9.7. Waning Philōn Synodos⁑
Note
Where indicated by “LL.”, the leader is to announce their own name. Where indicated by “RR.”, the leader is to announce the name of the reader.
Note
The script below assumes that the Synodos is being done in person. If being done online, make accommodations for placement, gestures, and the like as necessary and reasonable. If done remotely, only the person talking at any given moment should have their microphone unmuted; all others should have their microphones muted, even when reciting prayers as a group.
9.7.1. Prologue⁑
9.7.1.1. Invocation of the Flame of the Lamp⁑
If there is not already a lykhnon lit in the meeting space, the leader moves to it, lights it, and recites:
I call upon you, o living God, radiant with illuminating fire,o unseen parent of the Sun, o invisible begetter of light!Give your strength to this fire,pour forth your light-giving power into this fire,and set to work your divine spark within this fire.Let it enter into this flame and fill it with your spirit,moving it by your holy breath and presence!O sacred fire, o light that shines with the light of God!Manifest your power for my knowledge, and let there be the light of knowing!Manifest your power for my rebirth, and let there be the light of life!Let the holy temple of almighty God within you open for me,let there be breadth, depth, length, height, fullness, and brightness,let the crown of your Sun-like radiance appear!May God shine forth through your flame and within your light,and may your light remain by me here in this place and now at this time!
9.7.1.2. Call to the Synodos⁑
Standing by the open doorway to the meeting area, facing half-in and half-out, the leader recites loudly:
Come, o children of mankind, o earth-born siblings of mine,you who had given yourselves over to drink and sleep in your ignorance of God!Make yourselves sober, cease your drunken sickness,end your bewitchment by unreasoning sleep!Flee death and error and ignorance;claim immortality, think again, think anew!Free yourselves from the darkness, take hold of the Light,take part in divine immortality, leave behind your corrupt destruction!Do not surrender to the way of death by your mockery or distance,but come together, rise together, and be guided together on the Way of Hermēs!
Everyone but the leader should be seated, leaving the seat reserved for the leader open. The leader should keep an eye on anyone who is not permitted to participate, especially at the discretion of the group as a whole as decided prior to the Synodos, and have such people leave immediately.
9.7.1.3. First Salutation⁑
The leader announces:
Hail to those whom the greeting is given with blessing,to my siblings, to holy children of God!
The leader recites:
May we live in wholeness and health!
All others present repeat the above as one.
9.7.1.4. Meeting Introduction and Keeping the Door⁑
The leader moves to the meeting area, standing by their seat, and announces:
Greetings, everyone, and welcome to this Synodos of the Hermetic Synaxis. This is a time of communion and community for us as friends, siblings, and colleagues who walk together: to offer our prayers and thanks as one, to bare ourselves to each other and bear each other up, and to learn and rejoice in the Way of Hermēs.The Synodos is a time for honesty and openness, when we commit ourselves to the trust, faith, and secrecy of each other. To that end, whatever and whomever you hear or see here, let it stay here. If you cannot or will not commit to this, or if you are not a synoditēs of the Hermetic Synaxis, then now is the time for you to leave.
The leader gestures to the open door, allowing a few moments for anyone to choose to leave at this point. Once everyone has been given a reasonable chance to leave, the leader asks those who remain:
All you who remain: do you commit yourselves to the trust, faith, and secrecy of each other here present as synoditai of the Hermetic Synaxis? If so, please place your hand over your heart and say “I do”.
All present who agree do as asked; depending on custom, this may be done by attendees one-by-one or with all attendees at once. The leader has anyone who does not agree accordingly to leave immediately. Once this is done and all remaining have agreed, the leader places their hand over their heart and declares:
And so do I.
The leader moves to the door and close it, then returns to the meeting area, remaining standing by their seat, and announce themselves by name:
I am LL., and I will lead this Synodos.
9.7.1.5. Announcement of the Reader⁑
If there is a separate reader, the leader announces:
RR. will read today’s reading, which will be [text reference].
Otherwise, if there is no separate reader, the leader announces:
I will read today’s reading, which will be [text reference].
9.7.1.6. Undertaking the Synodos, Foundation, and Prologue of Aid⁑
If the event is held remotely, the leader gives a polite reminder for attendees to keep their microphones muted unless talking:
Because this Synodos is held remotely, please remember to keep your microphones muted when others are speaking to or discussing with the group, though you are still encouraged to recite our prayers aloud with me on your own where we otherwise would in person together.
The leader announces:
We now undertake this Synodos.
The leader claps once.
All extend their arms out and recite:
The glory of the All is God, both Divinity and Nature,for natural Divinity is renewed by Nature,and divine Nature is founded in Divinity.
All bow, then recite:
Almighty God, Lord, King, Master, Helper, hear me!
The leader sits at their seat.
