I wrote this hymn to Sirius some time ago. It’s published in Poems for the Behenian Stars, and in A Full Volume of Splendor and Starlight, both available through my Etsy shop as PDFs for you to print at your friendly local print shop.
For Sirius
suffumigation from Frankincense
Hail to you, Sirius, who bestows good will, pacifies princes and reconciles kings! Egypt remembers and honors you still, and mages put your sigil on their rings, knowing that you rule the Aerial sprites and praise them when they answer mortal cries. The genii of the Earth also obey, and an old temple wall in Karnak sings paeans to your name: Dog of winter nights, you send scorching heat at summer’s rise. Hound of Orion, tip a clever ear, and heed my flattery like a good dog, or let me rub your head: for you are dear to my heart, like a beacon in fog pleases a sailor on a tricky coast. Dear lady Sothis, with your faithful hound, stay the wrath of great rulers, and make peace between them, for my sake. Ready each ghost to set the fruits of Concord all around; win for the captives, pardon and release. Sirius, aid me, and I’ll speak your praise; bestow your peace-making skills where you will, but shine on me some fraction of your rays? May kings recall me with grace, and instill, in them a wish for mercy’s sweet perfume to hang about their thrones and royal gown. Dispatch your spirits to do as I ask, as I pray in the silence of this room: I hope you’ll send your sweet influence down, peace among mortals, your paramount task.
The star Sirius, when activated in a natal chart, is said to bring fame, renown, wealth, good fortune, and wisdom — but it is also considered to be a herald of peace in the affairs of nations.
The astrological symbols in the logo for this post were created by the designer and astrologer Hugh Tran of Hugh Tran Astro. Failures of color theory are my own.
