Orphic Hymns · 6 of 86 · tr. Thomas Taylor
Hymn VI. THE STARS
VI. TO THE STARS. The FUMIGATION from AROMATICS. WITH holy voice I call the stars on high, Pure sacred lights and genii of the sky. Celestial stars, the progeny of Night, In whirling circles beaming far your light, Refulgent rays around the heav'ns ye throw, 5 Eternal fires, the source of all below. With flames significant of Fate ye shine, And aptly rule for men a path divine. In seven bright zones ye run with wand'ring flames, And heaven and earth compose your lucid frames: 10 10 With course unwearied, pure and fiery bright Forever shining thro' the veil of Night. Hail twinkling, joyful, ever wakeful fires! Propitious shine on all my just desires; p. 122 These sacred rites regard with conscious rays, 15 And end our works devoted to your praise.
§ Ask Guru about this passage →Themes
Divine Lighttheology
The uncreated luminous quality of the divine, sometimes experienced directly in mystical states; illumination as revelation.
[auto] The stars are repeatedly described as 'Pure sacred lights,' 'Eternal fires,' and 'Refulgent rays,' making light the central imagery.
All passages →Prayerpraxis
Direct address to the divine, whether petitionary, contemplative, or liturgical; speech and silence offered upward.
[auto] The text is a liturgical invocation using phrases like 'holy voice I call' and 'Hail' to address the divine.
All passages →Ritual Firepraxis
Fire as medium of divine presence.
[auto] The hymn centers on stars as 'Eternal fires' and prescribes 'FUMIGATION' as part of the sacred rite.
All passages →Theurgypraxis
Iamblichean ritual practice that engages the gods directly through consecrated material symbols and actions, on the premise that divine power descends into properly prepared matter — distinct from philosophical contemplation alone.
The passage describes sacred rites where material offerings engage conscious divine rays to influence outcomes.
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