9.7.2. Hymn to the Thrice-Great One⁑
The leader announces:
Let us invoke Hermēs the Thrice-Great, Teacher of the Way.
The leader recites:
Hail to Hermēs, student of the Sovereign Reason!Hail to Hermēs this day, for this day we embark upon our path with him!Hail to Hermēs every day, for our every day is guided by him!As the Moon reflects the light of the Sunand illumines the Heavens and the Earth,so too does Hermēs transmit the light of the Mindand illumines the eyes and hearts of mankind!Hermēs, who came unto the highest of the heights!Hermēs, who came unto the deepest of the depths!Hermēs, who came unto the most hidden of the hidden!Filled with Holy Wisdom, bearing the Divine Word, leader into Sacred Knowledge,o silver-bright Tongue of the Mind!
All recite:
Hail to you, Hermēs, prophet and scribe and teacher!O thrice-great, great among the great, greatest beyond greatness!You who know the sacred mysteries,you who establish their utterances,you who distinguish truth from falsehood,you who witness the Light and Life of God,you who have entered into the goodness of God!Glory be unto you, possessor of the secrets of Heaven and Earth!Glory be unto you, founder of the holiest temples of the world!Glory be unto you, healer of the bodies and souls of humanity!Praise be unto you, witness of the Mind of God!Praise be unto you, speaker of the Word of God!Praise be unto you, father and teacher of Tat, Asklēpios, and Ammōn!Thanks be unto you, initiator into the Mysteries of Divinity!Thanks be unto you, guide upon the roads to the House of Knowledge!Thanks be unto you, king and priest and philosopher unto all ages!
9.7.3. Prelude Supplication and Triple Trisagion⁑
The leader announces:
Let us pray with the words of Hermēs the Thrice-Great.
All bow, then recite:
Let me be receptive to Holy Mind and Sovereign Reason,that I may be inspired by the divine breath of Truth,that I may praise God with all my soul and all my strength.
All recite:
Holy is God, the Begetter of All.Holy is God, whose will is done by your own powers.Holy is God, who wishes to be known and is known by your own.Holy are you, by whose Word all things are joined.Holy are you, in whose image all Nature arose.Holy are you, of whom Nature has not formed a like figure.Holy are you, stronger than all power.Holy are you, grander than all excellence.Holy are you, mightier than all praise.O you who are unsayable,o you who are unspeakable,o you who are called in silence,accept pure speech offerings from a soul and heart stretched out to you.Grant my request not to fall from the knowledge that befits my essence.Accept me and strengthen me, and with this grace,I shall enlighten those who are in ignorance of their race:my siblings, your children.Thus do I believe and bear witness;I go forth to Life and Light.Blessed are you, my Forebear!I who am yours wish to be holy as you are holy,for you have given to me all authority. ※
9.7.4. Epitome on the Way⁑
The leader announces:
Let us remind ourselves of the Way of Hermēs.
All recite:
The road to God is one: to show devotion and not be evil,to yoke reverence with knowledge together,to revile irreverence and ignorance both,to immerse the soul in the mixing-bowl of Mind,to rip off the tunic of corruption that drowns,to put on the tunic of purity that shines,to see what we must see, to hear what we must hear,to go where we must go, to do what we must do,to know what we must know, to become what we must be,to live well, die blessed, and give thanks to God.
9.7.5. Stoikheia⁑
The leader announces:
Let us remind ourselves of the Stoikheia, the Principles and Rules of the Hermetic Synaxis.
All recite:
These are our seven Arkhai:1. To show devotion to divinity and cherish heaven.2. To join reverence and knowledge together.3. To learn the works of the Divine and workings of Nature.4. To discover and apply the skillful arts of everything that is good.5. To do works of charity and justice for one’s society and the world.6. To end ignorance, abandon error, and cease evil.7. To go forth to the Life, Light, and Goodness of God.These are our seven Entolai for hetaireiōtai:1. To maintain our honesty and integrity in the hetaireia.2. To be respectful towards others in the hetaireia and the hetaireia as a whole.3. To support others in the hetaireia and the hetaireia as a whole.4. To keep the trust, faith, and secrecy of others in the hetaireia.5. To communicate clearly with the hetaireia, especially for coordination and collaboration.6. To focus on the work of the hetaireia while with the hetaireia.7. To attend all events of the hetaireia as much as possible, but especially the Synodos for fellowship and community as much as spirituality and communion.These are our seven Entolai for hetaireiai:1. To be welcoming towards all people so long as they come in good faith.2. To uphold and encourage the spiritual development of hetaireiōtai equally and fairly.3. To do everything as a hetaireia oriented towards and for the sake of the Way of Hermēs.4. To keep to and keep doing the practices prescribed by the Hermetic Synaxis.5. To reach out to and maintain good relationships with other hetaireiai of the Hermetic Synaxis.6. To not endorse or rely on other organizations outside of the Hermetic Synaxis.7. To support the broader community with charity and justice as reasonable.
