.
Receive pure offerings of speech from a soul and heart that reach out to Thee, O Thou Unspeakable, Unutterable, whom only silence can express!…”
3. The Hymn of the Eighth and Ninth
From the *Discourse on the Eighth and Ninth* in the Nag Hammadi Library, it describes the soul’s ascent through higher realms to the Divine.
“The powers that are in me, I summon you to sing a hymn
To the one who is all, to him who the aeons belong, To our father, hidden in the secret places, To him who created all with his will, Through his goodness, through his love for all.
I am the Light that illuminates, I am the Light of the aeons, I am the Light of the Worlds, I am the Light of the soul, The soul of light, the breath of light.
The Light of the Word, The Light of the Power, The Light of the Silence, The Light of the Knowledge, The Light of the Truth, The Light of the Seed, The Light of the Source.
We rejoice because we are being enlightened. We rejoice because we are being delivered. We rejoice because what had been divided is united. We rejoice because we are receiving what is good.
Thou art the knowledge of all things, Thou art the Light of all things, Thou art the Life of all things.”
4. The Prayer of Thanksgiving
From the *Corpus Hermeticum* (*Asclepius*), this prayer offers gratitude for divine gifts and the harmony of the cosmos.
“We give Thee thanks, every soul and heart is lifted up to Thee, O nameless and unnameable God, who art beyond all power of speech,
Who dost pour forth all, whom all desire to know, And in knowing Thee, do grow more and more, For our thoughts stretch up to Thee, O Thou who art beyond our thought.
We thank Thee who dost bestow on all a common grace, The gift of speech and knowledge, The gift of love and fellowship, For Thou dost fill our souls with joy and laughter, Thou dost fill our hearts with cheerfulness and gladness.
We give Thee thanks, for we have seen Thy Light, We have heard Thy Voice, We have known Thy Spirit, We have perceived Thy Word, We have received Thy Knowledge, We have understood Thy Wisdom, We have attained Thy Mind, We have been enlightened by Thee, We have been made perfect by Thee...”