Prayers to Turms (Hermes/Mercurius)

 

Etruscan prayer to Turms

Hark! We lift our voices unto Thee, O Turms, swift-footed Herald, Thou who dost traverse the liminal spaces and bear the weighty words of the High Gods. Thy presence we invoke within this sacred precinct, dedicated unto Thy name and Thy works.

Thou art the fleet messenger, whose winged sandals spurn the dust of common roads, carrying Thee across mountain and vale, faster than the racing wind. Thy petasos, crowned with feathers bright, signals Thy divine office, a sign unto mortals and gods alike of messages borne with sacred speed and unwavering purpose. In Thy grasp Thou holdest the potent staff, entwined with knowing serpents, the emblem of parley, of passage freely granted, and of commerce justly conducted.

It is by Thy favour, O Turms, that merchants find prosperous paths and fair exchange in the bustling market square. Thou art the patron of honest bargain and the clear understanding between parties. Thy wisdom illuminates negotiation, turning discord into accord, guiding the spoken word that it may build bridges rather than walls. Protect Thou the boundaries of our lands, the thresholds of our homes, and the gates of our cities, for Thou art the guardian of transitions, overseeing all who come and go.

Yet Thy purview extends beyond the sunlit world, reaching into the necessary dusk. For Thou art also the gentle Guide, the Psychopomp, who takes the spirits of the departed by the hand. It is Thy solemn duty to lead them forth from the land of the living, across the final threshold, ensuring their safe passage unto the shadowed realms where Aita and Phersipnai hold sway. Thou dost ensure the journey is made without fear, respecting the order between the worlds.

Therefore, O Turms of the Quick Foot and the Ready Word, attend unto the prayers of Thy devoted people. Grant swiftness where speed is needful, clarity where understanding falters, prosperity in our ventures, and protection upon our ways. Guide Thou our messengers, bless our trade, and when our appointed time doth come, be Thou our steadfast companion on the final journey. Accept Thou the honours we render Thee, the offerings laid before Thee, acknowledging Thy power and Thy indispensable grace. We laud Thee, Turms, now and always.

Turms hymn

O Turms, swift-footed, thee we address within this sacred space, thy temple resonant with devotion. Thou who dost bear the winged petasos upon thy brow and the fleet sandals upon thine ankles, hearken unto us. Thou art the messenger, the vital link betwixt the heavens where mighty Tinia rules, and this mortal earth whereon we dwell.

Thy staff, the kerykeion, entwined with knowing serpents, signifies thy passage through all boundaries, be they of cities, of homesteads, or the profound border separating the living from the quiet shades. Thou understandest the currents of commerce, the ventures of the marketplace, the risks taken upon the wine-dark sea and the dusty inland road. Thy province is the journey, the exchange, the message faithfully delivered.

We stand before thine image, O Turms Aitas, guide of souls departed. When the breath leaves the clay, it is thy steady hand, we pray, that leads the spirit across the threshold, navigating the path to the underworld realm, ensuring safe passage to the ancestors. Thou art the negotiator between worlds, the calmer of transitions.

Therefore, we beseech thee: Grant thy favour upon our travels, that our paths be made safe and our arrivals timely. Bless thou our bartering and our crafts, that fairness may prevail and prosperity touch our endeavors. Sharpen thou our minds to understand the omens sent, the whispers carried upon the winds, the meaning held within the lightning's flash or the sacrificial beast’s entrails, which thou dost so often convey.

Protect the boundaries marked by thy sign, warding off ill-luck and unwelcome intrusion. And when our own time comes, O Turms, remember us, thy supplicants, and be thou our gentle guide into the hereafter.

Accept this incense smoke that rises unto thee, accept the libation poured upon this stone. May our reverence find favour in thine eyes. Hear us, Turms, who speaks across the silence, we pray thee.