The twilight was brisk, and the birds could be heard overhead as I entered a hidden glade. I was joined by our Head Mistress Belladonna, and many other students and faculty members. The water could be felt, as small eddies twisted under your feet. As the sun set, and the silvery moon crested the horizon, a beam of moonlight shimmered through the lichen overhangs. Suddenly, on a wing-backed throne, a presence appeared.

As the presence took shape, his curly blond tresses and white toga became visible. It was none other than an invocation of Hermes himself. Once his form had taken shape, we could hear his words speak to us. He asked each of us what we would wish from him – be it a blessing for ourselves or for loved ones, an answer to any of life’s questions, or even a simple prayer to be taken to the Gods and Goddesses themselves.

This is only my second invocation at the Seminary, and I was overjoyed to experience such a visage, especially since Hermes, being the messenger of the Gods themselves, has a rather daunting job that, even with his speed, never seems to be done. As I joined a fellow student, and sat on a nearby moss covered rock, I pondered what I might ask him…

Should I ask about my schooling here?

Perhaps I should ask what tomorrow might bring?

Should I ask for a blessing for the work I do?

This would require deeper thought… As Belladonna played a haunting tune on a wonderful golden harp, I found myself lost in contemplation. Luckily, there were plenty of other people asking him things, so that I wouldn’t dare keep a God waiting! Finally, I came up with the perfect thing to ask our Lord Hermes – something I felt, would befit one of his stature!

I reached in my robes, and I grabbed a small vial of ink and a feather quill. After fashioning the tip of the quill into a pen, I then borrowed a piece of parchment from Nimue, a fellow student. I proceeded to write…

At first, no thoughts came, so I tried to relax. When that still didn’t work, I started my breathing exercises. When I felt that I was centered and grounded, I tried again. This time, the words came…

When I was done writing, I asked Hermes using none other than my thoughts, for a moment of his time. This being Hermes, though, a moment is an eternity, but thankfully, he obliged! I happily glanced over the words I’d written on the parchment, and used this telepathic link he provided to ‘think’ my words to him.

“Carry my message on angelic wings

Soaring to the sun

With blessings that your presence give

and your godly will, be done

Speed thee through the sky,

With clouds, thine heavens stayed

Upon your wings such blessings give

to be given to us this day

I ask thee Hermes in your name

To bless us in this glade

And with it, thy embodiment

of beauty thus portrayed.

I ask your blessing this day, Hermes.

Not for me, but for all here.

When I was done, he kindly nodded. He thanked me for such lovely words, and to my disbelief, he mentioned that he would not only provide us all a blessing, but when he presented my words to Zeus, Zeus himself would be jealous of him! As I write this, I still find my words strewn with tears of disbelief. May Dionysus strike me mute if this were not the truth! When Hermes had given us much more time than we should have dared ask for, he bid us adieu and as quickly as he had come, he was gone.

It is the words of this Bard alone, that I say tonight, we were all truly blessed.

Gwydion Pendragon is a freshman at Woolston-Steen Theological Seminary . While he has just started as a student, he was born into the craft - he's traced back his heritage to the Masons in the 1300s in Northern Italy/Switzerland.