9.7.6. Skepsis⁑
The leader announces:
Let us consider our progress on the Way of Hermēs; let us briefly inform each other of our Work and to reflect on our practice, our problems, and our purpose as we proceed on the Way. What have we done in recent days, what will we do in the coming days, and what might impede us in our Work? After our Synodos, if you would like for others to discuss with you about what you will have informed us for advice or for help, please say so.
The leader starts the Skepsis by sharing their own activities, thoughts, concerns, questions, and the like for the gathering, whether they have been keeping to the practices of the Hermetic Synaxis and what they have done recently along those or related lines, whether they have had any problems to confuse or confound themselves, and the like. The focus should be on works having been done since the last Synodos or to be done before the next. The leader should always share something first as an example for the rest of the gathering; afterwards, the leader prompts the gathering in order clockwise or by seniority, according to group custom, so long as everyone shares at least something about their practice, however brief. Everyone should share something with the group; nobody should skip their contribution to this.
The Skepsis is intended to be a brief check-in, no more than three minutes per person, unless the custom is to allow for longer; those who talk overlong are to be subtly signaled to end as their allotted time approaches so as to allow everyone in the meeting to check in. Those who want or are open to being approached by other attendees after the Synodos for further discussion about their work should explicitly say so during their check-in.
9.7.7. Anagnōsis⁑
9.7.7.1. Prayer of the Stranger⁑
The leader announces:
Let us learn from the Hermetic texts, that we may join our reverence with knowledge, and begin with prayer.
All recite:
O God, you who are beyond all the great eternal realms,you who have neither beginning nor end!Bestow upon me a spirit of knowledgefor the revelation of your mysteries,that I may come to the knowledge of myself:where I have come from, where I am going,and what I should do in order to live.O God, you who are beyond all the great eternal realms,hear my voice, be merciful to me, and save me from all evil!Look upon me and hear me in this place.Let your ineffable Light shine upon me,your Light which enables my heart to look upon you in perfection,your Light which enables my mind to hear and see what I wish:to learn about the things that are,to understand their nature, and to know you.It is only by your Light that I can learn and know all this!Come, o Lord, come to my aid, for I wish to know you,and, by knowing, may I come to praise you forever. ※
9.7.7.2. Reading and Discussion⁑
If there is a separate reader, the leader announces the reader (RR) and the text:
RR. will now read [text reference]; let us listen.
Otherwise, if there is no separate reader, the leader announces the text:
I will now read [text reference]; I bid you listen.
The reader then reads aloud their chosen text, with others being given a copy to silently read along with them.
After the reading is completed, the leader announces:
We have heard and read [text reference], so let us now discuss it, raising our questions and voicing our thoughts so that we might go from learning to understanding, that we might continue on the Way of Hermēs.
The leader asks the reader if they have anything they would like to raise for discussion from the text they just read; after they discuss their part or if they have nothing to discuss, the leader then asks for a volunteer to begin discussing the text. Those who volunteer should raise their hand and be recognized by the leader; if nobody else volunteers, the leader should go first.
For those who discuss, if there are six or fewer attendees at the Synodos, aim to speak for no more than five minutes at a time; if seven or more, no more than three. Those who discuss are to be subtly signaled to end as their allotted time approaches so as to allow everyone in the meeting to share. However, if discussion as a group is encouraged with back-and-forth conversation, then the group should aim to collectively discuss for no more than five minutes times the number of attendees present, or until the group reasonably concludes discussion with nothing further to discuss. If necessary, the leader should moderate the discussion to move onto new points or to resolve disagreements or difficulties should any arise.
Once all have been given the chance to discuss the text, the leader recites:
If you are inspired by what you have heard, then let us encourage one another.If you are moved by what you have heard, then let us strengthen one another.If you are saddened by what you have heard, then let us comfort one another.If you are cheered by what you have heard, then let us celebrate one another.If you are troubled by what you have heard, then let us relieve one another.Let us lift up this communion of kindred souls with one another together,as One, in One.
9.7.7.3. Work of the Soul⁑
The leader announces:
Let us conclude our learning of the Way of Hermēs with prayer.
All recite:
Through my labor in seeking, through my learning of God,through my distress in my body chasing after the prophets,may I find my rising, and rest in the one who is at rest,may I join myself to beauty in love as One,may I eat of the banquet for which I hunger and partake of the immortal food,may I find what I seek and receive rest from my labor.May the Light that does not set shine upon me always,for to the Light belongs all glory and power and revelation forever. ※
9.7.8. Epilogue⁑
9.7.8.1. Prayer of Thanksgiving, Singing of the Child, and Foundation⁑
The leader announces:
Let us give thanks with the words of Hermēs the Thrice-Great.
