Introduction
This is a prayer I recite when making offerings to Sulis Minerva on a home shrine, which is dedicated to her and to the goddess Minerva in a more general sense. I wrote the prayer in June 2003, with help from Brian Walsh, at a time when I was still very much trying to figure out where I stood viz. Romano-Celtic polytheism; Sulis Minerva is definitely one of the key deities who started me down this syncretic path. The goal of the prayer is to reach out to Sulis Minerva asking her to guide in certain areas that are especially important to me: environmentalism, teaching, and of course spirituality. The prayer assumes that Sulis Minerva shares certain things in common with goddesses like Brighid in Ireland, who has associations with both fire and water, and obviously with Minerva (hence references to the owl hunting its prey), but also incorporates historical references to the goddess from curse tablets found at her temple in Aquae Sulis (Modern Bath). So while aspects of the prayer are definitely UPG it also reflects some of what is known about Sulis Minerva from surviving evidence - i.e. that she is a goddess before whom all are equal, and who could be appealed to by people seeking justice.
A Prayer to Sulis Minerva
by Michael Small with help from Brian Walsh (2003)
Sulis Minerva;
Lady of Light and Living Water;
Oh Most Sacred Majesty of Wisdom and Healing;
I pray for your blessings from below as you rise on high;
Fire on the water;
Grant me the eloquence to speak truly and from the heart;
Bring your protection and comforting flame unto my family, friends, and all those
Without direction;
Grant me comfort and success in all my endeavours, to glorify learning and wisdom, to protect the world and the waters that are yours;
As the serpent rises from below;
And as the fountain springs from below;
Let my understanding come from the deep place that is yours alone;
As the owl hunts its prey;
As it flies on silent wing;
Keep me free from the vermin of darkness, doubt, and decay that would hinder my purpose;
Sulis Minerva;
Bright Eyed Goddess of Shining Waters;
Bringer of Order, before whom all are equal, Culture Bearer;
Grant me good counsel;
Let your flame be always in my heart, a focus of my devotion, freeing me from vexation and uncertainty;
All this in your name: Sulis Minerva.