All recite:
We give thanks to you!Every soul and heart reaches up to you,o ineffable Name honored as “God” and praised as “Forebear”,for to everyone and everything you have showntender kindness, affection, love, and sweetest activity,granting to us mind, word, and knowledge:mind, that we may understand you;word, that we may call upon you;knowledge, that we may know you.We rejoice, for we have been enlightened by your knowledge.We rejoice, for you have revealed yourself to us.We rejoice, for you have made us incarnate divine by your knowledge.The thanksgiving of humanity to you is this alone:that we may know you.O Light of Mind, we know you.O Life of Life, we know you.O Womb of every creature, we know you.O Mother pregnant with the nature of the Father, we know you.O eternal permanence of the begetting Source, we know you.Thus do we worship your goodness.Thus do we ask for one favor:that we be preserved in your knowledge.Thus do we ask for one protection:that we not fall away from this sort of life. ※
The leader stands, remaining by their seat, and announces:
Let us end our prayers.
All recite:
To you, o God, the first author of all generation, do I send these offerings of speech.O God, you are the Source, you are the Lord, you are the Mind!Receive these words of mine as you will,for by your will are all things accomplished through your Word. ※
All bow, extend their arms out, and recite:
The glory of the All is God, both Divinity and Nature,for natural Divinity is renewed by Nature,and divine Nature is founded in Divinity.
The leader claps once.
9.7.8.2. Closing Remarks⁑
The leader announces:
Having offered our prayers and thanks, having bared ourselves to each other and borne each other up, having learned and rejoiced in the Way of Hermēs—thus concludes this Synodos of the Hermetic Synaxis. Thank you, everyone, for being here with us today.Please remember: whatever and whomever you have heard or seen here, let it stay here when you leave.
The leader announces the prescribed lunar phase date and time for the next Katharsis:
The next Conjunction of the Moon with the Sun will be on [date] at [time]. The Katharsis is to be held for it.
The leader announces the date and time of the next quarter Moon:
The next Waxing Quarter Moon will be on [date] at [time].
If another Synodos is planned as a gathering of independent practitioners for it, the leader announces it along with who will lead it (NL.):
NL. will hold a Synodos for it at [location] on [date] at [time].
For such a Synodos, if a reciter is already known for the next Synodos, the leader announces it (NR.):
NR. will recite the Askēmata for it.
Otherwise, if there is a leader but no reciter, the leader calls for volunteers to recite for it:
If you would like to recite the Askēmata for it, please let NL. know.
If there is no Synodos planned for the next quarter Moon but still desired, the leader calls for volunteers for the next Synodos:
A Synodos is not yet planned for it. If you would like to lead or recite the Askēmata for it, please let me know.
If future Synodoi are desired in general, the leader calls for volunteers for future Synodos meetings:
If you would like to lead a future Synodos, please let me know.
If there are any other upcoming ceremony times (e.g. planet ingress domicile, Sun ingress zodiac sign or decan) occurring before the next Synodos, they should likewise be announced along with whether anyone is planning to lead a ceremony for them or prompting the attendees for a leader to organize such a ceremony. Any other announcements, news, or updates may be made now as well.
9.7.8.3. Concluding the Synodos⁑
The leader announces the end of the Synodos:
Thus concludes this Synodos.
9.7.8.4. Final Salutation⁑
The leader recites to all:
May we walk in reverence and knowledge!
All others present repeat the above as one.
9.7.8.5. Embrace and the Pure Meal⁑
The leader announces:
With such hopes do we embrace each other and turn to a sacred meal.
For those who are comfortable with it, they should embrace each other; otherwise, they should greet each other warmly as they can. All should wish each other life, health, power, and other blessings as they will.
9.7.9. Post-Meeting Breakdown⁑
The time after a Synodos should be spent in camaraderie and fellowship with each other, discussing anything including Hermetic ritual practice, topics of debate, administration, or just quotidian life goings-on. If a point arose earlier on during the sharing or discussion portions of the Synodos where it would be inappropriate to directly reply to or address another, an attendee may ask to discuss the matter privately with another attendee, especially if an attendee explicitly asked to be approached after the Synodos for it.
Break down and clean up the meeting space.
9.7.9.1. Extinction of the Flame of the Lamp⁑
If the lykhnon is not to be kept burning after the Synodos, the leader stands, moves to it, and recites:
It is you who gives us fire, and through the fire light;it is you who gives us light for our eyes and our hearts.I put out this lamp that shines with your holy fire,not to quench your light nor to stem your blessing,but for the safety and preservation of my life.As I put out this flame, grant me your Light forever,for yours is the light that can never truly be extinguished.Go forth from this lamp, o holy light of the highest God;depart, holy brightness, and let your flame be scattered,but let your light always dwell within me as a lamp in my soul,that I too may always shine with the holy light of the highest God.
The leader extinguishes the lamp.